I don't know about you, but I thoroughly enjoyed the theme of friendship throughout the whole series. The only thing that bothered me a little was just how exclusive Harry, Ron, and Hermoine were. At the same time, though, there can't be TOO many heroes. In spite of the fact that the three of them were tight as a pair of skinny jeans on fat girl, they still considered others their friends. As I mentioned previously, I cried my way through Deathly Hallows. One scene in particular that really shook me up (outside of those who died) is the scene where they've gone to visit Luna's dad, Xenophilius. Harry explores Luna's room upstairs where he finds the faces of himself, Ron, Hermoine, Neville, and Ginny painted on Luna's ceiling with beautiful, gold lettering across all the paintings: FRIENDS. That was so very moving. It really showed that Harry wasn't in this battle with Tom Riddle (I refuse to give him more power by referring to him by his assumed name) alone--or with just Ron & Hermoine.
Of course, it tore me to pieces when Ron and Harry fought and Ron left for awhile. I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue reading at that point, I was crying so hard. I knew he'd regret leaving and I knew the horcurx he was wearing was making Ron's emotions boil beyond the bursting point, but that didn't make it any easier when he left.
And, yes, I bawled like a big ole baby when Ron came back....in a big way--saving Harry's life and getting the Sword of Gryffindor in the process!!!! I always knew Ron had so much more spirit, life, and heroism than he gave himself credit for. It was so emotional to learn that he always felt "less than" around Harry, in spite of Harry's attempts to let Ron be himself. Look at everything Harry went through for the Quidditch match to make sure Ron felt confident!
It's Harry's love for his friends (who truly are his family) that holds this whole story together and makes it the AMAZING story/series that it is. Sure, the magic is fun and really cool. The whole plot wherein Harry has to defeat the "bad guy" keeps the story running and interesting. But the real glue that gives the story its true heart and soul are the friendships. It is amazing how swiftly and easily bonds of friendships are made. From the very first, Ron's mom welcomed Harry into her brood as one of her own--she always treated Harry as a son and never doubted even for a second anything Harry ever did or said, even when it looked like Harry might have been the one to have actually hurt Arthur Weasley.
I just wanted to say that I found the FRIENDSHIPS throughout the Harry Potter series absolutely beautiful and the best part of the read.
Great Books
To read or not to read?....that is a silly question!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
English 111.Writing Process
After writing about my scrapbooking process in as much detail as I did, this one isn't going to be nearly as long. The plain and simple truth is that I do many things with similar processes. I tend to cook with a similar process as scrapbooking and writing, too. What I mean is that I like to plan, to think it through before I ever begin. I like to have an idea of where I'm going with my writing before I ever put the first word to paper (or typing on the cmputer, which has reccently become my preferred method of writing). When I have thought things through to my heart's content based on my time limit, I'll get everything ready and be sure I have everything I need, including my flash drive or internet connections depending on whether I'm saving the work to a Word document or Blogging/journling online. Oh, and don't forget a glass of Coke! Then, I go to to the program I'm going to be using on the computer and I start typing. I type the whole thing out as fast as I can without worrying too much about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Once I have the whole thing typed, then I'll go back and read through it, making any appropriate changes as needed. Sometimes I'll share it with others before I post blogs or do anything with my other writings, if I have a chance or feel it necessary with what I'm working with. Then I'll post it and share it with others.
English 111.Favorite Genre
It is very true that I love a very large variety of types of movies (and books, too). I'll watch (and read) just about anything. That doesn't mean that I like it ALL, but I do at least try. My least favorite type of movies are horror--true horror where it's essentially a lot of screaming, blood, guts, and gore....with naked people (girls) running into the bathroom. Those types of movies, to me, are nothing but gratuituous violence.
Anyway, this is supposed to be about my favorite type of movies, not my least favorite. I guess when I get right down to it, my true favorite movie genre are musicals. I know that not everyone enjoys musicals, but I, personally, love it when the characters break into song suddenly and without preamble! Ewan McGregor talks about it in the extras to Moulin Rouge when he says that we hear the story on a higher emotional level than we do when we just hear the spoken word. That is so very true for me. I am deeply moved by music in general. It can pick me up or match my low mood.
Musicals are just fun! Singing is fun! Have you ever just felt a song ready to burst out of you--and you followed through and let it?! I don't have a very good voice (my brother, sister, and mom got the voice talents in my family), but I DO love to sing. When I sing, I feel it not just in my voice; I feel the song from the top of my head all the way down to my toes! It's just so much for fun going through life with a song in my step than going through life living as if any second is going to be my last. I've lived like that before; I know what it's like and it's AWFUL. Singing my way through my life is definitely fun.....!!!
My favorite musical? That's hard....I LOVE The Phantom of the Opera. It's especially awesome since my son told me a week or so ago that it's his favorite movie! He enjoys singing the theme song from it, too! I love Moulin Rouge. It's the DVD that's usually playing while I'm grading papers. I just like having it on in the background when I'm grading. Yentl is another AMAZING movie! I love Babs and Mandy Patinkin in that movie!!!! ''Papa can you hear me? Papa, watch me fly!" And who doesn't love the music that's always a part of every [great] Disney movie?!
Anyway, this is supposed to be about my favorite type of movies, not my least favorite. I guess when I get right down to it, my true favorite movie genre are musicals. I know that not everyone enjoys musicals, but I, personally, love it when the characters break into song suddenly and without preamble! Ewan McGregor talks about it in the extras to Moulin Rouge when he says that we hear the story on a higher emotional level than we do when we just hear the spoken word. That is so very true for me. I am deeply moved by music in general. It can pick me up or match my low mood.
Musicals are just fun! Singing is fun! Have you ever just felt a song ready to burst out of you--and you followed through and let it?! I don't have a very good voice (my brother, sister, and mom got the voice talents in my family), but I DO love to sing. When I sing, I feel it not just in my voice; I feel the song from the top of my head all the way down to my toes! It's just so much for fun going through life with a song in my step than going through life living as if any second is going to be my last. I've lived like that before; I know what it's like and it's AWFUL. Singing my way through my life is definitely fun.....!!!
