Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Thursday Thirteen Things I Love About the Harry Potter Books! (very mild SPOILERS for books 1-6)


Thirteen Things I love about the Harry Potter books!


1. Dumbledore. He's one of the ultimate characters in any book, in my opinion. He's super powerful, yet still kind and caring. He's brilliant and, in the wizarding world, one of the biggest big-shots around, yet he's often far less than serious. In a nutshell, he's the grandpa we all wish we had.

2. House elves--who doesn't want a house elf? C'mere, Dobby, you can have all the clothes and wages you want if you keep my house presentable...

3. Ron Weasley. He's not the smartest kid, not the most powerful wizard, not the funniest or the most athletically talented or... but he is the best, most loyal friend you could want. Most of the time.


4. Fawkes the phoenix. I have a great love of the phoenix myth--have one tattooed on my right hip, actually. Love their symbolism.

5. The artwork--especially the little black-and-white drawings at the start of every chapter. Whoever does those, absolutely nails what I think Harry's world looks like.

6. Jim Dale. He's the incredibly talented voice actor who reads the Harry Potter audiobooks. I just found out that he's doing Book 7, and it'll be released on the same day as the print book. Yay! I swear, the Harry Potter CDs have done more to keep the peace between my boys on long car trips than anything else in the entire world, including sleepy-making Benedryl and Dramamine for the carsick son...


7. Snape and the potions lessons. Okay, I'll say it... I think Snape's going to come out as a good guy in the end. I love to hate him, I really do, but... somehow. He'll have been consistently loyal to Dumbledore. You wait and see.

8. The owls. They're such beautiful birds, and many of them are endangered. Not only are they great characters in their own rights, I think JK Rowling has done a great thing in increasing awareness and love of these birds in young people.

9. The wands! I like how they're all individual, just like the witches and wizards who use them. That's a great touch.

10. Hogwarts Castle. It's so well described and plays such an enormous role in all the stories, it's practically a main character in itself. At the end of HP6, Harry said he's not returning to Hogwarts for his final year of education, and I'm really biting my nails. A Harry Potter book without the castle???

11. Aunt Petunia. She's got some 'splainin' to do! Is she in contact with wizards? Was she writing to Dumbledore before his death? Is she going to show her own magical powers in Book 7? Enquiring minds want to know...

12. Hermione... you didn't really think I'd forget her, did you? She's changed so much since the first book--and for the better. She's a walking library, an intensely intelligent and strong-willed young lady that is still cool.

13. Harry. Yes, I know, it's obvious, but who could love a book series without adoring the main character? He's made glasses cool--as a mom of a boy who wears 'em, I appreciate that. He's brave, but can usually admit his mistakes. One thing I'd like to see is Harry learning how to control his impulsive nature. Yes, you do have to save the world, but it never hurts to plan things out first...

And since I didn't seem to leave a spot for it--#14, the new Harry Potter 7 cover!


Ain't it pretty? Voldemort is on the back, reaching for Harry... very, very dramatic.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



34 comments:

Ms. George said...

I love your post and it is fitting that I am the first to comment since I created a post for today about the cover art for Book 7. I am a complete nut for HP, according to my students and my family.
Happy TT!

Anonymous said...

Great list -- very entertaining, and arrgh, one of these days I'm going to have to read Harry Potter. Yes, *hanging my head*, I haven't even read the first one yet. But I've heard from so many folks that they're great reading. So thanks to you, I'm gonna move the first book higher up on my to-read list! :)

Happy TT, and thanks for visiting my blog!

Gene Bach said...

I have not read any of the books, but I have seen the movies and they are great.

Amelia Elias said...

Oh, Gene, Gene! The movies can't hold a candle to the books! Hie thee to the nearest library and give your brain the treat of the books. You'll thank me.

Anonymous said...

I keep saying, "C'mon 7, c'mon 7" ... I'm starting to feel like I'm in Vegas! LOL

Selena

Jenny McB said...

I only read the first four, I need to get some more read before the next one comes out.
I would have loved a wand today at work!
Thanks for stopping by my list! Most of mine was based on motion sickness!

Anonymous said...

