Reading Harry Potter for the first time
Yes, I know, it’s embarrassing. I am 18 years of age, live in England and haven’t read the books, nor watched the films. It’s because I was a very sensitive child and my mum was worried that the books would give me nightmares (she would probably have been correct).
But last year I decided to fix that. I read the first two books and thought that they were boring and that this childish vibe would carry out through the series - BOY WAS I WRONG.
Having more time over the Christmas holidays I thought let me do my best to try and get through the series because I still felt like I was missing out something. I managed to finish the next three over the holidays. Here are my thoughts so far:
- The Prisoner of Azkaban was amazing and is still my favourite. I think it’s because I finally got to the parts and the bits of lore that gives the series more depth (the Marauders, the ministry of magic and Azkaban, Voldemort’s backstory). My favourite climax so far. Five stars!
- I like the Goblet of Fire a lot, just a little less. At first I thought the Triwizard tournament dragged on a little (but after reading the Order of the Phoenix I am grateful for the tournament). However I did enjoy the side plots and lots of new side characters as I felt they really enriched the plot. The ending actually WRECKED ME! I was up till midnight reading the last 200 pages and I could not believe what happened 😢
- The Order of the Phoenix may be my least favourite. It was just 800 pages of me being angry. I COULD NOT STAND DOLORES UMBRIDGE to the point where it just makes not want to read the book. I felt like the pacing was even worse here, which is why upon retrospect I appreciate the Triwizard tournament because at least it gave us checkpoints and moments of intensity. The Order of the Phoenix actually felt like a really long, really boring school year. Throughout the book I was hoping that the climax at the end where they come face to face with the villain would redeem the book for me, but it didn’t. I’m sorry. I still enjoyed reading and being in Hogwarts with these characters, but this has to be my least favourite book in the series.
Now I’m on the Half-Blood Prince. I’m two chapters in and already jaw-dropped. But I believe there’s more to Snape than meets the eye, so far.
I really appreciate these books because I feel like I’ve been in an eternal reading slump because of school, but this is the most consistently I’ve read in a long while.
I think this is a sign for me to make the shift back to fantasy books - any recommendations? 🤎
