First found HP

[Brenda]

No: HPFGUIDX 100522

I know this post is OT (haha, I learned some initials today, was 
laughing my head off in the middle of library), but since so many of 
us are sharing our "First Found HP", I wanted to add some of my own 
experience..

I knew nothing about HP until I saw the trailer of "America's 
Sweethearts".. when Kiki (Julia Roberts) was arguing with her 
celebrity sister Gwen (Cath Zeta).. "You've never even read a book in 
your life!" - Gwen responds in disgust, "I HAVE! Harry Potter!"  
Although I didn't remember specifically WHAT HP was (what a laughing 
matter, now that i think about it) it was somehow familiar.

Then I came to university, living in residence, and saw quite a few 
people reading the series.  I was turned off by all the buzz, 
dismissed it saying "I'm not into witchcraft CRAP" - but at the same 
time asking around, 'so what's the story of HP anyways?'  I 
also downloaded the first 2 movies using rapid-speed res-net (this 
was my defence - how can you EVER refuse +1MB/s ?!?!).  Then my other 
friend very highly recommended it, telling me that she used to hold 
the exact same view, that the books are soo imaginative, and that 
CostCo has the paperback versions for REALLY cheap.  So I bought all 
4 in a box-set (and the 5th soon after), and haven't been able to let 
go ever since.

Reading other experience, I was very amazed at how similar it was..  
Somewhat afraid of reading about a new world?  Or even afraid of 
admitting that we, as intelligent and educated adults, also enjoy 
reading a kid's book and actually discuss/ analyze it?  Dunno..

>>> Meri wrote: I wasn't hooked until I got to the last chapter of 
SS. I was so sure that Snape was the bad guy that when the last lines 
of "Through the Trap Door" said that it wasn't Snape or even LV 
waiting for Harry I was sure I had read it wrong. And then when it 
was Quirrell I was blown away. I thought, this is a kid's book and 
the author is putting in complex plot twists? COOL! <<<

Bren: That's EXACTLY how I was!  It actually took me about a week to 
get through the first few chapters (bedtime reading only at this 
moment).  My heart was pounding so fast by the end, in fact, the only 
other moment that made me jump out of bed was when Sirius turned out 
to be innocent after all.  Oh, that and when LV came back and made 
Harry duel with him (that foul evil loads of cockroach!!!)  Although, 
ashamed to admit this, the use of 'LV' reminds me of Jennifer Lopez, 
seeing how she is a spokeswoman for Louis Vuitton.

>>> Meri: I read PoA straight through my first weekend after starting 
school (ignoring, in perfect Harry and Ron fashion, all my 
homework).. <<<

Bren: That was me with the 5th book!  Worse, spent the whole weekend 
reading it in the middle of November Midterm period.. my friend read 
GoF during April-May final exam period.. isn't that hilarious?

What I LOVE about HP above anything else, is the fact that it got me 
hooked to reading again.  English isn't my first language so I had 
been avoiding reading in *foreign language* (it just took soo long 
with vocabulary search and all).  But after HP, I now have more 
confidence in reading and writing, not to mention the joy of it.  
Infinite thanx to JKR! (I don't think she'll get tired of hearing 
this?)

I also praise JKR for reminding us of a very valuable, all-time-
favorite theme: "Appearance vs. Reality".  Though a very devoted 
spiritual Christian, I do not see an Anti-Christianism and worshiping-
devil non-sense in HP series.  Unfortunately I am no where near 
scholastic to provide you with good thesis on this (I think Iris' 
essay on Cain was beyond superb).  She even said so herself that she 
does not believe in magic and that she is somewhat a church-goer 
(pardon me for lack of canon, simply can't remember where from), if 
one was to attack JKR openly, one really must learn a thing or two 
about her.  Although I DID joke around that JKR had bewitched the 
series so that people will read them before finishing their work..

>>> Meri: .. I discovered a massive printing error in my book.. 
<snip> Over a hundred pages of the book were missing <<<

Oh my, Oh dear, haha, how da HECK did *that* happen..

Brenda