I LOVE this book!!!!

Yes, I stayed up until 4:00 am to finish MY LADY JANE by the Lady Janies. And it was so very worth it!!! This is my new favorite book! The Lady Janies have taken the tragic, horrific story of Lady Jane Grey and made it something hysterical to read. It is very clear that this a work of historical FICTION. There are details that are true to history, too, which makes a book like this that much more fantastic. I LOVE historical fiction and since I have always been uber fascinated with Lady Jane Grey, this book fed my love of reading like nothing else has! This book is simply delightful!

What makes this book even more super-fantastic are the wonderful

references to modern-day movies/stories!!

It is a clear tribute to one of my all-time favorite movies, LADYHAWKE--"always together, eternally apart." I hope this book sends millions of people running to watch this movie because it's fantastic!!!

There is a reference to The Red Wedding in GAME OF THRONES!!!

To my great delight, it is also a wonderful tribute to the amazing and super-fantastic THE PRINCESS BRIDE!!!! 

Lady Jane is described as a Hermoine-type character with a love of reading, loving libraries, and wild [red] hair!!!

Elizabeth (yes, THE Queen Elizabeth) is a Professor McGonagall-type character!!!

Lady Jane uses a frying pan to beat up soldiers, just like Rapunzel in TANGLED!!!! That's quite possibly my favorite part!!! "Frying pans! Who knew?!"

G reminds me so much of R in WARM BODIES! He's also portrayed as a would-be, possibly-could-have-been William Shakespeare! And his constant, "Oh, that's good. I need to write that down," is wonderfully reminiscent of the fantastic DRAGONHEART!!!

There is even a reference to JAWS!!! "We're going to need a bigger sword!"

I know I haven't even come close to mentioning all the wonderful stories the Lady Janes have referenced in the wonderful MY LADY JANE, so if you see others, I'd LOVE to compare notes. This book was worth the impulse buy, reading it all in one day, and staying up until 4:00 am!!!

HP just keeps getting better and better with every read!

Wow.  Just Wow.

I can't help wondering if Rowling had all these connections figured out before she ever started Book 1 or if they just kinda, sorta happened in a natural way.  Those of you who have read the series, you know what I'm talking about.  So many things come full circle from the beginning to the closing of the series.  It's actually overwhelming.

I have always been someone who remembers a LOT of details from the books I read.  I'm not bragging; it's the simple truth.  It's why Reading and teaching literature is my gift and I know I'm doing what I'm meant to do.  Just like some people can remember stats from football/baseball/basketball/soccer/etc. games even from 50 years ago, I can remember specific details about books I read even 20 years ago.  That doesn't keep me from re-reading my favorite books, I must say!

With that being said, I still found myself in awe of the details that Rowling brings full circle in Book 7--things I'd completely forgotten about or hadn't paid much attention to when I read the first 6 books.  It's INCREDIBLE how well she remembers every tiny detail and makes them all fit together so neatly.

I can't help but wonder how she was able to keep everything straight....how she remembered so many details.  I know she wrote the series and that makes her THE ABSOLUTE authority on the series, but it's still so incredible to imagine that she was able to remember even the minutest of details and she brings them up at the right moment and connects the dots.....Although, it appears that Harry and Voldemort are distantly related, but Harry never seems to make that connection.  I find that a bit odd.  It seems to be an important point--at least it does to me.

Wow.

Quickly, why I love Book 7 (and/or the series):

1.  See what I stated above.  Just so incredible!!!  As a writer-wanna-be, I'm in awe!!!

2.  Rowling definitely pulls from mythology, many previous stories, and THE LORD OF THE RINGS series.  There are many great connections and similar plot devices, yet at the same time, the STORY itself is unique.  It's not a re-telling of older stories; it's a unique story that uses older stories woven throughout.  Genius.  Absolutely genius.

3.  So many "secrets" are revealed in Book 7.  What makes that even more incredible is that there are secrets revealed that we, the readers, didn't even realize were secrets that needed to be revealed!  LOL!

4.  The story CAN BE SEEN as a Christian allegory focused especially on the theme of love (sacrificial love).  Whether Rowling meant for that to be true or not,--(I know Tolkien absolutely hated that people said he intended to write an allegory--he admitted that allegory CAN BE SEEN in THE LORD OF THE RINGS series, but he in no way wrote the story with that particular intention)--it's definitely there.

5.  One feature that makes a great book great, is that we fall in love with the characters--we CARE about the characters--we become so much a part of the story that we feel as if they are OUR best friends, too--but especially that when the story is over, we just want more!  Rowling is successful in each area to the nth degree!  I bawled like a baby when my favorite characters died.  At times, I was in such shock at certain deaths that tears wouldn't come even though I was terrible horrified.  What was so great about this read is that even though it's my third time (I think) reading book 7, I still cried, I still felt each and every part of the story as if I was reading it for the first time.  Awesome.

6.  That Samuel has read the whole series, too, and he loves it, too.  I love that we share this!  He'll talk to me about things he learned from the story!  I've even been able to use examples from the story to help Samuel in certain situations in his life.  I know when I use the examples from the series that he GETS IT.  (Don't get me wrong, now.  I use the Bible when I'm helping Samuel with life lessons, but it can't be denied that the HP series has great life examples that those of us who have read it can easily connect with.)

7.  The whole story focuses on the anti-hero theme.  Harry is not a great wizard, he doesn't have any especially powers, he's not the best in his class, and he even has physical flaws--something no true hero has in much of the early British Literature.  Hermoine would have been a better hero, but even she has physical flaws what with her bushy hair, overly large teeth, and know-it-all-ness.  Even Neville, the most anit-heroic character ever, shines and helps save the day in Book 7!  It's difficult not to shout for joy at Neville's incredible bravery in Book 7!!!!  I love that the heroes in the HP series aren't perfect.  Beowulf and other perfect characters like him make me want to punch them in the throat.  But these flawed, imperfect characters are relatable, and--it makes me feel if these flawed characters can be heroes, maybe I can be one, too!!!!

