Finished this yesterday on the train ride home. I know that I read it when it first came out, but I honestly have almost zero recollection of what I had read. It has been five years after all. I was impressed with the darker turn that this novel took at first, but it also felt incredibly heavy handed to just be killing off a bunch of the characters now. It just didn’t seem to fit. Over all, I did enjoy it as the last book in the series. It answered a lot of questions, and I’m always happy to have answers when a well loved series ends. Still hated the epilogue. I mean, I’m sure it was nice for some people to see that yes, everyone did end up married and what not, but I think I was more interested in knowing what Harry and the others did for careers. 

Now that I’ve completed the entire series again, I have to say it was pretty darn good. 

I’d give “The Deathly Hallows” a B, but the entire series as a whole an A-.

37/50

Up next: “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Finished “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” on Sunday. I think this is my least favorite book in the series. I just have a hard time enjoying Harry’s sulking and snapping. The battle in the ministry, does make up for most of the teenage angst in the first 85% of the book at least in my opinion. 

I’d give this one a B. Now that I’m in the home stretch on completing the series, my memory gets quite fuzzy on what happens in the sixth and seventh. I’ve only read the last two twice so I’m really looking forward to rereading those.

Now reading: “Insurgent” by Veronica Roth

33/50 

Finished “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” this morning on the train into work. I think this is my favorite book in the series. I enjoy the new characters that they introduce, and the concept that there are multiple wizardry schools around the world. Deep down I’d like to believe there in a school somewhere in Canada for the North American wizards. I also remember reading this for the first time, and feeling the shock over Cedric’s death. It was the first time I really felt like these books weren’t just for children.

Now I’m having a hard time just not blowing through the whole series. But I have a feeling I’ll be just reading Harry Potter’s next month since I’ll be busy with Camp Nano.

Definitely an A. 

27/50

Up next: “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout.

guardian:

Harry Potter: casting a spell for 15 years

It’s 15 years since the first book in the Harry Potter series was released.Our archive blog takes a look at the Guardian’s early coverage of the then growing phenomenon

Wow. This makes me feel incredibly old. 15 years? Really? 

Happy June Everyone!

May Reads:

• “Before I Go To Sleep” by SJ Watson
• “Moonwalking with Einstein” by Joshua Foer
• “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by JK Rowling
• “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” by JK Rowling

While the Harry Potter’s are among my favorites, I feel a bit guilty listing those as my favorite of the month, so I’m going with “Moonwalking with Einstein”. It was one of the first non-fiction books that I enjoyed from start to finish.

I’m now at 20/50 books read for the year, and I’m on track. 

Good luck to everyone who is participating in the June Camp Nanowrimo!!

Finished “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” yesterday. When I was first reading the series, this was my absolute favorite…until I finished the fourth one. I think I enjoyed it more than the first two because I love the idea of Animagi, and there was more magical creature discussion. To me, being a wizard/witch would be nifty, but the world of magical creatures is what really appeals to me.

Full A for this one still.

Started reading “Damned” by Chuck Palahniuk on the train this morning. It was a Boo recommendation and I’m reading it on his Kindle. It’s kinda weird to have someone’s reading device. 

20/50

After going through boxes that have been stored away since we moved in 2009 the Boo and I found a few of my Harry Potter hardcovers. I thought that all of them were in Dallas and I felt this overwhelming sense of nostalgia looking at how worn the pages are.
The Boo asked if I wanted to throw them out since it wasn’t a complete set now that I have the ebooks.
I love ebooks but after he asked that question, book clasped to my chest, my face twisted into a look of horror it really hit me how much physical books can mean to me. Sure, most of the dust jackets are long gone, and most of them have water damage from numerous droppings in the tub, but I’ve never re-read any books like I’ve re-read these. I may not be putting them on display, but that doesn’t mean I want to get rid of them. Too many fond memories of my teen years attached to them.