Kudos to J. K. Rowling!

Okay, I know everyone else has already written tons on the amazing last book of the Harry Potter series, but I wanted to chime in as well. I have been trying to post on this, but life just gets in the way sometimes. That's just how it goes.

Anyway, since finishing the book about two weeks ago I have been elated, sad, happy, looking forward to re-reading the entire series, and many other feelings as well. I think the most predominate feeling is not believing the series is actually over. I just can't wrap my head around it. It's kind of the feeling you get when you are first married and most definitely having a baby. Things change so much that it's hard to believe at times you are living with another person on your terms without parents and with a baby that this little person affects your life in more ways than you can imagine, but that every moment is incredibly special, even those crazy, long nights of no sleep and endless crying. Granted a book series does not even compare to these life joys, but they are definitely similar; however, on a much lesser scale. I guess I'm just trying to explain my feeling of something that is still new and hard to completely understand and realize that this is reality. I am still not completely used to the whole marriage thing (not in a bad way, just still trying to grasp that this is the wonderful reality, even after six years it still feels amazingly new). A baby is even more fresh, but even after almost seventeen months, it still does not seem real. I can't completely grasp that there will be no more new Harry Potter books. Perhaps it will sink in more after a couple years have gone by and there is no big release date. Perhaps then it will be real.

The wonderful thing will be to share these fabulous books with my daughter (and a second child, when ever my husband and I get to that point). J. K. Rowling has created an incredible world of characters and wondrous things. It has been amazing simply visiting with each book. She has given the literary world something truly special to cherish.

I guess I just wanted to thank J. K. Rowling for adding something fresh and new to fantasy and to bring so many children and adults into a world of fantastic creatures, magic, and truly memorable characters. She has done something very grand in getting so many non-readers to read. She has made children want to read, which in this day and age is sometimes extremely hard to accomplish. Books are so wonderful and important that to not have an experience or at least want to share the joy of turning each page in anticipation of what comes next is upsetting to me.

Being such an avid reader, I am so thrilled that one book series created readers out of so many people. I can't tell you how many people I know who really do not read much of anything have picked up these books to find out what the fuss is all about and they were amazed at what they found.

So, thanks J. K. Rowling for something wonderful that will be treasured always. I can't wait to share these whimsical and compelling books with my children!

Holding onto Harry

So, with the end of Harry Potter looming ahead, I'm finding it hard to believe this wonderful series is almost over. I have no idea how things will end. The last book ended with such dark and foreboding events, it will be amazing to see the outcome. Being an avid fantasy reader for most of my life, I love the magic and witchcraft and otherworldliness of it all. Enjoying the dragons and sword fights and generally mostly medieval aspects of fantasy has been a favorite of mine. It takes you to a place other than your own world and life. It gives you quite an escape from the everyday. So, with Harry Potter on the verge of completion, another fantasty series is over for me.

Two years ago, it was The Dark Tower by Stephen King. That was amazing! That I will definitely re-read at some point in my life. Of course the most important books in my life and probably the ones that made me a fantasy reader are The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. That series was completed many years ago. There are many other series as well, but too numerous to mention.

Well, Harry it was a pleasure watching you grow up and seeing the wizard you have become. The funny thing is when The Soceror's Stone came out, I was working at B. Dalton books in the CT Post Mall and did not even look at the books. In fact, nothing was even mentioned about them until The Chamber of Secrets came out about a year later. All of a sudden, these silly children's books were the most popular things to read. Hearing numerous reviews from the tons of customers coming into the bookstore, I apparently needed to read these books. Well, I did and was instantly hooked. What a wonderful world with so many interesting characters and definitely the fact that it was a parallel of our world but the Muggles did not realize witches and wizards were living around them, was truly fantastic! Each book just kept increasing the many magical elements and I also felt grew older and darker as Harry would get older. I thought it was truly amazing the way these books were done. Hence, why I could not put them down.

Not only the books themselves, but the customers were going crazy for the audio books. The voice work of Jim Dale was truly marvelous to hear. They were right and so the books as well as the audio books would need to be purchased.

