Harry Potter and What I Missed as a Child

When I was much much younger, Harry Potter was the possibly the most influential book of my life. Not that it influenced me, but that it influenced and inspired so many. I was raised in a very conservative Christian home and Harry Potter was not something that my mother would ever let pass through the threshold of our home. We were religious with our attendance to church at the time and the consensus of most Christians at the time was, negative.
“Harry Potter is evil and is teaching children how to do witchcraft.”, they would say.

I know it may be hard to try and imagine growing up that way for anyone that wasn’t raised in a very conservative home, but Harry Potter was tantamount to worshipping the devil. It wasn’t only that my mother forbid the book, but you also got pressure from your Christian friends and peers. At a church I attended for the children’s ministry they even had us watch “educational” videos about the book of the devil, Harry Potter.

The videos would have numerous adults telling you that Harry Potter was the mark of the beast, only sinners would read such sacrilegious texts, and if you did you would undoubtedly be on the path to devil worship. Everyone loves the good ol’ fashioned threat of devil worship. It is timeless and will always be used as a way to scare kids and people away from things.

Everyone loves the good ol’ fashioned threat of devil worship.

When the movies came out, I still didn’t watch any of them for quite a while. It wasn’t until the Order of the Phoenix came out that Harry Potter found its way into my orbit again. After watching that one, I was finally ensnared, and the devil worship that I was warned about, I never found the altar that I was warned of. I became a fast fan of the interesting worlds and the charming stories that were told in the movies.

Fast forward a good number of years and my wife has borrowed every Harry Potter novel from her mother. She grew up quite differently and was encouraged to read them because they promoted…actual reading. Also in case you were wondering devil worship never afflicted her either, maybe our experiences with Harry Potter are aberrations.

I’ve finished the first two books thus far and have been putting them in between other fantasy novels that I’ve worked my way through over the last few years. The first book is almost a little hard to read as the movie is to watch. The story is very simplistic and there isn’t anything surprising that goes on in it but the world building is excellent. That will always be the north start of Harry Potter for me, the world is so full and well realized. I’m not going to say Harry Potter is Star Wars, but there are few worlds that are so fully encompassing and realized.

…there are few worlds that are so fully encompassing and realized

There is a cohesive feel to everything that is written in the first book and has an excellent vibe of childhood wonderment. From the things they eat, the sports they play, and the way they get around, everything was created. It takes some things for granted, like we all know what a wand is, but then expands on what a wand is and what it can mean to a wizard. Harry Potter doesn’t ride on the coattails of previous wizard and magic influenced works. Does it borrow from some, I’m certain it does, because everything is influenced by something.

…then expands on what a wand is and what it can mean to a wizard

The second book, while similar to the first, improves and continues to build. The vocabulary is expanded and the writing is richer, but overall the story is only slightly more advanced in story telling than the first. We get time travel, kind of, when Harry Potter gets sucked into a diary. Every character gets expanded motivations, like Ron for instance. We get to experience a bit more of his family and family life. It brings a grounded feel to the his character, where and how he fits into his family is shown. It was another pleasant book that doesn’t have too much more than the film, but is a quick fun read.

Now I know this…review, is not timely nor is it that informational, but I thought it would be interesting to add some context to my reading life. I suppose it is better to be late than never.

Reach out on Twitter and say hello. Tell me what Harry Potter meant to you when you read it.