the end of all things
Harry Potter.
Harry Potter.
What can I say about Harry Potter?
A whole lot.
I've got all my books with me right now. I'm sitting in my bed, trying to figure out what to possibly say about Harry Potter that would be a fitting end to what has effectively been my childhood since the first book came out in 1998. I was ten years old at the time, so for 12 years, these books have helped shape who I am as a person. Thank you, Harry.
I could bore you all with the story of how I first came to know and love these books, and the subsequent movies, but I won't. These books though, they are loved. You can tell just by looking at them that they've been read and re-read many, many times. Of the seven, the last two are the only ones in decent shape, because I've been extra careful with them. The rest of them are torn up, beaten up, and very, very worn. Prisoner of Azkaban has had its cover taped back on. Order of the Phoenix is coming loose from its binding. They've all been labeled with my name inside, and you can see my handwriting get progressively better as I grow up with Harry. Like I said: they have been loved.
These books have been a source of some fights in my house. My father, as well as his parents, were of the opinion that because the books are about magic, they must be evil. My dad thought that my being so obsessed with them was not a good thing. Well, I grew up with a semi-religious upbringing, and I went to church every Sunday and have actually read the whole Bible. And I can honestly say that I have learned more about morality and being a good person from Harry Potter than from any other source in my entire life. Harry Potter taught me that bad things can happen to very good people, but that those bad things shouldn't keep you down. Harry Potter taught me not to dwell on the bad, but focus on the good. Focus on making a better life for the ones you love. Harry Potter taught me that you can't make anything out of yourself if you never go out and try. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. Harry Potter taught me that I can do anything: all I have to do is make a choice. It our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Harry Potter taught me a lot about life, and about death. Death is a recurring theme in the novels, one that Harry eventually has to come to terms with. We all know that death is an inevitable part of life, but knowing that and understanding it are two very different things. I've always been terrified of death. I realized pretty quickly growing up that despite being forced to attend church and such, I'm not a religious person. No one *really* knows what happens to a person when they die, and I don't have that cushion of faith that others have, that there's a heaven (or a hell) waiting for you after you die. I just don't see it. So death has always been an issue with me. People dying has always terrified me. But in Sorcerer's Stone, Dumbledore says that "to the organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." In Half Blood Prince, Dumbledore arranges the time, place and manner of his own death. And in Deathly Hallows, Harry realizes that he's been kept alive to die, and holds his head high as he marches to meet his own death, to save those he loves.
On my first read of the series, these things shocked me. That's one message that didn't sink in the first time around, but as time goes on, it's something I think about more and more. I do like being alive, and I'm sure others agree, but maybe death isn't such a terrible thing. One thing that message has taught me is to make the most of the time I have while I have it. There comes a time when we all must move on, but if we live our lives to the best of our ability, we can die without regrets.
Of all the books, I think I've read Order of the Phoenix the most. After I got that book, I read it in a day and then carried it around with me for the rest of the summer. I still have that original copy that I bought in 2003. :D I love that book dearly. All the books, though, have been with me through so much. The story of Harry Potter has moved with me through four states and probably about 7 different schools. You can deduce from that, that I moved a lot growing up. Every year was a new school, basically, but Harry was the one friend who was with me through it all. I always saw a bit of myself in Harry, and I relate to him the best out of the characters. He was the lonely boy from the cupboard, who goes on to save the world again and again. He and his story gave me a positive outlook on life, and made me believe that anyone can do great things. Maybe even me.
I have a lot of great memories because of Harry Potter. I went to the last two midnight book release parties and had a blast. I saw the fifth movie a grand total of five times in the theater, once in 3D. I've made so many great friends over the years because of Harry Potter, and bonded with other friends over the series as well. For the last... half a year? or so, I've been a member of a fantastic community here on livejournal: hp_commonroom. I've met a bunch of fantastic people on there and hope we continue to be friends for a long time. Over the years I've written fanfiction about Harry Potter (in fact, writing HP fanfic was my first experience ever sharing my writing with others) which I have to say is mostly terrible, but it's there. I've roleplayed as a Hogwarts student and done homework and gotten points for my house. I've discussed and debated my ideas about the story online many a time (and I was normally proven right when the next book came out, just saying).
I'm a part of the Harry Potter generation. Those of use who grew up and learned right there with Harry. Who had to wait, patiently or not, for each book to come out so we could know what happened to Harry. Those of us who sobbed reading Deathly Hallows, because it was finally over, and we weren't sure what would actually happen to Harry in the end.
And now, in a few days, the last of the Harry Potter movies comes to theaters. It will mean the end. The end of Harry Potter. The end of an era.
The end of my childhood.
Over the years, Harry Potter has meant so much to me. I just... I've run out of words now. It's impossible to put into words all my feeling about Harry Potter. The books, the movies, it's just been an amazing experience to live through, and I feel very lucky to have lived through it.
I've been with you, Harry, until the very end. Thank you, Harry Potter, for everything.
In closing, I'll leave you with the words of JK Rowling herself:
“Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”
- JK Rowling
Harry Potter.