8.  It's just plain and simply a GREAT series!!!!

*Read on the Nook.*

Started:  August 4, 2012
Finished:  August 10, 2012

Started again:  March 31 (?), 2013
Finished again:  April 8, 2013
Started (again):  Friday, August 22, 2014
Finished (again):  Saturday, September 13, 2014

It's just worth reading over and over....What can I say?!

As a Christian, I guess I'm supposed to blast the HARRY POTTER series and condemn it, and J. K. Rowling, to eternal hell and damnation.

I must say, though, that I just don't feel that way.  Regardless of Rowling's beliefs, the HP series is a wonderful allegory (if one wants to see it as such) for the Christian.  What makes it even more awesome than anything else is the fact that the whole series has as major themes, love and friendship.  Of course, sacrificial love is a major part of that, but true friendship--even when friends have times when they don't get along or agree with each other--is a powerful message throughout the whole series.  I love that.  How can anyone say that's wrong?

Ok.  So the whole series is about witches and warlocks.  But there are witches in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and there's a warlock  or two in THE LORD OF THE RINGS--both of which are praised within the Christian community as wonderful reads.  I won't go any further with this in this post, but I just felt the need to say it......As a Christian, I LOVE the w-h-o-l-e HARRY POTTER series.

Now, a few of the reasons why HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE is so well worth the read:

1.  Friendship.  At the end of Book 5, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, Neville, and Luna all go to the Ministry of Magic together in an attempt to save Sirirus who they all believed was in danger of being killed by Tom Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort, himself.  This solidarity for these 6 young people brings them together as friends as not even Harry could conceive.  He honestly had no idea so many people cared--about him--or that he could care about so many.  Harry has always had a bit of a "hero-complex," but when his friends stand WITH him to do battle--even if it meant their deaths, that's some powerful stuff.  It always makes me cry.  In this 6th book in series, we see their friendships continue to grow and become more powerful.  Of course, we still don't get enough of Neville to make me truly happy, but we all realize that the series could be the NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM series if Tom Riddle hadn't chosen Harry as his enemy rather than Neville!

BTW:  I refuse to call him Lord Voldemort.  It's the name that give him more power than he deserves.  I think of him as Tom Riddle, just an ordinary warlock who went rogue in a desire for too much power.  He doesn't deserve to be called the name he himself chose....

2.  Harry and Ginny finally get together.  Well, sort of.  It's about time!  Of course, it didn't need to be any sooner because that would take away from the anticipation of Harry one day realizing that he loves her as much as she's loved him from the very beginning.

3.  Ron and Hermoine begin to realize their feelings for each other.  I truly wish Ron (Won-Won) didn't have to have the relationship with Lavender, but at the same time, it's part of what begins to open Ron's eyes to the fact that he's cared about Hermoine more than he thought--even from the first--and vice versa.  It's wonderful that we have to wait until Book 7 to see the two of them actually "consummate" their relationship, but it's definitely fun in Book 6 watching them begin to see the other with their "special eyes."  (I stole that from that 1-800 Contacts commercial!  LOL!)

4.  Snape is evil, yet throughout this school year, because Harry uses Snape's old Potions book, Snape actually helps Harry....which is what Snape has always tried to do!!!  The irony is that rather than seeing Snape for who and what he truly is, it makes Harry hate him even more.  It makes me love him even more!  I know it's a challenge for me to say this and you believe me, but even before I'd read the series through the first time or before I'd seen any of the movies, I just KNEW that there was more to Snape than meets the eye.  Sure, we see Snape at his worst--after all, he kills Dumbledore--but at the same time, we also begin to see how much he really does care about his students.  Sure, he's made a deal with Dumbledore that he'll have to kill Dumbledore when the time comes, but in large part, it's so Draco doesn't have to cross that threshold from just a mixed up kid to murderer/killer.  I LOVE Severus Snape!!!!

5.  It's just plain and simply a GREAT book.

What I don't like about Book 6 of the HP series:

1.  That we never find out the whole story of how Dumbledore hurt his hand, leading to his eventual death--

whether Snape does the deed or not.  I know we learn enough that we get a really good idea of how he damaged it, but I want to hear the WHOLE story.  Plus, Dumbledore promised Harry that he'd tell Harry.  But he keeps talking about other stuff.  It's good to learn the background of Tom Riddle because it is true that it's easier to take down an enemy when we know his (or her) strengths and weaknesses--plus, we learn about the Horcruxes--but I wanted to hear exactly how Dumbledore cursed his hand.

2.  We don't see Neville enough!  I guess that if Neville was in this book more, the book would have been THAT much longer....I, for one, would not have minded.

3.  There isn't a #3....and know that the previous 2 aren't really dislikes; they're more like frustrations!!!!!

My favorite of the HP books

I was reading a few of the other comments about Book 5 of the HARRY POTTER series, ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, and they aren't very positive.  I don't get it.  I LOVE this one!  This is the book where we learn that Neville could have been the one in Harry's place if Voldemort had CHOSEN Neville instead of Harry--which means that Harry and Neville share a birthday!  It also means that it's a given that we'll see much more of Neville and that Neville will prove to be much more than the bumbling idiot he was in years past.  We see Neville improve as part of the D.A. We see him stand his ground and go with Harry to the Department of Mysteries.  And he fights!  It's not his fault that his nose was broken and it affected his speech so he couldn't cast any more spells.  He did the best he could, staying close to Harry as much as possible.

I LOVE that we get to see Neville move into more of a heroic spot!!!  And, as I've said before, I LOVE Ginny, and we get a LOT more of Ginny in this book!  I wish they could have been part of Harry's inner circle rather than on the periphery.  They are all definitely friends, and Luna, too, but I just think Harry, Ron, and Hermoine should include Neville, Ginny, and Luna in their daily activities more....

This is also the book where Harry becomes more of a leader and begins to realize that he does have leadership qualities.  He needs some refining, but the more he leads the D.A., the more he gains confidence in his ability to lead.

But the ABSOLUTE BEST part of this book is how everyone stands together.  Harry thinks he has to do everything by himself, yet he also realizes his need for his friends as he's stuck at the Dursley's for weeks on end without any REAL word from his friends.  None of his friends will let him do anything on his own.  When he says he wants to speak to Sirius, look at how quickly all of his friends rushed to help him without a second thought to it--they didn't ask him why or what was going on; they just jumped right in and helped him.

