A Very Potter Valentines!

Harry Potter's getting a new look!  Normally I would be crying into my pillow over the news.  Why mess with a good thing, right?  But here's why I'm super excited:

Image Source: The Huffington Post

So Happy Valentine's Day, Midnighters!

What do you think of the new cover designs?

You can read more about the new look here.

Pre-Readathon Fun!

Tomorrow's the big day!!!  I am so super excited about Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon that it's a bit ridiculous.  And I'm okay with that, having embraced my spastic inner nerd long ago.  I'll be off to shop for Readathon snacks this morning, so expect another post soon.

Saw this on Facebook and it cracked me up:

Now I'm a fan of Twilight, and even though I'd already read the Harry Potter books, Twilight was the book that finally made me feel that it was okay for me to read YA even though my own young adult days are gone.  So I'm not Twilight bashing, but that said, this quote is totally true.  Twilight is literary candy, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Last night the Hubs took me to see Paranormal Activity 3 and it was super creepy and I screamed lots and once again wondered why the hell I keep insisting on going to see movies that I know will scare the crap out of me.  But ignoring my mental issues for a moment, we got to see the trailer for Daniel Radcliffe's new horror movie The Woman in Black:

Bet you wish you hadn't tossed that Elder wand, eh Daniel?

And I have to say, he's actually looking pretty handsome here, it actually took a few moments for me to recognize him.  

Tonight I'm off to an Octoberfest where I get to volunteer with the kid's soccer corner and turn down all that free beer that will be flowing from the free beer steins in order to be all sober and non hung over for tomorrow's Readathon.  Oh, the sacrifices to fun (and most often, dignity) that my inner nerd requires!  But I'm not only reading and obsessively twittering tomorrow, I'm cheering AND hosting a mini-challenge at Hour 9 and honestly my mini-challenge will be AWESOME.

Okay, now that I've started to go all caps on this blog, it's probably best to end this before I hit the caps lock for good.

Snacks to be posted later!

And I want to see your Readathon piles and snacks, and twitter names so that if I don't already follow you I can for tomorrow's big event! If you don't have Twitter or you never use it, trust me, Readathom is so much more fun with Twitter.  Just save the search for #readathon and we'll all be connected and my inner nerd will totally recognize your inner nerd.

The Last of Harry Potter...

Well, okay, it's not really the last of Harry Potter.  Because that's the wonderful thing about books, they can be re-read again and again.  In fact, I just picked up Goblet of Fire again, and I'll keep going until I get to the beginning again.

But oh, how I wish I had a time turner! 

I'm getting ready to head out for the midnight showing of the last film (3-D, at the awesome Cinebistro theater where you have to be 21 and over and you get to sit in love seats and drink alcohol and eat. Did I mention it's adults only?  So that means there won't be some little budding sociopath giggling maniacally behind me when Dobby gets the ultimate sock from God like there was in the last movie).  I got my scarf, my plastic Barnes and Noble Time Turner, my Harry Potter bandz, my toe tattoos and a box of tissues.  I'm ready to go!

There's a lot to love about Harry Potter.  As far as I know, the books started the whole midnight book release parties at bookstores.  And I do know that the series is responsible for making reading seem cool, which of course it totally is. 

I'm a fan, Harry Potter.  And this may be the last movie, but our love will go on.  I will not toss you in the ocean and let you sink into the watery depths of forgetfulness (yes, that is a Titanic reference). 

And I always knew Snape was good, so congrats to the best man winning The Potter World Cup!










And if you're a HUGE Harry Potter nerd, then check out Hogwarts Experience, which has been Pottermore-ish long before JK Rowling even thought to make a site. I'm Rigby Dumbledore on there, and a proud Ravenclaw.

Once Upon a Time Readathon Update

So far it's been more of a suck-a-thon for me, but all my own fault. Is it weird that I read less when I'm not working than when I am? On the plus side I did a lot more housework than usual, and read a bit (I'm very close to finishing two books!).

Today is a work day for me, so I'll be there for 12 hours. Fortunately there is usually plenty of opportunity for me to read during work so I will use that as much as I can. Here's what's on deck for today:

I'm planning on reading The Night Season by Chelsea Cain first, and then if I get to it, The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen... or I might read a Harry Potter novel, most likely book 4 or 5.  Now that it's all coming to an end, I have a huge craving for all things Potter.  I finished the second half of Deathly Hallows on Sunday night, crying like a baby the entire last 50 pages or so.  I can't wait for Pottermore to start up.  I used to be heavily involved in an HP site called Hogwarts Experience (yes, I  once "taught" Potions and History of Magic, and I am one heck of a rp Quidditch player), but somehow I kept getting older and all the newbies kept getting younger...

So reading today, and hopefully I'll find time for a challenge!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Review

I know lots of Potter fans out there have a special love for Sirius Black, but for me what makes book 3 special is Remus Lupin.  Of course, a man who carries chocolate with him and encourages you to eat it can always win a spot in my heart.


To be honest, the first time I read this series, I really didn't particularly like Sirius Black.  His actions in the 5th book which lead to his death struck me as supremely selfish.  But, re-reading book 3 has helped to soften my impression of him.  The scene in the book where he asks Harry if he wants to come live with him (however odd and sudden it was) was rather sweet.  I long for a book focused on the Marauders- Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. And of course, more Snape and Lily!

Prisoner of Azkaban is where Harry begins to grow up, he makes the decision to not kill Wormtail, a very mature choice given that his parent's betrayer was also one of their most trusted friends.  Poor Hermione in this book though- overworked and shunned by Ron and Harry when she is only trying to look out for their best interests.  However, this is also the book that sees Hermione taking a swing at Draco and walking out of Divination in disgust- this is the Hermione we all love.

The only part of Prisoner of Azkaban that I have trouble with is the end.  It doesn't seem realistic that Dumbledore couldn't find a way to clear Sirius Black's name.  It doesn't make sense that suddenly the MoM is okay with lowering the intense security on the castle and around Harry (except for sending the Dementors back, since they did kind of try to kill Harry). Of course, if Sirius was free and clear, than that would have changed the entire rest of the series, so I'll happily accept it.

Favorite quotes from the book:

"Mooney presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."
     ~Marauder's Map

"Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione got there first-
SMACK!
She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster.  Malfoy staggered.  Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again."


'"Well, honestly...'the fates have informed her'.  Who sets the exam? She does!  What an amazing prediction!" she said, not troubling to keep her voice low.  Harry and Ron choked back laughs.
     ~Hermione

'"Believe me," croaked Black. "Believe me, Harry.  I never betrayed James and Lily.  I would have died before I betrayed them."'
     ~Sirius Black

'"Are you insane?" said Harry, his voice easily as croaky as Black's. "Of course I want to leave the Dursleys!  Have you got a house? When can I move in?"'
     ~Harry

'"HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!" Snape roared, now very close at hand. "YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS - HAS- SOMETHING- TO- DO- WITH- POTTER!"'
     ~Snape... poor Snape.

'"You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us?  You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?  Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him.  How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night."'
     ~Dumbledore

'"Godfather?" sputtered Uncle Vernon.  "You haven't got a godfather!"
"Yes, I have," said Harry brightly.  "He was my mum and dad's best friend.  He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run.  He likes to keep in touch with me, though...keep up with my news...check if I'm happy..."'
     ~Uncle Vernon and Harry

Prisoner of Azkaban gets a Midnight Book Rating of 11:30pm (inching it's way to a full out Midnight rating).  I'm so glad I re-read this book, it's been too long!

Read for Challenge:

Other Challenges this book qualifies for in Labels.