And a Happy Harry Potter New Year!

Well, it is midnight and I just decided to get a head start on reading for my class. If you haven't read my previous blog posts, I am about to embark on the most wonderful, most fulfilling educational adventure my brain has ever witnessed. Yes, that is right, I am about to start my Harry Potter Literature and Film course. Basically, each week, the class will be reading all seven novels and watching the corresponding films.

For those who do not know me very well, I have been in a love relationship with Harry Potter ever since I first starting reading the novels when I was about ten. Initially, reading the novels started as a way for me to earn extra points for the reading cart at my school. If you have no idea what that is, think of it as a reading reward center. You read so many books, you rack up enough points, you get awesome prizes. Well, silly putty was really popular when I was ten years old.

Anyway, this approach to reading the books was possibly the best literary decision I have made, right after my discovery of To Kill a Mockingbird. Let's just say it was so important, it comes a close second to me deciding to be an English major. Harry Potter and my career paths go hand in hand, if you are wondering where my priorities lie.  ;)

I am pretty sure anyone who has ever read these novels will understand why I am obsessed with them. I grew up with these novels. I was the same age as the characters in the book when I started reading, so it was like I was attending Hogwarts with them. We grew up together and I liked to believe that Ron, Hermione and Harry were my long-lost best friends or something. I don't think there has ever been another novel where I truly cared about the characters. Sure, I have had characters who I briefly cared about for the duration of the novel but these ones seemed to have stuck around for good. I know that, when I am desperately bored/upset/adventurous/childish, I can return to these books and the magic will always be there.

I should also throw a shout out to my other favorite literary characters, Atticus Finch and Boo Radley. I seriously think I would rather meet those two above any living celebrity. No joke. Call me a dork but it is true. Read that novel and you get a glimpse into my other obsession, besides Harry Potter.

So have yourself a Merry Atticusmas and a Harry New Year!

P.S.

Why yes, those are the same book but with different titles. One is from America...scan right. The other is from Britain...scan left. I had to HUNT for the British one while in London. Basically, every single place was sold out, so I eventually bought it in Canterbury along with my copy of The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer.