🧙Spellbound at Last: A Muggle's Journey into the Magic of Harry Potter

Letter 195: a review on the book I meant to read a long time ago

Aloha fellow learn-it-all 👋

Greetings from Magic Island in Honolulu!

What a time to be alive. I’ve loved showing my family around where I live. It felt like I was living a dream job of being a tour guide around the adult playground where I live.

It’s fun people-watching, but even more so I did a fair bunch of animal-watching this past week in Kauai. 38 green sea turtles washed up on Poʻipū beach. One drowsy monk seal there too. Ten frisky kitties in parks. Two feral pigs in Koloa. Two slow snails on the moonlit walk back from the jacuzzi. A handful of confused black crabs on the volcanic rocks of the harbor looking at me walking straight while they walk sideways. One low-swooping 'iwa bird flying on the verge of submersion into the sea. Hundreds of crazy chickens in the parking lot of Kōkeʻe Lodge from afar. Even more beautiful nēnē Hawaiian geese. Zero mongoose sightings.

And last, most breathtakingly, a family of about five humpback whales. What a sight.

Now, let’s dive into letter 195 from a learn-it-all. Enjoy!

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❓Question to think about

What are my reflections and favorite quotes from reading Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone?

🖊️ Writing

TL;DR

My book review: stop now and go read Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone if you haven’t already. It’ll inspire the possibilities of living a courageous life and friendship that leads to belonging.

Photo by B K on Unsplash

First, a quick story of the first time I heard about Harry Potter

I remember envy boiling out of me seeing the students who got back from summer vacation whose reading lists were pouring way past the required reading list of homework. They started the year with extra credit that I yearned for.

Each summer, I ended up listing twenty books or so of the small ones that had cool book covers in the library. After I read the front and back parts and maybe the conclusion to get to the good stuff, I considered that to be enough reading. I never made time for reading growing up because I’d rather be in the pool swimming or on the lake sailing or biking to the ice cream shop with friends. And besides, I didn’t know I was dyslexic, so trying to read made me feel incompetent. Slow, and therefore, stupid.

In particular, I remember after second grade, my peer VP had read a bunch of Harry Potter books. A 356-page book?! Who has time for that when summertime in Michigan is beautiful?

I haven’t read most of the classics. I used to allow this fact to make me feel insecure. I’d just always thought that I’d never be someone to read those because most of them look like dry tombs with a neverending finish line in sight. And they come with high expectations. But, I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to look at pictures of a hike because I’d rather be surprised and rather than have a defeated imagination. Expectations ruin experiences.

But as adults do, I changed my mind. I took a stab. The fear of missing out used to exist for Harry Potter, but no more. I swallowed my pride and borrowed my friend's book. I told myself I’d finish it in January. Having the book on audio and physically helped me achieve this goal. I stayed up until midnight reading on the 31st. I can’t remember the last time I’d ever done that! A real page-turner.

This book exceeded my expectations. I get why this is a classic. In case you don’t know much about the Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone, here’s a quick summary before diving into more:

An orphan named Harry Potter discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard. He is invited to attend the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he makes best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger who go on courageous quests together. J.K. Rowling paints vivid pictures with her magical world-building skills and the depth of the complex characters.

Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash

Anywho, usually, when I read books, I write marginalia (yes, that is a real word defined below) up the wazoo on books, but I didn’t on this one because it’s my friend’s son’s book, and in an attempt to make reading not feel like “work”, but something I could enjoy. 

However, I did take note at the end of each of the 17 chapters of a particular passage that stood out to me. These are ones that I admired, stopped to make me think, or were just downright golden words I want my future self to revisit.

Buckle up and here we go!!

Ch 1

“He was rattled. He hurried to his car and set off for home, hoping he was imagining things, which hd had never hoped before, because he didn’t approve of imagination.” (6)

Ch 2

“Don’t ask questions — that was the first rule for a quiet life with the Dursleys.” (24)

Ch 3

“I’m not having one in the house, Petunia! Didn’t we swear when we took him in we’d stamp out that dangerous nonsense?” (44)

Ch. 4

“You never told him? Never told him what was in the letter Dumbledore left for him? I was there! I saw Dumbledore leave it, Dursley! An’ you’ve kept it from him all these [11] years?

Kept what from me?” Said Harry eagerly.

“STOP! I FORBID YOU!” Yelled Uncle Vernon in panic. 

Aunt Petunia gave a gasp of horror. 

“Ah, go boil yer heads, both of yeh,” said Hagrid. “Harry — yer a wizard.”

There was silence in the hut. Only the sea and the whistling wind could be heard. (64)

Ch 5

“He grinned at Harry’s amazement… Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping.” (85)

Ch 6

“You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there. “ 

He held out his hand to shake Harry’s but Harry didn’t take it. 

