HARRY POTTER.
Dude, you guys. This is it. The beginning of the end.
Emma Watson was NINE YEARS OLD when it all started....she is now 20. Crazy, isn't it?
Rupert Grint rapped in his audition tape about how he wanted a part in the series he loved so much
.
And Daniel Radcliffe had only just made his acting debut 2 years before Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone was released, and was also approved by J.K. Rowling herself for the part of Harry
When the first movie was released in November 2001, I was 20 and in my second year of college. Hubsies and I had been dating for a year and a half by now. I am pretty sure I had read at least the first book, if not more (my mom gave me the first one to read and said, you HAVE to read this....being that I love anything YA fantasy, I said sure!), but he hadn't read any of them. We saw the movie and he was blown away. We went on vacation with my family to the beach the next summer and he (and I) mowed through all the books that were out by then. Up through Goblet of Fire I believe. We read them all in a week. We were hooked and every book after, we have gone at midnight of it's release date to get it.
I remember one year, (2003) the local Barnes and Noble was SO crowded (I think it was for Order of the Phoenix) we went to walmart where we found a HUGE stand with a million Phoenix books on it and no one around. Except a girl in a wedding dress and a guy in a tux. Yep, midnight on their wedding night: superfans.
Little Monster was born on July 12 2005. And guess who went at midnight on July 16th to get me Half Blood Prince? Yep, Hubsies (we were up anyway with a hungry/screaming/pooping baby). I'm pretty sure we read it during 2am feedings, and afternoon naptimes.
Deathly Hallows came out in 2007, and I'm pretty sure Hubsies went to get this one at midnight for us too (I wanted to leave the 2 year old in bed and go too, but I guess that's frowned upon). Pretty sure we devoured it in just a couple days.
Anyway, during our college years we went to every midnight showing. Once Little Monster came around, it got a little harder. But we always went within the first few days.
I just can't believe how much time has gone by, and how much our lives have changed during this roller coaster of someone's imagination. I went to college, dated my husband, graduated college, married my husband, got a job, moved 10 million times in the same city (renting..ugh), had a baby, bought our first house, and now just recently celebrated that baby's 5 year birthday. Just crazy.
And now we're going this morning after we drop Little Monster off at school!
So where were you during all this? What can you remember from the past 12 years since the books were published and the movies came out? What changed in your life?
**Stay tuned on Monday for the recap of meeting one of my crit partners for the first time, Colene Murphy!
17 comments:
Damn, I only grew older!
Looking forward to seeing the movie today.
I came over here from Melissa's blog. I'm now your newest follower.
Nice ta meet ya!
Also, I'm so freaking excited! HP FTW! I really love the stubble on Ron and Harry's chins. They're growing up.
*Sniff* My most vivid memories are of us...and significant others...reading the Harry Potters on the beach!!
Wow, that's nuts. I forgot how long it's been. I was 18 when the first movie came out. I was supposed to start my freshman year but decided to take a year off of school. Let's see.. that was about 4 boyfriends ago, 6 addresses ago, 15 lbs ago, 1 college degree ago, and 1 stupid decision to move to a different state ago. It was before I ever drank, became a cheerleader, drove across the entire country, or bought my car that I named "sweet pea". Yet, somehow I remember the Harry Potter series being intertwined through the whole thing. hmmm.... memories...
I was in high school when the first movie came out and I read up through Goblet of Fire within the next week. I went to every midnight release/showing after that. I graduated high school, started college, graduated college, lived in 5 different countries, got engaged, had that engagement broken off, wrote two books and I'm sure a lot of other stuff that I'm forgetting.
Firstly, you got Matthew! Whoo! He's a pretty cool dude.
Anyway, That was a great story! It's really neat that your hubby is in on it too. I would kill for mine to give it a chance and love it too. I hope you enjoy it today! (I want someone to rave about it with in person!)
