Harry, I Hardly Knew Ye

For those who might be worried, don't be: there are no spoilers in this post. Plot-spoiling is hard without knowing the plot, and knowing the plot is hard when you've only read the first two-and-a-half books.

That's right. I've not kept up on my Harry Potter reading over the past ten years. In fact, I probably know more about Harry and his adventures from the movies than the books, which is really not all that much, as I've only seen the first two movies (and from what I hear, with those as my only sources, I really don't know Harry at all).

I don't confess any of this with pride. After all, when was the last time a book (and not a movie or a sport or a phone) was all the rage? You would think someone like me, a big advocate for reading, would have been all over this series from the beginning, but somehow it never really took with me. I don't know why, but about halfway through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I just got bored.

Forgive me.

Lest you think I'm more evil than "He who must not be named," let me try to redeem myself. I went to the release party last night. At midnight (I don't do anything but sleep at midnight). And, not only did I go, but I woke my eight-year-old and we snuck out of the house to endure the hype (see picture above).

But, we didn't buy a book. This had something to do with the fact that at least 1,300 other people were trying to, and also because we have all the books in paperback, so buying the hardback would really screw with our collection. Okay, maybe it seems a little weird (and antic-climactic) to go to a book release party without buying a book, but we did get close enough to touch one at least, as evidenced below.

After we snapped the picture (it was about 12:10 a.m.), we left. It was enough hype for one night. As we walked across the full parking lot, my daughter asked me if I'd read all the books, to which I said I had not. She was a little surprised, but not shocked. As much as she knows I love to read, she's figured out by now how very little I like hype. In her mind, she probably just figured the latter trumped the former in this case (trust me, it's not the first time).

I asked my daughter if she wanted to read the books together. She said she'd think about it, but didn't seem in too much of a hurry. I told her I'd start over from the beginning and re-read the first two-and-a-half I'd already read, but that didn't change her answer. I think she was still processing everything she had just seen with the idea of reading seven books that her father hadn't chosen to finish. When you're eight, life is full of things that don't always resolve.

Anyway, for those who did stand in line last night to get a book and are now reading away the weekend to find out what happens to Harry and company, give them my regards. Enjoy the time and don't worry about spoiling the ending for me (after all, I had my chance, right?).

But please don't think less of me for my lack of shared enthusiasm. For whatever reason, I want to care, but, well, I just don't.

Unlike Harry, I am but just a Muggle after all.