Harry Potter- An era has ended
Can you believe that ten years have passed since the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone? I, for one, cant. I picked up the first part in a bookshop in Abu Dhabi in 1997- much before all the hype began- and the rest, as they say, is history.
Right from the first book, Rowling's language impressed me a lot. Perhaps it was the fact that i was 11 at the time, just like young Harry! :~) She could describe Harry's feelings so well and the spells seemed so exquisite. But what I liked the most was her numerous quirky references, that make me laugh even now, eventhough i have read the books so many times.[ I'm a compulsive re- reader. I like reading stuff over and over again. I think I've read the Lord of the Rings atleast 18 times, Ashok K. Banker's Ramayana series about 10 times, and most of the Harry Potter books atleast 15 times each]
Another feature that distinguished Rowling's series from other children's books is the fact that the characters mature. Unlike the Secret Seven and the Hardy Boys, Harry Potter and his friends actually grew older. And Rowling was able to brilliantly capture this process of maturation on paper. Eventhough she has utilised most of the standard fantasy tropes, it was the way in which she wrote that made things interesting. Each book of the series has been so good that it is hard to choose one of the six that have come out.
But, if I were to choose my favourite of the series, then I would go for a tie between Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the book that made readers realise that this series was no ordinary children's series- whatever it was, Rowling had a plan for the entire series and the backstory about Harry's parents was proof of it. More importantly, it introduced Sirius Black, Harry's godfather who would assume a pivotal role in the series. Wheras Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix dealt with adolescent angst and Harry's explorations of love so brilliantly that critics praised it to the skies eventhough it is considered by fans as a book that could have been edited further. Furthermore, it is in this book that Harry Potter discovers that his destiny is entwined with that of Lord Voldemort- setting the stage for the final two books of the series.
Now that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is almost out, the question that is on everyone's mind is- Will Harry live? Now that Dumbledore is dead, hope seems to have run out. Is it possible for Harry to discover and destroy the remaining Horcruxes? All these questions shall be answered by tomorrow. But irrespective of the ending, I will say this- its been a great ten years with Harry. Growing up with Harry Potter has been one of the best things ever! I know that when i read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows tomorrow, I shall be sad- because a part of my life will have ended too. Thank you, Rowling, for giving us Harry Potter!