My favorite musical? That's hard....I LOVE The Phantom of the Opera. It's especially awesome since my son told me a week or so ago that it's his favorite movie! He enjoys singing the theme song from it, too! I love Moulin Rouge. It's the DVD that's usually playing while I'm grading papers. I just like having it on in the background when I'm grading. Yentl is another AMAZING movie! I love Babs and Mandy Patinkin in that movie!!!! ''Papa can you hear me? Papa, watch me fly!" And who doesn't love the music that's always a part of every [great] Disney movie?!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I have finished HARRY POTTER
I can't believe it. I've finished all 7 Harry Potter books. I feel as if I've had to say good-bye and move away from some of my very best friends. I miss Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, et. al. Honestly, the way I read through the series from beginning to end, I didn't think I'd remember the names or the details as well as I do. I might not remember exactly which book book certain events took place, but I do remember more than I thought I would. It's honestly as if the whole series is one book--in my head--rather than 7 separate books.
Anyway, I was right....I didn't blog about this, but for years, I have been saying this about the series so those of you who talked about Harry Potter with me before I actually read it, you know I was right....that Harry, in dying and "coming back to life," became a Christ-figure. You can argue all you want to that it isn't true, but Harry walks into those woods with the specific intention to be killed by Tom Riddle (I don't want to give him the power he thought he deserved) in order to save his friends/family. Yes, he knew it was meant to be--in order to defeath Riddle, he, Harry, HAD to die, but Harry knew it was the only way to save his friends. Later, when it's the REAL show-down between him and Riddle, he tells Riddle that the evil spells can't touch Harry's friends because his sacrifice (his death) was for them--they're all covered by Harry's LOVE!
That's EXACTLY the reason Christ died--for LOVE!!!!
Regardless, it doesn't take away from the fact that the whole Harry Potter series is definitely worth the read. I enjoyed every minute of it. I know I'll read it again and again and again! Samuel and I watched the first movie together the other night and he loved it. I'm hoping he'll read it!
BTW: I was right about Snape, too! Told ya! And I hadn't been told that in advance nor had anyone ever told me! Personally, I wonder if others just didn't care about Snape as much as I do! I knew that he would die for Harry. I just thought that it would be more dramatic, like throwing himself in front of Harry to save him or something like that. Of course, getting bitten by Nagini and dying a relatively slow and painful death was certainly dramatic--it just wasn't what I expected.
One final thought before I stop for today: the Patronosus. I get that Harry's stag was representative of his own dad. I also get that Snape's was a doe, just like Lily's had been. But why is Hermoine's an otter? And what was Ron's? What do they represent???? What exactly is the symbolism/the deeper meanings of the patronuses? I think there's more to them than what I'm understanding. I get that they're powerful and protective--even warm, especially as far as Harry's is concerned, but there's got to be more to them than that. What exactly makes Harry's patronus so much more powerful than Ron's or Hermoine's?
The root word is "patron"--in The Phantom of the Opera, Raul is the patron who comes in to provide for the theater financially. I'm pretty sure patron also can mean Protector. I looked up patron on dictionary.com:
![]()
n] 
Show IPA
Anyway, I was right....I didn't blog about this, but for years, I have been saying this about the series so those of you who talked about Harry Potter with me before I actually read it, you know I was right....that Harry, in dying and "coming back to life," became a Christ-figure. You can argue all you want to that it isn't true, but Harry walks into those woods with the specific intention to be killed by Tom Riddle (I don't want to give him the power he thought he deserved) in order to save his friends/family. Yes, he knew it was meant to be--in order to defeath Riddle, he, Harry, HAD to die, but Harry knew it was the only way to save his friends. Later, when it's the REAL show-down between him and Riddle, he tells Riddle that the evil spells can't touch Harry's friends because his sacrifice (his death) was for them--they're all covered by Harry's LOVE!
That's EXACTLY the reason Christ died--for LOVE!!!!
Regardless, it doesn't take away from the fact that the whole Harry Potter series is definitely worth the read. I enjoyed every minute of it. I know I'll read it again and again and again! Samuel and I watched the first movie together the other night and he loved it. I'm hoping he'll read it!
BTW: I was right about Snape, too! Told ya! And I hadn't been told that in advance nor had anyone ever told me! Personally, I wonder if others just didn't care about Snape as much as I do! I knew that he would die for Harry. I just thought that it would be more dramatic, like throwing himself in front of Harry to save him or something like that. Of course, getting bitten by Nagini and dying a relatively slow and painful death was certainly dramatic--it just wasn't what I expected.
One final thought before I stop for today: the Patronosus. I get that Harry's stag was representative of his own dad. I also get that Snape's was a doe, just like Lily's had been. But why is Hermoine's an otter? And what was Ron's? What do they represent???? What exactly is the symbolism/the deeper meanings of the patronuses? I think there's more to them than what I'm understanding. I get that they're powerful and protective--even warm, especially as far as Harry's is concerned, but there's got to be more to them than that. What exactly makes Harry's patronus so much more powerful than Ron's or Hermoine's?
The root word is "patron"--in The Phantom of the Opera, Raul is the patron who comes in to provide for the theater financially. I'm pretty sure patron also can mean Protector. I looked up patron on dictionary.com:
pa·tron
[pey-truhn] Show IPA –noun
1.
a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, esp. a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.
2.
a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like: a patron of the arts; patrons of the annual Democratic dance.
3.
a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.
5.
Roman History . the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.
6.
Ecclesiastical . a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.
|
| patron 1 (ˈpeɪtrən) | |||||||
| — n | |||||||
| 1. | a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor | ||||||
| 2. | a customer of a shop, hotel, etc, esp a regular one | ||||||
| 3. | See patron saint | ||||||
| 4. | (in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him | ||||||
| 5. | Christianity a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice | ||||||
| [C14: via Old French from Latin patrōnus protector, from pater father] | |||||||
Monday, August 23, 2010
Harry Potter, Part 7
Book 7: This blog is going to be very short, but I had to put this out there....I'm barely in Chapter 6 of this last HARRY POTTER book and I've wept through each and every part. The odd thing is that I didn't think I cared so much about Mad-Eye Moody! Of course, there is the possibility that I was crying so hard when they said he was dead because I was so relieved it hadn't been George who died! I do love that Fred and George always find something funny no matter how terrible the situation. I really do love those boys! And Harry, Hermoine, Ron, Ginny, Mr. & Mrs. Weasely, George, Bill, Charlie--even though we haven't seen him very often, Hagrid, Tonks, Lupin.......you get the point....!!!!!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
HARRY POTTER, Part 6
I am finally reading the last and final book in the HARRY POTTER series and, I must say that I am upset about something.....keep in mind, now, that I am now offically a Potter fan as much as I am a Twi-hard. I've THOROUGHLY enjoyed the series and I really want to be reading as soon as I finish my school work and Blogging a little bit.