“I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,” he said coolly. (127)

A celebratory note: Way to go Harry with sticking to your gut of who to be friends with! Just like a dog can tell the character of a stranger by sniffing them, we can do the same with choosing our friends.

Ch 7  

“Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. (139)

Ch 8 

“Harry was relieved to find out that he wasn’t miles behind everyone else. Lots of people had come from Muggle families and, like him, hadn’t had any idea that they were witches and wizards. There was so much to learn that even people like Ron didn’t have much of a head start.”(160)

Ch 9

“He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared; air rushed through his hair, and his robes whipped out behind him — and in a rush of fierce joy he realized he’d found something he could do without being taught— this was easy, this was wonderful. (176)

Ch 10

“Then, none of them looked at each other, they all said, “Thanks,” and hurried off to get plates. But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.” (209)

Ch 11

“He didn’t catch it, he nearly swallowed it,” Flint was still howling twenty minutes later, but it made no difference — Harry hadn’t broken any rules and Lee Jordan was still happily showing the results — Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy points to sixty.” (223)

Ch 12

“…Harry was looking at his family, for the first time in his life. The Potters smiled and waved at Harry and he stared hungrily back at them, his hands pressed flat against the glass as though he was hoping to fall right through it and reach them. He had a powerful kind of ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness.” (244)

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don’t you put on that admirable Cloak back on and get off to bed?” (248)

Ch 13

“Harry left the locker room alone some time later, to take his Nimbus Two Thousand back to the broom shed. He couldn’t even remember feeling happier. He’s really done something to be proud of now — no one could say he was just a famous name anymore. The evening air had never smelled so sweet. He walked over the damp grass, reliving the last hour in his head, which was a happy blur: Gryffindors running to lift him on their shoulders; Ron and Hermione in the distance, jumping up and down, Ron cheering through a heavy nosebleed.” (262)

Ch 14

“‘Wonder what it’s like to have a peaceful life,” Ron sighed, as evening after evening they struggled through all the extra homework they were getting. Hermione had now started making study schedules for Harry and Ron, too. It was driving them nuts.” (273)

Ch 15

“Hagrid seized Harry and Hermione and hoisted them off the path behind a towering oak. He pulled out an arrow and fitted it into his crossbow, raising it, ready to fire. The three of them listened. Something was slithering over dead leaves nearby: It sounded like a cloak trailing along the ground. Hagrid was squinting up the dark path, but after a few seconds, the sound faded away.” (292)

Ch 16

“Devil’s Snap, Devil’s Snare… what did Professor Sprout say? — it likes the dark and the damp —“ 
“So light a fire!” Harry choked.
“Yes — of course — but there’s no wood!” Hermione cried, wringing her hands.

“HAVE YOU GONE MAD?” Ron bellowed. “ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?”

“Oh right!” said Hermione… (321)

Ch 17

“Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper noun for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” (346)

“To one as young as you, I’m sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very, long day. After all. To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such. Wonderful thing. AS much money and life as you want! The two things most human beings would choose above all — the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.“ (346)

🔍Word to define

Marginalia: marginal notes: the book was covered with marginalia

early 19th century: from modern Latin, neuter plural of marginalis, from margo, margin

🎬 Watching

After seeing a family of humpback whales in Kauai, I learned that they are one of the few altruistic species who put their own life on the line to help others.

Whale scientist Nan Hauser describes how she believes a humpback whale saved her from a [tiger] shark, and what happened when the same whale came back. 

"He swam underneath me and lifted me out of the water on his flipper." Marine biologist Nan Hauser lived a real-life Disney movie while diving in the Cook Islands. The storyline was simple: Scientist goes diving and a 50,000-pound humpback whale protects her from a shark attack and saves the day. (Surfer Magazine)

🎧Listening

“Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede

This was a song on repeat the past week. What a goodie. For long zone 2 jogs, winding drives, packing a suitcase, etc.

This version of the song was released in the U.S. by the Swedish band in 1974. Several years before, in 1968, country and pop singer B.J. Thomas released the original version of the song, which was written by Mark James.

I can't stop this feeling
Deep inside of me Girl,
You just don't realize
What you do to me

When you hold me
In your arms so tight
You let me know
Everything's all right

I'm hooked on a feeling
I'm high on believing
That you're in love with me

🌟Quote to inspire

"Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your own heart and intuition.” - Steve Jobs 

📸Photos of the Week

Feeling grateful for the memories made and this rejuvenating time.

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I appreciate you reading this!

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Keep on learning 😁

Mahalo 🌺

Jen

PS - in case you missed last week, I shared My Letter to 2023: A Mosaic of Moments

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