Friday, May 20, 2016

Book forty-two: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling

We started this book over a year ago, got about halfway through before Hen lost interest, and came back to it again a few months ago, rereading the first bit a second time. Hen was rapt the entire book, ready and willing and sometimes even begging to read one more chapter. Even the more cerebral moments illustrating the teenage angst Hen and his cohorts were experiencing didn't dissuade him from continuing. This is, of course, what I hoped for. It is so enjoyable to watch his enjoyment in the books and the story as it unfolds. He is old enough to get most of the jokes and he laughs heartily when anything funny takes place. (Or when his papa accidentally-on-purpose mispronounces the names of the characters.)

He still so wants to believe that magic is real, and I am okay with that. He is appreciating the magic of storytelling. What more can a person ask for?

As for myself, this is my fourth or fifth time reading The Order of the Phoenix. I know what is going to happen and when and to whom and yet I can still be surprised and laugh out loud and feel immense sadness. This speaks of the power of Rowling's series. You can know it front and back and sideways and there is still something to be gleaned from the text the next time through it.

42 down plus 10 books to go!

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