As a teacher, it's KILLING me (metaphorically) that Harry, Ron, and Hermoine are NOT going to finish school. I KNOW that Harry has to go after Voldemort. This whole thing has to come to the only natrual conclusion that is possible, but it still drives a knife in where my teacher's heart is that they are going to look for the Horcruxes/fight Voldemort rather than complete their 7th year at Hogwarts.
I had a hard time when Fred and George Weasely flew off on their broomsticks when they only had a few weeks left of their last year, but it did seem pretty obvious from the very beginning that their finishing their wizarding education was doomed. They certainly are doing quite well with their joke store without having finished at Hogwarts which is true quite often of very successful businessfolks.
It doesn't quiet my teacher's desire to see ALL KIDS finish their education. What if someone reading the series takes away from the series the idea that education isn't important?!
Granted, I haven't heard of that happening and I've never heard anyone who has quit school say, "Well, Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, and Ron Weasely didn't finish their wizarding education, so why do I have to finish mine?"
But.....still......I know that the argument can be made that they are simply getting a real-world education which can be--is--in many if not most cases, more more beneficial than sitting in a classroom bored out of their minds or not learning anything because their mi. nds are in other places rather than in the classroom.
But I am a teacher and as a teacher, I just want Harry, Ron, and Hermoine to finish their education--even if it is a wizarding education......
As a teacher, it's KILLING me (metaphorically) that Harry, Ron, and Hermoine are NOT going to finish school. I KNOW that Harry has to go after Voldemort. This whole thing has to come to the only natrual conclusion that is possible, but it still drives a knife in where my teacher's heart is that they are going to look for the Horcruxes/fight Voldemort rather than complete their 7th year at Hogwarts.
I had a hard time when Fred and George Weasely flew off on their broomsticks when they only had a few weeks left of their last year, but it did seem pretty obvious from the very beginning that their finishing their wizarding education was doomed. They certainly are doing quite well with their joke store without having finished at Hogwarts which is true quite often of very successful businessfolks.
It doesn't quiet my teacher's desire to see ALL KIDS finish their education. What if someone reading the series takes away from the series the idea that education isn't important?!
Granted, I haven't heard of that happening and I've never heard anyone who has quit school say, "Well, Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, and Ron Weasely didn't finish their wizarding education, so why do I have to finish mine?"
But.....still......I know that the argument can be made that they are simply getting a real-world education which can be--is--in many if not most cases, more more beneficial than sitting in a classroom bored out of their minds or not learning anything because their mi. nds are in other places rather than in the classroom.
But I am a teacher and as a teacher, I just want Harry, Ron, and Hermoine to finish their education--even if it is a wizarding education......
English 111: Process
Process to complete a project: One of my favorite hobbies is scrapbooking. I didn't start scrapbooking for real until 2005 when I was invited to a cropping get-together. I had made some of my own very crude "scrapbooks" prior to that time, but nothing I honestly like showing off. But since then, I have created enough albums to at least feel like an "old pro" as far as scrapbooking is concerned.
As a side note, I feel it important to say that I have begun doing scrapbooks digitally (on the computer) and having them printed in books by Creative Memories, but since this is a fairly recent undertaking for me, I'm going to focus my attention in this blog on writing about my scrapbooking process as far as paper scrapbooks go.
Scrapbooking (or "cropping" as it is often called) begins for me well before I ever open an album. Even as I am involved in different activies, I am thinking about the pictures that I'm taking and how I'll want to crop them: the type of album I'll use, the paper, stickers, and so on. I attempt to take pictures that will fulfill the image(s) that I've created in my mind regarding that particular album. I already know that certain pictures will have dominance in the album while others will be more involved with a collage-type of page. For example, I have been completing a scrapbook for each year my son is in school that is focused on nothing but school. It is now a tradition that the first picture in the album is of my son standing under the arch leading in to his school on the first day of school. He patiently stands in the right place and allows me to take his picture. He's entering 4th grade this year, so his patience is starting to run out! I've promised him that he only needs to do this as long as he's at Ellendale.
(This idea actually lead me to create a special page in my neice's graduation album that I created where I have a picture of her on her first day of kindergarten--in front of her house--and a picture of her in her cap and gown in the same spot. It's one of my favorite pages in that album!)
From there, the next step is to order the album if I haven't already done so. For my son's school albums, I chose an 8x10 album. When Creative Memories decided to quit making/selling them a few years ago, since I'd started using them for his school albums, I had to go ahead and purchase enough (including the paper) to at least get us through 5th grade. I wanted that level of consistency. I will also purchase any extra special papers, stickers, etc. that I already know I'll need for that particular album. I bought school stickers years ago that I continue to use each year for each school album. I have stickers for each year of elementary school in particular.
As I have the pictures or classwork Samuel has completed that I want to put in the album, I always scrapbook when I have several hours to work so I won't be interrupted. (I scrapbook every 2nd Friday of the month from 6 to midnight at my Consultant's house!)
(This is already getting long, so I'm going to try to quit being so wordy from here on!)
Before I begin putting anything into the album, I'll sort through what I need crop and put them in the order I want to go in the album. I like to work with the paper in the album and the album open in front of me. I have all of my materials for cropping within reach: paper, stickers, cutting supplies, pens, M&M's, a soft drink (typically), etc., etc., etc.
I will lay out my page and get an eye-ball view of it. Once I have it the way I want it to be and I like the way it looks, I'll "glue" everything down on the page and then move on to the next page, completing it the same way. I typically save my journaling for the last step to complete--after I've completely finished the whole album. Sometimes I'll do it as I go along, but most of the time journaling is the last thing I do to complete each page.
For my son's school albums, we have a tradition at the end of the school year where we do his handprints and footprints to complete the album.
Then, I put the protective cover sheets over each page in the album, make sure I've labled the album in the front if I didn't do it sooner, show it to my son--and whoever else I can coerce into looking at it--and place it on the shelf to be shown off whenever someone comes over!!!
