Rediscovering the Magic

When I was growing up, I heard my older sister and other family members constantly assert that 'the book was so much better than the film' - for pretty much any book or film that existed. I have something to admit however...

I have never read the Harry Potter books!!

And so, after reading a Pottermore post (that popped up on Facebook of all places), describing some intricate and nuanced detail of tantalising Potter theory, I decided that I really ought to actually read the books behind the series that has possibly had the greatest effect on me of any I have come across.

I had always been rather unimpressed with the attitude of my family towards films - on screen media and books are entirely different things, with entirely different ways of captivating you. Whether the books are 'better' or not, it was the films that drew me into the world of Harry Potter all those years ago, the T.V. adaptations that made me fall in love with Agatha Christie's Poirot, and the gothic intrigue of Brad Silbering's original film adaptation of Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' that then persuaded me to read the books. Although I have to say after reading one Poirot story and then trying out the T.V. version it was indeed utterly unbearable.... film then books would definitely appear the preferable order!

I picked up this 20th anniversary edition of the Philosopher's Stone on Amazon purely because I liked the look of the coloured pages, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the fact that each book contains a lore introduction specific to the house affiliation that you have chosen! I haven't gotten very far yet, but I have currently been introduced to the upstanding Godric Gryffindor:

I would definitely recommend this version of the book, as even reading the first page of the Gryffindor house history sent my nerdy side into overdrive! It actually gave me enough energy to get my weekly module reading done - channel those Hermione vibes!!

I am thoroughly looking forward to rediscovering the magic of this series, and in even more juicy detail than ever before. I think I will have to buy the next books in order of the different houses so I get to read each introduction with a fine-toothed comb; I wanted to get Ravenclaw next, but I think the Chamber of Secrets is a decidedly Slytherin creation... Either way, I'm not sure my module reading will be able to put up a fight for much longer!

Is Harry Potter the best series to ever have been created??

💖