Having read the Harry Potter books by JK Rowling when they were first released {or, near enough anyway, the first time I read them was when Mr T bought me a box set of the first four books after which I always pre-ordered them} I decided to make my way through the series some sixteen years after the release of the last book*, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. Here are my collective thoughts on the first five books in the series which include ...
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
It was whilst on placement in a Catholic primary school as part of my Teaching Assistant training that I first came across Harry Potter as almost without exception all of the Stage 3 children aged 7 -8 were reading/had read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, book one in a series that, good or bad, the literary world seemed to be talking about.
Banned in several US states, though I wasn't aware of any outright bans here in the UK I can remember there being talk in the staff room about the suitability of the children reading a book that featured 'witchcraft'. Thankfully the outcome of these conversations being that, the first book in a long while to have captured the imagination of a classroom of 32 pupils, anything that got the children so excited about reading should surely be encouraged.
Having last read the book sixteen years ago {the first four books some twenty three plus years ago}, I did enjoy re-reading them {some more than others} but, looking back at my hand written journal, it doesn't seem to be with quite the same excitement as it was all those years ago ... though of course there wasn't all the hype that there was then and there certainly weren't all of the films all of which I've seen countless times now.
Of the five book re-read, whilst, still admiring the first {Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone} as something different from anything I had ever read before; as something that had the power to get children talking so animatedly, I did enjoy re-reading the books {some more than others} but, looking back at my hand written journal, it doesn't seem to be with quite the same excitement as it was all those years ago ... though of course there wasn't all the hype that there was then and there certainly weren't all of the films all of which I've seen countless times now.
Of the five book re-read, whilst by no means the strongest book in the series, a great introduction to Harry Potter and Hogworts, I did enjoy the first book, the next two books not quite so much. It was however books four and, in particular, five that proved to be my favourites as we get to see many of the characters, not least of which is Neville Longbottom, in a new and exciting light.
7 comments:
I think I'm one of the only people on the planet who hasn't read this series (or seen any of the films). We have the entire series on our bookshelf and my husband has read them all a number of times (and watched the films many times, too). My younger daughter who loved them when they came out has told me she feels certain I'd enjoy them, but for some reason I've just not had the desire to read them. Maybe someday.
My youngest loved Harry Potter and has read the books over and over and over
I listened to the first two books with my daughter in recent years and enjoyed them quite a bit--mostly seeing her experience them for the first time. I had read them years ago, long before she was born. I remember going to a midnight release for one of the later books in the series and staying up all night reading it. Haven't done that in a long time. Haha.
Felicity,
Like Kelly, I haven't read this series
or seen any of the films yet. But I will
keep the first book in mind. And thank you
for your excellent re-view.
Raven
I reread the first book in the series last year and found that I wasn't that interested in moving on to the second one. I decided to allow my first time through the series to stand.
Much like Kelly, I've never read any of the Harry Potter books. Did you see the documentary about Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double last night? It was very interesting and moving.
I am a big fan of the audio version of the series read by Jim Dale. I have reread the books quite a few times. Like you- book 1 got me hooked, as it was so different from anything I had ever read. I liked book 2, but out of the whole series it was my least favorite. Three and up are my favorites. It was interesting to me that the first time I reread book 5 I couldn't believe how much I loved it! When I read it the first time I had a different impression of it and was so happy to see it was better than I thought. :) Glad you enjoyed the rereads.
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