I can't tell you how long I resisted the whole Harry Potter movement. I thought if it was that popular, it must be junk.
Boy, was I wrong. As a writer, I find myself in complete awe of Ms. Rowling's brilliance. She created not just characters, but an entire culture: creatures, games, food and drinks, sub-stories, sports, curriculum, language, spells, potions, and the like. An entire universe.
And it's not just the world she created, but the writing is so beautiful as well. She tells a great story in a lovely way.
It is jam packed with storylines of integrity, humanity and accountability. It is good vs. evil, but the whys and wherefores of it all.
Here's what I love most:
- She made a self-fulfilling prophecy about her works: "There isn't a child in the world that won't know his name." Is there? I think not.
- There are no electronics in the books. No laptops. No cell phones. No computers or gizmos or gadgets. These children, the little wizards, had to read (gasp) books and study and learn.
- There is no commercialism: no Pepsi cans, no Nike sneakers, no Tommy Hilfiger clothing, no iPhones.
- There is no romantic drama (well, maybe a little between Hermione and Ron at the dance, but the plot does not center around it). Children grew up with other things in mind besides hooking up. Like learning. And maturing. And their role in the grand scheme of things.
- We learn that there are causes worth giving your life for. There is stewardship for others. Life is lived for the greater good.
- Though religion doesn't enter into the storyline directly, all that they need has been provided for them. The herbs for potions, the creatures, the knowledge.
- No matter how hard a person seems, they may have a very soft and tender spot in their heart. Snape's storyline in particular and his "always" love for Lily.
- Good always conquers evil.
- There are people around us who simply don't stand for something. The Malfoys couldn't really commit to good because of it's restrictions, but neither could they commit to evil because of it's dangers. They just drifted.
- There is pure evil out there. It will try to win. You have the power to overcome if you believe.
- “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”