So remember how Betty and I announced we were starting our project?? If you don’t recall, here’s all you need to know….
We’ve kind of let the project fall to the wayside a little bit (we got busy but we’ve reconvened) but I DID read book 1 in September…FINALLY AMIRITE? It’s taken me that long to put this post together because screenshots and laziness and general busy times GAH. Some of you may have followed along on Twitter with my Harry Potter adventures but those of you who didn’t I’m bringing you my reactions plus the reactions of others during my FIRST TIME EVER READING HARRY POTTER — in lieu of a review because HOW EVEN DO YOU REVIEW HP AND WHO DO I NEED TO CONVINCE?? I didn’t live tweet TOO much because I would have never got any reading done but I thought it would be fun to share anyways.
Verdict:
I really liked it! It felt a little younger than what I typically read (obviously it’s MG) and I know the series just explodes with more awesomeness as it goes on but I did thoroughly enjoy it and see why it was so magical to all of you. It does make me wish that I read it back in the day but the magic transcends thus far and I’m excited to keep going with the series and get Betty caught up with me so we can go full steam in 2014!! We’ve got some fun ideas planned! 
So, there’s my Harry Potter adventure! I’m curious about all of you Potterheads — how many times have you read the series?? Are there any other anomalies out there who haven’t yet read the series??
Nidhi @ Literature Martini says
I read Harry Potter for the first time this past summer and I can totally relate to you. However, I had seen the movies and knew the plot twists. But the movies have cut down on a lot of important things. I do plan to read the books again sometime next year but seeing your tweets I got really emotional. I wasn’t allowed to read these books as a kid and last summer when I finally got them I was all teary-eyed. I also wish (like some of the people in the above tweets) that I could go back to reading them for the first time.
Hannah says
Reading this post makes me wish I had never read Harry Potter before and I got to read it all again for the first time. I might go bump my head against a wall a few times and hope my Harry Potter memories disappear so I can relive it all again!
Once you have finished you should definitely come over to the UK and do the WB Harry Potter Tour of the set. It’s MAGICAL! 🙂
Rebecca @ The Library Canary says
I need to read them. I also feel like I’m an outsider to the entire world because I haven’t read HP. There are so many references that I don’t understand. Like you, I have somehow managed to live under a rock and avoid spoilers so when I do get around to reading them, it will be quite magical. Maybe I’ll try to get them read in 2014.
Emmah says
I just finished the fourth book a couple days ago! I’m taking a little break before I start the fifth book, ’cause it’s the longest out of all of them!
Brittany @ The Book Addict's Guide says
I’m SO happy you enjoyed it! they really get better as the series goes on too. I really loved reading everyone’s reactions to your tweets and posts too! It’s just such a magical journey (no pun intended, but there ya go)!
Scott Pilgrim (@ScottReadsIt) says
It was so much fun seeing your tweets! I hope you enjoy book #2 because it’s alot better and so much fun! As the series gets on the books become alot more mature and more YA than MG! Yay, one of my tweets appear in this post!
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
I’m so happy you’ve set your first step in the wonderful world of Harry Potter. You’ll be a member of the HP team once you’ve finished all of them 😉 Wait ’til you find out more about Snape, he’s my absolute favorite! 🙂 You make me want to re-read Harry Potter.. AGAIN, haha. I seriously lost track of how many times I’ve re-read it, but I think it varies between 5 times and 8 times (I don’t always read the series from 1 to 7) I still hope my letter arrives some day <3
Ciska @ Ciska's Book Chest says
So glad you enjoyed it. I was pretty late to the game myself and *cough* older *cough* but they are magical. It is true though that you have to read at least till book three to be allowed in the baby potter club and all the books if you ever want to make a chance for that letter. Enjoy your next HP book!!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives says
1) Made me smile to see my tweet in your pictures!
2) I love reading all these tweets again. I wish I could read this series for the first time over just to have those same feelings! I think that’ll be the best part about the dementia I’m bound to get as a senior – I won’t remember all my favorite series and I’ll get to experience them all over again!
