Thank you, Harry.

Best. Series. Ever.

I left "A Game of Thrones" in my car and a new book I'm reading for work. I may not be able to handle reading much right now anyway, but I glanced at my bookshelf and couldn't resist: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

My mom originally got this book for me over ten years ago. In 7th grade, I heard about the book on The Rosie O'Donnell show (my favorite after school tv pastime) but didn't think much of it. Then, my mom got me a copy as she had heard good things about the book. She only got me paperback, though, thinking that if I got into the series we could do hardcover, but it wasn't worth the investment if I ended up not enjoying the first book.

Little did we both know what a passion it would become.

I raced through the first three books during the fall of my 7th grade year, which, in addition to my other reading, catapulted me to the front of my homeroom class in terms of number of books read. That year I won a CD from my teacher for reading so much - and I thank HARRY POTTER!

In the years that followed, I remember the time spent waiting for a new book to arrive. I always pre-ordered the latest HP novel on Amazon.com instead of doing the bookstore party thing. Amazon always promised it would be delivered day-of-release. Twice FedEx failed on Amazon's promise and I had to wait a few extra days (aka, an eternity). But twice Amazon refunded our money for the inconvenience!

I remember the FedEx delivery guy arrived on schedule for the delivery of one of the books. But he was exasperated  It was mid-afternoon; I had anxiously waited all day and was convinced my book was lost in the mail. I'd also heard about people looting delivery trucks. I also had heard that there were simply too many books to be delivered for them to all arrive on schedule. But, FedEx man arrived. I saw him through the picture window in the living room and it was all I could do not to race to the door before he got to the doorstep. My mom and I greeted him and got the book. I was speechlessly excited. He smiled nicely and I remember my mom and him chatting a moment about his day. He said something about his truck being full of Harry Potter and there not being enough hours in the day. So true, delivery man. So true.

I knew people who read them in 24 hours. I would usually try to savor the book for a week although so often it was hard to put down. I remember growing with Harry - the story lines deepening as I matured. I fancied myself to be the same age as Harry and I still won't let anyone tell me differently. I started an HP fan club online in middle school, in the days of AOL chat rooms, message boards, and list servs. I managed to acquire a following of 70 or so people, from all over the world, for an e-newsletter about Harry. It included columns about the plot and characters and I accepted submissions of something from my readers.

My fascination with local news got me to send the newsletter to a local anchor (Wayne Herman at Denver's 7). He mentioned it on the air during the last segment of a show and subscribed to future newsletters. It was probably my most successful attempt at amateur journalism as a child - fostering a love I already had for writing and letting be a little reporte...thanks to HARRY POTTER!

It still blows my mind to think how deeply I, along with millions across the world, got into HP. I usually hesitate to jump on bandwagons right away, but I definitely rode the wave of HP like a pro - and I long for those times. I wish had gone to a bookstore party or two. I did wait in line for the midnight showing of the sixth movie, although I fell asleep (the movies aren't as good as the books, anyway). I long for the anticipation that came with a new HP book; the novelty of that FedEx delivery every couple of years.

I also miss the adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione; the wisdom of Dumbledore and Hagrid; the characters I cried over like Sirius Black, Dobby, and yes, Dumbledore. I miss losing myself in a world mixed of wizards and muggles, broomstick sports and custom wands. And, considering how successful HP is, I wonder why words like "muggles" don't clear my computer's spell-check.

Despite my many years of commitment to HP, I've never re-read the books, unlike so many people I know. I also haven't seen movie 7 part 2, but that, to me, is not as grievous or interesting. So. I pulled book 1 off my shelf tonight. I just wrote a whole blog so I should be able to read a chapter or two.

And still, after all these years, I have a giddy anticipation about opening to page 1 and getting lost in Harry's world.

Thank you, Harry, for giving me that escape - along with everything else.

Here's to books that keep you reading,

~MJ

Intriguing, yet Uninspiring

I'm reading the first book in "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. "A Game of Thrones" is a long book...674 pages. I've read about half in a week, having a hard time putting it down sometimes. But I'm realizing it is purely entertainment with little  to offer in terms of broader, provocative themes. I still like it. I just wonder how committed I will be to the series. This series of really long books.

I'm definitely into the book at hand. But I feel like reading the series will just be my commitment to its soap operatic quality...that guilty pleasure with no higher, morally-redeemable value. You may have noticed I really like books that make me think about values, aspects of humanity, history and current events. On the surface, this story includes a lot of politics and an interesting web of human relationships, but none of it is taken to a very thought-provoking level. It just keeps me reading somehow. And sometimes, the best reads are those that are just fun.

But, I will say the book has surprised me in places so far - so maybe Martin is going  to throw in some deeper meaning at some point. There certainly are enough characters, solid plot-lines, and an incredible, medieval landscape.

We'll see.

~MJ

Summer Reading Achieved

10 books is a lot in a summer. At least for my schedule. I tried reading about 20 minutes a day, at least, and would often read for an hour or so. But there were a few days when I just couldn't bring myself to pick up a book - if only because I was doing other things, I was sleepy, or needed a break.

10 was an ambitious goal when I started on June 9. But, I made it before Labor Day! I think a tradition of mine might be 10 books between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Here they are, in order of completion:

1. The Green Mile by Stephen King
2. My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
3. Room by Emma Donoghue
4. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
5. What is the What by Dave Eggars
6. Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools by Glenn Singleton and Curtis Linton
7. In the Deep Heart's Core by Michael Johnston
8. Fist Stick Knife Gun by Geoffrey Canada
9. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
10. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

I enjoyed each book in its own way, with my clear favorites being The Green Mile, What is the What, In the Deep Heart's Core, and The Outsiders. I would recommend any of these books to my friends, though, knowing that each has its own purpose and diverse qualities.

I really like the experience of setting a reading goal and working to achieve it. It sometimes made reading seem like a chore, but I would always quash that feeling with the knowledge that finishing a book feels so good! Therefore, I think I will set goals for myself each season to keep my reading going.

My other "reading seasons" will be marked by holidays...

Fall: Labor Day to Thanksgiving
Winter: Thanksgiving to St. Patrick's
Spring: St. Patrick's to Memorial Day

For the fall, I only want to finish two books:

"A Game of Thrones: Book One of A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin
(because I want to watch the TV show and I've heard this series is amazing)
"The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver
(because I want another read like Poisonwood and Kingsolver will surely deliver)

I will probably read more than these - but I set the goal just around them because they are so lengthy and I want to make myself finish them. I hope to finish at least a couple of the books on my shelf I have bookmarks in halfway through, like "American Gods" and "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman.

But my goal will be to get through Martin and Kingsolver, with any other finished books being purely coincidental.

Here goes!

~MJ