Daily rants and opinions...because we're THAT bored.
The first book of the Harry Potter saga. Harry finds out he is a wizard while living with his brutal relatives: The Dursleys. Harry also finds out that he has done a lot for the world of witchcraft. A whole frickin lot! When he was only a baby, Hary defeated a dark wizard (Lord Voldemort), for reasons unknown to anyone (you find out in book five, read it). While at Hogwarts (school for wizards), Harry meets up with Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger, who eventually become his best friends. This was more than an introduction book, however. Trapped in storylines is a mysterious inquiry involving the Sorcerer's Stone. (Philosopher's Stone, for those of you who live in England) The "three amigos" (That's a stupid way of calling Harry, Hermoine, and Ron. I will never use it again. I promise.) encounter a problem when it appears that someone wants to steal the stone. Plus they have to deal with a favoring Potions teacher (Severus Snape), and a cocky Slytherin boy (Draco Malfoy). All that, plus Quidditch, Chocolate Frogs, and a bag of chips. This is a very good first book. J.K. Rowling is a literary genius. I won't give away the ending, you'll have to read it yourself (or watch the movie). I know no one likes a tease but, uh...well....shut up! You are the tease!
Like a lot of stories written, there was a sequel to the Sorcerer's Stone, and admittingly a very good one. Harry once again finds himself feeling miserable during the summer at the Dursley's. This time though Harry feels absolutely dreadful. His friends haven't written back to him and cap things off a mysterious house-elf named Dobby shows up at his home with a terrifying message. If Harry is to go back to school he will be put in front of immense perils. Harry of course ignores Dobby and finds himself back at Hogwarts. There he is not only met with danger, but also by some completely stupid people. One: Professor Lockheart who is an egotistical, self inflated moron...who also has won "Witches Weekly Most Charming Smile Award" five years in a row. The second imbecile: Colin Creevey, a Harry Potter idolizer, who carries around a camera everywhere, so as to get a picture of Harry any chance he gets. Draco (accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle) and Snape are also after Harry in their usual ways, but this year so is someone else. In fact a dangerous being is after all the half-bloods (a wizard that wasn't born from two wizard parents) in Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine must get to the bottom of it before it's too late...and the Heir of Slytherin is unleashed!
"He's at Hogwarts. He's at Hogwarts."
It has been nearly 12 years since notorious mass-murderer Sirius Black has been sent to Azkaban, the worst and feared prison ever. Only Harry, and the rest of the wizard world, find out that Sirius has done something quite astounding: he's escaped from Azkaban prison! Of course Harry doesn't find out about this right away, being in a muggle gated area. However, harry takes an unexpected leave from the Dursleys. After blowing up his Aunt Marge (not an explosion, more like inflating), Harry leaves and takes the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley, where he is met by Cornelius Fudge (the Minister of Magic). Soon he's back at Hogwarts, with his usual friends: Ron and Hermoine. But Harry goes back confused. Everyone keeps telling Harry to stay way from Black. To not go after him. A dark secret about Harry's past is revealed leaving Harry full of hurt and emptyness. However, things may not be as they appear. Someone in Harry's past has betrayed his parents, but is it who it seems to be?
Harry's summer plans take an unexpected turn when the Weasley's invite him to the Quidditch World Cup. There Harry catches up with Ron and Hermoine and some of Harry's other classmates. (Neville, Seamus, Dean, Oliver Wood even) They talk about Quidditch and even Harry's strange dream he had where Voldemort (Tom Marvolo Riddle) and Peter Pettigrew (Wormtail; Scabbers) attack and kill an old man (Frank Bryce) in Voldemort's old house. As for who won the match, Ireland defeats Bulgaria, but Victor Krum (Bulgaria's seeker) catches the snitch. Despite the odd ending, the Quidditch match was not the biggest event. After the game a few wizards are seen going around and torturing muggles. And to make it even worse the Dark Mark is seen in the sky. The Dark Mark is Voldemort's trademark logo. Him and the Death Eaters (his followers), thrust it into the air after they have made an attack. As you can imagine everyone is in a panic.
That however isn't the only peculiar happening going on in the wizard world. This year Hogwarts is "playing host to an illustrious event." The Triwizard Tournament. What it is basically is three students from three different schools compete in three (They must really like that number. I guess it's probably my favorite number, too.) different tasks to see who's the best wizard. The school champions: Victor Krum (That's right, THE Victor Krum) from Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons (French for "beautiful wantds"), and Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts...and...wait...Harry Potter from Hogwarts! Harry finds himself thrown into the event when even he didn't sign himself up. Which means someone wants him in there. Someone wants to see him get hurt. Someone is up to something.
Harry has other topics on his mind though. The Yule Ball goes along with the Triwizard Tournament, and Harry, as well as Ron, have to find a date. Will it be Cho Chang?, who Harry fancies, or will it be Pavarti Patil, a good-looking Gryfindor? Yea, it's Pavarti Patil. (Sorry I spoiled it, but I doubt anyone will read the books based off this site, or let alone read this crap) Cho goes with her boyfriend Cedric Diggory. (Later on this relationship becomes important in book five)
Also having to deal with Rita Skeeter (annoying reporter from the Daily Prophet) and Moaning Myrtle (a ghost that haunts the girl's bathroom) means that Harry is up to his elbows in worries, as are Hermoine, Ron, Sirius, and pretty much everyone who's close to Harry. And for good reason too, because a lot of strange events are going on. It is a time when everyone must make a decision "between what is right and what is easy."
