So, last weekend, I saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. And it was good. I’ve enjoyed all the Harry Potter movies in fact. Love the cast of characters, love the production design, love the imaginative stories. Right up my alley. So up my alley in fact that when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone first came out in book form, long ago before Harry madness or any of the films, my college roommate (who has similar tastes in reading material and has an uncanny knack for finding the next best thing in literature before everyone else does) strongly suggested I check it out.
As usual, I did not heed her advice. I meant to. I really did. But then I got distracted and gradually forgot about Harry Potter until it became a seemingly overnight sensation. And then it was too late. I despise following the crowd (especially when I was given advance notice), so I still didn’t read them despite the rave reviews. Then the first movie came out. And I didn’t see it. Until it came out on DVD. Since then, I’ve seen each consecutive film and love each one. But I still haven’t read any of the books.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I may be the only person on the planet to have seen all the Harry Potter movies and read none of the books. Which is completely out of character for me. I’m the one who usually insists upon reading the book before I will go see the movie. So, my mission is to read the entire Harry Potter series before the next movie comes out.
Now that I’m not studying, moving, or getting married, and my book club has sort of gone on summer hiatus, I’ve got a bit of time on my hands (ignoring the dusty, still somewhat unpacked house) for leisure activities. I’m not exactly sure when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is expected to be released in theaters, but all sources say sometime in 2010, so I’ve got some time.
I’m assuming the books give a lot more detailed information and are generally better than the movies…? Anybody have an opinion on that?
5 comments:
The books are WAY better. A lot more information. My favorites in the series are _Prisoner of Azkavan_ and _Half-Blood Prince_. Oh, yeah, and _Goblet of Fire_. You'll find some details in the books which were out of place in the movies to make the plot less confusing. I'm glad you liked the latest movie without the book... I'd been wondering if people who hadnt read the boook would because it goes so fast... And you miss a lot more details about Tom Riddle that actually make you kind of--for a short period of time--empathize with him. Slightly. And so much more is revealed about Snape and his relatinoship to Dumbledore. YOU MUST READ THE BOOKS.
But I totally understand you because I was a johnny-come-lately to the series. I didnt read them until I saw _Goblet of Fire_. I was so wooed by the movie that I dropped everything and decided then and there that I was going to read these darned books. So I read all six (seven wasnt out yet) in a month! I didnt mean to read them that fast. I was going to space them out, but I got totally enthralled and obsessed with them... After each ended, since it was there, I had to read the next... And then I was waiting for the seventh book like everyone else had to wait between all seven...
I have never been as obsessed with a book series like this as I got wtih Harry Potter. Well, I got that obsessed wtih Star Wars... but not the books... But I swear, when I was reading those books, I was thinking about them when I wasnt reading them. I dont know why they lend themselves to obsession of this nature, but they do... and it's really just your basic good versus evil story... But for some reason those always seem to be the best ones...
When you read the books, you'll really appreciate the casting of the characters. I finished reading the books before the movies caught up with Luna Lovegood and she's EXACTLY the way I pictured her in my head. The same with a lot of those other characters too... The casting director needs a big kiss.
And did I mention that I am totally in love with Alan Rickman as Snape???
Get you to a library and read those books!! I'd loan you my set, but, alas, you're in TN...
The books definitely have a lot more detail. I've read them all and I have a lot of trouble keeping them straight. Your former roommate and your former neighbor are both amazingly good at recalling plot points, minor characters, and other literary constructs that go way over my head. Have you ever played Joanna's Harry Potter Clue game? It is possibly even more fun than the Pirate's Game of Life.
I haven't read them either but have seen all the movies...I am trying to read them...but my mind wanders too easily with her writing style.
The movies are SOOOO much better!Ugh. Dreadful writing.
I am the second person on the planet who has seen all the movies and not read a single book of the series. I am also on the same band wagon of reading all the books and also the Lord of the Rings is next in line.
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