Those of you who have been with me for a while know that I was late to the Harry Potter game.
So to recap...
While I'd watched the movies over the years, I only got around to reading the books last summer. I even had it in my head that the movies must be better than the books because they were THAT good.. How could anything top them?
For the other three people who don't know, I was wrong my friends... If you think the movies are good, the books are a trillion times better. I read all 7 books over the course of two months.
I couldn't put them down. I just COULD NOT PUT THEM DOWN.
I read every spare second I got. I summoned every last ounce of will power that I had to not sneak peeks at them during work hours. My day was spent thinking about when next I'd be able to re-escape back into the world of Hogwarts.
But this is the feeling you get from reading an incredible book with an equally incredible story. And while you will almost never find me without a book in my hands, it had been a long time since a story moved me that way.
I only saw the final movie four weeks ago, on the very last day it was playing. Because I just didn't want it to end.
But in truth, it never really ends, does it?
The stories that touch your heart stay with you forever. They become a part of you, and like the best kept of promises, re-enter your life from time to time... to bring a smile to your face... to remind you.
What books have you read recently (or in the past) that had a profound impact on you? Which ones did you have a hard time putting down?
22 comments:
You are not the only late to the Harry Potter game. I still have not read the books. I did, however, buy the first book and plan on reading the entire series. Of course, my reading log has been growing too much lately and I have been concentrating on my writing instead. Ugh.
George R.R. Martin got to a point where I didn't want to put his books down. But he's a very frustrating writer. I have a love/hate relationship with his books.
It has to be Gormanghast. The writing is some of the best - but the subject matter... argghh!
Oh, I love the HP series. Love it. Wait until you see the Harry Potter world at Universal someday...it rocks:)
I just wrote a post about Jane Eyre and how that book has stayed with me after all these years. Another series I love is the Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
I was late to the Harry Potter series, too! But, I love the stories.
You can reread the books, so it never truly ends.
I have recently read Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder. I could not put them down. I read all three books in four days. I fell in love with the characters and while the writing wasn't phenomenal, the plot definitely kept my attention.
So true. And very well said. I loves these book and adored the movies too. Great post.
I am so happy to read this. My husband, daughter and I read all the books, sometimes together out loud, other times one after another. One summer we had to buy two books because our daughter was going to camp and couldn't wait to read the book and my husband couldn't wait either. We went to all the movies together too...and when we saw the last one in June, my daughter and I cried. Not at the movie, but because it was the end of such an important, wonderful experience in our lives!
The Time Traveller's Wife sucked me in and held me - I just couldn't put it down! It was fantastic.
You're so right, it never really ends. I was sad to watch the final movie as well. Me and my son watched every movie together over the years.
Wow, all seven books over the summer. That is impressive.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm one of the three you mention. I haven't even seen the movies.
But since the Harry Potter books have been recommended to me so many times (and here by you again!), I recently decided I needed to stop dickering around and add them to my TBR.
Advice I received previously was not to see the movies until I finished the books--so it looks like I have my work cut out for me.
If everything you say is true, it should be a blast! :D
My whole family loves Harry Potter. I have to say I'm a big fan of the Hunger Games series, although I don't generally read YA fiction. I loved the biography of Cleopatra by Stacy Schift. It read like a novel.
I was late to it, too. I waited to read them until the summer book 7 came out. (Which, in many ways, was TOTALLY THE WAY TO GO. Then I didn't have to sit and wait for the next one to come out.) But once I started reading, I always thought, Seriously? I'm just now getting around to these? They're AWESOME. I finally convinced my kids to let me read the series to them. For some reason, they didn't want to jump on the bandwagon either. But of course, they love them!
I agree - the Harry Potter books are magical. I want to read them again back to back, but I'll have to wait for a vacation :)
The first book to take me to another place and have that profound impact on me was Anne of Green Gables way back. I recently reread it and the magic was unchanged :)
Isn't Harry Potter great? JK is just so talented.
I can't think of anything right now cause it's late, but oh so many books. That's why I'm here. :)
I so love books like that. The first HP book was like that for me, along with Lord of the Rings and the first book of the Hunger Games.
I read all seven in two weeks. My kids were like, "Mom! When are you going to put the book down??" I had it open while cooking dinner. But they were that awesome. :D I share your enthusiasm!
Yay for Harry Potter love! :) I totally agree with you: the best stories stay with you forever. I think HP will be one of them. There's just something so engaging and gripping about them.
I think the most recent series that I had a hard time putting down was The Hunger Games.
I just hopped on the Hogwarts Express a few months ago. I totally get what your saying. AMAZING!!
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