Harry once again is alone and miserable at the Dursleys. (Ain't no cure for the summer time blues.) Hearing no news of Voldemort or the Death Eaters. Sound peculiar? It is. Let's get this straight. Voldemort, the most powerful and feared wizard of all time is back, and no one's letting the news out? Turns out the ministry is in a heap of denial. (It is the first stage)
So Harry faces the possiblility of expulsion. Huh? Oh yea I should probably explain that. Well, it's the whole thing with some dementors and Dudley, but I don't want to get too into the details. (Even though it occurs in the first chapter) I'll spoil the fun anyways. Harry goes back to school. Yea. (Even though you can read the inside sleeve and incure that Harry does indeed end up at Hogwarts.)
The ministry is now trying to spread its denial. Hogwarts has been overrun. The froglike Professor Umbrige is telling students there's no need to practice Defense Against the Dark Arts. Educational decrees are coming up left and right. Hogwarts even loses its most beloved headmaster. (No not for good....yet)
So Harry has got all this stuff going on at school, but he also has a lot of personal problems. He's been having these dreams. These nightmares. He's seeing things. Dark hallways. A room full of shelves, full of orbs. What are they? Where are they? And what do they mean?
Harry asks out Cho Chang and we finally (finally) find out the reason as to why Voldemort went after Harry. This is a big book that's full of excitement, and leads you into wondering: How will Harry and Voldemort's lives be complete and what's the deal with all the parenthesis that are always in my articles?
A big anticipation. A huge build-up and a midnight buying for me had me unable to sleep when thinking about this book. Was I disappointed? HELL NO!
So the ministry has gotten over the denial. ("Hi, my name is Cornelius Fudge and I've been denying the return of an evil wizard.") Hogwarts is thankfully back to normal. Nothing could go wrong right? Oh yea, there's this little thing with VOLDEMORT STILL BEING ON THE LOOSE! Now that the ministry isn't denying everything, Voldemort (shutters) and the Death Eaters aren't hiding anymore.
"Sir, I wondered what you know about...about Horcruxes?"
Probably the most important line concerning the future of the Harry Potter series. Oh yea, and "Snape raised his wand and..." What exactly is a Horcrux? Well, I won't say, but you will find out if you take some initative and read something for a change.
There is a lot of "slugging" going on at the school. No, Hagrid didn't get a new creature, there is of course a new teacher. Does he fill the Defense of the Dark Arts job though? No he doesn't, but it's a nice surprise when you find out who does. So Horace Slughorn has joined the staff, and he's more important than he realizes. Or at least his past is.
So we learn who the "other minister" and the Half Blood Prince are. The dreadful thing we all probably know does indeed happen. (On page 596 if you want to skip ahead and get it over with.)
One man has fallen. Another must rise. There is only one thing left for Harry to do. Defeat Voldemort!
Photo from Amazon
Photo from someplace somewhere on the internet
I'm now going to talk about the highlight of my summer of 2007 (pretty sad huh). What a fitting end. As I prepared myself to leave home and set off on my journey unlike any other, the Hary Potter series also came to an end. Of course the stories, characters, etc. will forever remain in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts like myself, so it really is not the end yet. Not quite the Grey Havens.
Having looked back on all my previous book summaries and realizing now how pointless they all are, I'm now a bit confused as to what to write about for this book.
So much of my life has changed because of a book series. Sounds unreasonable but it is true that books and movies are probably the most emotionally powerful forms of art.
Instead of describing what happens in the book I'm just going to write about my experience with this last book, and what an amazing 11 hours it was.
Getting off work at about 11:00-11:30, and then showering and picking up someone else to go to my nearest Wal-Mart to buy the book (got to love monopolized stores that sell books, guns, condoms, and low self-esteem... Yay!). I had to wait in line for a bit, but once the books were available things went quickly. I even got a collection of sweet Harry Potter house wristbands, which included a blue Ravenclaw one that I always wear on my left wrist next to my Hope wristband (there's a reason for it but I don't need to get into it...plus you probably don't care). There was only one bad experience of the night which really wasn't that bad. While waiting in line to buy my book some super-cool guy who obviously has a large penis flipped to the back of the book and spat out the ending. Nice job! It didn't spoil it though, plus I pushed it out of my mind concluding that he could have been lieing (ah delusion). Either way I was back home at 12:30 where I went straight up to my room to begin the process. I already had gotten things ready for my endeavor of reading a book for a long period of time. A lot of people decided to drink coffe or lots of pop in order to stay awake, but not me. This was actually intentional because I wanted to stay up naturally... and do things the "right" way. Well, I didn't even know there was a code for staying up to read books, but hey I guess just created it (Side Note: iTunes does not pick songs at random. That is two Pink Floyd songs in the last three selections. Even better they are from the same album. But who am I to complain something as trivial as this. Like poor, starving children all over the world feel bad for me because iTunes does not work perfectly. "Poor John, we could use some food here, but no first let's fix iTunes." Pathetic...)
I apologize for the previous few sentences... back to the story.
So I was then ready to start the actual reading. I didn't think about how this was going to be the end, but I did feel a bit of sadness within me like I was losing something. Feelings aside I started reading. Within a few chapters I was already convinced that this was going to be the best book in the series (Voldemort can fly!). This was just non-stop-I-am-enjoying-this-quite-thoroughly action. I took maybe one bathroom break, blowed my nose while reading, and nearly broke my back lying in the same position for a while, but 11 hours later I was finished. How did I feel?
Amazingly I felt practically nothing. If anything it just felt complete. I wasn't happy, sad, angry, or even sleepy. I went downstairs and ate a little bit and drank some water. I didn't ball my eyes out or anything like that and really I didn't feel a sense of loss anymore. Now that it was over the book series became an attachment to my soul that will never leave me. There won't be anything new coming out about the world of Harry Potter and that is something that I have accepted from Day One (or Two or Six-Thousand). The series is over but there is so much to apprechiate. Like Bill Hicks used to say "It's just a ride." And what a ride it was.