I'm new to the world of Harry Potter!

[Missy1961]

Hi Missy!

I *think* I was one of those who nudged you on when you posted on the thread that discussed the excitement over book 7's release! I think I remember telling you that I had a tough time getting into HP&SS at first.

If you have any questions about the books, post them here. We'll do our best to answer w/o giving anything from the upcoming books away.

I will say that there's also a v. fun board to go to: www.darkmark.com that discusses the books, HP news, etc. They have a message board forum, too. I'm sure the main page will now only carry mentions of any JK Rowling interviews and any info. on the upcoming movies ... and any rumors of future JK Rowling books.

I thought I read on darkmark.com that JKR is going to write two more books that are allegedly *not* HP related. It will be interesting to see if she can carry off other books (esp. if they're a different genre) as well as she carried off HP.

Yes, you too! Thanks!

I'll have to check that website.

I'll use this thread to post my future questions. Right now, I just want to catch up with everybody. I have a feeling that the further we get from the release, the more people will talk about #7, so I might get spoiler info. (thru no fault of others, I can't expect them to not talk) I figure if I can keep up my current pace, I'll be caught up soon. Then I plan to read it all again, slower, so I can absorb more, and I bet I'll have more questions!

 

[Imzadi]

Wow Missy, you sure read fast! Glad you are enjoying the books.

A woman was reading book 7 on the subway the other day. I got to peer over her shoulder & see what chapter she was on. I thought, "How in the world could you have read that last chapter without bawling your eyes out here on the train?" I wouldn't have been able to do it.

Bob, as you are reading to your kids, you might want to read ahead yourself. The books get incredibly darker & more evil. Book one started out appropriately for 9 year olds. But the evil gets incredibly older in each book as the kids age. I wonder about the appropriateness for younger kids in the later books.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Bob, as you are reading to your kids, you might want to read ahead yourself. The books get incredibly darker & more evil. Book one started out appropriately for 9 year olds. But the evil gets incredibly older in each book as the kids age. I wonder about the appropriateness for younger kids in the later books.

I've read them all myself once before. I know that the first two will be ok for him right now and that Azkaban is probably alright, but after that, we might have to hold off a little while. He'll probably be only around 7 1/2 when we get to that point (we're reading about a half a chapter a night, give or take, so it's taking about 2 months to read each book.

 

[Missy1961]

Wow Missy, you sure read fast! Glad you are enjoying the books.

A woman was reading book 7 on the subway the other day. I got to peer over her shoulder & see what chapter she was on. I thought, "How in the world could you have read that last chapter without bawling your eyes out here on the train?" I wouldn't have been able to do it.

Bob, as you are reading to your kids, you might want to read ahead yourself. The books get incredibly darker & more evil. Book one started out appropriately for 9 year olds. But the evil gets incredibly older in each book as the kids age. I wonder about the appropriateness for younger kids in the later books.

Gotta love the 1 hr commute each way!

 

[PoohJen]

Hi Missy, and welcome to the world of Harry Potter!!!! I actually feel a little jealous of people who are just now getting to read the books for the first time!

Our whole family has been reading them since the first came out in the States. Combine that with our kids putting the tapes/cds on EVERY NIGHT for the past 4 years (we have a speaker system that runs thru the house), and I feel like Harry and friends are a part of our family!

I actually came on to the community board tonight, looking for HP chat, feeling - I dunno, sentimental? - now that I have no new HP books to look forward to!

Anyway, Book 4 has always been my favorite!!! I just love the rich descriptions of the wizarding world, such as at the World Cup. I always thought book 4 would make a great TV miniseries. The movie was fine, but just couldn't capture it all.

IF I had to order them by favorite (although, I love the whole series):

4 Goblet
1 Sorcerer's Stone
7 Hallows (???? I think she did a great job of wrapping up the series here)
5 Order of the Phoenix (although, a difficult read, very oppressive, getting darker)
6 Prince
2 Chamber
3 Prisoner

But you know, I loved them all; not sure I can truly say I prefer any of the last 5 listed over the others.

Have fun!!! Savor them!!!


p.s. Narrator for the tapes/CD is truly amazing!!! Try getting them at your local library!!!

 

[Missy1961]

I never posted about which audio book I got.

Borders had #7 on CD, it was $79.99! So even with my 20% coupon, that was a little expensive. So I went to look at their other choices, nothing at all by the "audio books" section. Well, one of my nieces is turning 5, so I wanted to get her some books, go over to the children's section, and find some HP books on tape. They had #4, 5 & 6. So I bought 4, got it for $32 instead of $40.