Harry has come a long way. Hopefully, we don't loose any more great characters to death, but one never knows what will happen. It would be really sad if Harry himself did not make it. But whatever the outcome, the stories will remain some of my favorites. Thankfully, there are seven books to read to keep me satiated somewhat. But, I guess a series can only go on for so long.

Thanks for the wonderful characters and stories J. K. Rowling! It has been quite an adventure!

Musings on a Genius

I know it has been a couple of months since Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. left this world, but I did not get a chance to express my dismay in his untimely passing. He was an amazing author! His work certainly pushed the boundaries between his story environments and this crazy reality. What a view of the world. It was exquisite!

He just wrote the truth in such a satirical manner that you could not help but laugh at the insanity of it all. Why are humans the way they are? Kurt could tell it like it is and it just made sense.

I was first introduced to Kurt (not that I had not heard of him, but had never had the chance to read one of his novels) in my sophmore year of college. I do not even remember the name of the course, but every book was depressing and I just was having such a hard time getting through them. I could not even read one chapter of The Ice Storm. I'm sure some of you probably think I'm a freak that I could not get through that book, but for whatever reason or wherever I was at the point when I was supposed to read that book for class, it just bothered me at the pit of my being. I'm sure nothing would phase me now, but I just cannot bring myself to attempt to read it again. I am mainly a fantasy reader as well, so taking a very heavy American lit course just was not floating my boat in any way.

So through all of these depressing novels, comes this light at the end of the tunnel (too bad it was not the last book of the semester): Cat's Cradle. I could not believe how absolutely amazing the book was! I'm sure the reading for the course added to the sheer enjoyment I had while devouring that fantastic piece of literature! It made me an instant fan. His wit and writing style just collided in a perfect piece in every way. The madness of it! It was brilliant! Definitely worth the read if you have not read it.

So, off I went with Vonnegut in my pocket. Knowing what he could do and the images he could invoke were quite eye opening. I knew I had found a fiction/fantasy/sci-fi writer that I could read between the hard-core fantasty and sci-fi titles I normally read. I have not yet read all of his books and was very distraught to hear of his death and in the manner in which it happened. He used his mind with such intensity; I thought it was cruel that he lost the use of it at the end.

At this point, I have yet to read his classic Breakfast of Champions. I wanted to be sure I read all his other novels with the characters involved in this novel before starting it. I have read his definitive Slaughterhouse 5, Godbless You, Mr. Rosewater, Bluebeard, and others. I have certainly not made it through them all, but have been slowly picking up the missing books at my favorite used book store. However, now that he is no longer here of course the books are not to be found. Everyone has the same idea. Oh well. Someday, I'll pick up all of his books and be able to read them all.

At this point, the ones I do have are in boxes due to the fact that my house is still not entirely unpacked. So, my whole library is in boxes and it makes me sad not to have my dear friends surrouding me. It is really frustrating to know you have a book, but are not really sure where it might be. Plus, when you have about 1000 books, it really makes it difficult to pinpoint them. Someday it will be out so I can peruse the books to read at my leisure, but not at this time.

Of course, trying to read as much as I once did has proven difficult to say the least. A child adds quite a new spin on the free time available. I have managed to start reading more than usual, which is a wonderful thing to be back to my favorite pastime. I only have access to the small amount of books that are out, not one of which is a Vonnegut book, but I will get back to him.

I just wanted to express my appreciation for his satirical and insane genius! Every time I read one of his books, I am left with such a gratifying experience and find it hard to believe that there will be no more. Alas, that is the way of things.

I at least am reminded of his characters and stories because my sister ended up getting my husband and I one of his pieces of art: his self portrait. I love it! It was to go in our library, but who knows when that will happen. At least he can hang out on the wall in our living room until we find a rightful place for him. It is a really cool picture.

So, to see you pass, Kurt, was an upsetting thing to hear, but at least your books will allow us to visit your world time and again. I guess that is what they call momento mori (Yeats, I believe, if I recall my lit classes) because you will certainly be remembered.

Where Oh Where . . .

So, I guess it has been long enough that I have not posted on this blog. Life just seems to get away and days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and so on. At least I did not get to the year point, phew! It is close enough. What has happened since then? Well too much actually.

I’ll try and keep you posted!