Updates Updates..

I went ahead and plunged into the project of reading all 7 Harry Potter books prior to watching the last film, if you don't remember i remarkably never read them although everyone else is the world seem to have. I had thought I owned them all- turns out I was missing book 5 and had a make a quick trip to target for it. But all in all I loved them. Like the good reader I am that doesn't have to chase around kids I was able to plow through 1-3 in a long weekend. Book 4 took me almost a week and I was finally able to finish it shortly after returning from my cousin Kendra's beautiful wedding. Book 5 also took me about a week, I had started working longing hours that week and couldn't stay up all night reading anymore. Once I hit book 6 things went super fast- I finished it in a little over a day and book 7 took 2. I was finished right in time to join my sister and her kids at the Nevada aquatic center (Laura had warned me not to bring the book because I would be needed to be hands on with the kids- I assured her it would be done by then) The last book was amazing I pretty much did the ugly cry from the shrieking shack on. (don't lie to yourself- you did too the 1st time you read them)I finished them just in time to devote an entire week to watching one of the movies each night to be caught up for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. Now that I have read the books I pick up a ton more from the movies, but I also have my gripes- it seems like every time the trim Dobby out of the plot the replace him with Neville (buy hey I love Neville- so bygones can be bygones. I adored the last movie- it was nonstop action and I had tears! But I think this guy at ew.com sums it up pretty perfectly and with some humor (although I will again the Ginny/Harry love didn't always translate on screen- I felt more invested in the books) WARNING SPOILERS if you haven't seen the last movie : http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20431232_20510900,00.html

I am inexplicably watching Harry Potter... again

I have been watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 for like a week straight. I cannot get enough. Maybe I am just prepping for July and the final chapter of the movie. The odd thing is I haven't read the books. For an avid reader like me it was weird that I never jumped on the HP train- so many of my friends and family did. Several years ago when I was still in college- I think Laura may of just moved back to Iowa- I started reading the 1st one. I think I even got all the way to the end. But just never picked up the 2nd? The truly crazy thing is I have them all- they are cast offs or duplicate from friends and maybe a family member or two. I remember buying the 7th book just because a friend who was traveling with me finished the 6th and wanted to re-read the 7th- but we weren't near home or any libraries we could borrow from so I said I don't have that one I will just buy it and when you are done you can give it to me. Who buys the 7th book a series they have never read? Me.
So now I have them all- and about a month to kill before the the final movie is released to theatres. What say you? Should I plunge in and finally read them. If I do will you make me start over at 1- even through I am mostly sure I have read it to the finish? Or do you suggest I wait until I see the last movie?
The thing is I always see the movies. Maybe not in the theatres right away, but always eventually. I own 3 of them- weirdly 1, 6 and 7.1. I enjoy the movies and try not to ruin my real HP friend buzzes by asking any questions until the end of the film. Perhaps watching the movies is better that way- I never leave thinking about all of the things they messed up from the book. However sadly I do get caught off guard when a character dies.
So thoughts? Read or don't read?