it seems I’m usually out of the loop when it comes to big series that everyone’s always talking about. Well, let me take that back. I’m not out of the loop per say, I just haven’t read them yet. Here’s my problem. If I start a book knowing it’s a series and then finish it and think it’s the most fan-freaking-tastic book ever …and then I have to wait a YEAR for the next installment? That’s a recipe for a major book hangover. So here we are with the LAST book of the DIVERGENT series being release (ALLEGIANT), and I haven’t read one word in the series yet. BUT, I have purchased the first book on my Kindle and if it turns out to rock my world, I can gobble up the next two with no hesitation! See how nice that is? But still, I do feel like I’m sitting all alone in the lunchroom while everyone else SQUEES over ALLEGIANT being out.
But now for my real confession …where I talk about series that I haven’t read yet that pretty much everyone and their mother (and their grandmother) has read but me, only one makes me cringe at my own delay.
The Harry Potter series. *waits for you to spit out your tea onto your screen and then curse loudly while you clean it up and rant about how it’s impossible I haven’t read that series yet*
I know…I’m a horrible book lover. In my defense (though it’s not much of a defense according to Potter lovers), I HAVE read the first book multiple times. And I DID really love it. I swear. I don’t know why I never got on to the other books. Maybe because since I have waited until all seven were out, in my mind I’m thinking OMG THERE ARE SEVEN OF THEM. That is kind of a daunting task when I think of the huge TBR pile I already have. As a writer, I also need to keep up with the genres I’m writing it, and unfortunately, I’m not writing about wizards or mythical creatures. I need to stay up to speed on contemporary releases in YA. So I guess maybe I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone multiple times now in attempt to read through the whole series but other books came up in between and then I never kept going with Harry Potter. Hey, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
Anyway, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can no longer stand being the weird kid on the playground who talks to herself and has never read the Harry Potter series…because apparently, this will be me if I don’t read them soon:
So starting in 2014, I’m going to read the Harry Potter series, 1 book a month. Some tell me that I won’t be able to stop from moving on to the next one right away but I’ve done it before so I think I can manage it again. My only reason for this is so I can also keep up with my other reads that help me stay focused and sharp in my own writing genres.
If there are any others out there who haven’t read the books yet either, you are free to join me! **scans crowd and hears the lonely sounds of crickets** On a more likely note, if you have read the books and want to do a re-read with me, I’m all for that too!
I will be posting my major reactions to each book, what I liked, what made me want to throw the book across the room (I’ve been told this is a very likely reaction as well), and so on. Even if you aren’t reading along with me, I’m sure there will be things I point out in the series that you felt too and for that, please comment away on posts so we can be friends on the playground and so I don’t have to eat alone anymore at the literary lunch table!
So here we go with the schedule:
January 2014: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
February 2014: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
March 2014: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
April 2014: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
May 2014: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
June 2014: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
July 2014: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
So come 2014, I will be able to join all you muggles on your insider Harry Potter jokes, and play Scene-It Harry Potter, and visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and actually be excited! YAAAY!! 🙂
J.A. Ward Writes 
Mwuahahahaha I will take responsibility for nagging you until you decided to read HP. Cuz I’m an awesome CP like that. 😉
Also, I’ve been itching to re-read, so I shall join you in your monthly adventures.
And as for a secret I’d like to reveal….uhhhh….I devoured all four Twilight books in a week. I know. I will take the walk of shame now.
Hahaha, it’s almost like it’s a Bucket List thing at this point. I’ve always wanted to read them but needed someone to twist my arm and be like “DO IT NOW”.
I, too, consumed all the Twilight books like candy.
But back to HP, YAY a reading buddy!!! 🙂
And now for something just as crazy…I’ve also never read past the first Harry Potter book and I have yet to read the Divergent series!! We’re like literary pariahs or something! Haha I do have the first two books in the Divergent series on hold at the library (I think I’m #4!) so I look forward to jumping into those soon but my excuse with Harry Potter is that I’ll just read them to my kids or something.
That is crazy! We are a rare breed in this day and age haha 🙂 Since I have no kids yet, it would be a long wait before I’d get to read them so I’m being proactive. Plus, certain people *ahem-VICKI-cough* will not leave me alone until I do.
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