The bonds of friendships are forged even deeper and solidifed to be stronger in ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.  Of course, I cry at most of the sad parts throughout the series, but the one thing that made me cry the hardest each time I've read the series is in the last book when Harry, Ron, and Hermonie visit Xenophilius Lovegood and go to Luna's room---where Luna has painted the images of herself, Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, and Neville on her ceiling with FRIENDS painted across their images.  That's SOOOO beautiful......

This is truly a turning point book in the series.  THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX is necessary in order to get to the plot and subplots of the last two books.

*Did you notice that I don't even bring up Umbridge?  I don't like talking about her because sadly, I think if I were to do a see-who-you-are-most-like-in-the-HARRY POTTER-series quiz, it would show that I'm most like her.  I don't want to think that could be true.  So I'm not bringing her up in this post at all!!!  ;)

My favorite Harry

GOBLET OF FIRE is one of my favorites in the series.  It's the one where, when dealing with plot devices in literature, we have the true turning point the overall series.  The kids aren't kids anymore--they're teenagers who are discovering just who and what they are and what they want to be in life.  (As a side note, it's interesting that even though Moody isn't the real Moody throughout this whole school term, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine all take his advice and choose to become Aurors.  You would think they wouldn't listen to anything Barty Crouch, Jr. says even if what he says is as Alastor Moody.  But, interestingly enough, Harry, in particular, does pursue a career as an Auror, proving that in spite of the fact that Moody wasn't Moody, Harry (and Ron and Hermoine) greatly admire and respect him.)

I love that we get more of an inkling that there might be something between Ron and Hermoine.  There have been hints in the 3 previous books, but this is the first time there's really a serious indication that there's more than meets the eye between these two.  Of course, it can't be TOO obvious or TOO easy for the two of them to get together ("The course of true love never did run smooth" you know!), so throwing in the fact that Ron is totally clueless to the fact that he cares more for Hermoine than as a friend as well as Hermoine getting a little friendly with Viktor Krum add a little spice and sizzle to the whole situation.

Rowling has gone on record stating that she'd originally thought about killing off Ron at some point in the series.  Personally, I wouldn't have wanted her to do that, but I have to say that a powerful, romantic love scene between Ron and Hermoine as he lay dying would have been something else to read.....I wouldn't have been able to keep reading or to sleep for a week from weeping and sobbing so hard!  It would have been genius on Rowling's part....to have Ron die, saving Hermoine's life somehow--and the two of them somehow realizing their true love for one another---only when it's too late.  And maybe even Ron telling her he understands if she finds someone else to love....even if it would be Harry.

Oh, wow.  That's powerful.  I'm all choked up just thinking about the possibility of Rowling doing that!  Not that I wanted Ron to die, you understand!  I just would have been a very powerful, moving, and, yes, romantic scene!!!

Anyway, GOBLET OF FIRE is also where we have an actual death IN and DURING the story itself.  Of course, Professor Quirrell dies in Book 1 when he touches Harry and Voldemort leaves his body.  But we all know that death doesn't really count in the overall scheme of things.  The death in this book is of a beloved character--even though Cedric Diggory doesn't really come in to the story until Book 4.  (He IS mentioned very briefly in at least one of the previous books during a scene when several other characters are in a group and are mentioned, but Cedric doesn't actually enter the STORY until Book 4.)  It's a very violent and powerful death, one which Harry feels responsible for simply because he and Cedric agree to take the Goblet together at the same time.  Plus, Harry almost dies--again.

GOBLET OF FIRE is a long book that is a bit of a challenge to get through--there's a lot of information that we have to remember as well as quite a few new characters.  It gets a little complicated trying to remember everything, but it is a testament to the fact that Rowling truly is an incredible storyteller in that we as readers DO remember as much as we do remember throughout this long, great portion of the HARRY POTTER series.....!

I had a thought during the reading of this book.....does anyone know the exact number of times Harry has had to have medical attention throughout the whole series???  And can anyone name each of those times and which book each happens????  I think it'd be fun and interesting if we started a running list that we all share and add to as we remember them!!!!  (It'd be interesting to include the times Ron and Hermoine need medical attention, too.  Hermoine needs more than I remembered from my first couple of readings!)

HP's 3rd year

AZKABAN is not really one of my favorites in the HP series, and the movie has a lot to do with it.  What I don't like about the book:

1.  The movie is least like the book.  I kept waiting for Harry to see Peter Pettigrew on the Marauder's Map and to ask Lupin how someone dead could be seen on the map.  Why'd they have to change that so thoroughly between the book and the movie?!  There's no need.  It works that that's how Lupin knew where Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Sirius, and Scabbers (Peter) were.  In the movie, Harry tells Lupin that he's seen Peter Pettigrew on the map, and it's AGES and AGES later before Lupin does something about it.  Lupin knows immediately that the map never lies which means that the whole deal with Sirius killing all those people had to have been a lie--and that Peter was the "bad guy," not Sirius.  Anyway, that just made that part really ridiculous.

2.  The way both Remus and Sirius are described when they change in the book is that they're both very large--huge, in fact.  The wimpy, walking on two-legs werewolf that is Lupin in the movie version is just so very ridiculous-looking that it ruined Lupin as a werewolf for me.  I mean, here's this GREAT guy who turns into this huge, scary creature and all I want to do when I see the movie version of him is to punch the guy who created the werewolf.  And Sirius is just the size of a large wolf, not even close to the gigantic size he's described as in the book.  So very disappointing.

3.  In the book, as long as they're at Hogwarts, especially, everyone always his/her school robes.  In the movie, only the teachers wear their robes, and sometimes even that's not true.  Snape is the only one in the movie who always seems to wear his robes--which is great for the bat-like effect he has.  But I like the idea of the school robes.  Americanizing the story or "Muggl-izing" the story by having the wizard kids (and adults in most cases) wear regular Muggle clothing is just ridiculous.  It completely takes away for the whole wizarding world for me.  That's part of what's so great about this series:  we're taken to a whole new world (kind of going over the rainbow, you know, or being in Middle Earth), but the director of the movie felt that we didn't need to be experience that world so he put everyone in Muggle clothing?!  Stupid director.

