Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Doing a re-read of the Harry Potter series! It’s probably been 20 years or so (gosh that makes me feel old!) since I last read them, but these books hold such a special place in my heart, and always will. I grew up reading them as they were released and some of my fondest childhood memories are of going to midnight releases with my grade school best friend and staying up all night reading together. We cried when we turned 11 and didn’t get our Hogwarts letters. When it was announced that the movies were being made, we sent in audition tapes (never mind the fact that we’re Americans and had never acted before).

Once the series ended, we grew up and drifted apart and away from the fandom. I don’t think I ever even watched all the movies. It was the release of the Hogwarts Legacy video game this year that got me back into the wizarding world. The game captures the magic of this world so well, and made me want to re-visit Harry’s story. I started with watching the movie, which gave me all the feels, but of course the book is always better.

Cozying up to this book during a snowstorm over the past few nights made for the ultimate nostalgia read. I am surprised at how well it holds up after all these years. I’m equally impressed by how well-paced this is and how much world-building is packed into this rather short book. It never feels rushed and feels longer than it is without ever being tedious. That’s so much more than I can say for many books I’ve read in recent years!

All I can really say is, the magic is still here.