Reaction to Rereading the First Three Harry Potter Books!

This summer, one of my goals was to reread the Harry Potter series!  I've done this multiple times already but it's always a new and exciting experience diving into the world again.  And this time, I was diving back in with two friends!  We've been reading the books together and just finished the third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and I have some thoughts on the first three books, friends.  

Fair warning, there will be spoilers for all three books throughout the post.  If you haven't read this series already, go do it!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling 

Okay, so I love this series and all the books in it, but I found I actually struggled a bit with this one.  I know, I know.  I was getting really distressed by how difficult I found it to get through this one!  I mean, it's not like it's boring; there's magic and awesome feasts and making new friends and scary villains.  But I realized that so much of the first book is just backstory and laying the foundation for the rest of the series.  As much as I love all that information, I wanted to get into the main story.  I forced myself to read all of it though; no skimming or anything.  I want the full experience this reread!

Another thing I noticed while reading this one is how mean Harry and Ron are to Hermione.  I always realized they were rude before but I was honestly a bit horrified while reading about it this time around.  It got to the point where they were just straight up bullying her and it made me really uncomfortable.  As much as I love the trio, I would have liked to see a little more love from the boys to Hermione during this book.  I mean, she obviously cares so much about them, and it especially shows in the end when they're going through the different obstacles; she's really concerned about both of them and it makes me sad that they don't always show that same concern.  

Overall, I enjoyed this was but grew a little tired of reading about the history and background of the world when I already know all about it.  It was worth it to read all the way through, though, especially because I was able to pick up foreshadowing in a couple of spots for later novels in the series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

This one ALWAYS FREAKS ME OUT.  I just cannot handle the creepy snake hissing and talking all throughout the castle pipes.  I don't know how Harry was able to stand hearing that voice or WHY HE WENT LOOKING FOR IT.  But I guess that's why he's in Gryffindor and I'm in Ravenclaw.  But for real, am I the only one that is creeped the heck out by this book? 

There was definitely still some foundation laying going on it this one but the actual story began to pick up when we got more information about Voldemort and his past as Tom Riddle.  He has such an interesting back story; I find it really cool how J.K. Rowling drops hints and tidbits about it through the entire series before revealing it in its entirety in the last few.  

Also, I found Lockhart to be SO.  ANNOYING.  in this book.  He's always been irritating but I genuinely couldn't stand reading about him this book and I have no idea why Dumbledore would hire him?  He obviously has no real knowledge of the dark arts and has gotten by cheating and cursing other people; why would Dumbledore allow him to teach at Hogwarts, especially a subject that is so vital?  I don't understand it.  

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

I was so excited to finally get this this book.  In my mind, this is where the story really kicks off and I absolutely loved it.  This book used to be my favorite in the entire series, and while it's not anymore, it still it loads of fun to read.  One of my favorite parts of it are the Quiddich matches; Lee Jordan's commentary is amazing and so hilarious.  Reading it always makes me wish they would have been able to include it in the movies!  

I love Sirius so much but reading this book, particularly the end, is always so heart breaking.  Harry and Sirius were so close to being able to live together and rely on each other and be a family and I hate that it was ruined for them.  I don't know how Harry and Hermione could stand watching the events unfold a second time after using the Time Turner -- even rereading it and knowing what was going to happen, I was still hoping they'd somehow find a way to recapture Pettigrew.  

Lupin is easily one of my favorite aspects of this novel because of what an awesome person and professor he is.  He's definitely one of the best professors the school has ever seen and it's so sad to see how he's discriminated against for being a werewolf, despite the fact that he actually has the merits for the job. 

I'm starting the fourth book tomorrow and I'm so excited for this one -- it's my favorite as of the last time I reread the series so I'm looking forward to seeing if that opinion holds true.  What do you think of the first three books in this series?  Have you ever read them (or reread them)?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Adventures in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

YOU GUYS, IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED.  AFTER YEARS AND YEARS OF WAITING (yo, still waiting on that Hogwarts letter though) I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO VISIT THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER AND IT WAS MAGICAL (lol).