Most of the time this does not really mean BEGINNING a whole new album. I am typically working on several albums at the same time, so finishing one album just frees me to either devote more time to another album I'm working on or to begin another album that's been nesting in my head--for a while!
As a side note, I feel it important to say that I have begun doing scrapbooks digitally (on the computer) and having them printed in books by Creative Memories, but since this is a fairly recent undertaking for me, I'm going to focus my attention in this blog on writing about my scrapbooking process as far as paper scrapbooks go.
Scrapbooking (or "cropping" as it is often called) begins for me well before I ever open an album. Even as I am involved in different activies, I am thinking about the pictures that I'm taking and how I'll want to crop them: the type of album I'll use, the paper, stickers, and so on. I attempt to take pictures that will fulfill the image(s) that I've created in my mind regarding that particular album. I already know that certain pictures will have dominance in the album while others will be more involved with a collage-type of page. For example, I have been completing a scrapbook for each year my son is in school that is focused on nothing but school. It is now a tradition that the first picture in the album is of my son standing under the arch leading in to his school on the first day of school. He patiently stands in the right place and allows me to take his picture. He's entering 4th grade this year, so his patience is starting to run out! I've promised him that he only needs to do this as long as he's at Ellendale.
(This idea actually lead me to create a special page in my neice's graduation album that I created where I have a picture of her on her first day of kindergarten--in front of her house--and a picture of her in her cap and gown in the same spot. It's one of my favorite pages in that album!)
From there, the next step is to order the album if I haven't already done so. For my son's school albums, I chose an 8x10 album. When Creative Memories decided to quit making/selling them a few years ago, since I'd started using them for his school albums, I had to go ahead and purchase enough (including the paper) to at least get us through 5th grade. I wanted that level of consistency. I will also purchase any extra special papers, stickers, etc. that I already know I'll need for that particular album. I bought school stickers years ago that I continue to use each year for each school album. I have stickers for each year of elementary school in particular.
As I have the pictures or classwork Samuel has completed that I want to put in the album, I always scrapbook when I have several hours to work so I won't be interrupted. (I scrapbook every 2nd Friday of the month from 6 to midnight at my Consultant's house!)
(This is already getting long, so I'm going to try to quit being so wordy from here on!)
Before I begin putting anything into the album, I'll sort through what I need crop and put them in the order I want to go in the album. I like to work with the paper in the album and the album open in front of me. I have all of my materials for cropping within reach: paper, stickers, cutting supplies, pens, M&M's, a soft drink (typically), etc., etc., etc.
I will lay out my page and get an eye-ball view of it. Once I have it the way I want it to be and I like the way it looks, I'll "glue" everything down on the page and then move on to the next page, completing it the same way. I typically save my journaling for the last step to complete--after I've completely finished the whole album. Sometimes I'll do it as I go along, but most of the time journaling is the last thing I do to complete each page.
For my son's school albums, we have a tradition at the end of the school year where we do his handprints and footprints to complete the album.
Then, I put the protective cover sheets over each page in the album, make sure I've labled the album in the front if I didn't do it sooner, show it to my son--and whoever else I can coerce into looking at it--and place it on the shelf to be shown off whenever someone comes over!!!
Most of the time this does not really mean BEGINNING a whole new album. I am typically working on several albums at the same time, so finishing one album just frees me to either devote more time to another album I'm working on or to begin another album that's been nesting in my head--for a while!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Some quick Blog Etiquette
Remember: as a "journal," grammar/spelling is important in the context that we don't want to say something so incorrectly that our audience doesn't get it, but not so important that we're going to point them out to one another if it doesn't change the meaning or our understanding of the context of the reading!
Respect one another's thoughts/opinions and remember that blogs are known for individuals being able to post his/her thoughts/opinions without fear of ridicule or recrimination. If you don't agree with someone's blog, that's fine; just be sure that you're response is respectful and takes into account the FACT that we are all entitled to our own opinions!
Respect one another's thoughts/opinions and remember that blogs are known for individuals being able to post his/her thoughts/opinions without fear of ridicule or recrimination. If you don't agree with someone's blog, that's fine; just be sure that you're response is respectful and takes into account the FACT that we are all entitled to our own opinions!
HARRY POTTER, Part 5
I'm on Book 6, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, chapter 9, so keep that in mind if you've finished the series....and I happen to be wrong with what I say about Snape!
I was taking a break from reading and I had one of those random thoughts that I can get when I read something that makes me think (much unlike Stephen King's Needful Things): Harry and Snape are both very much misunderstood. They are more alike than Harry wants to see or admit.
Think about it. Snape has, his whole life, been abused and ridiculed by his classmates because he's different. He's been seen as someone to be hated, despised because of his appearance, the fact that he's different, and because he truly has an affinity--a gift--for the Dark Arts--the part of the magical world that truly represents evil incarnate. Yet, he is the one, as I've mentioned previously, who saved Harry during the Quidditch match. The amazing thing to me that really shocked me enough that I HAD to type this out immediately is that, in spite of all the negatives where Snape is concerned, not only does Dumbledore trust and respect him, his fellow teachers at Hogwarts do, too! Professor McGonagall has always backed up everything Snape has said or done, especially as far as Harry is concerned. Even Hagrid has tried to say that Snape's not so bad. Anyone with friends can't be ALL bad....!
Harry hasn't necessarily been abused/ridiculed by his classmates for his differences--Draco Malfoy notwithstanding--but he has, from the moment he survived Voldemort's attack when Harry was a baby, been stared at and talked about and looked at as someone is diffferent from everyone else! Of course, Harry tries his best to keep those around him safe. And look at all the friends he has. Look at all the people who stand behind/beside Harry throughout his experiences.
Of course, the Durseley's also misunderstand Harry. He started living with them as just a baby, but rather than getting to know the person of Harry Potter, they hated and were afraid him simply because his parents were a witch and a wizard. They have never even given Harry a chance to be a part of their family, even though Harry is the best of them. Their fear of what Dumbledore might do to them if they mistreat Harry hasn't even been able to keep them from being unnecessarily cruel. (Why can't Harry see that in not giving Snape a chance, he's doing EXACTLY the same thing the Durseley's have always done with him?!)