4.  Harry, Ron, and Hermoine, for more than half (close to two-thirds, maybe) of the book are fighting and not even talking to each other.  Harry and Ron do a lot without Hermoine and it just isn't right.  I get that young people fight/argue all the time, but best friends don't go MONTHS without making up.  That's just not right.  I guess that, ultimately, it solidifies their friendship even more, but for them to go as long as they did without making up just because of a few ridiculous things--Crookshanks looking like he's eaten Scabbers (good grief---it's a STUPID rat!  It just isn't feasible that even Ron would choose a dumb rat over one of his best friends) and then Hermoine getting Harry's Firebolt taken away (she was just worried about him---it shows she really cares---Harry and Ron should have seen that--how could they be so blinded by their desire to keep the Firebolt not to see that Hermoine did what she did because she truly cares about Harry?  So ridiculous!!!)

5.  And don't forget that neither Neville nor Ginny appears in this book very much at all!  I want more of

those two!!!!

What I love about the book:

1.  Hermoine punches Malfoy right in the face!!!!  Now, granted, I honestly like Malfoy.  I know he's a bully, but he's really a kid who just needs some attention and to know that he's special, too.  He's obviously very jealous of Harry and would like people to notice him, too.

2.  Harry is able to produce a full Patronus.  That's really awesome.  And he's only 13 in this one, so to be able to do that already shows that he's not such a weak wizard after all.  It's why, ultimately, he becomes the teacher for Dumbledore's Army.

3.  For just a few minutes, Harry has someone else he could live with instead of the Dursley's.  I, too, would have liked for Harry to be able to live with someone who truly cares about him and will do things with him and treat him as a son.  Of course, Sirius is just insane enough after being in Azkaban all those years, that he sees Harry as James a bit too much.  Not so much in this particular book, but we do see it more and more and the series goes until Sirius' death---and it's just plain creepy.

**Read:  June 2, 2012 to June 9, 2012
***Read again:  Sunday, February 10, 2013 to....Tuesday, February 19, 2013
****And again:  Tuesday, July 8, 2014 to Monday, July 14, 2014

I do love the HP series

I love this series.  I honestly can't believe it took me so long to read it.  How did she do it?  How did she create a WHOLE series, 7 whole books, and weave in all the details so seamlessly and, seemingly, effortlessly.  So many details that are briefly mentioned, just thrown in with other information that they seem unimportant, insignificant, but then later, those very same unimportant, insignificant details come back into the story and reveal how very important they are.

This is definitely NOT a series anyone can read just once.  It's better than potato chips.  Not only can we, as

readers, read just one book in the series, but we also can't read the whole series just once!  I see some any incredible new details and parts of the story that I realize I missed the first time through.

I would love to meet Rowling.  At the same time, I'd be scared out of my mind to do so.  What would I say to her that wouldn't be gushing and the same thing she's heard a gajillion times?  What questions would I ask her that are unique, that she hasn't been asked a zillion times already?  It would still be awesome to meet her.

I think CHAMBER OF SECRETS is one of my favorites simply Ginny Weasley plays such an important role to the story as a whole.  My only problem is that we don't actually see her as often as I'd like throughout the book.  Even though she's central to the whole story, she's only mentioned briefly a few times--just to make sure we haven't forgotten about her and as VERY subtle hints that she's the one......oops.  Gonna give away important information....probably already have said too much!  But my point is that I love Ginny; I wish she was the series as a whole a lot more than she is.  I want to read more about her.  I want to see more of her on the screen in the movie versions.....

(I want to read a LOT more about Neville, too. I LOVE Neville!)

Did you know that the actress who played Ginny Weasley in the movie versions is marrying (or has already married) they guy who plays Anthony in SWEENEY TODD.  He's also in one or two of the TWILIGHT movies as one of the Volturie.  I think that's wonderful.....I love both of them as actors/actresses.

I can't wait to read THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN!!!! (May 27 to June 1, 2012)

Read again:  Friday, February 1, 2013 to Sunday, February 10, 2013*
Read again:  Friday, July 4, 2014 to Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Still GREAT

Now I've read it at least 5 times and it just gets better and better.  I LOVE the HARRY POTTER series!  My question for you is this.....Why couldn't Neville be part of the "inner circle" with Harry, Ron, and Hermoine?  Just as the original 3 are bonded by their fighting and defeating of the troll, aren't they bonded with Neville, too, first when he gets in trouble with Harry and Hermoine and have to have detention with them????  And secondly when he stands up to them and ends up being in a body bind curse???  And he's rewarded for standing up to them and trying to keep them out of trouble!  Doesn't that warrant Neville as an official friend of the original group????  I think it does and I, for one, wish that Rowling had included Neville in ALL of Harry, Ron, and Hermoine's adventures!!!!!

This series, especially the first book, will go down among the great classics and will continue to be read as long as literature classes are taught.  It really does deserve that.  Rowling did a superb job with each individual story as well as with the series overall.  Wow.  Seven books overall and it appears that she didn't make any huge plot errors!  That's HUGE!  Especially considering that she wrote each book as they were being published....so she was writing the next one (if not already 2 ahead) when the previous one was finally released to the public.  Yet she pulled the whole thing off and we, her audience, love it to the point of fanaticism.

I didn't read the books for years....not because I didn't want to, but because James kept throwing away the copies I'd been given.  I'd had 3 different people GIVE me copies of the books and James threw away each and every copy.  Then, finally, my British Lit class a few years ago (2009, I think it was--or was it 2010?) chose to read the book for class.  That time, when I brought home a copy of the book, James couldn't throw it away because it was reading for school!  Needless to say, I flew through all 7 books quickly and turned right around and read all 7 books a 2nd time!  And now, I'm reading the WHOLE series for a 3rd time!  And I love it just as much this time as I did the first time.

One disappointing thing about reading the series is the knowledge that even if I ever write and publish something, it'll NEVER be as GREAT, AWESOME, STUPENDOUS as the HARRY POTTER series.  I guess if I'm shooting for that level of fame, I shouldn't be writing anyway.  The object is to write because I HAVE to write--for myself.  And I do feel that way, but nudging me in the back of my mind is still the thought that I, nor anyone else for that matter, will ever hope to achieve even 1/4 of the incredible world that is HARRY POTTER........


