Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Harry Potter and Me

I read the first Harry Potter book in 1998. Harry Potter was all over the news that year. Out of curiosity and expection, I read the Chinese edition. But I was disappointed when I finished. I felt it was just childish and solely a kid book. Then in the next year I accidentally got the English edition of the 2nd book. I liked it much better by realizing that the English version is much more fun to read. There are so many magic terms created by the author that you find special meanings between lines, in which the Chinese translation can hardly apply. But still, I think it's a kid book without deep sensation. For the purpose of practicing English, I read book 3 when it came out. Book 3 was a fun book and I fell in love with Harry Potter's godfather- Sirius Black. By what's described in the book, he is (or used to be) a handsome, smart, and arrogant young man from a noble family. How attractive that is to young girls! Book 3 is thin, but it certianly contains contents that are sophiscasted and would be appreicated by adults. Starting from book 3, I became a big fan of Harry Potter. Every year I looked forward to the new book.

Seriously from book 4, the Harry Potter series are no more for kids. First, they become so thick, and murders appear. Book 4 is a fantastic book. The magic world outside Hogwarts was introduced. The game was fasinating. Young wizards and witches from foriegn countries and the magic they brought just dazzled my eyes.

In 2001, I watched the first Harry Potter movie in Los Angeles. It was a wonderful experience. The theater we went to was a premium theater in Westwood with beautiful decoration. The company I had was great. The movie itself realized my imagination of the magic world. I really love the three characters starring Harry, Hermion and Ron. They look just like what I imagine. Although I think the actor starring Dumbledore was too old, overall, I think it's a excellent movie. So as what I did with Lord of the Rings, I started keeping track of the Harry Potter movies. But I have to say, only the first 2 movies were great, the rest of the movies couldn't catch the details in the book within 2 hours.

Book 5 was the hardest to read. The depiction of Sirius's house in the beginning enchanted me, however, the description of the teenage boy Harry's love and pain was just too dark to read. At the end, my beloved Sirius was even killed in a sudden! The whole world around Harry Potter was so dark! I felt strongly pitiful for him. I would never want to live his life. Poor boy.

Book 6, another thick book. Thanks to the Yahoo!Kimo i knew the ending before I read it by accident. I still read the whole book patiently. But I was furious to find that Dumbledore die in a stupid way at the end. What on earth did such a wise person need to drink a whatever potion that made him weak?

Finally, finally Book 7 came out. I bought the book at the first day it was released. Of course i couldn't stop reading when I first opened the book. I was happy with the ending. Most of my questions from previous books were answered. And I like it that no one is perfectly nice and no one (except Voldemont) is totally evil.

I finally finish this epic from the beginning to the end- over 10 years. Now no more Harry Potter to read, no more Harry Potter to look forward to. My friend made fun of me "Did you feel something lost in your life?" Yes, I felt something lost in my heart. Goodbye, Harry. Don't know when I'll find the next book series to be addicted to:)