What can I say about Harry Potter?
A whole lot.
I've got all my books with me right now. I'm sitting in my bed, trying to figure out what to possibly say about Harry Potter that would be a fitting end to what has effectively been my childhood since the first book came out in 1998. I was ten years old at the time, so for 12 years, these books have helped shape who I am as a person. Thank you, Harry.
I could bore you all with the story of how I first came to know and love these books, and the subsequent movies, but I won't. These books though, they are loved. You can tell just by looking at them that they've been read and re-read many, many times. Of the seven, the last two are the only ones in decent shape, because I've been extra careful with them. The rest of them are torn up, beaten up, and very, very worn. Prisoner of Azkaban has had its cover taped back on. Order of the Phoenix is coming loose from its binding. They've all been labeled with my name inside, and you can see my handwriting get progressively better as I grow up with Harry. Like I said: they have been loved.
These books have been a source of some fights in my house. My father, as well as his parents, were of the opinion that because the books are about magic, they must be evil. My dad thought that my being so obsessed with them was not a good thing. Well, I grew up with a semi-religious upbringing, and I went to church every Sunday and have actually read the whole Bible. And I can honestly say that I have learned more about morality and being a good person from Harry Potter than from any other source in my entire life. Harry Potter taught me that bad things can happen to very good people, but that those bad things shouldn't keep you down. Harry Potter taught me not to dwell on the bad, but focus on the good. Focus on making a better life for the ones you love. Harry Potter taught me that you can't make anything out of yourself if you never go out and try. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. Harry Potter taught me that I can do anything: all I have to do is make a choice. It our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Harry Potter taught me a lot about life, and about death. Death is a recurring theme in the novels, one that Harry eventually has to come to terms with. We all know that death is an inevitable part of life, but knowing that and understanding it are two very different things. I've always been terrified of death. I realized pretty quickly growing up that despite being forced to attend church and such, I'm not a religious person. No one *really* knows what happens to a person when they die, and I don't have that cushion of faith that others have, that there's a heaven (or a hell) waiting for you after you die. I just don't see it. So death has always been an issue with me. People dying has always terrified me. But in Sorcerer's Stone, Dumbledore says that "to the organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." In Half Blood Prince, Dumbledore arranges the time, place and manner of his own death. And in Deathly Hallows, Harry realizes that he's been kept alive to die, and holds his head high as he marches to meet his own death, to save those he loves.
On my first read of the series, these things shocked me. That's one message that didn't sink in the first time around, but as time goes on, it's something I think about more and more. I do like being alive, and I'm sure others agree, but maybe death isn't such a terrible thing. One thing that message has taught me is to make the most of the time I have while I have it. There comes a time when we all must move on, but if we live our lives to the best of our ability, we can die without regrets.
Of all the books, I think I've read Order of the Phoenix the most. After I got that book, I read it in a day and then carried it around with me for the rest of the summer. I still have that original copy that I bought in 2003. :D I love that book dearly. All the books, though, have been with me through so much. The story of Harry Potter has moved with me through four states and probably about 7 different schools. You can deduce from that, that I moved a lot growing up. Every year was a new school, basically, but Harry was the one friend who was with me through it all. I always saw a bit of myself in Harry, and I relate to him the best out of the characters. He was the lonely boy from the cupboard, who goes on to save the world again and again. He and his story gave me a positive outlook on life, and made me believe that anyone can do great things. Maybe even me.
I have a lot of great memories because of Harry Potter. I went to the last two midnight book release parties and had a blast. I saw the fifth movie a grand total of five times in the theater, once in 3D. I've made so many great friends over the years because of Harry Potter, and bonded with other friends over the series as well. For the last... half a year? or so, I've been a member of a fantastic community here on livejournal: hp_commonroom. I've met a bunch of fantastic people on there and hope we continue to be friends for a long time. Over the years I've written fanfiction about Harry Potter (in fact, writing HP fanfic was my first experience ever sharing my writing with others) which I have to say is mostly terrible, but it's there. I've roleplayed as a Hogwarts student and done homework and gotten points for my house. I've discussed and debated my ideas about the story online many a time (and I was normally proven right when the next book came out, just saying).
I'm a part of the Harry Potter generation. Those of use who grew up and learned right there with Harry. Who had to wait, patiently or not, for each book to come out so we could know what happened to Harry. Those of us who sobbed reading Deathly Hallows, because it was finally over, and we weren't sure what would actually happen to Harry in the end.
And now, in a few days, the last of the Harry Potter movies comes to theaters. It will mean the end. The end of Harry Potter. The end of an era.
The end of my childhood.
Over the years, Harry Potter has meant so much to me. I just... I've run out of words now. It's impossible to put into words all my feeling about Harry Potter. The books, the movies, it's just been an amazing experience to live through, and I feel very lucky to have lived through it.
I've been with you, Harry, until the very end. Thank you, Harry Potter, for everything.
In closing, I'll leave you with the words of JK Rowling herself:
“Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”
- JK Rowling