This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is a bit of a freebie: 10 things I love about X. I waited until the last minute to put this post together, so I'm taking the easy way out and going with 10 Things I Love About Harry Potter. (All pictures that don't have a source underneath are mine -- mostly from our amazing trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in February! One of these days I'll put together a full post about our adventure to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley!)
1. The whimsy.
I think most Harry Potter fans would agree that the whimsical nature of the books (and movies) is huge draw. That includes Hogwarts itself, with the warm, cozy, safe atmosphere, the talking portraits, the magical fireplaces, the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, the dungeons and the towers, the owlery, the ghosts, the (mythical) nargles, the pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts, the Sorting Hat, the secret rooms, the greenhouse full of mandrakes, the lake full of Merpeople, the Whomping Willow and the pumpkin patch by Hagrid's Hut. Not to mention the moving photos in the Daily Prophet and the flying cars and Quidditch matches and chocolate frogs and Hogwarts Express and Knight Bus. I could go on (and on) but I think you get the idea.
2. Hermione.
I wouldn't mind being Hermione -- bookish and brilliant and obsessed with the library, a highly skilled witch (except that time she turned herself into a cat) and a great friend. I already have the frizzy hair to play the part! I also want Hermione's beaded handbag from the last book, stocked with a pile books and a magical tent, not to mention her gorgeous dress from the Yule Ball.
I wouldn't mind being Hermione -- bookish and brilliant and obsessed with the library, a highly skilled witch (except that time she turned herself into a cat) and a great friend. I already have the frizzy hair to play the part! I also want Hermione's beaded handbag from the last book, stocked with a pile books and a magical tent, not to mention her gorgeous dress from the Yule Ball.
3. Many mentions of books and knitting.
As a book lover, I appreciate all the bookish references, famous works like "The Monster Book of Monsters" and "Hogwarts: A History," and delightful bookish places like the Hogwarts library and Flourish and Blotts bookstore. I'm also a knitter, and I love all the fanciful knitting mentions, like self-knitting needles, Hermione knitting socks for house elves, and Mrs. Weasley's very special hand-knitted Christmas sweaters.
As a book lover, I appreciate all the bookish references, famous works like "The Monster Book of Monsters" and "Hogwarts: A History," and delightful bookish places like the Hogwarts library and Flourish and Blotts bookstore. I'm also a knitter, and I love all the fanciful knitting mentions, like self-knitting needles, Hermione knitting socks for house elves, and Mrs. Weasley's very special hand-knitted Christmas sweaters.
4. A plethora of ways to immerse yourself in the HP-verse.
What Harry Potter lover doesn't want to imagine herself a student at Hogwarts or strolling along the eccentric shops in Diagon Alley or "accio"-ing that thing that's all the way across the room? Being a member of the Harry Potter fandom provides plenty of fun immersion opportunities. You can take the Sorting Hat quiz on Pottermore (I was Hufflepuff the first time I took it, Ravenclaw a few months ago when I took the version with the new graphics), visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, knit a house scarf, bake butterbeer cupcakes, dress up as your favorite witch or wizard for Halloween (see photo above -- working at a library has some perks!). Below is a picture of me enjoying a chilled butterbeer at The Wizarding World. It was absolutely delicious! (Cold and hot are amazing, skip the frozen.)
5. No technology.
I love that J.K. Rowling set the Harry Potter-verse just long enough ago that it's not affected by today's technology: no digital cameras, no internet, no cell phones. It adds to the quaintness of the setting and makes some plot points plausible that definitely wouldn't be in the 21st century.
I love that J.K. Rowling set the Harry Potter-verse just long enough ago that it's not affected by today's technology: no digital cameras, no internet, no cell phones. It adds to the quaintness of the setting and makes some plot points plausible that definitely wouldn't be in the 21st century.
6. Holidays.
This one is sort of hand-in-hand with whimsy, but I especially love the depictions of holidays like Halloween and Christmas in the books and the movies. Everything is always so extravagant and fantastical and cozy at the same time. I wish I could just step into the book and enjoy a Christmas feast in the Great Hall, decked out with huge holiday trees and magical snow. Halloween would be just as fun!
This one is sort of hand-in-hand with whimsy, but I especially love the depictions of holidays like Halloween and Christmas in the books and the movies. Everything is always so extravagant and fantastical and cozy at the same time. I wish I could just step into the book and enjoy a Christmas feast in the Great Hall, decked out with huge holiday trees and magical snow. Halloween would be just as fun!
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7. Themes of friendship, love, teamwork, determination, equality, kindness and more.
I think the Harry Potter series is a great way for kids -- and all of us, really -- to be reminded of how to be a good person. There's a very clear differentiation between good and evil in the books -- maybe too clear, because real life has plenty of gray areas -- but it makes it easy to cheer for the obviously-good guys. Plus issues like house elf rights, the derogatory term "mudblood," and poor Luna Lovegood being mercilessly mocked for being different all speak to equal rights and treating others as you'd want to be treated. I could write a whole blog post on this topic, so I'll leave it at that (for now)!
I think the Harry Potter series is a great way for kids -- and all of us, really -- to be reminded of how to be a good person. There's a very clear differentiation between good and evil in the books -- maybe too clear, because real life has plenty of gray areas -- but it makes it easy to cheer for the obviously-good guys. Plus issues like house elf rights, the derogatory term "mudblood," and poor Luna Lovegood being mercilessly mocked for being different all speak to equal rights and treating others as you'd want to be treated. I could write a whole blog post on this topic, so I'll leave it at that (for now)!