Started May 22, 2012 & Finished May 27, 2012
Read again January 31, 2013
Again:  Begin on Friday, June 28, 2014 & finished on Friday, July 4, 2014

Sick & tired of labeling novels

I have been frustrated for a long time about the labels that are put on books, but now that I've finished reading several books by Gayle Forman, I can't keep quiet any longer.  Gayle Forman's books--If I Stay, Where She Went, Just one Day, Just one Year, and Just one Night--are all labeled as "Young Adult" works of fiction.  John Green's books, especially The Fault in our Stars, is also labeled as "Young Adult" fiction.  Stephen Chbosky's book The Perks of Being a Wallflower is also considered "Young Adult" literature.  J. K. Rowling's whole Harry Potter series (all 7 books) is labeled in the "Young Adult" or, more often I do believe, the "Children's" category of fiction.

But...well, Seriously?!

I'll give you that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the first book in the series, is VERY much appropriate for Young Adult, even Children's Literature. Harry and his closest friends are 11 and they have adventures appropriate for 11 year olds.  The first couple of books in the series are simply adorable and majorly fun to read.  But, as even J. K. Rowling has admitted, the books get darker as the series goes on, beginning especially with book four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where a major character's death takes place in all it's horrific glory.  

By the time we get to the death of another major character in book five, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the books are not only dark because of the deaths taking place, but they're dark because they have moments where Harry and his friends are in real danger and for young children reading the books, especially twelve year olds, these moments can be very scary.  

Granted, some children are mature enough by the time they are twelve years old to handle the plot, the story line of the last four of the Harry Potter books, but at the same time, as a teacher, a mother, and an avid reader, I'm not comfortable with the books being "Children's" Literature for the simple fact that because of that label, many parents--and teachers--give children free rein to read such books without reading the books for themselves or WITH their children/students.  

What if the youngsters reading these books have never dealt with death before?  Except maybe in books?  Some of these deaths (most of them, actually) are FELT by the reader to the core.  Even as an adult, I sobbed like a big baby (truly--snot running down my face, blubbering, body-shaking sobs) when Dobby dies in the act of saving Harry and his friends.  I had to stop reading for a while because his death shook me up so much.  And it continues to do do so every single time I read the books.

And what about all the kissing and talking about "snogging" in the last several books?  It was bound to happen as Harry and his friends get older.  While there isn't any indication of anything going on between the youngsters beyond kissing, Rowling certainly leaves the door open to the very real possibility that more happens between some of the couples.  Nothing is written in a manner that can or should be deemed as inappropriate, but it is a reality that Harry and the rest of the beloved characters are getting older.

My point about the Harry Potter series is simply that while the first two books (and maybe book three) can easily be in the "Children's" or even "Young Adult" category, by the time the books get to book four, the such labels are simply too simplistic.  It's a crime to label books in such categories mainly or just because the major characters in the story are children or teenagers.  The focus should be more on the action of the story--the plot--which is much darker than "Children's" or "Young Adult" literature implies.

As much as I absolutely love each of these novels, I don't feel comfortable with them being labeled as "Children's" literature or even "Young Adult" literature.  While teenagers and/or younger children might be the main characters in these stories, each one has a difficult themes and plots and story lines that are just more mature than your average reader is used to.  Granted, most of the young adults who do pick up these books to read because they WANT to read them are more mature than the average person who is made to read such books, but it just seems as if we're putting labels on books and advertising them for a particular age group more because the main characters than because the stories should truly be read by your average young adult readers--without a parent or other respected adult reading the books, too, so conversations can take place regarding the difficult/hard themes, etc. within these books.

I realize that I'm not making myself very clear and that so far, I've spent an awful lot of time rambling in an attempt to make my point, but it just goes to show how discombobulated my thoughts about this mis-labeling are.  I am certainly glad any time I hear that young people are reading--no matter what it is that they're reading, it is important that they READ.  

But with reading novels with such challenging themes, plots, stories, details, etc. comes great responsibility and sometimes, these young people read these books not because they're prepared for what they're getting themselves into but because the books are labeled as "Children's" or "Young Adult" literature and thus, they go into these books blinded not by knowledge of what to expect within these stories but open only to the knowledge that the books they've picked up are age-appropriate....when, in reality, they may not yet be ready to read these stories--at least not without some guidance or discussion throughout the reading.

Of course, parents--adults--reading these books with their kids has a lot of great benefits.

For one, they have an opportunity to bond over great stories--great literature--when parents read books with their kids.  Maybe sometimes, they can even read the stories out loud to one another so that they can HEAR the different nuances within the stories that can only be heard when read aloud.  There are studies after studies that discuss the benefits of parents reading to their kids.  Why should that stop just because the kids are getting older and are called "Young Adults"????

Reading such books with our kids also opens the door for great, powerful conversations.  For example, in Just One Year by Gayle Forman (as well as others), Willem finds a relationship with his mother whom he as assumed for years doesn't care enough about him to know where he is, what he's doing, or who he's with.  It's wonderful for young people to see that parents aren't the enemy--that there is actually so much more to our parents than we'll ever realize--even if/when we do realize how amazing our parents are.

Adults reading such books with their kids also gives parents a hard dose of reality of where their kids really ARE.  I admit that I like living in a world where I believe young people aren't and don't have sex when they're so young--12, 13, 14, but the reality is that young people ARE having sex (and doing drugs, Lord help us, in spite of all the "Just Say No" campaigns).  Reading these books together can also help open the door for the tough conversations about sex and consequences, etc. of having sex not only at such a young age, but outside of marriage--if that's what the parents choose to talk about.

And don't forget the instant connection that we all feel any time someone loves something as much we do!  Why not have that kind of connection with our kids?!  I love it when Samuel or I can throw out a quote from one of our favorite books and the other either finishes it, says the next line, or picks it up and takes the conversation to the next level.  We only have to say one word or phrase sometimes for the other to "get it" and things to take off from there!  It's even better than sharing a favorite television show!!!

And how about the very simple fact that you each are READING????  

  

Oops, I read it again!