Came back to the office, decided to check ebay--found #1 on tape for $9.99 opening bid, found #5 also for a $9.99 opening bid (different sellers). Won #1 for $13, lost #5. But the seller for #5 gave me a Second Chance offer, plus she had #2 & 3 available too. (got #5 for $10, #2 & 3 for $15 each). Then today I won #7 on CD for $43! Not bad, huh?

 

[Imzadi]

That's getting the best out of eBaying!

 

[hildasmuriel]

Could you tell me if the Jim Dale who narrates the tapes is the British actor Jim Dale, or some other bloke?

The bit of Goblet of Fire which had me bawling was when Cedric asked Harry to take his body back for his parents - makes me well up just to think of it. In the book we saw how nice Cedric was, I think, His dad was so obviously proud of him and he was feeling very sheepish and tried to stop his dad crowing to Harry about the previous year's Quidditch win.
I agree that the actress chosen for Hermione was far too pretty, so when she appeared in the ball scene in GoF there wasn't the shock factor that there was in the book. At first Ron didn't even know who she was as she had changed so much! The books always mention how very bushy her hair is, so when she had it smoothed for the ball it made a big difference (not to mention she had her teeth shortened! )

I loved reading about the World Cup. When we mention the World Cup in the UK, it is taken without saying that we mean the football (soccer) World Cup and the excitement and buzz is just as J K Rowling wrote it for the Quidditch finals. And yes, there are always a few people. like Hermione, who just don't GET it.

 

[Missy1961]

I started watching the DVD of "Prisoner" last night. I really enjoy watching the movies because I then know how to pronounce some of the terms!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I started re-reading the whole series about a week ago, and just finished the Sorcerer's Stone last night. I'm now on chapter four of the Chamber of Secrets. There are so many little things I noticed this time, that I didn't pay that much attention to back when I first read them, which was years ago.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have been rereading Half-Blood Prince, I was reading it in a bar last night

My commute is 45 minutes but I read #7 in one day at home. It's too heavy to carry to work anyway.

Going this afternoon to see the latest movie.

I think #4 was better as a movie than as a book. I bet #7 will be the same way. Can't say why because Missy hasn't read it yet.

 

[Missy1961]

I have been rereading Half-Blood Prince, I was reading it in a bar last night

My commute is 45 minutes but I read #7 in one day at home. It's too heavy to carry to work anyway.

Going this afternoon to see the latest movie.

I think #4 was better as a movie than as a book. I bet #7 will be the same way. Can't say why because Missy hasn't read it yet.

Can't wait to find out why.....

 

[Starstruckdancer]

The fourth book is my favorite book. I dunno why. I love it so much I went out and bought the french version and read it in french.
But the 3rd and 4th are my favorites.

 

[Tikicampers]

Our whole family is getting into it right now, though (well, not my 2 year old ). I've been reading the books to my older son each night (we're part of the way into Book 2) and my wife, who had always liked the movies, but never read the books, was so intrigued by the end of Order of the Phoenix, the movie, that she ended up reading all of Half Blood Prince this weekend. She's now waiting anxiously for me to finish the last book, so she can read it.

How old is your older child? We are trying to decide when to start DS on the books. I want to read him each book before he sees the movie. He's only three, but he is very verbal. How did you know your child was ready?

 

[Missy1961]

I am halfway thru book #5. I'd love to see the movie, but I have a feeling I won't get a chance.

 

[Bob Slydell]

How old is your older child? We are trying to decide when to start DS on the books. I want to read him each book before he sees the movie. He's only three, but he is very verbal. How did you know your child was ready?

He'll be 7 next month.

He actually watched the first movie way back when it was on HBO when he was 2, but he really doesn't remember watching it. He came to me a few months ago and asked if we could start reading the books together. He likes to read a page or two and then have me read the rest of the chapter to him.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

I am halfway thru book #5. I'd love to see the movie, but I have a feeling I won't get a chance.

Don't rush through the book (as usual, the book is better than the movie) - you can always see the movie on DVD.

 

[Missy1961]

Don't rush through the book (as usual, the book is better than the movie) - you can always see the movie on DVD.

I'm not planning to. I'll wait for the DVD. I figure it will be available by Christmas. And you're right, I've enjoyed the books more than the movies. Don't get me wrong, I really like the movies, but the books are better.

And am I the only one who has intense dreams after reading these books? Nothing smutty or anything, just intense. I usually don't remember my dreams, but I have been remembering the HP ones!

 

[Missy1961]

I got the audio book of #7 today. Very fast! I opened it to make sure they were all there, then I put it away.

 

[Imzadi]

And am I the only one who has intense dreams after reading these books? Nothing smutty or anything, just intense. I usually don't remember my dreams, but I have been remembering the HP ones!

You need to learn a variation of Occlumency. It's discussed in detail in Book 5.