Life After Harry

Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy , Children's Books

It’s not often that I find myself reading the same book at the same time as my two oldest nieces, ages nineteen and twelve.  But recently the three of us have all been looking for a way to fill that Harry-shaped hole in our hearts, now that Mr. Potter has left the building.    It turns out that having found how Harry’s story ends, we have all started rereading the series.   J.K. Rowling has written such a memorable set of stories that when you start rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, meeting the characters somehow feels like you are looking at some old family photographs that you are thrilled to rediscover.  There is Harry, who wakes up after his first astonishing encounter with Hagrid and wonders if it was all a dream.  Here is Ron, whose fierce pride over his family always overcomes any embarrassment about their limited finances.   And now we come to Hermione, who takes about five minutes into her first meeting with the boys to simultaneously annoy and challenge them.  Ms. Rowling is said to have already started writing her next novel, rumored to be a mystery.   Until that book comes out, though, it is nice to pass the time visiting with some old friends.