My foray into the world of Pottermore several months ago inspired me to do a serious and slow re-reading of all of the Harry Potter novels. I’m not one for reading slowly, especially when the book is exciting and the action is moving me along. After seeing the movies several times (which I love), I am appreciating the character development and humor that is so much more prevalent in the novels.
I’ve found that simultaneously reading James W. Thomas’ book Repotting Harry Potter: A Professor’s Book-by-Book Guide for the Serious Re-Reader has been particularly helpful this time around. My process is thus: I start by reading a section of Repotting then read ONLY the corresponding chapters in the HP book. Sometimes I re-read the section in Repotting for additional insights. It’s slow-going but I’m spending some time really thinking about the story and characters as well as appreciating Rowling’s writing ability.
I don’t always agree with Thomas and sometimes his connections and comments are a bit of a stretch in my mind but I’m finding it to be like being part of a book group that takes the content seriously. I am enjoying the foreshadowing and humor discussions as well as the tidbits about the origin of the names of people, place and things in the books. I also appreciate Thomas’ comparisons with other pieces of literature and recommendations for additional reading.
I like that Repotting recognizes that we already know what is going to happen in each book and the entire series. It helps us remember what we didn’t know once upon a time during our first reading and make broad connections across chapters and across books. I’m thoroughly enjoying my re-reading sessions that have me digging deeper into Rowling’s world and thought process. This whole experience has been an excellent complement to Pottermore. I finished book 3 a few weeks ago and am eager to continue this experience.
Tags: Harry Potter