3) I’ve re-read them at least eight times now… probably more. I just can’t get over them. And I actually am feeling a re-read coming on… I know where my Thanksgiving will be!
Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile says
Harry Potter is the ONLY book series that don’t need reviews. Everyone should read it, that’s a given and I’m glad that you read and liked it. This is only the beginning though, there are tough/torturous/emotional times ahead. 😉
Sunny says
I’m still in the dying breed of Harry Potter virgins! I loved reading all the tweets and the unanimous tweets of wishing they could read it for the first time again.
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
I’m doing a re-read with a couple of other Canadian bloggers. I haven’t re-read since the beginning, but I need to tell you that as a late-to-the-party person, it doesn’t get really good until Book 3. In fact, I was kinda disappointed in book 2, and it remains my least favourite of the series…that said, every book builds on the next one, so get through it. =)
alisa selene says
I love how you include your tweets as you live tweeted your reading..cool idea want to try it out!
Angel says
I wish i could remember reading Harry Potter for the first time. I had it read to be when i was about 3 years old, so I pretty much don’t remember what my reactions were
Lucy @ Queen of Contemporary says
I’ve loved reading this post, Jamie! I only read Harry Potter in the spring and read them all in a two week period. As I’m writing this, an advert for the films has just popped up on TV. They seem to play them loads in the UK.
The third book is probably my favourite, the second not so good. They’re all pretty awesome though and they get a lot better. The first is really just introducing the characters and setting the scene. The action really ups in the next few books.
Can’t wait to read more of your tweets when you read the next one! 😀
Danica Cannon (@danitronmc) says
I’m not gonna lie, I was legitimately squealing and fangirling and busting up laughing just reading this. And funnily enough, I’m watching a Harry Potter Marathon as we speak (well, as I speak), courtesy of ABC Family (I will forever love them for their devotion to all things HP). Also, you are off the CHARTS with your coolness level right now. Most people who haven’t read HP at this point all say, “Well I’ve seen the movies so I don’t have to read the books.” And here you are reading them and I’m honesty getting secondhand stoked just by reading all of this! AH! I couldn’t even tell you the number of times I’ve read each book . . . I read them all at least twice a year now, I LOVE THEM! Long live Harry Potter!
(Random side note: I proudly announce that I am a Hufflepuff, I’ve been sorted through Pottermore and everything:))
Elizabeth says
HAHAHA oh god!!! So many things I want to say but can’t! I can not WAIT for you to finish the series and then read all your tweets for this book! I’m going to leave before I explode with all the spoilers I’m holding back!
Wattle says
Ah I hope you enjoy the rest of the books when you get to them! 🙂 I started reading the books when the first four were out and then felt a bit lost when the waiting game started. I re-read them all last year, it’s just such a great series. I do not miss having to wait between books though, that was a bit awful 😛
Jackie says
I am so happy when people pick up Harry Potter books for the first time! One more person to fangirl/fanboy/fanperson with! I’ve re-read the series about… 4 times now. But, I’ve read individual books more than that. I’ve read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (book 3) so many times that the pages have come loose from the binding. Book 1 is amazing because it introduces you to the wonderful wizarding world. Book 2 is probably my least favorite of the series. Once you get to Book 3 and beyond, you’ll have a hard time picking your favorite. Mine changes every time I re-read the series.
Alexa Y. says
I am LOVING that you’re reading the Harry Potter series, and that you’re letting us all in on your reading experience. It makes me so glad to see you enjoying a series that I have loved so much for so long — and I can’t wait for more!
Sarah says
I’ve read the first books more than the latter – I’m not sure I’ve read Deathly Hallows more than once or twice. But the earlier books 4 times each?