And...if I show up tomorrow in my PJ's and call you a biotch you're going to post about it!? Okay...fine, I won't do that then... ;)
That's too cool that you can document so many life-changing events by HP! Me? I already had my degree, my hubby and my child by then (dates me, I know). But, I do remember that the first 3 books were out before I even caught wind of Harry Potter. So, I picked up a box set of the three to see what all the fuss was about? Been HOOKED since!! Such wonderful books. I'm so sad to see it end...but, also excited to see what great new story will fill the void! :)
Alex- that was a LONG period of time. We all grew older, lol.
Matthew- thanks for following me! Yes the stubble is very manly.
Jess- I know, me too :)
Angela- a lot went on with you too! All our stories make it seem like so much time has gone by (and I guess it has...it just doesn't feel like it)
Quinn- wow, that's a lot of big events that went on with you!
Colene- There are things that we arent' interested in that the other is, but thankfully this is both our passion. Don't worry, I"ll tell everyone how super cool you are even if you call me a biotch ;p No one has to know ;p
Donea- I remember reading a couple in a row for the first time after they had come out. I'm so sad to see it end too :(
I was living the adventure right beside Harry! Every year I'd read another book, all the way till the very last one. I remember people looking at me like I was crazy carrying around those 700 and something page books, lol. :D
I love this series, and I can't wait to see the movie this weekend! Almost half the student body went to go to the midnight showing last night, and I feel like I'm the only one left who hasn't watched it. I'm getting more of my daily Nano word count done today so I could make some time for going to the movies. Awesome post!
~Ezzy
I listened to every Harry Potter on cd (or tape?) as I drove to my job at the library. Needless to say, sharing the books with my daughters was fun!
btw; in the better late than never category, I have decided that one book that had a major effect on me was Thoreau's Walden (for my read poster)
I had a baby in 2001 and he is now in 4th grade and a HUGE HP fan - books and movies. He actually dressed like Harry for Halloween when he was 3 - he loved the movie and would walk around with his cape putting spells on us all the time. Since then he's been joined by a little brother, who is now 4 and just doesn't like them as much as big bro.
erica
I grew up.
Which is mind-boggling.
I was 11 when I started reading HP. Now I'm about to start working on my MFA in writing for children and young adults. I knew I wanted to be a writer before I started reading HP, but it's one of those series that shows everyone just how IMPORTANT children's literature is.
Harry was my childhood, and I love him.
Hmmm... I started reading HP in my late teens. I remember me and my first roommate would get the books at midnight and sort of have a contest to see who would finish first. Once at one of the midnight parties someone in Borders yelled 'stupefy' right in my ear while pointing her wand at a stranger. That was hilarious...
It's crazy seeing how old the kids are now! They grew up right in front of our eyes. I will always regret them not shooting back to back so we could have gotten at least one more movie with Richard Harris (who was the ONLY Dumbledore, IMO).
We had a similar experience with Half Blood Prince - waiting in a packed bookstore for the release at midnight when the Hubster ran across the street to get me a bottled water at Sav-Ons. He came back with the water AND the book. We went home and I stayed up all night reading it. He's not into the book, but he goes to the movies with me. What a man!
Abby, this is so funny! I first read the books back in 2001 when I was in college and I went through all the same crazy life changes, too - married, had baby, new job, etc. It's crazy to think about, isn't it?
Oh, and that couple their in their wedding clothes? That so would have been me!
I was nine when I read the first book and HP has been with me ever since! I finished elementary, middle school and the last book came out the year I graduated high school. A lot of stuff happened during that time and a lot changed. I would have to write a series of posts to explain so I won't bore you.
I started really late - Sep 2006 I read the first one and then went out and bought all the others I could find. I had to wait til the summer for Deathly Hallows - reserved it and went to pick it up first thing in the morning with my then-two-year-old in tow. Got home, started reading and cooked lunch and dinner with it in my hand. I loved it. Can't wait til the movie... the hubs is taking me this week sometime. I just don't know when. Can't wait. Loved your story! :)
Post a Comment