Reading Along: Not Really, but Kind of in a Book Club/Group/Fellowship

Some months ago, a blogger, writer, author extraordinaire friend – anthology fellow author, acquaintance, social media humor twin whom I’ve never met in the real world – decided to start a reading group for the Harry Potter series.

Since I have never found a book club, or founded one, that suited me entirely, I leapt upon this chance like Crookshanks leaps upon Scabbers… well, not exactly, and I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s just say the idea highly appealed to me. I’ve been reading along, but not posting about it anywhere. She’s been leading us fearlessly and was posting once a week, but after a few months decided to go to monthly posts.

Since I have been amazed by her hearty stamina and her fact-sharing information about all things Wizarding World, I understand the need to go for a slower pace, but yet, I wanted to do something to support, cheer, and rally around the group… something, but what?

And that’s how this post came to be.

This is part 1 of a 2-part post series for June.

For those of you who have been in many a book club, well, please forgive me for not knowing all the rules. It’s my first time. Book clubs always have sounded intriguing and terrifying in turns. What if I don’t want to read any of the books on the book list? Are there any other grownups who love to read fantasy, sci-fi, middle grade, ya, and general fiction? Am I asking for too much? Probably.

So, as you can see, I am muddling into the middle of the reading group. We previously read books one and two; Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (Philosopher’s) Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. We are now at the end of Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.

If you haven’t read these books, this post will be full of spoilers ahead. And, actually, it will be part of three posts, because otherwise it’s going to be quite, quite long.

Along with this general introduction to my bumbling about in a reading group/fellowship, I have to say if you do not like the Harry Potter series or have a political issue with the author of these books, please do not troll here. While I do not think I could take on a fully grown troll in a girl’s bathroom at Hogwarts, I am capable of deleting comments.

My love of the Harry Potter series is not political, nor is it religious, while I think those who believe the book series is either of those things need to take a long breath, and drink a Hagrid-sized cup of tea.

I think the Harry Potter series is seriously brilliant, funny heart-warming, wonderful, and filled to the brim with the simple, but powerful, message that love wins.

Really, if you haven’t read these books and you’ve been curious about the fuss, I am here to assure you that the message is literally: love wins.

It isn’t a romance series, but it is about love; sacrificial love, love between friends, and the love of family. Love triumphs over evil in this series again and again (x7). Forgiveness and redemption are offered to all.

(Hmm. Maybe there are some religious undertones here, after all, and not any offensive kinds.)

The plot development of this series is clever, in-depth, and surprisingly funny as well as sad. Characters we love don’t come out unscathed. Characters we don’t like aren’t always as bad as we think they are. Some characters are exactly who we think they are. I love the way this book series has such an interesting and diverse cast of various perspectives and different levels of character development.

Speaking of characters, here is a brief introduction to the three main characters of the series.

Of course, Harry, as the title character, has the most robust character arc. He really wants to go and solve the problems (not going to mention what they are here), but he discovers his friends have his back, even when he thinks he needs to go it alone (minor spoiler).

Harry’s best friend Ron seemingly has everything Harry wants to have: a fun, rambunctious, slightly odd, loving family. Ron gives Harry the benefit of befriending him without making a big deal about who he is – something he needs.

Hermione, Harry and Ron’s friend, is brilliant and concerned with rules. She wants to succeed and do her best, but she needs her friends to help her see the true importance of the choices she makes.

There is so much to say about these books and about these main characters, and I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of the brilliant cast, the red herrings, and plot twists, along with the superb world-building.

In tomorrow’s post, I’ll be focused on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, so if you haven’t read the books, don’t read that post. It will be full of spoilers.

Please note that Jen did not have anything to do with my wild idea to join in on the posting part of this reading group and she is not responsible for anything I am writing here. However, if you would like to read her brilliantly insightful posts, go to this page: The Archives Book Club