Rosalee says
You will definitely continue to love the series! All of those tweets are so true – all of us HP fans dearly wish we could experience that pure magic of first reading again. I reread (and/or re-listen to) the whole series every year and the magic is still there (if perhaps not as pure and exciting as the first time around). I will definitely be looking out for your HP tweets as your read the series! Makes me want to chronicle my own re-reading experience, 16 years after I first discovered Harry’s world. Happy reading! [P.S. Avoid spoilers at all costs! The story gets so exciting and emotional in the later books.]
themagicviolinist says
YESSSSSSSSS!!! 😀 Finally!!! 😀 (I’m still waiting for that Hogwarts letter, too, by the way).
OMG, who did you know that died?!?! That sucks that it was spoiled for you! 🙁 HP spoilers are the WORST.
Molli says
Hehe Jamie, what a cute way of chronicling your reading experience with the first book. I’ve been yearning to do a series re-read for YEARS now. Maybe 2014 will be my year. *sighs* Can I just say I’m so super happy you liked the first book? Your reactions are priceless!
Kim says
I’m so glad you picked up Harry Potter AND that you enjoyed reading it. If you like the first book, then you’re set, because they only get better and you will love them more with each books. I cannot express how much I love Harry Potter, because it was such a big part of my childhood + teen years. I always love it when someone picks it up now for the first time, so I can kind of read it for the first time again through their eyes. Anyway, I really loved reading your tweets about this and you should definitely tweet your thoughts again if you read the sequels. 🙂
Sharon @ The Book Barbies says
YAY, so excited you finally posted this! I didn’t realize you had done so yet. I fail at keeping up with the commenting lately, LOL. I had been wondering about your HP journey, though. Glad to see you’re making your way through! It’s so much fun to watch your reactions as you read them for the first time.
But anyway! I didn’t read HP until my college years (2010, specifically), so I was a late HP bloomer as well. While I did enjoy all of them, #4-7 were my favorites (#7 being my favorite favorite), since middle grade just isn’t my thing. Had to wait for them to grow up a little. I’ve read the entire series twice, and I will probably read them all again sometime within the next year.
Good luck with continuing your magical journey! I hope you grow to love them, too. Just because you were late to the party doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. 🙂
Judith says
You have NO IDEA how happy I am that you enjoyed it!!! It’s seriously my all-time favorite series, and I was nervous for your reaction because I can imagine reading it as an adult (while at the same time being pressured by ALL the fangirling) makes for an entirely different experience I had. (I actually didn’t read these books as a kid because I was scared of everything, lol. I got into them when I was thirteen, which, okay, is still a kid, but y’know. Kind of different. I’m rambling. THAT’S how much I love this series.) More things I have to say: 1. I am still convinced my Hogwarts letter got lost in the mail. 2. The sorting ceremony IS fun. There are lots of online tests and I appear to be a Ravenclaw. 3. It sucks that you got spoiled! I actually also knew that spoiler when I first started reading (because the first six books had been released by the time I got into them). I’m very proud of you for reading these! Now get on with book 2! :’)
Megan C. Stroup says
Haha this is hilarious! I somehow missed this special project – definitely adding a devoted column for this hashtag to my Tweetdeck right now so I can follow along with all your HP cherry-popping adventures. 🙂
Tizzy Potts says
I decided to give this post some love after reading through your answers to the End of the Year Book Survey. Firstly, I’m quite astounded that you’re only just reading the Harry Potter series. Have you seen the films? I really hope that you feel the books live up to all the hype that you’ve heard. In my opinion the books get better and better through the series.
I grew up with Harry Potter as I read the first book when I was 11, the same age as Harry (my birthday is the day before his) and I finished the last one when I was 18 and had just left school, just like him. I could really relate to him, Hermione and Ron and I’ve re-read the books so many times that the characters almost feel like family! My sister is a massive fan too so it’s been wonderful to share our love of HP through the years. I used to read the books to her when she was little (and do all the voices) and more recently we went to pick up the last book from Waterstones at midnight on release day, signed up to Pottermore (the virtual game/interactive version of the books) and both visited the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London.
I know I will treasure the Harry Potter series forever and read them to my children one day. I hope you will enjoy the books as much as me-I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the epic ending.
Sarah says
got a good chuckle out of this haha