22 Sep 2015 06:33 pm
Another fandom I pretty much missed
I've been failing to find new music for my runs and workouts so, taking a page from ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
isis's book, I finally tried out some audio books. I've been vaguely intending to re-read Harry Potter for a few years now, so that seemed like a good place to start: easy to follow, and a story I know I'll enjoy.
Except I distinctly remember *not* enjoying the first book the one and only time I read it, circa 2004. Unless you count the time I tried to read it in 2001 and gave up on the whole series about 50 pages in because I really didn't like it. I gave the books another shot only after seeing the third film, which I'd liked. So I held my nose through the first book, tolerated the second, and got really into the series starting with The Prisoner of Azkaban. When I re-read the series six or seven years ago, I skipped the first book entirely. And all this was a few years before I got into fandom.
But when I downloaded the audio books last week, I started with The Philosopher's Stone without thinking about it.
And I'm enjoying it. A lot. I'd completely forgotten about the first scene, when Dumbledore, McGonnigal, and Hagrid bring baby Harry to the Dursleys. I can see why I disliked it at first, especially with the fat-phobia around the Dursleys but also with an overall tone that is, well, childish. And not just in the fun, imaginative, silly, or innocent way, though there are elements of all that: in a way that views the world very simply. Way too simply. Though I was more bothered by all that at 19 than I am at 34. :p
But it's also quite charming. The narrator might help; he probably makes it sound more fun and magical than my internal voice would. And I get a little thrill to think of what's coming. I came to really care for Harry as a character and I like having this glimpse of him before he's ever gone to Hogwarts. (I'm currently at the part where he and Hagrid go to Diagon Ally.) I like how we see his rebellious, even foolhardy spirit right from the start in his interactions with Dudley and Mr. Dursley.
It's slow going because I'm saving it for workouts. But I have a lot to look forward to. I might even find myself needing to find more HP icons. :D
(And aside: wow, I really *did* miss this fandom -- this is my first post tagged with harry potter!)
isis's book, I finally tried out some audio books. I've been vaguely intending to re-read Harry Potter for a few years now, so that seemed like a good place to start: easy to follow, and a story I know I'll enjoy.Except I distinctly remember *not* enjoying the first book the one and only time I read it, circa 2004. Unless you count the time I tried to read it in 2001 and gave up on the whole series about 50 pages in because I really didn't like it. I gave the books another shot only after seeing the third film, which I'd liked. So I held my nose through the first book, tolerated the second, and got really into the series starting with The Prisoner of Azkaban. When I re-read the series six or seven years ago, I skipped the first book entirely. And all this was a few years before I got into fandom.
But when I downloaded the audio books last week, I started with The Philosopher's Stone without thinking about it.
And I'm enjoying it. A lot. I'd completely forgotten about the first scene, when Dumbledore, McGonnigal, and Hagrid bring baby Harry to the Dursleys. I can see why I disliked it at first, especially with the fat-phobia around the Dursleys but also with an overall tone that is, well, childish. And not just in the fun, imaginative, silly, or innocent way, though there are elements of all that: in a way that views the world very simply. Way too simply. Though I was more bothered by all that at 19 than I am at 34. :p
But it's also quite charming. The narrator might help; he probably makes it sound more fun and magical than my internal voice would. And I get a little thrill to think of what's coming. I came to really care for Harry as a character and I like having this glimpse of him before he's ever gone to Hogwarts. (I'm currently at the part where he and Hagrid go to Diagon Ally.) I like how we see his rebellious, even foolhardy spirit right from the start in his interactions with Dudley and Mr. Dursley.
It's slow going because I'm saving it for workouts. But I have a lot to look forward to. I might even find myself needing to find more HP icons. :D
(And aside: wow, I really *did* miss this fandom -- this is my first post tagged with harry potter!)
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