OK, so TWILIGHT won't ever be considered "great" literature.  It won't become part of the literary canon.  It isn't even close to the level of the HARRY POTTER books or Jodi Picoult.  But let's face it; TWILIGHT is a FUN read.  I can't help it.  It draws me in even though it's not serious reading.  I call it my "guilty pleasure" reading, just like my Mary Balogh books.  I know it's sappy and, in many ways, just plain ridiculous, but I love it.  I find some of the story just plain embarrassing and others simply unrealistic, but even at that, I am drawn to the story like a moth to a flame.  I won't apologize for enjoying TWILIGHT or any of the other books in the series.  It is what it is.

I think we all need some things that we read that are just for pure enjoyment rather than having to THINK so hard about the symbolism and deeper meanings and theme and setting and so on and so forth.  Sometimes we readers just want to read something for the sake of reading.  It's kind of like how I'll read even the backs of shampoo bottles or deodorant cans in the bathroom when I don't have a book in there with me.

Do I believe in vampires?  Absolutely not.  I do believe that there are people who want to be vampires so much that they'll go to great lengths to become as close to a real vampire as they possibly can.  I think that's pretty ridiculous, but to each his own.

Do I believe even for a second that if Bella smelled as incredible to Edward the Vampire as he clams that he honestly would have been able to control his vampiric urges and keep from killing her?  Not even for half a mili-second.  Really?!  I just don't think so.  Bella was dead the second Edward caught her scent.  But it's fun to imagine that Edward is strong enough to withstand his basal vampiric urges and ultimately to fall in love with the one person who is his "brand of heroin."

Would Edward really be able to suck the venom out of Bella after James' bit her?  Not a chance.  That's too easy.  She'd have been a vampire right then and there.  But if she'd become a vampire this early in the series, we never would have the triangle between Jacob, Bella, and Edward.  Bella would never have a chance to get to know Jacob better if she were already a vampire by the end of the first book.  And what fun would that be?!

Let's face it....for all those nay-sayers about TWILIGHT, they're right that TWILIGHT isn't GREAT.  But my response is that it doesn't have to be GREAT to be FUN to read!!!!!

Now on to MIDNIGHT SUN!  Yeah, I'm gonna read that before I get to NEW MOON!  I haven't looked up MIDNIGHT SUN on Goodreads yet; it'll be interesting to find out if it has it listed!!!

August 19, 2012 to August 22, 2012
February 11, 2014 to February 20, 2014

The HP Series really is a work of Genius

As a Christian, I guess I'm supposed to blast the HARRY POTTER series and condemn it, and J. K. Rowling, to eternal hell and damnation. 

I must say, though, that I just don't feel that way.  Regardless of Rowling's beliefs, the HP series is a wonderful allegory (if one wants to see it as such) for the Christian.  What makes it even more awesome than anything else is the fact that the whole series has as major themes, love and friendship.  Of course, sacrificial love is a major part of that, but true friendship--even when friends have times when they don't get along or agree with each other--is a powerful message throughout the whole series.  I love that.  How can anyone say that's wrong? 

Ok.  So the whole series is about witches and warlocks.  But there are witches in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and there's a warlock  or two in THE LORD OF THE RINGS--both of which are praised within the Christian community as wonderful reads.  I won't go any further with this in this post, but I just felt the need to say it......As a Christian, I LOVE the w-h-o-l-e HARRY POTTER series.

Now, a few of the reasons why HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE is so well worth the read:

1.  Friendship.  At the end of Book 5, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, Neville, and Luna all go to the Ministry of Magic together in an attempt to save Sirirus who they all believed was in danger of being killed by Tom Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort, himself.  This solidarity for these 6 young people brings them together as friends as not even Harry could conceive.  He honestly had no idea so many people cared--about him--or that he could care about so many.  Harry has always had a bit of a "hero-complex," but when his friends stand WITH him to do battle--even if it meant their deaths, that's some powerful stuff.  It always makes me cry.  In this 6th book in series, we see their friendships continue to grow and become more powerful.  Of course, we still don't get enough of Neville to make me truly happy, but we all realize that the series could be the NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM series if Tom Riddle hadn't chosen Harry as his enemy rather than Neville!

BTW:  I refuse to call him Lord Voldemort.  It's the name that give him more power than he deserves.  I think of him as Tom Riddle, just an ordinary warlock who went rogue in a desire for too much power.  He doesn't deserve to be called the name he himself chose....

2.  Harry and Ginny finally get together.  Well, sort of.  It's about time!  Of course, it didn't need to be any sooner because that would take away from the anticipation of Harry one day realizing that he loves her as much as she's loved him from the very beginning. 

3.  Ron and Hermoine begin to realize their feelings for each other.  I truly wish Ron (Won-Won) didn't have to have the relationship with Lavender, but at the same time, it's part of what begins to open Ron's eyes to the fact that he's cared about Hermoine more than he thought--even from the first--and vice versa.  It's wonderful that we have to wait until Book 7 to see the two of them actually "consummate" their relationship, but it's definitely fun in Book 6 watching them begin to see the other with their "special eyes."  (I stole that from that 1-800 Contacts commercial!  LOL!)

4.  Snape is evil, yet throughout this school year, because Harry uses Snape's old Potions book, Snape actually helps Harry....which is what Snape has always tried to do!!!  The irony is that rather than seeing Snape for who and what he truly is, it makes Harry hate him even more.  It makes me love him even more!  I know it's a challenge for me to say this and you believe me, but even before I'd read the series through the first time or before I'd seen any of the movies, I just KNEW that there was more to Snape than meets the eye.  Sure, we see Snape at his worst--after all, he kills Dumbledore--but at the same time, we also begin to see how much he really does care about his students.  Sure, he's made a deal with Dumbledore that he'll have to kill Dumbledore when the time comes, but in large part, it's so Draco doesn't have to cross that threshold from just a mixed up kid to murderer/killer.  I LOVE Severus Snape!!!!