I think that's where the biggest difference comes to play between Snape and Harry--Snape has not always had friends to help support and encourage him, but Harry has ALWAYS had friends. Granted, in the beginning his friends were essentially just Ron and Hermoine, but as others have gotten to know Harry, too, and as Harry has realized that there are more people in the world than he, Ron, and Hermoine, his circle of friends, family, and loved ones has grown exponentially. It's this difference that truly sets Snape and Harry apart. But it's also this very difference that is the very reason why Snape is going to be THE ONE to ultimately save Harry's life when it really counts.
I believe in Snape. He is NOT a bad guy. His negative/cruel treatment of Harry is, as Snape sees it, for Harry's own good, as well as to throw Voldemort off the scent. He can't be seen to care about Harry in any, way, shape, form, or fashion, but in reality, Snape believes in Harry's ability to defeat Voldemort and he is going to--ultimately--do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.
It's very frustrating for me as I'm reading this series that Harry continues to hate Snape as he does. He continues to misjudge people over and over and over. I mean, come on, what "idiot" reading the series couldn't tell from the very beginning that Harry would end up realizing how amazing Ginny is?! Oh, he's gotten it right on a lot of occassions, but when it counts, Harry can't see the forest for the trees. He didn't see the good in Grawp, now, did he?! But Grawp and Hagrid are hitting it off and things are looking up for these brothers! I want Harry to see Snape's true heart and not the person on the outside!
Think about it! God doesn't look on the outside, He looks on the inside! If Harry would just give Snape a chance, he'd see that Snape is truly someone to be respected and who could truly be a great asset to Harry's family/friends! Look at how many people didn't want to give Harry a chance. They judged him based on what they'd read in the papers, but when Dumbledore stood up for Harry and then when the evidence/facts came out that Harry had been right all along, everyone finally wants to be Harry's best friend and/ore everyone is making a big deal that he's Harry Potter. Just look at the way Harry seemed to look down on Neville Longbottom--until Dumbledore shared Neville's story about his parents, and then the fact that Neville could have been the boy in the prophecy Voldemorte is so scared of. That's when Harry finally started seeing Neville in a different light and he, along with others, are seeing Neville as someone worthy.....Even Professor McGonagall, in Book 6, praises/encourages Neville when she's giving out class assignments! She's NEVER encouraged him [so openly] before!
I just can't wait until Snape proves himself to Harry!!!!
(Oh, glory, I hope I'm right about this!)
I was taking a break from reading and I had one of those random thoughts that I can get when I read something that makes me think (much unlike Stephen King's Needful Things): Harry and Snape are both very much misunderstood. They are more alike than Harry wants to see or admit.
Think about it. Snape has, his whole life, been abused and ridiculed by his classmates because he's different. He's been seen as someone to be hated, despised because of his appearance, the fact that he's different, and because he truly has an affinity--a gift--for the Dark Arts--the part of the magical world that truly represents evil incarnate. Yet, he is the one, as I've mentioned previously, who saved Harry during the Quidditch match. The amazing thing to me that really shocked me enough that I HAD to type this out immediately is that, in spite of all the negatives where Snape is concerned, not only does Dumbledore trust and respect him, his fellow teachers at Hogwarts do, too! Professor McGonagall has always backed up everything Snape has said or done, especially as far as Harry is concerned. Even Hagrid has tried to say that Snape's not so bad. Anyone with friends can't be ALL bad....!
Harry hasn't necessarily been abused/ridiculed by his classmates for his differences--Draco Malfoy notwithstanding--but he has, from the moment he survived Voldemort's attack when Harry was a baby, been stared at and talked about and looked at as someone is diffferent from everyone else! Of course, Harry tries his best to keep those around him safe. And look at all the friends he has. Look at all the people who stand behind/beside Harry throughout his experiences.
Of course, the Durseley's also misunderstand Harry. He started living with them as just a baby, but rather than getting to know the person of Harry Potter, they hated and were afraid him simply because his parents were a witch and a wizard. They have never even given Harry a chance to be a part of their family, even though Harry is the best of them. Their fear of what Dumbledore might do to them if they mistreat Harry hasn't even been able to keep them from being unnecessarily cruel. (Why can't Harry see that in not giving Snape a chance, he's doing EXACTLY the same thing the Durseley's have always done with him?!)
I think that's where the biggest difference comes to play between Snape and Harry--Snape has not always had friends to help support and encourage him, but Harry has ALWAYS had friends. Granted, in the beginning his friends were essentially just Ron and Hermoine, but as others have gotten to know Harry, too, and as Harry has realized that there are more people in the world than he, Ron, and Hermoine, his circle of friends, family, and loved ones has grown exponentially. It's this difference that truly sets Snape and Harry apart. But it's also this very difference that is the very reason why Snape is going to be THE ONE to ultimately save Harry's life when it really counts.
I believe in Snape. He is NOT a bad guy. His negative/cruel treatment of Harry is, as Snape sees it, for Harry's own good, as well as to throw Voldemort off the scent. He can't be seen to care about Harry in any, way, shape, form, or fashion, but in reality, Snape believes in Harry's ability to defeat Voldemort and he is going to--ultimately--do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.
It's very frustrating for me as I'm reading this series that Harry continues to hate Snape as he does. He continues to misjudge people over and over and over. I mean, come on, what "idiot" reading the series couldn't tell from the very beginning that Harry would end up realizing how amazing Ginny is?! Oh, he's gotten it right on a lot of occassions, but when it counts, Harry can't see the forest for the trees. He didn't see the good in Grawp, now, did he?! But Grawp and Hagrid are hitting it off and things are looking up for these brothers! I want Harry to see Snape's true heart and not the person on the outside!
Think about it! God doesn't look on the outside, He looks on the inside! If Harry would just give Snape a chance, he'd see that Snape is truly someone to be respected and who could truly be a great asset to Harry's family/friends! Look at how many people didn't want to give Harry a chance. They judged him based on what they'd read in the papers, but when Dumbledore stood up for Harry and then when the evidence/facts came out that Harry had been right all along, everyone finally wants to be Harry's best friend and/ore everyone is making a big deal that he's Harry Potter. Just look at the way Harry seemed to look down on Neville Longbottom--until Dumbledore shared Neville's story about his parents, and then the fact that Neville could have been the boy in the prophecy Voldemorte is so scared of. That's when Harry finally started seeing Neville in a different light and he, along with others, are seeing Neville as someone worthy.....Even Professor McGonagall, in Book 6, praises/encourages Neville when she's giving out class assignments! She's NEVER encouraged him [so openly] before!