8. All the extra Harry Potter things to get excited about.
By this I mean things like the audiobooks, the new movie, the illustrated books, "The Cursed Child," the theme parks, the ABC Family movie marathons, the midnight release parties, the Funkos and the real-life Quidditch matches. I particularly love the (absolutely fantastic) audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale. In the past couple years I've listened to all but book 7, which I've been saving for just the right time. And of course I'm looking forward to the release of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," the illustrated "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
By this I mean things like the audiobooks, the new movie, the illustrated books, "The Cursed Child," the theme parks, the ABC Family movie marathons, the midnight release parties, the Funkos and the real-life Quidditch matches. I particularly love the (absolutely fantastic) audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale. In the past couple years I've listened to all but book 7, which I've been saving for just the right time. And of course I'm looking forward to the release of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," the illustrated "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
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9. Discovering new things about the Harry Potter world.
I didn't know until a year or two ago that the "t" at the end of Voldemort is meant to be silent, as in the French word "mort" (death). I also like that J.K. Rowling has doled out little tidbits about the books throughout the years, like that Arthur Weasley was supposed to die instead of Sirius, and that Dumbledore was gay. Pottermore also reveals interesting info and backstories; did you know Professor McGonagall was a Hogwarts Quidditch star, was engaged to a muggle at age 18, and later in life fell in love with and married a man named Elphinstone Urquhart who died three years later of a venomous tentacula bite!?
10. I'll never get tired of re-reading the books.
I am absolutely not a re-reader. I seldom re-read books, but I've read the entire Harry Potter series many times and I have yet to get bored with it -- and never will. In fact, I notice new things each time I read the books, and this last re-read via the audiobooks has been the most enlightening. Listening to someone as talented as Jim Dale tell the stories is really a different reading experience that I highly, highly recommend! The new illustrated versions provide a great opportunity for re-reading too. I'm ashamed to admit that, though I just had to have it the week it came out, I haven't yet read my illustrated "Sorcerer's Stone"!
Do tell: Are YOU a Potter fan? What are your favorite things about the world of Harry Potter?
I didn't know until a year or two ago that the "t" at the end of Voldemort is meant to be silent, as in the French word "mort" (death). I also like that J.K. Rowling has doled out little tidbits about the books throughout the years, like that Arthur Weasley was supposed to die instead of Sirius, and that Dumbledore was gay. Pottermore also reveals interesting info and backstories; did you know Professor McGonagall was a Hogwarts Quidditch star, was engaged to a muggle at age 18, and later in life fell in love with and married a man named Elphinstone Urquhart who died three years later of a venomous tentacula bite!?
10. I'll never get tired of re-reading the books.
I am absolutely not a re-reader. I seldom re-read books, but I've read the entire Harry Potter series many times and I have yet to get bored with it -- and never will. In fact, I notice new things each time I read the books, and this last re-read via the audiobooks has been the most enlightening. Listening to someone as talented as Jim Dale tell the stories is really a different reading experience that I highly, highly recommend! The new illustrated versions provide a great opportunity for re-reading too. I'm ashamed to admit that, though I just had to have it the week it came out, I haven't yet read my illustrated "Sorcerer's Stone"!
Do tell: Are YOU a Potter fan? What are your favorite things about the world of Harry Potter?
I am always way behind fashion and watched the movies for the first time in the fall 2015. I read first three books 4 years ago and I loved how "cozy" it was. I don't know how to explain this feeling, but it just gave me this warm feeling! Loved it! I am rereading the first book right now in Spanish to master my grammar and vocabulary - it is so much fun to look at it from the different language perspective!
ReplyDeleteYes, I know just the feeling you're talking about!
DeleteI would love to be fluent enough in another language for book-reading! One of my friends has a French degree and she reads the HP series in French from time to time. I bet it adds a whole new dimension to the reading experience!
What a wonderful post. I discovered Harry Potter after book 4 had already been released and I have fond memories of binge reading them, but then having to wait each year for the rest of them. Hermione is my favorite as well - she's so fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barb! I was introduced to HP not long before the 4th book came out, so I have memories of going to buy books 4-7 on release day and spending the entire day reading! I even kept the receipts from when I bought each of the books!
DeleteI love that you chose Harry Potter for your list this week. I feel like such a failure of a fan because it didn't even cross my mind! I agree with every single point on your list this week. I didn't know the 't' was meant to be silent either!
ReplyDeleteWell, I almost feel like a cheater because I was like, "What is the easiest possible topic I can think of?" It actually turned into quite a project, though!
DeleteI love everything about Harry Potter. It's just such a great fictional world to escape to. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, agreed! The escapism goes hand-in-hand with the whimsy aspect, I think.
DeleteGreat list! I love everything about Harry Potter. I would also love to have Hermione's beaded bag, she's my favourite too.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/07/top-ten-tuesday-60/
Thank you! I think I've actually seen a knitting pattern for the beaded bag... maybe if I knit it, a huge enchanted tent will magically pop out! That'd be handy. ;)
DeleteGreat Lists! Maybe someday I'll get to HP World myself.
ReplyDeleteYou can come with us next time!
DeleteSo many great reasons to love Harry Potter! It's more than a book series... it really is such an immersive, whimsical experience!
ReplyDeleteExactly! You summed up my whole post in a sentence! It's definitely a special adventure unlike any other.
DeleteI'm a knitter too, but I think self-knitting needles would kind of ruin it for me.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT list
Oh, agreed. But I just love all the knitting references in the books!
DeleteThis is an awesome list and every point on your list is spot on. This is a series I love and hope my daughter will too (she already loves the movies--just need to get her into the books).
ReplyDeleteI read the Harry Potter books as they were released (and watched the movies as they were released) so it's been a while for me. But after recently reading Rainbow Rowell's Carry On, I feel inspired to revisit the series. I'm thinking of listening to the audio books since I've heard they are so well done. This year the teen summer reading theme at my library is Harry Potter, so the timing would be perfect :)
ReplyDelete