I love to read. It was quite a drag when I was at BYU
because I didn’t allow myself to read during the semesters. (Maybe I should
implement that policy in grad school. I might would actually get stuff done.)
However, my sophomore year at BYU was rough, mostly due to a very bad attitude,
and I needed a release from the pressure of school and my living arrangements.
My friend Karen offered to let me borrow her Harry Potter books to find that
break. Up to this point, I had been avoiding the series because I felt that if
I read them then I would be conforming to the norm, and for some reason that
really bugged me. (Although I had seen at least the first two movies at this
point.) Anyways, I relented to my stance against conformity and started reading
the first book. I immediately fell in love. I borrowed the first two books,
then bought books three and four before the end of the semester. At this time,
I had a hard time waiting until I had enough money to buy book five, then I had
to wait until book six came out. However, I guess this is better than having to
wait for all of them to come out like those who started at the beginning of the
series.
Then the next school year, Bethany became my roommate. She
was a walking Harry Potter encyclopedia. She quoted Harry Potter frequently and
perfectly. When the last book came out,
we showed up at Walmart at midnight to buy it. I then proceeded to read it in
the next twenty-four hours, not allowing sleep, flirts, bridal showers, nor
rodeos interfere with my reading. It was actually kind of pathetic. That same
month, I also dressed up as Fleur Delacour for the Order of the Phoenix premiere.
 |
| Kellie as Ginny Weasly, me as Fleur Delacour, and Kelly as Herminone |
After the summer of 2007, I felt a bit empty because there
were no books to look forward to. However, once I graduated and moved into my
own apartment, I had plenty of time on my hands without homework, so I started
rereading all of the books, something which have done more times than I care to
mention. I actually finished reading the series again last month. Now I have
discovered fanfiction, so I guess I have a new venue to fulfill my need for all
things Harry Potter-related.
