When I first read the Harry Potter books I was already an adult. They only came out when I was an adult. I even noticed a review I gave of Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix way back in 2003 on this blog. My mum who was a reading teacher at the end of her teaching career suggested for a while that I read them. This was at a time when only the first three books were published. I was reluctant since I am not typically a fan of fantasy books. I like science fiction not necessarily fantasy. I had to argue the distinction with my wife and nephew the other night while talking about reading Harry Potter to the girls. Since I was travelling for work all the time at the time my mum first recommended them. I was reading books very quickly while on the plane or travelling I took my mom up on her recommendation. I bought the first book. I was hooked after that. I blew through the first three books and then waited patiently for each subsequent book to come out. I would immediately buy it and usually finished it straight away.
In general I look back on reading the books for the first time and I thought they were good. There are obviously issues I had because of some of the childish stuff they did but I would say I was generally entertained by the books even if it was first a children’s book and i read them as an adult. Reading to my kids I love how much they enjoyed each of the books. I was ecstatic that they were finally willing to read them with me. Even better when we started reading them in April 2020 as lockdown for COVID was new both girls were semi into reading. They were not yet book lovers. Now after months of reading to them they each spent time with Harry Potter and other books I feel like they are both on their way to being book lovers.
As I started reading the series again to my girls I began to have a different opinion of many of the characters then I did when I first read them. When I realise that I thought back to something my friend Amanda had once told that she did not consider herself a Gryffindor. She also said she didn’t think that I was one either and suggested a Online Quiz that sort you into your hogwarts house. I am not typically an online quiz fan however I gave it a go. I actually gave it several goes since these tests aren’t necessarily scientific I did not get the same results all the time. It did get me reading more on the defining traits of each of the houses. As I did that and the quizzes again I realised I am pretty sure I’m not Gryffindor though some part of me thinks maybe a little. I am most likely Ravenclaw. Of course only in a story are two or three general traits what put you into a social group. If I had to pick which trates I think I exhibit or prefer over the others even if I exhibit some traits from all the houses I would still say Ravenclaw stands out.
I do not want to bash their Harry Potter characters since I love the books however wow Harry and Ron and to a smaller degree Hermionne do some messed up stuff. Gryffindor might call that brave or bold. At minimum it’s borderline reckless. Even as a kid I wasn’t like that. So blue and bronze colours from me.
My self identification as Ravenclaw has only been a mild disturbance in our household. My children being Gryffindor according to them. I don’t remember what M said she associates with or if she commented all. i think she wants nothing to do with this discussion.
If have to blame anybody I blame the lockdown for a lot of free time to read the stories and background details about them to way too much detail with my children.
