I thought it swell to start at the very beginning of my reading career. I mean, of course I read or was read to many children's book throughout my days. I never hated reading, but I also never loved it until I was in the second grade.
I remember the first time I laid my eyes on the magical volume of pure literary genius. I was in a bookstore called Professor Books (or something similar). It smelled like wet wood. My mom was buying my cousin this novel for a birthday present. It wasn't long after that the novel debuted as a film.
I am very embarrassed and humiliated to admit that what got me interested in reading was a movie. Although, I am not ashamed to admit that that movie was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I LOVED the movie. I felt so grown up and as cheesy and stupid as it sounds, I felt a deep connection with the main character Harry.
So I picked up the book.
And I didn't put the book down until I was fourteen years old. After I read J.K. Rowling's final work, I of course picked up her first book again, and still read Harry Potter to this day.
So, as much as I would love to thank my mom, or state that I have loved reading since the day that I was born; I must thank Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling for teaching me to read and the spark of curiosity that the books kindled in my heart.
Who else needs to thank Harry for this?
First of all, love your book blog! I have had an (intermittent) book blog myself for some years (bookishgirlbookclub.blogspot.com) so you are a girl after my own heart. (Not to mention that I am pretty sure you heart Gilmore Girls as much as I do so you are REALLY a girl after my own heart. Have you seen Bunheads??)
ReplyDeleteI digress.
You may be too young to remember this, but I was an early supporter of Harry Potter in the McDonald family. I took a lot of flack for it, too, believe it or not! Many other adults (and yes, obviously I was an adult at the time because I'm OLD) were afraid of the series. "Wizardry, magic, it must be of the devil!" I was shocked that first Thanksgiving we sat around the dinner table and I actually had to make my case for the literary value of JK Rowling's work. (Although the value of Rowling's work certainly does not stop merely at the literary.) My vindication came when Jay (Grandpa!) read the first book and declared it "innocuous and a little boring". Ha! So awesome! I didn't mind that he found it boring. (We all know the series gets better as it goes.) I loved that he saw it wasn't harmful. And may I add... not only does it do no harm, it does good by working the imagination muscles of young minds and presenting them with chances to ponder the complexities of life (good v. evil, right v. wrong, courage v. cowardice, etc.) and use these wonderful books as tools to work those issues out for themselves. Heck, it even works on adults!
p.s. Forgive an old woman for ambushing your blog?
Thanks Melissa! You are pretty much my role model right now because I really want want want to major in English and you love Gilmore Girls so I feel like you are the exact type of person I should be!
DeleteAlso, I have seen Bunheads. I have only seen the first two episodes though. I haven't been able to keep up with the episodes as much as I would like, but I am definitely excited to see it, and will probably buy the season if for the only reason that Amy Palladino wrote it.
Grandpa finds many good things boring, and many boring things good. Although I trust his judgement, I feel that when it comes to great things such as Harry Potter we all should just leave his thoughts out of the picture ;)
PS. I have already known about your book blog and think you are amazing at writing! Tell your kids hi for me!