The End.

First, let me apologize for my lateness in posting. The past couple weeks have been absolutely insane and I, honestly, haven’t finished the next book yet, though it will be finished sometime this week, with the review following soon after. Today’s post is not a review, though it does have something to do with a book. Seven books, in fact.

The only thing I can thank my first boyfriend for was for introducing me to author J.K. Rowling and her creation, Harry Potter. I don’t think I need to summarize the plot of Harry, as everyone, even people who aren’t fans, know the story of the Boy Who Lived.

I was in love with the story from the first page of the Sorcerer’s Stone. Rowling created such an incredible world of magic and characters that I grew up with and came to love as the series went on. I remember the excitement I felt when I was sitting in the theatre, waiting for the first movie to begin. I couldn’t wait to see how they brought Harry’s world to film, was so excited to see inside Hogwarts and to meet the characters I’d been reading about. The casting was perfect and, although a few things from the books were left out of the movies over the years, for the most part I was happy with how the books were translated into film.

I was working in the bookstore when the Deathly Hallows came out. We held a Harry Potter party the night before its release, which was almost as magical as the story itself. We had a table set up with snacks including a bunch of Harry Potter themed treats that I, being the biggest HP nerd at the store, looked up and made especially for the occasion. We had butterbeer (a non-alcoholic recipe, thanks, cuz of  the little ones ^_^), cauldron cakes, chocolate wands and some muggle foods like chips and cookies. Several people attended the party in costume, including myself, though all I was wearing was my replica of Professor McGonagall’s movie hat and a cheap witch’s cloak/cape thing bought from Wal-Mart the previous Halloween. I stood behind the counter, leading a few kids in a Harry-themed trivia game I’d put together. Only a few kids participated in the game but we still had a great time. They were separated into the four houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Whichever house had the most correct answers at the end of the game won! However, as I didn’t want to make anyone feel badly…everyone got a little bag of candy, pulled from my witch’s cauldron, as a prize!

As midnight drew near the excitement in the store built up to epic proportions. Everyone lined up in front of the counter, eager to get their copy of the final book in the Harry Potter saga. When the first box was opened and the books were pulled out and handed to customers (I got the second copy! ;D), I couldn’t wait to open its cover and devour the pages within. I had to work the next day, but I couldn’t help reading the first chapter or two before I went to bed. If I hadn’t had to work, I’m sure I would have stayed up all night. I did a lot of crying over the next couple days, as beloved characters were killed by dark wizards and witches. My father had a great time pointing and laughing at me as I sobbed on the couch, trying to continue reading while my eyes were full of tears.

Last Friday morning I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the final film in the Harry Potter series. And I cried. I cried for the deaths of characters I loved (I won’t mention names for those of you who haven’t read them, or haven’t seen the last movie), I cried for sacrifices that had to be made and I cried because that was the end. Unless she decides to one day continue the story and tell us what happened after, then as of July 15, 2011, the Harry Potter series has ended.

Some people out there don’t like Harry Potter, whether it’s because you just don’t like the idea of a wizarding school, or you like your wizards old and bearded ( like Gandalf), or you’re one of those people who thinks Harry Potter is evil with its use of magic and witchcraft. I can understand and respect your opinions (well…honestly I have a hard time with the evil thing), but Harry Potter isn’t just a story about spells and dark wizards. Sure, the main plot is centered around the eventual battle between good and evil, Harry facing off against Voldemort, but there are so many more levels within the tale: friendship, love, loyalty, bravery, the list can go on forever. I could never understand why anyone would say that Harry Potter is evil or satanic. How could a story that professes love to be the ultimate weapon against malicious forces be evil? Guess I just don’t get it.

In the end it comes down to this: the Harry Potter series promotes only the best of humankind: love, friendship, acceptance, etc., while fighting against the evil in the world: hate, intolerance, and prejudice. At the same time it’s a grand adventure that’s incredibly fun and entertaining to read. It’s an adventure us Potter fans have been having for years now, and, I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say we’re very sad to see it come to an end. We’ve known it was going to happen but it doesn’t lessen the loss of something we’ve grown up with. We have been with Harry, Ron, Hermione and their friends from their very first day at Hogwarts. We’ve shared their joys and sorrows, watched them grow from children to adults, feared for their safety, laughed at their jokes, experienced first crushes and unrequited love, and with them, we’ve faced the monsters hidden in the dark. The credits rolling at the end of Deathly Hallows part 2 marks the end of something truly amazing for us. It’s the end of something we’ve loved for years, something we’ve grown up with. It’s the end of our childhoods and the last we’ll hear from the characters whose story we’ve lovingly followed.

You can laugh at this (and I’m sure I know at least one of you will ;) ), but I don’t care. Those of us who have been dedicated readers of Harry Potter have been part of something amazing, something that has been in our lives for many years now, and will be part of our lives for many years to come. It’s a great story full of love, magic and incredible characters.