But for real though, I didn't think I'd be able to experience the world of Harry Potter unless I traveled across country to Florida.  Imagine my excitement when Universal Studios announced they were in the process of creating a Harry Potter world right in my home state of California!  I was given the chance to finally visit when my birthday rolled around and I decided to go there to celebrate.

Knowing that there's a lot Harry Potter lovers out there, I figured it'd be fun to share my experience and a little slice of this magical world with all of you!

When we first arrived, we entered Hogsmead through an incredible archway and were immediately met with the Hogwarts' express train in the station!

It was an awesome way to enter the world.  The entire park was filled with people just as enthusiastic about magic and Harry Potter.  It was an awesome atmosphere to be in.  

Immediately after entering, we decided to take a trip to the Three Broomsticks for an awesome feast. Since it was my family and myself, we decided to get the meal that was literally called "The Great Feast", which conveniently feeds four people.  And, of course, I couldn't go to the Three Broomsticks and not try the famous Butterbeer! 

I've actually heard that Butterbeet is kinda gross so I asked one of the people working there if it was good and she suggested trying frozen butterbeer which, she claimed, was pretty great.  So, I took her word for it and it turned out to be awesome!  Super sweet and not exactly how I imagined it in the books, but still really yummy.  And perfect for the warm day.  Plus, I got to keep the cup which was cool. 

After eating at the Three Broomsticks, we got the chance to walk around and explore all the shops that I've read about in the books and have seen in the movies.

 

 

 

 

My personal favorite shop was Honeyduke's!  And it may or may not be because I got chocolate from it.

This was an amazing store and so full of all the treats we've all read about in the books.  There were Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Cauldrons, Cauldron Cakes, Every Flavor Jelly Beans, Fudge Flies, Pumpkin Juice, and, of course, Chocolate Frogs!

 

The frogs were delicious and I actually got the Helga Hufflepuff card in my chocolate frog but my brother got Albus Dumbledore and I couldn't resist the trade.  I also got a Pumpkin Juice and that was interesting to say the least.  It did definitely taste like pumpkin but it was also really fruity and spiced!

After stocking up on sweets at Honeyduke's we headed to Ollivander's to pick out a wand!  The options they had were awesome. 

 I decided on getting Professor McGonagall's wand which if beautiful, if I do say so myself.

The last thing we did at the park was go on the rides!  There was only two that we tried but they were awesome, especially the 4D interactive ride.  In it, we met up with the Sorting Hat and the Fat Lady!

 

 I had so much fun exploring the world and seeing all of the places and things that had made my childhood and these books so magical.  I want to go back again so badly but I'm honestly just happy I was able to experience it at least once!

How Things Changed After Rereading Harry Potter

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I adore Harry Potter and nothing can ever change that.  These are the books that changed everything for me and cemented my love of reading.  I remember making my way through all the books as a kid, totally unable to tear myself away.  Even now, I find myself frequently getting urges to read them all over again.  So, I did just that.  Well, mostly that.  Recently, I picked up the fourth book, The Goblet of Fire, and began reading the series again from that point on.  I didn't expect much to happen other than me just enjoying rereading my favorite series but as I continued on, I found my opinions of the books shifting rather dramatically.  A bit of a warning: minor spoilers are sprinkled throughout this post!

Before this rereading, I always said that The Goblet of Fire, while still an amazing book, was my least favorite in the series and that The Order of the Pheonix was my favorite.  Well, after reading those opinion completely switched.  I loved reading The Goblet of Fire again.  I found myself appreciating the things I didn't appreciate as a kid and just thoroughly enjoying the different tasks and tribulations that Harry had to go through in this book.  

Similarly, my opinion of The Order of the Phoenix changed with this rereading.  While I still enjoyed seeing all the characters and the order, as well as seeing the D.A., I found Harry incredibly frustrating this time around.  I understood that he was angry and frustrated with the situation but I felt like he was being completely unfair taking his anger out on his friends.  I found for the first time, I was also so upset with Dumbledore.  Before this reading, I had never felt anything except admiration toward him but this time around, I couldn't help but see the mistakes he was making, especially since I knew what was coming.  His secrecy was just so ... UGH, so frustrating.  So many things could have been avoided if he just took the time to explain things and talk to Harry!

