Friday, July 1, 2011

two weeks

...until the final Harry Potter movie.

I'll be honest, I wasn't hooked from day one like many people were. By the time I got into Harry Potter four books had been released.  I was in college and working over spring break.  My mom let me borrow her books and I figured I'd read one and see what all the hype was about.  I read all 4 books in a week and asked my mom for book 5.  When she informed me that it hadn't been released yet... I was less than happy. "How could you get me hooked on this??... before they are all available??"

Time passed... and the excitement leading up to book 5 being released was all around.  I was still in college and went with friends to Barnes & Noble in the city to get the book at midnight.  I read all night until I couldn't stay awake...and finished the book in three days.

Then I had to wait again... Book 6 came out right after I finished college and was starting grad school.  Again I went to B&N at midnight to get the book.  I read all night and finished the book in two days.

By the time the last book was released... I was working for B&N full time.  The books arrived two days early but were locked in a safe... knowing that they were in there made it so much harder to focus on anything else.  I waited... and purchased the 7th and final book.  I read this one over a week.  I could have read it faster, but I had this desire to make it last and last and never end.


I thought that I owned them all on DVD... but discovered today that I'm missing one!  HP & the Half-Blood Prince has been playing on HBO so much lately that I must not have noticed that I didn't have it on DVD. My plan is to get it this weekend.

It's exciting... and a bit sad all at the same time.  My local theater is doing the midnight showings... and they also have a package where you can see The Deathly Hallows part 1 at 9pm and part 2 at midnight.  Even though I own it on DVD... I might go see them both just to have the experience.



© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

57 comments:

Marieke said...

I too was a late comer to the books. I started reading them after the first movie had been released, which I think is roughly the same time you did... I I think the first 4 books were out by then.

Book 5 came out days after my son was born, and I used the crazy non-sleeping patterns of the newborn period to plow through that one.

I'm very excited for the last movie. And also for the fact that J.K. Rowling is opening a new HP site in October and will be releasing the books on e-reader from there!

~Michelle~ said...

Um, I could almost copy that post word for word and it would be my story as well! Only substitution would be my then-boyfriend/now-husband was the instigator, not my mom. I remember waiting @ Walmart at midnight with an intern buddy for OotP to come out, and we barely got the books. I also got to take a class over the first 3 books in college - so I *had* to re-read them for homework. :) Can. Not. Wait. til 7/15!

Hope said...

I have been just so excited. It's such a bittersweet moment for the series, but I will always love the world J.K. Rowling created.

-Hope
www.aflatteringtale.com

rachel griffith said...

pssssh.
i'm addicted.
i am SO ready for the 15th.
so so so ready.
:)

wish we lived closer so we could go together :P

KMServino said...

My little brother was in middle school and started reading these when they came out. I am with you, I didn't get hooked until a couple years ago when I was pregnant and home bored.

Now I know I am going to cry watching the last movie knowing it's all going to be over.

I assume you know about www.pottermore.com?

Moni said...

Whooee! I have my count down calenar going too. Trying to decide if it is worth getting a babysitter and trying to get tickets for opening night. My husband says it isn't worth it. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Shirley in Canada said...

I, too, was a late comer to the HP series. Like you, I would read until the book was done. The last book was read in 3 days, but I should have taken the time like you as I felt I had lost a good friend when it was done! Only saw the first movie and refused to watch the others until I can have a Potter-Fest when I order the whole series!!

Kate said...

I didn't hear about the books until I saw one of my Sunday School boys reading #4. I was shocked that he was reading a book THAT THICK and picked up the series to see what it was. Hooked. I was working in a bookstore when #6 was released, and unlike your store, we were allowed to read it the week before as long as it stayed in the vault. So I was done before the public release. :D My son got forehead stitches just before the release of #7 and I entered him in a lookalike contest at the midnight release, because you have to celebrate life's scars.
However... I don't like the movies.

Anonymous said...

My daughter's 6th grade teacher spent the summer in England and brought home a book no one had heard of, about an 11-year-old who discovers he is a wizard. She read it to this class of 11-year-olds and my daughter was hooked. By then the 2nd book was out, although the excitement was just beginning. So she grew up with Harry, a new book every year, each a year older. It was so much fun to share the journey with her! We're crazy excited (and sad) for the final adventure.

Quilt Monkey said...

