Good-bye, Harry Potter
I finished listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last night. It completes more than four months of listening to the series on my commute to school. What can I add about the series that has not already been said? Not much.
Something about myself came to light, however. I have a need to hear stories and not just read them. I previously read all the books in the series. But at times, while listening, I thought, ”well, that was not in the book I read!” It makes you wonder about your sanity a bit. I was relieved that book seven was more familiar as I had just read it in July.
What I really loved though was hearing the subtle nuances made by Rowling that I missed reading. Just last night, I realized the wide opening created by her to return with another book or series; would Harry’s children find out about the snitch lost in the forest and decide to look for it in the future? I don’t know.
My ears heard the last third of the book with a different focus. Recently, a parent spoke to me about whether the book belonged in the library. The concern for content: witches, wizards, and dark magic. It has been debated on both sides of the issue. To me, I stand firm that it is a story of good versus evil. Love triumphs hate. I knew that reading the book but listening made it all the clearer.
The realization that I probably read too fast and skim many books hit me square in the face. Global overview, I am good at, details, not so much. It is most likely why I am in the library, so I can read aloud and hear what I am reading.
So I say good-bye to Harry Potter and thank you. Thank you for turning the light on for me as a reader/listener.
I am off to listen to A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Happy Reading.
MsMac
