This Friday night, just minutes before the bell tolls the midnight hour, I will be standing in line, my nearly eight year old son holding my hand, along with who-knows-how-many other kids and adults, preparing to celebrate the release of the fourth Harry Potter novel. Why will I subject myself to teeming hordes and sleep deprivation? Why will I bring my son, who is not yet old enough to read J.K. Rowling's fabulous tales? I found myself asking just these questions, as I explained my plan to my grinning spouse. The answer is quite simple, really. I'm just wild about Harry Potter!
Why? Let's see. I love a book that immediately pulls in the reader, immersing them in a unique reality. J.K. Rowling's use of the language is fluid, buoyant, and delightfully evocative. These characters are real, fully developed, and it may even disappoint when the last word is read, the tale told, and Harry and his companions gone until the next book. It thrills me when an average person discovers their strength and accomplishes something extraordinary; I always root for the underdog!
It's happened before, many times in fact, since I learned to read. I am rarely led by others' opinions, bestseller lists, or famous names. I enjoy the hunt for a marvelous read, one that cannot be put down or that must be savored, sighed over and reread. Uncovering such a treasure is a rare pleasure. There are examples, of course, after twenty-eight years of consuming books, so for those who are seeking a fine read, these titles and their authors are among my favorites!
Madeleine L'Engle: "The Time Trilogy". J.R.R. Tolkein: "The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy". Susan Cooper: "The Dark is Rising Sequence". C.S. Lewis: "The Chronicles of Narnia".
All these series and their esteemed authors share several things in common with J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter books: a beautiful, abundant use of the English language; common, average creatures accomplishing extraordinary things in the midst of overwhelming obstacles; and the finely drawn, absorbing battle between good and evil.
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