I just can't wait until Snape proves himself to Harry!!!!
(Oh, glory, I hope I'm right about this!)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
HARRY POTTER, Part 4
It's interesting to me to read that pretty much everyone around Harry, including Ron and Hermoine, believe that Harry has a "hero complex." That he wants to be the hero--to be in dangerous, life-and-death situations. I, for one, didn't--and don't--see that characteristic in Harry. To me, he seems like a normal young boy/man who is just trying to enjoy this whole "new" experience of being a wizard. He's not the smartest wizard in his class and almost every time he's escaped Voldemort, he's done so by accident or sheer dumb luck, or even because someone else (including the ghosts of his parents) have helped him. He doesn't even know what he's doing most of the time. And he has trouble learning his spells or doing his potions in class!
He is always very embarrassed whenever the attention is focused on him for something he's done as far as wizarding is concerned. He's even horribly embarrassed in the first book by all the attention he receives just because people find out he's the famous Harry Potter. He didn't know he was famous; he didn't ask to be famous; he didn't WANT to be famous. He's always tried to sink back into the background rather than be considered the big "hero" everyone pats him on the back for being.
Where Harry does like the attention, and it's obviously well-deserved, is on the Quidditch field. It's obvious that he's an amazing Seeker and every game Griffindor has won has been because of his fancy flying/catching of the Snitch. When Harry helps win a game, he does revel in the pats on the back and the shouts of praise. But it's obvious that the shouts of praise are well-deserved. Harry catches the Snitch on his own, most often without the use of magic! He's just playing a great game and having a great time playing it. Of course, he's a serious player, so he does play just as "dirty" as he needs to, but it's great to see that he has never sunk to the same level as the Slyterins, especially Draco.
People who have a hero complex are more like Harry's father in the memory we get in Book 5 from Snape. James Potter, based on that particular memory, was a man who DEMANDED attention--craved it--thrived on it. He EXPECTED Lily to pay attention him and to fall at his feet, practically BEGGING him to choose her. It isn't a pretty picture of James Potter, unlike the way we've all seen him previously. Even Harry is deeply disturbed by his father's behavior. But yet, no one has ever said, in all the talk about James Potter, anything negative about him (except Snape, of course) or made an indication that James Potter was a cocky son-of-a-gun who didn't deserve Lily or a son like Harry.
Harry, even though he does seem to have a tendency to break school rules (just as Snape says he does), is--most of the time--breaking school rules for a good cause. We don't find out what that cause is until the end of each book, but Harry isn't a BAD kid. He's the "hero" of the series and the only way for us, the audience, to learn about what's going on is through him, so there HAVE to be ways for Harry to find out information--and HE has to be the one to DO the dangerous stunts/action within the story. If Harry didn't, then it would be a story with an omnicient narrartor who is telling a story from everyone's perspective and we'd know too much. Rowling could have chosen to tell Harry's story through another character, like Hermoine--who would have gotten carried away with the details, or Ron--who wouldn't have finished the story. Or maybe Dumbledore, but in order to do that, we'd have to "watch" Harry through Dumbledore's eyes. We know Dumbledore has always been watching Harry, but the bottom line is that it's just much more interesting for a story like this to hear/read the story from the perspective of the main character who is, truly, the hero.
So Harry does NOT have a hero complex even though he is the hero of the story. He's not all puffed up about the things he has done against Voldemort. He's simply a young man doing his best to be the best HARRY he can be--and to enjoy this whole "new" world of wizarding where everything is just so plain cool!
He is always very embarrassed whenever the attention is focused on him for something he's done as far as wizarding is concerned. He's even horribly embarrassed in the first book by all the attention he receives just because people find out he's the famous Harry Potter. He didn't know he was famous; he didn't ask to be famous; he didn't WANT to be famous. He's always tried to sink back into the background rather than be considered the big "hero" everyone pats him on the back for being.
Where Harry does like the attention, and it's obviously well-deserved, is on the Quidditch field. It's obvious that he's an amazing Seeker and every game Griffindor has won has been because of his fancy flying/catching of the Snitch. When Harry helps win a game, he does revel in the pats on the back and the shouts of praise. But it's obvious that the shouts of praise are well-deserved. Harry catches the Snitch on his own, most often without the use of magic! He's just playing a great game and having a great time playing it. Of course, he's a serious player, so he does play just as "dirty" as he needs to, but it's great to see that he has never sunk to the same level as the Slyterins, especially Draco.
People who have a hero complex are more like Harry's father in the memory we get in Book 5 from Snape. James Potter, based on that particular memory, was a man who DEMANDED attention--craved it--thrived on it. He EXPECTED Lily to pay attention him and to fall at his feet, practically BEGGING him to choose her. It isn't a pretty picture of James Potter, unlike the way we've all seen him previously. Even Harry is deeply disturbed by his father's behavior. But yet, no one has ever said, in all the talk about James Potter, anything negative about him (except Snape, of course) or made an indication that James Potter was a cocky son-of-a-gun who didn't deserve Lily or a son like Harry.
Harry, even though he does seem to have a tendency to break school rules (just as Snape says he does), is--most of the time--breaking school rules for a good cause. We don't find out what that cause is until the end of each book, but Harry isn't a BAD kid. He's the "hero" of the series and the only way for us, the audience, to learn about what's going on is through him, so there HAVE to be ways for Harry to find out information--and HE has to be the one to DO the dangerous stunts/action within the story. If Harry didn't, then it would be a story with an omnicient narrartor who is telling a story from everyone's perspective and we'd know too much. Rowling could have chosen to tell Harry's story through another character, like Hermoine--who would have gotten carried away with the details, or Ron--who wouldn't have finished the story. Or maybe Dumbledore, but in order to do that, we'd have to "watch" Harry through Dumbledore's eyes. We know Dumbledore has always been watching Harry, but the bottom line is that it's just much more interesting for a story like this to hear/read the story from the perspective of the main character who is, truly, the hero.
So Harry does NOT have a hero complex even though he is the hero of the story. He's not all puffed up about the things he has done against Voldemort. He's simply a young man doing his best to be the best HARRY he can be--and to enjoy this whole "new" world of wizarding where everything is just so plain cool!