5.  It's just plain and simply a GREAT book.

What I don't like about Book 6 of the HP series:

1.  That we never find out the whole story of how Dumbledore hurt his hand, leading to his eventual death--whether Snape does the deed or not.  I know we learn enough that we get a really good idea of how he damaged it, but I want to hear the WHOLE story.  Plus, Dumbledore promised Harry that he'd tell Harry.  But he keeps talking about other stuff.  It's good to learn the background of Tom Riddle because it is true that it's easier to take down an enemy when we know his (or her) strengths and weaknesses--plus, we learn about the Horcruxes--but I wanted to hear exactly how Dumbledore cursed his hand.

2.  We don't see Neville enough!  I guess that if Neville was in this book more, the book would have been THAT much longer....I, for one, would not have minded. 

3.  There isn't a #3....and know that the previous 2 aren't really dislikes; they're more like frustrations!!!!!

*Read on the Nook.*

I, for one, love Book 5 of HP

I was reading a few of the other comments about Book 5 of the HARRY POTTER series, ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, and they aren't very positive.  I don't get it.  I LOVE this one!  This is the book where we learn that Neville could have been the one in Harry's place if Voldemort had CHOSEN Neville instead of Harry--which means that Harry and Neville share a birthday!  It also means that it's a given that we'll see much more of Neville and that Neville will prove to be much more than the bumbling idiot he was in years past.  We see Neville improve as part of the D.A. We see him stand his ground and go with Harry to the Department of Mysteries.  And he fights!  It's not his fault that his nose was broken and it affected his speech so he couldn't cast any more spells.  He did the best he could, staying close to Harry as much as possible. 

I LOVE that we get to see Neville move into more of a heroic spot!!!  And, as I've said before, I LOVE Ginny, and we get a LOT more of Ginny in this book!  I wish they could have been part of Harry's inner circle rather than on the periphery.  They are all definitely friends, and Luna, too, but I just think Harry, Ron, and Hermoine should include Neville, Ginny, and Luna in their daily activities more....

This is also the book where Harry becomes more of a leader and begins to realize that he does have leadership qualities.  He needs some refining, but the more he leads the D.A., the more he gains confidence in his ability to lead. 

But the ABSOLUTE BEST part of this book is how everyone stands together.  Harry thinks he has to do everything by himself, yet he also realizes his need for his friends as he's stuck at the Dursley's for weeks on end without any REAL word from his friends.  None of his friends will let him do anything on his own.  When he says he wants to speak to Sirius, look at how quickly all of his friends rushed to help him without a second thought to it--they didn't ask him why or what was going on; they just jumped right in and helped him. 

The bonds of friendships are forged even deeper and solidifed to be stronger in ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.  Of course, I cry at most of the sad parts throughout the series, but the one thing that made me cry the hardest each time I've read the series is in the last book when Harry, Ron, and Hermonie visit Xenophilius Lovegood and go to Luna's room---where Luna has painted the images of herself, Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Ginny, and Neville on her ceiling with FRIENDS painted across their images.  That's SOOOO beautiful......

This is truly a turning point book in the series.  THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX is necessary in order to get to the plot and subplots of the last two books. 

*Did you notice that I don't even bring up Umbridge?  I don't like talking about her because sadly, I think if I were to do a see-who-you-are-most-like-in-the-HARRY POTTER-series quiz, it would show that I'm most like her.  I don't want to think that could be true.  So I'm not bringing her up in this post at all!!!  ;)

*Read on the Nook*

How many times has Harry needed medical help?

GOBLET OF FIRE is one of my favorites in the series.  It's the one where, when dealing with plot devices in literature, we have the true turning point the overall series.  The kids aren't kids anymore--they're teenagers who are discovering just who and what they are and what they want to be in life.  (As a side note, it's interesting that even though Moody isn't the real Moody throughout this whole school term, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine all take his advice and choose to become Aurors.  You would think they wouldn't listen to anything Barty Crouch, Jr. says even if what he says is as Alastor Moody.  But, interestingly enough, Harry, in particular, does pursue a career as an Auror, proving that in spite of the fact that Moody wasn't Moody, Harry (and Ron and Hermoine) greatly admire and respect him.) 

I love that we get more of an inkling that there might be something between Ron and Hermoine.  There have been hints in the 3 previous books, but this is the first time there's really a serious indication that there's more than meets the eye between these two.  Of course, it can't be TOO obvious or TOO easy for the two of them to get together ("The course of true love never did run smooth" you know!), so throwing in the fact that Ron is totally clueless to the fact that he cares more for Hermoine than as a friend as well as Hermoine getting a little friendly with Viktor Krum add a little spice and sizzle to the whole situation. 

Rowling has gone on record stating that she'd originally thought about killing off Ron at some point in the series.  Personally, I wouldn't have wanted her to do that, but I have to say that a powerful, romantic love scene between Ron and Hermoine as he lay dying would have been something else to read.....I wouldn't have been able to keep reading or to sleep for a week from weeping and sobbing so hard!  It would have been genius on Rowling's part....to have Ron die, saving Hermoine's life somehow--and the two of them somehow realizing their true love for one another---only when it's too late.  And maybe even Ron telling her he understands if she finds someone else to love....even if it would be Harry.

Oh, wow.  That's powerful.  I'm all choked up just thinking about the possibility of Rowling doing that!  Not that I wanted Ron to die, you understand!  I just would have been a very powerful, moving, and, yes, romantic scene!!!

Anyway, GOBLET OF FIRE is also where we have an actual death IN and DURING the story itself.  Of course, Professor Quirrell dies in Book 1 when he touches Harry and Voldemort leaves his body.  But we all know that death doesn't really count in the overall scheme of things.  The death in this book is of a beloved character--even though Cedric Diggory doesn't really come in to the story until Book 4.  (He IS mentioned very briefly in at least one of the previous books during a scene when several other characters are in a group and are mentioned, but Cedric doesn't actually enter the STORY until Book 4.)  It's a very violent and powerful death, one which Harry feels responsible for simply because he and Cedric agree to take the Goblet together at the same time.  Plus, Harry almost dies--again.

GOBLET OF FIRE is a long book that is a bit of a challenge to get through--there's a lot of information that we have to remember as well as quite a few new characters.  It gets a little complicated trying to remember everything, but it is a testament to the fact that Rowling truly is an incredible storyteller in that we as readers DO remember as much as we do remember throughout this long, great portion of the HARRY POTTER series.....!

