Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J K Rowling, Scholastic Inc, 2005, 652 pp
I first began to read the Harry Potter series in 2000 and made it through the first three books. My granddaughter was given the first book to read by her third grade teacher who had singled her out as one of the best readers in the class. Since it was I who taught her phonics, I was proud. In fact, she has never liked reading fiction and she didn't finish the book. When I read it I thought it was pretty advanced for any third grader.
In 2007, when the final volume was about to be published, I was working in a bookstore with a thriving children's section. All these kids were reading the series and the level of excitement about Deathly Harrows was immense. We were having a release party at midnight on the release date which required pre-purchase of the hardcover book as admission. The event sold out weeks ahead.
I had wanted to be ready. All employees would play one of the characters at the party and I was to be Miss Trelawney. Since it had been seven years, I had forgotten most of the story. I started over at the beginning a month before the party, but only made it to HP#5, The Order of the Phoenix. I think I was pretty convincing as Miss Trelawney, dressed in flowing shawls and sitting at a table telling fortunes. I had one of the longest lines!
Books #4 and #5 were each double the length of the first three books, Harry was extremely stressed out and in a bad mood for the whole time, and time was up for me. I never went back for the final two books until last month when I needed something magical to get me through the end of my illness.
I have liked all the books but I think Half-Blood Prince is my favorite so far. Harry is in his final year at Hogwarts, he is not longer a kid but a 17 year old teen. The content has become Young Adult, though nothing more than snogging goes on.
Anything I could relate about the plot would be a spoiler. The action is fast and shocking, even more dreadful at times than anything that came before, and I was impressed by how well J K Rowling portrayed her teenagers. Harry learns quite a bit more about who he is and what might be his destiny. I am committed to finishing the final volume soon.
I recently began following a blogger new to me. Brian has been reading the series and blogging about it as he goes at http://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/. I have him to thank for the inspiration to find out the rest of Harry Potter's story.
I could only imagine working in a book store when any HP book was going on sell. Must have been one heck of a time and it seems like it's something your'll never forget!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely I never will!
DeleteThanks for the mention! It must have been something working in a bookstore when the last couple of books came out. Thus really was one of the best in the series. I agree that it picked up from the previous two books. I am really glad to hear that you picked up the series again. One more to go!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Yes, I am really glad I read this one and looking forward to the last one. I am trying to forget any spoilers I've heard.
DeleteGreat post!! I liked the personal tidbits about your personal life. :-)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the Harry Potter Series! Maybe some day I will make it through the entire HP series.
I had to tell a story since I was not going to fall into spoilers. It is a great series with lots of ideas about life behind the stories.
DeleteLovely story about the bookstore release party. Like it! I can imagine you telling fortunes. It's cool to think: Judy does Hogwarts.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. It was fun to write.
DeleteMy kids were teenagers when the Harry Potter series started and they were as entranced by the stories as the younger kids were. I read along with them and I, too, was entranced. They really are great stories and Half-Blood Prince was a favorite of mine also.
ReplyDeleteIt seems pretty much unanimous that this was the favorite book.
DeleteI haven't read the series, but I have seen all the movies and I found Half-Blood Prince so chocking because of what happens. I'll never get over that event you didn't want to spoil.
ReplyDeleteI was on the floor! (Actually I was in my bed being sick, but you know, that is how unexpected and dramatic it was.) I have not gotten over it either.
DeleteI have never completed a Harry Potter novel! I feel like I am the last person on earth who can say that. I can relate to you, in that in high school when the books were first coming out, I worked at a book store. I think my disdain for the series grew from that experience.
ReplyDeleteIt is not required reading by any means. I have enjoyed the books and am happy for Rowling's success but you read so much, it doesn't matter.
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