Excellent 13! As a Potter fan, I agree with everything you wrote, and am eagerly counting down the days until HP7 (116 fwiw)!

Raggedy said...

Terrific Thursday Thirteen!
My TT is posted.
Have a wonderful day!
Happy TT'ing!
*^_^
(=':'=)
(")_ (")Š
Raggedy

Denise Patrick said...

Great list - and you didn't spoil too much.

Tilly Greene said...

Ooops, couldn't read this one because I'm about to pick up book 1. I never start a series if the author says there's a finite number of them...have to wait until the last one is in with the publisher then start reading. Thanks for the warning though :-)

Kate Davies said...

*bouncing up and down*

I may actually have to break down and hit the stores at midnight for this one. Previous books, I had friends who worked at a bookstore who held a copy for me (even let me peek at it before the sell-by date) but the store isn't around anymore. Le sigh.

And I adore Ron. He's such a great, stand-up kinda guy.

ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

I haven't read the books or seen the movies. We tried to watch the movie a few years ago and my youngest was scared. My sons are 5 and 2 so I'm sure I'll be meeting Harry and the gang in the near future. Thanks for sharing your list :)

Brenda said...

love the list :-)

Emma Wayne Porter said...

I'm all about the Weasely twins.

Man, am I gonna miss them *snivel*

Nicole Austin said...

I've only read the first two. Gotta add more hours to the day so I have reading time!

Anonymous said...

I'm scared to admit this but I have never rerad the books. I've seen the movies, but I really should read the books.

I think you may have inspired me to get them and give them a read. I think my 7 yr old mike like reading & being read to if he has to read Harry Potter.

Have a great Thursday.

Anonymous said...

I love the fact that the movies are quite decent, but you still read the book anyway

Amanda Young said...

You know, I'm almost ashamed to admit that I've never read the first one of those books. Never seen the movies either. I think I'm the only person left on earth who hasn't. *g*

Nancy Lindquist-Liedel said...

Number one made me sad. Sniff. I loved him.

Bianca D'Arc said...

I agree with you about Snape. I SO want him to turn out to be a good guy. But you never know...

Annmarie McKenna said...

LOL! I'm still trying to get through the first one with my kids.

Unknown said...

I've seen the movies but I haven't read all the books yet. I know, I'm bad. I plan on buying the box set once they are all released. You know there will be one!

Thanks for stopping by my site!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I agree about Snape; I hope we're not let down in the end!!

LOVE the cover, too. Have you seen the British edition covers????

Happy TT; thanks for stopping by West of Mars. I hope you'll stop by more often!

Fence said...

Totally agree with you about #7. Snape and Dumbledore were working together.

Happy T13

Tempest Knight said...

I'd love to have house elves helping with the cleaning alright. :)

Kate Johnson said...

You know, what I love about the HP books that usually seems to be forgotten or ignored, is how funny they are. JK Rowling really is a talented author and there's so much in the books, so many hints, great jokes, little bits of foreshadowing...that just didn't make it into the movies. Well, book five aside, but I know what it's like when you're on deadline and it makes you hate the book even more!

Em said...

I'm quite happy that the series is coming ot an end. I've enjoyed it, but...you can have too much of a good thing.

And we've still got the movies to look forward to!

Michelle Pillow said...

Wonderful list :) I own the books but haven't read them yet (i know, bad michelle)

impwork said...

Thanks for stopping by my TT

Amelia June said...

I totally think Petunia has magic. It makes perfect sense, plus I totally saw JK let it slip during that "Harry Carrie and Garp" special. (fanshmastic show, btw, if you can catch it on the intertubes it is worth it!)

Mercy's Maid said...

Oh how I love the HP books. I can't wait for the new one!

Michelle Pillow said...

Sorry about the wrong link :) I must have pasted the wrong one.

Thanks for finding me,
Michelle

Wylie Kinson said...

I completely agree with #7. Snape is totally come out on top!

Anonymous said...

Your post has made me look at the Harry Potter series in an entirely new light.

I'll have to read them more seriously the next time round.

I have to admit - I do love the movies.

I'm all about beards and facial hair this time round.

Have a great weekend!