Monday, August 16, 2010
HARRY POTTER, Part 3
(For those of you who know how the story ends, don't tell me whether or not I'm wrong here. I'm just using this blog as an opportunity to think through a few things.)
My favorite Harry Potter character is Severus Snape. From the very beginning, I have found him to be more than what he appears. I feel that if Dumbledore can trust him, then so can we. I know he was a Death Eater, and, as I begin Book 6, I see that he is playing both sides even more so than I thought. After reading Book 5 and seeing how Harry's dad and friends treated Snape, I like Snape even more. He has every reason to dislike Harry. Of course, Snape IS an adult and should be able to put aside memories of childish pranks and let Harry be Harry and not look at Harry as if Harry is his dad, James Potter.
As someone who was teased all throughout my schooling--ok, I STILL am--for everything from being overweight to wearing glasses, it honestly made me bawl when I read the story of James Potter and his cronies being cruel to Snape (Book 5). I can relate to Snape's embarrassment, but at the same time, I am the type of person who chose to take the teasing and dish it right back, without any intention of menace whatsoever. Of course, even those of us who tease can cross the line, but as soon as we realize that we have, most of us will apologize if we're able. From that standpoint, I wish Snape had learned to deal with the teasing from his classmates rather than fighting them back and, ultimately, egging them on.
When we look at what Harry learned about Snape during his Occulumency lessons, you'd think Harry would have more compassion on the man. I mean, here's a man who has been overlooked and misunderstood his whole life. Snape's parents were bickering--and ignoring--Snape. The kids at school didn't understand him--they didn't WANT to understand him--so he was ostracized at school as well. The poor man never could catch a break!
Don't get me wrong, here. It don't pity Snape. I simple feel compassion for him. I feel as if he was misunderstood. If one person would have taken the time to look deeper into Snape and who he was rather than seeing his greasy outer appearance (while growing up, I mean), then maybe Snape wouldn't the appearance of the epitome of evil.
Let's just remember for a moment, if you will, just who it was who actually saved Harry during the very first Quiddich tournament. When everyone thought he was the one putting a spell on Harry's broom, we learn that Snape was actually the one mouthing the counter-spell to save Harry. I can't forget that.
There's a good heart in Snape. I just KNOW there is.....
Besides, why else would the powers that be have chosen Alan Rickman to play Snape?! He is, by the way, PERFECT for Snape!!!! I LOVE him in that role!!! Even if I hadn't seen at least the previews before reading the books, as I've been reading them, I SEE Alan Rickman in my head as Snape. ("I'm gonna cut your heart out with a spoon!"--Greatest line EVER!)
If I'm wrong about Snape and he turns out to truly be a Death Eater who is doing everything in his power to see Voldemort rise to power again, then I'm going to be more disappointed than I can say. I'm preparing myself for the death of Dumbledore in Book 6--I do know that's coming, but I still don't know which side Snape is really on. I desperately want him to be the TRUE hero who ultimately saves Harry's life.....!
My favorite Harry Potter character is Severus Snape. From the very beginning, I have found him to be more than what he appears. I feel that if Dumbledore can trust him, then so can we. I know he was a Death Eater, and, as I begin Book 6, I see that he is playing both sides even more so than I thought. After reading Book 5 and seeing how Harry's dad and friends treated Snape, I like Snape even more. He has every reason to dislike Harry. Of course, Snape IS an adult and should be able to put aside memories of childish pranks and let Harry be Harry and not look at Harry as if Harry is his dad, James Potter.
As someone who was teased all throughout my schooling--ok, I STILL am--for everything from being overweight to wearing glasses, it honestly made me bawl when I read the story of James Potter and his cronies being cruel to Snape (Book 5). I can relate to Snape's embarrassment, but at the same time, I am the type of person who chose to take the teasing and dish it right back, without any intention of menace whatsoever. Of course, even those of us who tease can cross the line, but as soon as we realize that we have, most of us will apologize if we're able. From that standpoint, I wish Snape had learned to deal with the teasing from his classmates rather than fighting them back and, ultimately, egging them on.
When we look at what Harry learned about Snape during his Occulumency lessons, you'd think Harry would have more compassion on the man. I mean, here's a man who has been overlooked and misunderstood his whole life. Snape's parents were bickering--and ignoring--Snape. The kids at school didn't understand him--they didn't WANT to understand him--so he was ostracized at school as well. The poor man never could catch a break!
Don't get me wrong, here. It don't pity Snape. I simple feel compassion for him. I feel as if he was misunderstood. If one person would have taken the time to look deeper into Snape and who he was rather than seeing his greasy outer appearance (while growing up, I mean), then maybe Snape wouldn't the appearance of the epitome of evil.
Let's just remember for a moment, if you will, just who it was who actually saved Harry during the very first Quiddich tournament. When everyone thought he was the one putting a spell on Harry's broom, we learn that Snape was actually the one mouthing the counter-spell to save Harry. I can't forget that.
There's a good heart in Snape. I just KNOW there is.....
Besides, why else would the powers that be have chosen Alan Rickman to play Snape?! He is, by the way, PERFECT for Snape!!!! I LOVE him in that role!!! Even if I hadn't seen at least the previews before reading the books, as I've been reading them, I SEE Alan Rickman in my head as Snape. ("I'm gonna cut your heart out with a spoon!"--Greatest line EVER!)
If I'm wrong about Snape and he turns out to truly be a Death Eater who is doing everything in his power to see Voldemort rise to power again, then I'm going to be more disappointed than I can say. I'm preparing myself for the death of Dumbledore in Book 6--I do know that's coming, but I still don't know which side Snape is really on. I desperately want him to be the TRUE hero who ultimately saves Harry's life.....!
Friday, August 13, 2010
HARRY POTTER, Part 2
OK, so now I have all that other stuff off my chest, I can talk about the books themselves.
The biggest thing I have to say at this point in time (I'm halfway through Book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) is that there is SO MUCH....I admit that there are parts where I'm having a difficult time getting through because it's taking so long to get from point B to point C (or whatever it might be), but I obviously have to read the WHOLE thing, in order, to completely understand what's going on. It's not that this "in-between" stuff is boring. It's just that it's SO MUCH, how do I know what I really need to pay careful attention to and what parts and I can read quickly?!