Also a latecomer! After the first movie, I knew these stories were something special, so I have not watched any of the movies (other than the first). Hard to do when they are on tv so much! I bought the entire set of books a couple of months ago and have been reading them practically non-stop. I'm one chapter short of finishing book 4. I was going to try to read tham all before the final movie came out, but no such luck. I am totally hooked! Pretty soon I'm going to have a movie marathon.

Anne said...

Like many others, I didn't get it in the beginning, but started after book 3 or 4 was released. I love Harry and his friends. I've got all the books and all the movies and cannot wait to go see this last one!

Contented Caroline said...

Sorry but i'm not with you on this one. For me the first books were brilliant and I read them with wide-eyed-wonderment through the eyes of a child - but then they just got downright long-winded and the magic went. For me the acting is a little wooden and Daniel Radcliffe is just not the Harry Potter I see on the page. Good job we're all different though. Good post topic for debate.

krisgray said...

My husband and I started reading them on a road trip (me reading aloud while he drove) after the 3rd book, when schools were censoring the HP books. Being a librarian/archivist, I had to read them to see what the uproar was all about.

We were hooked. We read all of them together - lots of times at night, with me going to sleep and then catching before the next read. Got hubby "Deathly Hallows" for Father's Day.

Esch House Quilts said...

I think my daughter was about 7 when the first book came out. She was hooked instantly. She kept telling me I had to read them. I kept saying I would and then not getting to it.

Finally, she read them all to me over a few years (starting when she was about 12). I have so many wonderful memories of stopping her and asking her questions to make sure I was following the plot and getting all the "magical" goings on.

As the final movie comes out, she is getting ready to leave for college. Really the end of an era in our house.

The One and Only said...

I so know what you mean....I took my niece to go see the first one and she is leaving for college the day it comes out (to go to orientation all the way over in CT, we both live in CA) so she promised that I could take her to see the final movie when she gets back, sort of as a finale to our time together as well...those are the memories I surely do treasure!

Taya@TypeB said...

I can't wait for the movie, too! I love the books - started when 1-3 were already out. If you're ever on a road trip or something, you should listen to the audiobooks too - Jim Dale is pretty amazing (he does all the voices!). I am a former B&N employee too!

Maria said...

yes in Italy also
i am ready for the 15th.

:))))

ciao Maria

Jill said...

I started reading them when the first four books were out as well. I would read while I nursed my oldest, he is eleven now. I second the recommendation for the audio books narrated by Jim Dale, they are the background sound in my sewing room. Kid safe and always satisfying.

ColleenaMareena said...

I'm so excited too! Kudos to JKR for getting so many people SUPER excited about books again.

Also, have you seen this? It just made me giddy and excited and so happy--all of us who are loving/HATING for the whole thing to be over:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySN8Q4U6wys

Canadian Kristin said...

I've been on the bandwagon since day one and am so torn between seeing and not seeing cuz-I-don't-want-it-to-end the final movie! This has a been such a great series for my son (8 when I began reading them, now 12) and I to share!

Happy Canada Day!

Manda said...

Love the books but not really keen on the films! :)

Sandy said...

How cool! I am not addicted to that series...am not really a fan of that type of story. However I know what it is like to wait for a book and love the author....Jennifer Chiaverini.

Dirt Road Quilter said...

We've been on the bandwagon from the begining. Picked up the book in Jan of 1999 (I think) and read it aloud to the kids every day until I was hoarse. We homeschooled and took the liberty of reading for hours. My oldest was 7. Now he is 20 and my youngest is 17. They have been immersed in good books all their lives and Harry Potter series is a favorite.

Monica_C said...

The new billboards they have out now are are awesome! i want to read all the books again

SkippityDoDahQuilts said...

My hubby thinks I'm the weirdest for being so obsessed. I've been on the bandwagon since the beginning, when the books first came out in the US. Ron Weasley sure has gotten good lookin over the years ;).

Lynette said...

We got really lucky - Nana gave Heather the first book as a birthday present right when it first came out, before any of the hype started or any talk of movies. So it was really fun to see the world discover a treat that we'd already been in on.

I'm really excited for the midnight premier. It's a very silly thing to do on a week night, but there's something so exhilarating about the experience for the right show.

