DEAR STRAIGHT TALK: Harry Potter was such a sensation for so many young people who grew up on the books and then the movies. I would love to hear what Harry Potter meant to them, and if they think it changed the way they think about the world. — Cynthia Hartman, Sand City, Calif.
Editor’s Note: I was one of those “Muggles” who thought the books were superficial and unworthy of my precious time. That was until I was catapulted into reading all seven at once. I read them as a tribute to my son, Jarrad, who was killed days after Book 7 came out. Book 7 was released July 21, 2007 and Jarrad died August 4, 2007. He, and my other kids, too, read the series over and over until the pages fell out, literally. (And yes, he did read Book 7; he couldn’t depart before doing that!) And his friends read many passages to him AGAIN as he lay there between worlds. The nature and illusion of death was a major theme of Book 7 and his friends were helped immensely by those passages.
Over the years, Jarrad implored me repeatedly to read the books. And so, in those first painful weeks after he left this world, and everyone had gone home, I followed his instructions and escaped into this other world he loved so much. I was not disappointed! They rank among my favorite books now, too! The following year, to “get through” his first anniversary, I read them all again. And here we are again at August 4; another circle passed. Jay, this column’s for you. — LOVE, Mom
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PS: The books helped ME (at age 39 when the 6th book was released) to escape from the death of a close family member, too. Rowling’s books and Jane Austen’s got me through the bouts of insomnia that often come with grief. Thank you for the moving column!
Jessica Skropanic
