I am heading home for Christmas. I thought I had something brilliant to say about Christmas, but it is going to have to wait until next year. However, I will say, that I hope you enjoy your Christmas very much. And please, do not listen to anyone else who tells you what Christmas is supposed to be. Just enjoy the life that comes from being with friends and family and celebrating life.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The floor on which he lay seemed to be white, neither warm nor cold, but simply there, a flat, blank something on which to be. – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
If you haven’t already, you must watch the new Dark Knight trailer. Heath Ledger looks amazing as the Joker. Batman Begins was such a phenomenal return to what Batman is supposed to be and Dark Knight looks to follow suit.
I finished The Deathly Hallows this weekend. That may be the fastest I have ever read a book. Bought it Friday night and by Sunday, around 10, I was finished and I didn’t spend all my time reading either. I am glad to be done. For the most part, everything was summed up nicely. I didn’t really enjoy the final chapter of the book. I think it was a bit too much. Overall, I think it’s a great series and I think there is certainly potential to look at the book academically. But, I am not a English student anymore, so I don’t have to.
I am feeling quite lost today. Last week, while at the mall shopping, I spotted the mini-serires Band of Brothers. This was the best mini-series that I have ever seen and probably one of the best war stories I have ever watched. Last week, Leah and I started having another go at watching at watching the Lord of the Rings. And, of course, I have been reading Harry Potter and last night I finished the sixth book. Of course, with all these stories, I have been left thinking about the nature of war—once again.
I don’t have anything particularly inspired to say. Other than, when I think about war, I realize that there isn’t much that really matters in this world. Love being one of the few ideas that does matter. If anyone has read the sixth book, I don’t want to give anything away, but it is incredibly sad.
I have been wondering what makes the Harry Potter series so good and I have come to the conclusion, I think, that it is the subtle brilliance in the writing. I can’t help but wonder if the majority of people only pick up on this subconsciously. I don’t mean to say that I am more brilliant than the majority of readers, but because I pay attention and read everything slowly, taking it all in. Granted Harry Potter is not a work of high literary standards—at least not at first. But I think there is an almost Paley-like quality to Rowling’s series. Small moments that contain wisdom and years. She’s not as frequent as Paley (or as good), but it’s still there.
I have heard many people tell me that the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, is the worst of the series. I think it is the best, containing the most beautiful writing yet.
Only one book left and then I can return to my normal life.
