A few months ago I joined The Wizarding World Book Club, ignorant of the fact most Potter related goodness comes throughout the year and not just the 31st of July I have now found myself rather behind.
Typically I know I can catch up, but I thought I'd share my own review for each theme as I work my way through it, because why not. I think it's safe to say that I love all Potter related things, as I write I' m currently sandwiched between three potter related pillows and a Hogwarts blanket.
I've read all the books too many times to count, I have even stood in line at midnight for some of them, and stayed up all night to read; not because I wanted to finish quickly to find out what happens, but because I couldn't put them down.
I've cried with these books at weird places, I've even cried for Lord Voldemort after I cried for Sirius' death, I cried for his lack of empathy, love, and friendship. I have also felt safe, obsessed, and rather ecstatic throughout these books too. They have been an escape for a scared small child and a grieving adult.
I don't know why I am trying to convince you of my level of fandom, but if you stick with me, you might enjoy this; also feel free to tell me I'm wrong, I love debating!
The first book club theme this year was Magic and the Muggle world, more specifically Harry discovers he's a wizard but we already know this information, and the Dursleys knowing magic exists and ignoring it.
Firstly let's focus on Harry, he keeps getting into unbelievable situations in the first four chapters, we hear about the mention of him jumping on top of a dumpster only to end up on the roof, and a horrible haircut which grew back overnight.
Harry is always stumped by these incidents, trying to think of weird excuses for his unexplainable behaviour, but deep down he knows something is wrong which is why he keeps trying to think of the answer.
Harry is open to the possibility that his parents didn't die in a car crash, when he thinks about it he sees a green light, and comments that cars don't have green headlights.
Harry questions everything, he is constantly asking questions and overshares when he knows perfectly well not to. Harry may be looking for scientific explanations of the glass disappearing or his hair growing back, but he knows that something isn't just quite normal about himself or the world around him.
Harry doesn't know he's a wizard in these chapters, but that doesn't stop him seeing the magic in these situations, whereas the Dursleys are the complete opposite. Vernon and Petunia Dursley know there is magic in the world, but they choose to acknowledge it.
It could be out of fear for all magical people, or something bad could have happened to them by magic, but my money is on the Dursleys finding solace in ignorance. If they ignore the problem it'll go away, they do this with the letters.
They can't quite understand the vastness of the magical world, they think they can just disappear from it, not think about it, and just go on with there life. I can understand finding out that Witches and Wizards actually exist could actually make you want to forget.
But at times like the first chapter, it can feel as though Petunia has been harmed by magic, and Vernon is forbidden to talk about it. I don't quite know if this is right, as even when faced with the celebrations of the Magical world Vernon constantly second guesses that it has anything to do with, "his lot."
I would put my money on the Dursleys trying to forget about magic in order to survive, but plenty of Muggles know about Magic, and they seem to embrace it. But the Dursleys don't do this with just magic, any situation that isn't ordinary is not discussed.
To me it almost feels like the Dursleys are overcompensating...
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