I had a thought during the reading of this book.....does anyone know the exact number of times Harry has had to have medical attention throughout the whole series???  And can anyone name each of those times and which book each happens????  I think it'd be fun and interesting if we started a running list that we all share and add to as we remember them!!!!  (It'd be interesting to include the times Ron and Hermoine need medical attention, too.  Hermoine needs more than I remembered from my first couple of readings!)

More Ginny....Lots more, and Neville, too

I love this series.  I honestly can't believe it took me so long to read it.  How did she do it?  How did she create a WHOLE series, 7 whole books, and weave in all the details so seamlessly and, seemingly, effortlessly.  So many details that are briefly mentioned, just thrown in with other information that they seem unimportant, insignificant, but then later, those very same unimportant, insignificant details come back into the story and reveal how very important they are.

This is definitely NOT a series anyone can read just once.  It's better than potato chips.  Not only can we, as readers, read just one book in the series, but we also can't read the whole series just once!  I see some any incredible new details and parts of the story that I realize I missed the first time through. 

I would love to meet Rowling.  At the same time, I'd be scared out of my mind to do so.  What would I say to her that wouldn't be gushing and the same thing she's heard a gajillion times?  What questions would I ask her that are unique, that she hasn't been asked a zillion times already?  It would still be awesome to meet her.

I think CHAMGER OF SECRETS is one of my favorites simply Ginny Weasley plays such an important role to the story as a whole.  My only problem is that we don't actually see her as often as I'd like throughout the book.  Even though she's central to the whole story, she's only mentioned briefly a few times--just to make sure we haven't forgotten about her and as VERY subtle hints that she's the one......oops.  Gonna give away important information....probably already have said too much!  But my point is that I love Ginny; I wish she was the series as a whole a lot more than she is.  I want to read more about her.  I want to see more of her on the screen in the movie versions.....

(I want to read a LOT more about Neville, too. I LOVE Neville!)

Did you know that the actress who played Ginny Weasley in the movie versions is marrying (or has already married) they guy who plays Anthony in SWEENEY TODD.  He's also in one or two of the TWILIGHT movies as one of the Volturie.  I think that's wonderful.....I love both of them as actors/actresses.

I can't wait to read THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN!!!!

3rd Time's the Charm: HARRY POTTER, again!

Officially, this is my 3rd time reading Book 1 of the HARRY POTTER series.  It just gets better and better every time.  The first time I read it, I highlighted/took note of a small handful of details--very specific details that I felt would be important in the long run.  The 2nd reading, I highlighted details that revealed important "secrets" that we learn later in the series, as well as other details that really stood out to me.  This 3rd time, I sill highlighted a lot.....just things that stood out to me. 

One thing that's been driving me crazy throughout each reading of the series as been the misuse of subject/pronoun agreement with Indefinite pronouns.  I would like to say that it must be an American editor's mistake in the "translation" from British to American English.  I can't imagine, though, that between J. K. Rowling, her British editors, AND American editors that none of them caught the mistakes!  And there are a quite a few.  It's very disturbing to see them so rampant in a series as popular as this one.

This series, especially the first book, will go down among the great classics and will continue to be read as long as literature classes are taught.  It really does deserve that.  Rowling did a superb job with each individual story as well as with the series overall.  Wow.  Seven books overall and it appears that she didn't make any huge plot errors!  That's HUGE!  Especially considering that she wrote each book as they were being published....so she was writing the next one (if not already 2 ahead) when the previous one was finally released to the public.  Yet she pulled the whole thing off and we, her audience, love it to the point of fanaticism.

I didn't read the books for years....not because I didn't want to, but because James kept throwing away the copies I'd been given.  I'd had 3 different people GIVE me copies of the books and James threw away each and every copy.  Then, finally, my British Lit class a few years ago (2009, I think it was--or was it 2010?) chose to read the book for class.  That time, when I brought home a copy of the book, James couldn't throw it away because it was reading for school!  Needless to say, I flew through all 7 books quickly and turned right around and read all 7 books a 2nd time!  And now, I'm reading the WHOLE series for a 3rd time!  And I love it just as much this time as I did the first time.

One disappointing thing about reading the series is the knowledge that even if I ever write and publish something, it'll NEVER be as GREAT, AWESOME, STUPENDOUS as the HARRY POTTER series.  I guess if I'm shooting for that level of fame, I shouldn't be writing anyway.  The object is to write because I HAVE to write--for myself.  And I do feel that way, but nudging me in the back of my mind is still the thought that I, nor anyone else for that matter, will ever hope to achieve even 1/4 of the incredible world that is HARRY POTTER........

I am so excited to re-read the whole series--again!  I'm really only NOT reading right now because Samuel's Nook needs recharging.  I can read while it charges, but where we have it plugged in is right over a vent and it's cold sitting in the recliner!  So I'm letting it charge for a little while before I get back to reading Book 2 again!

BTW:  in case you missed that, for THIS reading, I'm reading the whole series on Samuel's Nook.  It's different.  I like it in a lot of ways.  One thing in particular that I like is that I can, at a glance, see everything I've highlighted and all my comments.  That's a really great feature.  One thing I wish I could do on the Nook that I can't is have a random Notes page where I post comments and names of characters and relationships, etc.  If you look on the inside front cover of Samuel and I's copy of Book 2, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, you'll see that I've listed all the characters in the book, including the years of the Weasleys as well as information about the different Houses at Hogwarts, and, because I've also used this book in my British Lit class, Quiz questions are listed, too--on post-its.  If I had the random Notes page that I could create, I could continue with that......I'll have to dig a little deeper and see if that feature is there.

One negative about reading on the Nook is that it's actually Samuel's Nook.  When he wants to read or is at school, I have to find something else to read--or do.  That's really frustrating when all I want to do is read HARRY POTTER!!!  I can't wait to catch up to Samuel!  He's finishing up Book 6 and going to read Book 7 over the summer.  I think I'll be on Book 7 before he finishes it.....I should make a little wager with him about that.....See who can finish first.  Maybe if he finishes Book 7 before I do--maybe even before I even start it, he'd get.....something he REALLY wants.........hmmmmmmm.  I'll have to think hard about this one because everything he really wants right now is expensive!!!!