My opinions of the other two books stayed about the same, though this time around, I had a really hard time getting through the last one.  I knew that it would be worth it to trudge on because I wanted to get to that final, wonderful scene.  But still, it was so difficult to read through all of the middle scenes where they were just wandering around in the forest.  I really just wanted to get to the climax.  

Overall, my love of Harry Potter is still strong and absolute, I've just become more aware and accepting of some of its flaws.  While nothing can ever replace the wonder this series brought me, I'm now able to appreciate both the good and the bad in it and I think I love it all the more for that.  

Harry Potter Book Tag!

Oh my goodness, a Harry Potter book tag?  You know I can't resist this.  I found this wonderful tag over at Writing On A Vintage Typewriter, Áine's lovely blog!  She tagged all Harry Potter lovers and, as a self titled Potterhead, I had to do this!  So, enjoy :) 

Favorite book in the series?

It has to be the third book in the series, The Prisoner of Azkaban.  I felt like this was really the book that took HP, both as a character an as a series, down a more mature path and I loved that.  Also, Sirius. 

Favorite movie?

Order of the Phoenix, definitely!  It is just such a great story, both on the page and as a film and really sets of the last few books.  

Least favorite book?

Looking back, I have no idea why I disliked this book so much.  I feel like it just dragged a bit in between the tournament events.  Even still, this is one of my all time favorite books, just my least favorite of the series. 

Scenes that made you cry? *spoilers*

Dobby.  Fred.  Remus.  Also Dumbledore drinking from that bowl in that cave.  You know what I'm talking about. 

Favorite character?

Fred and George always make me smile.

What would your Patronus be?

I took a quiz once that said mine would be a stag but I don't quite see that.  I'd probably be a cat or something similar.  

If you could chose to have the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, or the Invisibility Cloak, which would you choose?

I've read the books, I know what the smart choice would be.  Also, the cloak would be so handy when you want to avoid something.  I can get into so many fun adventures with it, too.  Like searching for Christmas presents without anyone realizing it.  

What house would you be sorted into?

According to Pottermore, I'm a Gryffindor!  Which is seriously awesome because I love Gryffindors. But I can see myself also being sorted into Ravenclaw.

If you could meet one member of the cast, who would it be?

Rupert Grint, definitely.  While it'd be awesome to meet Emma Watson, I just love how down to earth and funny Rupert always seems.  

If you played Quidditch, what position would you play?

I'd probably honestly be a beater.  I played softball for years and am pretty handy with a bat.  Also, I like being able to help other people succeed and support them so I feel like I'd be happy with this position.  

Were you happy with the ending?

Yes yes yes yes yes.  I loved it.  I was so happy with how everything wrapped up.  Of course, I'd always be happy to have more but if nothing else is coming, I'm completely satisfied with the way this series came to a close. 

What does this series mean to you?

This series has turned into a living thing for me.  It was there to comfort me when I was sad or lonely.  It made my childhood magical and filled me with creativity and hope.  It made my interest in reading (which Twilight initially sparked) blow up and immersed me in a world of wonderful fictional worlds.  I think so fondly about this series.  I have no doubt that I'll be passing it down and reading it with my own kids.  

If you're a Harry Potter lover, I tag you to do this!  I'd love to read your answers so please, leave your links in the comments below so we can all reminisce about this legendary series. 

Tea Party Talk: Villains

The first characters that come to mind when I think of villains are Voldemort, Umbridge, and Valentine Morgenstern.  Each of them do terrible things.  Each of them are passionately hated by millions of people.  And each of them are a different type of villain.  Though we all feel quite strongly about these characters for the different crimes they commit, I think it's interesting how different their particular brands of evil are.

   

Villain Seeking Vengeance

Voldemort is a character with a pretty sad and complicated past.  He was conceived while his father was under the affects of a love potion so, as a result, couldn't feel love.  He was an orphan and raised in a Muggle orphanage until Dumbledore came to him and told him of his true identity as a Wizard.  Voldemort grew to hate his muggle father for leaving his mother and him after the love potion wore off.  This deep-seeded hate lead to him wanting to seek revenge - not only on his father but all muggles and muggle-born wizards.  

