Rereading Harry Potter

Ok, I'll admit it. I've always been a Harry Potter doubter, someone who believes that J.K. Rowling really couldn't have written that wildly complex story through all seven books. I get images in my head of backroom board meetings full of stuffy editors in suits. Maybe they've stuck J.K. in the corner with a coloring book while they spun out the intricacies of Hermoine's relationship with Ron or how the Horcruxes work.

But I've just finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the second time, and my feelings on that are starting to change. There are so many little seeds planted in there that seem to sprout in the later books. I'm not talking about the obvious things like the Mirror of Erised. Even on the first time through I figured Harry would have more than a few shots at talking to his parents despite them being dead and Ron would probably succeed in breaking out of his brothers' shadows.

I'm talking about the small things that made the story work, like Mrs. Figg living down the street. She turns out to be a magical person in book 4 when Harry is on trial for a dementor attack, but in book 1 she's just a weird old lady he goes to visit on Dudley's birthday. Was that a lucky accident placing a character there who could be used like that or was that intentional? Then there's the snake he meets on his trip to the zoo. The glass magically disappears and the snake escapes. That's the moment we learn Harry can speak to snakes, but is that the same snake that appears later on by Voldemort's side, Nagini? I have to say it would be awesome if it was, but it could just be a coincidence. Maybe these things have already been solved by more thorough scholars than I, but it's fun to consider.

In general, it was surprising how entertaining the story was. I really wondered whether or not I would still like it, but its playfulness, even in the beginning when Mr. Dursley is desperately trying to keep Harry away from the letters, endures. Quidditch was still exciting to learn about, though I still have to say it's a little ridiculous for muggles like us to try playing it.

Though I did enjoy the book, I have to say I'm hesitant about reading Chamber of Secrets. The story did bore me the first time through, actually enough to turn me off to the series altogether. It just seemed aimless, and because of that I never even read Prisoner of Azkaban. The impetus for coming back to the series was the Goblet of Fire movie, and I'm so incredibly glad I read the book first, and from there I loved the series all the way through to the end and ever since.

So I'll keep you posted on my progress, though I have to admit there's a lot on my reading plate (Yes, I read on plates), and not as much time as I'd like. I'm currently reading Draculas by J.A. Konrath, which is a horror story that is basically like reading a Resident Evil video game. Then I just bought Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help, which I have always heard good things about. Hopefully I'll get to Chamber of Secrets soon though!