We're actually going as the entire family, with two boyfriends tagging along. For the first time, Scott will come as well - he took the next day off of work so he can go with us. I really, really want to go dressed as Snape (who I always rooted for), but I have way too much quilt sewing to do to put together a Snape coat. (And *no way* am I going to pay $200 for one!!)

Deborah said...

I'm a Potter fan, too! I have all the books and all the movies that have been released so far.
W-A-I-T-I-N-G. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Deborah

Jenny said...

Oh, Julie. I think we are twins. Like Gred and Forge. =)

Allison C said...

I'm really excited too. I already have my tickets for the noon IMAX 3D showing on that Saturday. It will be my birthday so hopefully it will make it a special day! Yay!!!!

dolores said...

I don't know what Maria was more excited about...going to grad school in Oxford or the fact that she would be in the UK to see the final HP!:)

Her cousin and a college friend are flying out there to see it with her along with ALL her new UK friends....life is good!;)

Unknown said...

and you thought i was a dork for loving Twilight... YOU closet groupie!! LOL

kiss, kiss
H

Sarah Craig said...

I have a similar story to yours about finding out about HP late- I discovered it at the third book, read book 4 the day it came out sitting on the beach, etc. One thing I would add - the audio books, read by Jim Dale, are a wonder and my favorite way to enjoy re"reading" them now! He used 147 voices for book 4 alone - and Dobby just doesn't sound right in the movies to me because of it. I highly recommend checking out the audios - they're great for long car trips....

kelly said...

i was totally anti-hp until i was completely bored one summer with no cable... i read the first 6 in a matter of weeks. hbp had JUST come out so i had to wait a while for deathly hallows. when it came out, i read it in 13 hours, stopping only for bathroom and food breaks.

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Yep, i'm addicted!! Cannot wait for the movie, I heard the other day they are having a potterfest movie night around here somewhere...all 8 movies back to back, sigh!!! xo

Kathleen said...

I had the exact same experience- my Mom had been a fan but I assumed it was just some typically overhyped mainstream phenomenon.

Then at some point, I think by the fifth book the HP hysteria was so inescapable that I gave in and had to see what all the fuss was about. I remember telling my mom, "Why did you not push me more to read these books, they are incredible! I can't believe I almost missed out on something this amazing!" I too ended up reading all the books in about a week.

Do you listen to Mugglecast? It's good, I really like one of the hosts, Micah Tannenbaum. He's a great commentator on the world of Harry Potter.

Judith said...

That story pretty much echoes mine except that I can add that I probably also listened to the audio books read by Stephen Fry close to 10 times. I literally can repeat whole sentences in my sleep.

philippa said...

I loved reading these books but only started when the first movie came out and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Once I got going hooked there was no stopping me. We are going to a midnight showing on the first day hopefuly which I am very excited about but a little sad also. It will be the end of an era when these movies end.

Dara said...

I love the books too. After I got married my husband and i read the books outloud to each other- it was fun, however there were times where we would both sneak and read on our own because we couldn't wait and then pretend that we hadn't read!!
I purposely did not watch the seventh movie at Christmas because I knew I would be so upset that the movie did not end properly. I can't wait to watch both!!
Thanks for the Harry Potter love!!

Angela Nash said...

Four books were out before I tried them, too! We were going to be fling to Hawaii and I thought I should have a good book for the plane. Decided to pick up the first HP at the library....then started to read a bit the week before we left. Didn't want to be over the ocean and hate the book! So I started...and didn't stop until it was done the next day! Ooops - off to the library for the next book. Worried I may not like the follow-up as can often happen, gave that one a little start and finished it too! Eeek - went to check out the next two and saw how huge the fourth became,and didn't even crack that third book as I didn't want to carry the fourth back and forth to hawaii!

sue said...

So don't you think there should be a tribute to HP quilt designed by Y-O-U?
It would be so cool! :-)

Anonymous said...

I too was a late on the hype. But what got me moving to read them was my then seven year old was wanting to read them. It was all good and I figured if it was too much she would put them down. Well she did not put any of them down. She finished book seven on an air plane ride to Disney World. She wanted to reread it again while she was at Disney and her dad got mad at her. He had to hide the book to get her out the door.

As for myself my former boss and I were in competition of who could finish them first. Of course my boss did win on that one. He had a new born son to rock to sleep. I had my daughter, collage, and a 40 hour work week.