This vengeful nature eventually lead to Voldemort collecting his Death Eaters and becoming the horrible person he was.  Everything he did was because of his bitter hatred toward his muggle father.  He despised half-bloods (even though he was one) and vowed to rid the world of them.  He thought wizards should remain pure.  

Though his initial motivation was revenge, some can argue that after a while, he continued killing just for the sole purpose of killing.  He grew to enjoy it.  

There are many villains that are also on the path for vengeance in YA, though none more famously known then He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.  This angle for their motivation is generally one that is very believable and easy to connect with.  Trust me - I hate Voldemort.  If he were a bug, I'd happily step on him.  But I understand why he did when he did.  He was super pissed and throwing a tantrum over his upbringing and his dead-beat dad.  Doesn't excuse what he did AT ALL.  But it makes sense.  

The Devil We Know/Power Hungry Villain

If you're like me, you hate Umbridge more than Voldemort.  There, I said it.  I know, she isn't necessarily as evil as he is but she hits closer to home.  She's so horrible to us because we've had to deal with people just like her.  We've been in that class with that professor who is unreasonable and who makes you want to tear your hair out of your head, who doesn't actually teach you anything.  Who lives to make you suffer.  That's Umbridge.  She's a nasty, vile person.  She's familiar and to us in so many different ways because she's so like people we've crossed paths with in our lives.  And that's why she's a great villain. 

Besides being familiar and punch-worthy, Umbridge is a classically motivated villain in that she is motivated by power.  She's dying to hold more of it in her hands.  This is so obvious when we see her gain a position in Hogwarts in the fifth book.  The second she can, she begins making changes.  She twists and molds things until its exactly how she likes it.  She wants to know that she had hundreds of people's lives dangling from her pudgy little fingers.  

Beyond just wanting to be recognized as a powerful figure at Hogwarts, she wants to be a powerful witch in the Death Eater circle.  She despises half-breeds of all kinds, including half-bloods.  The moment she was given the opportunity by Voldemort to work against them, she did.

*grumbles* I really hate this woman.  

The Villain Who Thinks He's the Hero

Valentine Morgenstern is another one of those complicated dudes we see all over YA.  His particular brand of bad is really interesting, though.  He thinks all the bad things he's doing is for the greater good.  He genuinely believes wiping out downworlders (creatures such as werewolves, faeries, warlock, and vampires for those who haven't read the book) is what is best for the world.  His view is so skewed that he can't see that through trying to get rid of what he perceives to be monsters, he's become a monster himself.  It's like that saying "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain".  He's the epitome of that quote.  

He originally began hating downworlders when a pack of werewolves killed his father.  Originally, he just wanted to see that particular werewolf dead because of what it did to his family.  But he soon came to the conclusion that all downworlders deserved to die, whether they had committed crimes or not.  In his mind, they all would someday.  And he was fighting to prevent that.  

Of course, he was totally wrong and stupid.  But still, his mind set is an interesting one.  It almost makes us feel sympathetic to his plight because, really, he thinks he's the hero in this situation.  

So, what do you think?  What are some villains that stand out to you?  What is your favorite type of villain to hate?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

P.S.: Wonderland's Reader just reached 300 followers!  To celebrate, I'm hosting a giveaway in which you can win five awesome books!  Find the giveaway here!

 
  

Feature & Follow #35

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted over at Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

This week's question is...

Q:  Tell us about a character you'd like to switch places with - via Escaping Within Pages.

This is SUCH A HARD QUESTION.  There are a million and one characters I'd love to trade places with and most of them are dating cute boys.  So now, I have to figure out which boy is the cutest AND what world I wouldn't be killed in within the first 5 seconds.  A couple characters that pop into mind automatically are Avery from Wait For You, Anna from Sweet Evil, Evie from Poison Princess, and Mara from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.  All are dating super cute boys and all (excluding Avery) have kick ass powers.  

However, if I looked past all the possible cute-boy interactions, I realized there was no character I'd rather switch places with than Hermione Granger from Harry Potter.  Just the chance to experience that world and fight along side Harry and Ron is priceless.  Yes, please.  Lets do this.  

Which character would you like to switch places with?  Leave your links in the comments below and I'll be sure to check out your blogs!