Re-reading Favorite Books: Harry Potter

by Donna Huber


Usually at some point in the summer, I feel the need to re-read a favorite series. I often feel guilty about this because my list of books for review is miles long. There are just so many books, but eventually, the draw gets too strong, and I succumb.

For a few summers, it was Deborah Harkness's All Souls Trilogy. I thought about this summer, but I didn't feel the need. Last summer/fall, I re-read K.B. Hoyle's The Gateway Chronicles, and while I'm sure there are still gems to unearth I wasn't drawn to it either. I thought perhaps this summer I would not re-read anything.

As I started reading slower and slower my review copies, I felt the first nigglings that I must re-read a favorite. But what?

Then Harry Potter and the Cursed Child came out and the feeling got stronger. Then I need an item that was only a few dollars in order to get free shipping and I succumbed. I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I never bought the series because I had plenty of friends with copies when the series was coming out. I did pick up a few of the others at charity sales for a dollar or two, but I didn't have book one.

It has been a while since I read the series and there were a number of things that I had forgotten. Like, Lord Voldemort had reigned terror on the magical world for 11 years. There were also things that took on new meaning now that I know how the whole series plays out.

In this re-reading, I also noticed the reading level more. I guess the first few times I was still absorbing the story, but between the many re-reads and the movies I almost know the book by heart. By Deathly Hallows it was questionable if the series was a children's book or not, but clearly, a children's story is what Rowling had in mind for book 1 when writing book 1. It is nice to see an author age the story and writing appropriately with the intended audience.

I wonder if that is why Dumbledore's light capturing invention went from Put-Outer in book 1 to Deluminator in book 7. Or perhaps in the intervening years, he patented it and thought of a better name.

I'm on to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This has always been my least favorite of the series. I wonder if this reading will finally endear it to me.

What books/series do you like to re-read?

Donna Huber, founder & publisher. Donna is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. 

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.