Harry Potter from Fresh Eyes
A review from a first time reader who is not eight years old
For the first time ever, I have just completed the Harry Potter series. Yes, I know, someone just now reading the epic series after growing up in the age of The Boy Who Lived sounds completely unrealistic, but it’s true. I wasn’t allowed to read them and didn’t see a point when I actually could. I’d seen all the movies, what else was there, right? Wrong. Very, very wrong. After reading every word she has written in the Wizarding World, I can now respectfully give my official opinion. The books, though very long and had a bit of a rough start, deserve the hype it gets. Also, I now get why everyone hates the movies.
The story is so complex and it seemed like Rowling thought of everything. The rules of the Ministry are so in depth at times, and Voldemort’s backstory and reasons for choosing the Horcruxes are insane. By the end of the seventh book, most everything connected, like things in the first book made more sense than ever because of what happened; most everything just ties together so neatly. She created the ultimate hero, because he’s not a hero. Harry is thrown into all this mess and handles it like anyone could because he has faults and he’s human. He’s even completely annoying at times, which is very human like and you even get to grow up with the sassy Mr. Potter, like he and all the characters are friends.
All of the reasons above makes the reader get invested with these kids, because they remind you of you but just with magic powers and a school that has so many secrets to explore. I’m so invested now I have too many questions to ask that only Rowling herself can answer. What happened to Teddy? Who raised him? Surely it was not his Godfather, considering Harry was only seventeen at the time. And was he partially werewolf? How did that affect him in life? Did Harry end up and Auror? What did Hermione do with her life, because there was no way she was just a house wife? Were the surviving Death Eaters persecuted? While the list goes on and on, there is a question that triumphs all others: Why the heck did Harry name his kid after someone who tormented him for like eight years? Snape loved Harry’s mom, big whoop. He kept Harry safe because of his guilt about the Lily situation, not for Harry himself. She could have easily made Ginny step in and tell Harry not to name their child after a greasy guy who made kids cry on a daily basis. To be honest, I think most would agree Albus Fredrick Potter would have been more appropriate.
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