Ever since I woke up one morning 4 years ago and dashed to the then Crossword on JM Road, to get my hands on the last book, I sort of knew that it was coming down to this. It's Friday. Unless you've been living the Amish way ( I'm sure young Ezekiel or Jeremiah or whoever, still know too), you know what I'm talking about. The end of the Boy Who Lived. And with it, the fading away of the last vestiges of a childhood that, in many ways, I'm desperately trying to hold on to.
I grew up with Harry Potter. And so did most of my generation ( I'm saying most, because I do, incredibly, know people who haven't read a book yet!). India caught on late as usual to the Potter craze, and so it was for me. It's funny that the first Potter book I read was "The Goblet of Fire". It had, probably, just come out; and Dad got a copy on his way back from the States ( Yes, this does make me look "old"). I had already graduated the Chronicles of Narnia, and though I didn't get the Christian subtext then; at the age of 12, that was probably it for me as far as fantasy went. ( Enid Blyton was for "kids" and I hadn't gotten down to Tolkien then). To say I was hooked was an understatement, and after finishing the book in 4 days flat, I had found my own Narnia. Someplace I could relate to. It was funny that I started with the Fourth, because when I got down to reading "Azkaban", it seemed weird how Sirius was suddenly a bad guy!
I was soon done with the rest in no time, and considering they had announced the 1st movie, that was the next thing on the agenda. But, those were still the days when movies reached India 6 months late. Fortunately, we were in Singapore that time, and finding out that our cab driver was a fan too, I pestered him to help, till he got us tickets. A first week viewing means I'm probably the 1st of my group to have seen it, and it's something that I wouldn't mind boasting about.
The books ahead were "mega-events". It helped that there was a big gap between "Goblet of Fire" and "Order of the Phoenix", by which time India was submerged under a Potter deluge. Each new book was met with long lines/fans camping - scenes right out of the Star Wars lines. Every book made me like the series more. Its remarkable that the cliffhangers at the ends of the books made sense, and continued to have the same impact till the next one was released.No "jumping the shark" here. And then, there was the 7th. This time, I was part of the line. I camped out, couldn't sleep the night before. The book was a weird experience. Every page that led me through the story also got me to the End. It's funny how you want to get it over with and yet, never have it end.
I feel the best part about the books, and why they appeal to such a wide demographic ( unlike, some "pale" imitations, hem, hem!) is the attitude towards the protagonists and children as a whole.You always get a point through to kids when you talk to them at their level, without ever being condescending. The books addressed it's readers as persons in their own right, and not just "children". And because you literally grew up reading them, you stayed faithful.Personally, they remind me of how I was. The part of me that was a wide-eyed 12 year old boy before I descended to a self-deprecating cynic. A part of me I fear I can never get back.
Somehow, the loss of never getting to read another book was somewhat reduced by the fact that there were 3 movies to come.True, the movies aren't a shade on the books. Perhaps, it's because there hasn't been one director for all, that the movies seem disjointed and stop-start. Yet, you'll still sit through them because you love the books so much. You'll criticize them, savage them for ruining your favourite parts of the books ( I still hate you, Alfonso Cuaron), but you'll keep coming back to them. For the books.
And so it must end. Or does it,really? Does the fact that the last movie plays out in a theater before you're eyes mean that the magic of Harry Potter comes to a finality? I'm willing to bet a lot of you ( though you might not admit it) will read the books all over again. As JK said, and I know I'm transcending all boundaries of cheese, "anyone who wishes to come back, Hogwarts will still be there for you to come home to"
And so, this time, I' m gonna go watch the final movie. No comments. No critiques. 2 hours of letting myself go. 2 hours of letting myself experience every emotion the movie wants me to. 2 hours of reliving the best parts of me. Being a kid again. I owe it to the books. I owe it to "Jo".And I sure as hell owe it to the 12 year old I left behind!
I was soon done with the rest in no time, and considering they had announced the 1st movie, that was the next thing on the agenda. But, those were still the days when movies reached India 6 months late. Fortunately, we were in Singapore that time, and finding out that our cab driver was a fan too, I pestered him to help, till he got us tickets. A first week viewing means I'm probably the 1st of my group to have seen it, and it's something that I wouldn't mind boasting about.
The books ahead were "mega-events". It helped that there was a big gap between "Goblet of Fire" and "Order of the Phoenix", by which time India was submerged under a Potter deluge. Each new book was met with long lines/fans camping - scenes right out of the Star Wars lines. Every book made me like the series more. Its remarkable that the cliffhangers at the ends of the books made sense, and continued to have the same impact till the next one was released.No "jumping the shark" here. And then, there was the 7th. This time, I was part of the line. I camped out, couldn't sleep the night before. The book was a weird experience. Every page that led me through the story also got me to the End. It's funny how you want to get it over with and yet, never have it end.
I feel the best part about the books, and why they appeal to such a wide demographic ( unlike, some "pale" imitations, hem, hem!) is the attitude towards the protagonists and children as a whole.You always get a point through to kids when you talk to them at their level, without ever being condescending. The books addressed it's readers as persons in their own right, and not just "children". And because you literally grew up reading them, you stayed faithful.Personally, they remind me of how I was. The part of me that was a wide-eyed 12 year old boy before I descended to a self-deprecating cynic. A part of me I fear I can never get back.
Somehow, the loss of never getting to read another book was somewhat reduced by the fact that there were 3 movies to come.True, the movies aren't a shade on the books. Perhaps, it's because there hasn't been one director for all, that the movies seem disjointed and stop-start. Yet, you'll still sit through them because you love the books so much. You'll criticize them, savage them for ruining your favourite parts of the books ( I still hate you, Alfonso Cuaron), but you'll keep coming back to them. For the books.
And so it must end. Or does it,really? Does the fact that the last movie plays out in a theater before you're eyes mean that the magic of Harry Potter comes to a finality? I'm willing to bet a lot of you ( though you might not admit it) will read the books all over again. As JK said, and I know I'm transcending all boundaries of cheese, "anyone who wishes to come back, Hogwarts will still be there for you to come home to"
And so, this time, I' m gonna go watch the final movie. No comments. No critiques. 2 hours of letting myself go. 2 hours of letting myself experience every emotion the movie wants me to. 2 hours of reliving the best parts of me. Being a kid again. I owe it to the books. I owe it to "Jo".And I sure as hell owe it to the 12 year old I left behind!