Now Twilight is a whole new ball park. Sorry I am not getting into that hype. But I am exited to go see HP7 P.2 with my daughter.

gablehousesewing.com

Laurie said...

Istopped reading after book 3 because I hated waiting for a year for the next book. I might have to start over and finish buying the series!
Laurie

Pepe said...

Happy to hear I'm not alone...

VickiT said...

I'm much the same Julie, although I wasn't in college. I actually am not a huge reader at all so I'm hooked yes, but on the movies. On the news this past week, or the week before possibly they were letting some news out of the bag and I'm telling you in case you haven't heard. BUT, you have to promise we won't lose you from the quilting world to the Potter world. LOL

Check this out
http://www.pottermore.com/
It's been said there will be further stories but as ebooks possibly but this site was said to be THE place you Potter fans want to be. Have fun.......ummm well in October anyway.

Kathleen said...

Did you happen to read The Magicians by Lev Grossman? They promoted it as "Harry Potter grown up", so I think it succeeded in getting a lot of Potter fans to pick it up. I didn't think the book had much heart though. I was disappointed.

mascanlon said...

Have a wonderful time. These have been fabulous stories and movies that young people and adults will love forever.

Jessica Levitt said...

My new excitement this year is I have been reading them to my daughter. I have been waiting seriously since before she was born for this day. A friend was reading one to his 6 year old son and I just *knew* I was gonna get to share them with my kids someday. But up until a month or two ago she wasn't interested. Now it's freaking awesome. She loves them. We've read the first 2 and will do the 3rd this summer. I'm trying to slow it down a bit because they do get more and more scary. But now she goes around and plays harry potter with all her toys.
And, the best part is: HARRY POTTER BIRTHDAY PARTY in september. As you can tell I'm more than a little excited. I shall be sewing robes for all the guests. We'll have classes and Quiddich. yay!

Katie said...

Same story here...& super excited for the bittersweet moment of watching the last movie. I really want to whip up a Gryffindor scarf!

Jennifer said...

same story, basically.

i have loved and always will love the harry potter story, no matter what the haters say. it will be sad to have this fantastical journey come to an end.

Pinky said...

I was a late comer to the books as well. I was at a friends house and she asked if I'd read the first book, and was vaguely horrified when I said no. So that night I read book 1, and the following day I got started on book two. I was given books 3 and 4 for Christmas (in Chicago!) that year, and then I had to play the waiting game too.

I'm really looking forward to the last movie. We're planning a Harry-thon the weekend beforehand to watch ALL the movies back to back before going to see the last one! ;)

Colleen said...

Hmmmmm...guess I'm the odd duck because I've never read any of the books (and I'm a reader!!). I've only seen the first movie and that's because my SIL and her husband asked us to go with them when it came out. Can't say I've had the urge to "get hooked". I tried reading Twilight when it came out but couldn't get interested in it, either. Again, my SIL bought me to buy the book because she recommended it so highly. I didn't like "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series. I have all three of them but didn't like them. I'll take a Lee Childs' Jack Reacher book or a Douglas Preston mystery any day. Guess I'm weird, huh??? :)

the essentials in life said...

I can't wait either!! I am now really curious if any of our theaters are showing both! Off to read HP7 again..... :)

Amanda Murphy said...

I agree - they are fantastic - I've read all of the books aloud to my kids!

Katemcmate said...

I am nervous/excited about the last movie... I read all of the HP books except 7 so here I am reading the last book finally (stole my Dad's British version)... maybe after I finish the book I will be able to watch the movie... I guess I never wanted it to end... ever! :)

I am so glad to see you have the hardcovers of the first ones, we just have paperbacks of those...

Lauren Phelps said...

I'm right there with you! Can't wait for the new movie!

Unknown said...

Wow! I was exactly the same once I started reading the books! I never got into them at all until about 2 years ago actually. Then I read all 7 books right in a row within 3 months! My good freind is a grade 6 teacher and I borrowed them all from her library! lol! Afterwards I bought all the books for myself. This year after the Deathly Hallows Part one came out in the theatre I re-read the entire series again! I can't wait for Part 2 to be released! If I lived in Philly I would definitely be going to that midnight showing as well!

April (Polkadot Sparrow) said...

They are too addicting. Looking forward to the final movie installment, too. The date crept up on me, though! I've gotta find a sitter... :)