And if you don’t like it well….you’re missing out. ;)

Harry Potter = <3

Of Vampires, Werewolves and Treacle Tart

Title: Heartless
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit, 2011

Plot Overview

Lady Alexia Maccon, formerly Tarabotti, is back in this fourth installment of Gail Carriger’s “Parasol Protectorate” Series, “Heartless.” This time we find Alexia solving yet another mystery within the English realm. An unidentified ghost has manifested itself to Alexia with a distorted, incomplete, choppy message: someone is plotting to murder the Queen. As the acting soulless muhjah in the Queen’s Shadow Council, and naturally curious, she sets out to discover who is behind the threat.

Before she can even begin her investigation, however, Alexia herself, is attacked by a horde of zombie porcupines in the middle of a London street! Being attacked by anyone or anything is not new to the preternatural, who has survived many an attempt on her life in the past. But, alas! Her trusty parasol, loaded with all kinds of armaments, fails her when she needs it most! Thankfully, Lady Maccon happens to be married to a werewolf. Conall Maccon fights the strange creatures and rids his wife of this latest nuisance. So..someone is plotting to kill the Queen and another someone is trying to murder Alexia as well. Could the two attacks be connected? And who is behind them?!

In addition to the whole murder problem, Alexia now has her younger sister, Felicity, living in the Maccon’s new London townhouse. And the once fashion-focused Felicity is now wearing drab, neutral dresses and old shawls, and has apparently joined the suffragette movement! Oh, how their Mama must love that! But is Felicity’s story really the truth, or is she involved with something far more sinister?

And last, but certainly not least, Alexia will be conducting her investigation while being eight months pregnant with a child that should not even exist. Who knows what which parent the little one will take after, the soulless mother, who can nullify a supernatural’s powers by touch, or the werewolf father, who turns into a beast during full moon? The mystery surrounding the child has humans, werewolves and vampires curious and at arms.

Review 

When I was only a few pages into Carriger’s first novel in the Parasol Protectorate series, “Soulless,” I knew I was going to be buying the next book immediately. Carriger writes with a charm and wit that is addicting and once you enter the world of Alexia Tarabotti, you are lost to its magic and steam powered machinery. Carriger’s novels are set in Victorian England, where vampires and werewolves are accepted into society, and indeed, often admired for their supernatural state. Supernaturals are invited to all the best social gatherings and many of London’s finest aspire to be a vampire drone or werewolf clavigar (These are individuals who, in hopes of being turned, join their chosen supernatural household as a helper, serving until their host decides to turn them).

Carriger’s novels fall under the steampunk category, a genre of books and movies often set in Victorian England, but featuring steam-based technology and machinery far more advanced than what was actually present during the time period. Great examples of steampunk in film include “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” “Stardust,” “Wild Wild West,” and “The Prestige.” A new piece of steampunk technology is introduced in each novel, getting progressively grander in each book.  I’ll leave the latest invention a secret, so you can marvel at it when you read it! ;)

Over the course of the past four books, I have grown to love Alexia and her friends, each of them distinct from the others, with their own personality and way of speaking. Carriger flushes out her characters incredibly well, and you can’t help but appreciate Alexia’s wit, sarcasm, determination and stubbornness. She’s a great character to read, her thoughts on fashion, society, supernaturals and especially her family, often causes one to laugh out loud. She is a feisty, intelligent and humorous character that is an absolute joy to read. She gets into much more trouble than a proper Victorian lady should, but she handles herself well and, with the help of her husband and his werewolf pack, her best friends, Ivy, Lord Akeldama and Madam Lafoux, she always manages to avert disaster. Just barely, but she does!

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy and/or steampunk. Its an extremely fun read and once I started it, I truly, could not put it down! After the last pages of each book has been turned, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next in the series. Especially, when the author ends the book with such a cliffhanger! The only bad thing? ….I have to wait till March to read the next one. L

Introductions Are in Order!

Well, hello there everyone!

This is my very first attempt at a blog-type thing so it's going to be a great adventure for all of us! : ) If you don't mind bearing with me as I get the hang of things, I promise I'll do my best to be as timely and entertaining for you as I possibly can!

Let me tell you a little about myself! I went to school for English, with a concentration in writing. My goal is to one day see my own book title on the pages of the New York Times Best Seller list and I'm most definitely working on one story, with several other ideas floating around in my head, waiting to take shape completely. In the meantime, I work at a bookstore (where I totally plan on holding book signings in the future!), selling books, magazines and gift items to the masses.

Being an English major, I'm also a huge book nerd. Working in a bookstore is really quite dangerous for me as I'm guaranteed to find at least one book I want to read during every shift I work! And although I'd really like to be able to write for a living, I do love working at the bookstore. So..in an attempt to feel like I'm doing what I want to do, I've started up this blog, where I will be writing reviews for all the books I'm reading/have read. I may throw a few other random things in now and again, but mostly it'll be book reviews.

So if you're a book nerd, I hope you'll follow me and enjoy what I have to say. : ) Maybe you'll even find a new book to read during your visits!

I'm almost finished with my current read, so you can expect the first review up in a couple days. :) Seeya then!!