I'm the type of reader who typically remembers most of what I read, but this is getting ridiculous. Rowling does throw in every once in a while brief reminders of what's happened previously to help keep me reminded and up-to-date. And she does it in a manner that's not "back story" that I have to weed through to get back to the story. It's actually often included in interesting dialogue. But because there is SO MUCH, it is difficult to remember everything and to keep up as I need to.
I don't feel like I'm explaining myself very well, but if you've read the series, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
The other thing that I'm having a hard time keeping up with is....the vast number of characters! Good grief! I realize that as the story moves on, new characters must be added, but by now, there are SO MANY names, I'm having a difficult time remember who is who! When I read The Count of Monte Cristo, I joked with a couple of people that I wish I had had a white board in front of me where I could write down the names of the characters and how they were all "related" (connected) to one another. That did not detract from my enjoyment of The Count, nor does it detract from my enjoyment of Harry Potter, but the fact remains that the sheer number of characters in the story by now is difficult to keep up with.
I will say that Rowling has done a wonderful job keeping all of her characters interesting. I think that's why I'm a little frustrated with keeping up with the characters. I want to keep track of them all because I find them ALL interesting. But I keep getting Lupin and Sirius (Snuffles-?) mixed up, especially which one is the werewolf. It's too confusing that one is a wolf and the other is a basic house dog (animagus-?).
And that's another thing that I'm having trouble keeping up with--all the names of the spells, potions, books, etc., especially the ones that seem obviously important to the story as a whole. It took me forever to remember and keep in mind the Patronus charm Harry uses to get rid of the Dementors (very interesting characters, I must say---I honestly believe that there are real Dementors alive and thriving in the world around us---just look at some of the people around us who go into deep depressions and struggle mightily to pull out of them).
Don't even get me started on the classes Ron, Hermoine, and Harry are taking! Or how many Weasleys there are (especially the boys) or who is who!!!
Of course, anyone or anything that's been part of the story since the very beginning, I'm not having a lot of trouble with. It's the ones/things that have been added as the series goes on.
Don't try to say that I must not be really reading the story carefully if I'm having so much trouble remembering such details! I'm reading EVERY word and every word is registering! I'm paying attention to what I'm reading. I've been reading the book while Samuel is in the room. Samuel was bleeding (he'd picked a scab from his bites from our camping trip), and I was so into my book, he had to literally put his face between my face and my book in order to get my attention!
Not all of my posts about the Harry Potter series will be blasts against the books. I honestly am thoroughly enjoying reading--finally--the series. I am very glad I'm--finally--reading the books. I want to be reading right now, in fact. I've stayed up late to read. I have been reading when I should be doing house cleaning or other things around the house. I'm just as thoroughly engrossed in the series as I ever have been with the Twilight series. But I feel that I need to be completely honest and share the good, the bad, and the ugly....especially considering that this is my blog and I'm simply sharing my own, personal opinion....which everyone is entitled to---his/her own opinion, not to mine!!!! ;)
The biggest thing I have to say at this point in time (I'm halfway through Book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) is that there is SO MUCH....I admit that there are parts where I'm having a difficult time getting through because it's taking so long to get from point B to point C (or whatever it might be), but I obviously have to read the WHOLE thing, in order, to completely understand what's going on. It's not that this "in-between" stuff is boring. It's just that it's SO MUCH, how do I know what I really need to pay careful attention to and what parts and I can read quickly?!
I'm the type of reader who typically remembers most of what I read, but this is getting ridiculous. Rowling does throw in every once in a while brief reminders of what's happened previously to help keep me reminded and up-to-date. And she does it in a manner that's not "back story" that I have to weed through to get back to the story. It's actually often included in interesting dialogue. But because there is SO MUCH, it is difficult to remember everything and to keep up as I need to.
I don't feel like I'm explaining myself very well, but if you've read the series, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
The other thing that I'm having a hard time keeping up with is....the vast number of characters! Good grief! I realize that as the story moves on, new characters must be added, but by now, there are SO MANY names, I'm having a difficult time remember who is who! When I read The Count of Monte Cristo, I joked with a couple of people that I wish I had had a white board in front of me where I could write down the names of the characters and how they were all "related" (connected) to one another. That did not detract from my enjoyment of The Count, nor does it detract from my enjoyment of Harry Potter, but the fact remains that the sheer number of characters in the story by now is difficult to keep up with.
I will say that Rowling has done a wonderful job keeping all of her characters interesting. I think that's why I'm a little frustrated with keeping up with the characters. I want to keep track of them all because I find them ALL interesting. But I keep getting Lupin and Sirius (Snuffles-?) mixed up, especially which one is the werewolf. It's too confusing that one is a wolf and the other is a basic house dog (animagus-?).
And that's another thing that I'm having trouble keeping up with--all the names of the spells, potions, books, etc., especially the ones that seem obviously important to the story as a whole. It took me forever to remember and keep in mind the Patronus charm Harry uses to get rid of the Dementors (very interesting characters, I must say---I honestly believe that there are real Dementors alive and thriving in the world around us---just look at some of the people around us who go into deep depressions and struggle mightily to pull out of them).
Don't even get me started on the classes Ron, Hermoine, and Harry are taking! Or how many Weasleys there are (especially the boys) or who is who!!!
Of course, anyone or anything that's been part of the story since the very beginning, I'm not having a lot of trouble with. It's the ones/things that have been added as the series goes on.
Don't try to say that I must not be really reading the story carefully if I'm having so much trouble remembering such details! I'm reading EVERY word and every word is registering! I'm paying attention to what I'm reading. I've been reading the book while Samuel is in the room. Samuel was bleeding (he'd picked a scab from his bites from our camping trip), and I was so into my book, he had to literally put his face between my face and my book in order to get my attention!
Not all of my posts about the Harry Potter series will be blasts against the books. I honestly am thoroughly enjoying reading--finally--the series. I am very glad I'm--finally--reading the books. I want to be reading right now, in fact. I've stayed up late to read. I have been reading when I should be doing house cleaning or other things around the house. I'm just as thoroughly engrossed in the series as I ever have been with the Twilight series. But I feel that I need to be completely honest and share the good, the bad, and the ugly....especially considering that this is my blog and I'm simply sharing my own, personal opinion....which everyone is entitled to---his/her own opinion, not to mine!!!! ;)
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