"Reading removes the subject-object division that constitutes all perception, [and so] it follows that the reader will be ‘occupied’ by the thoughts of the author […] Text and reader no longer confront each other as object and subject, but instead the ‘division’ takes place within the reader himself."
I want to start by saying that this is a magical quote. My favorite thing is when you are presented with a story that envelopes your life and takes you away, putting you into something so real you never want to leave. I would absolutely say that the Harry Potter series is one of these stories. When I sit down with Sorcerer’s Stone, even though I’ve read it countless times, I know that I’m about to begin a journey that can only be described as epic. The first two Potter books are really what set the stage for the later books (I like the later books better). But with books 1 and 2, we are almost invited into an epic without realizing it. It starts with the lives of the Dursleys, and before you realize that you’ve been shadowing Vernon all day, you’re neck deep into the adventures of a hero. For me personally, I was only seven or so when Harry began his journey, but even then, I was raised feasting on a story that could remove me from myself and out my in a world where I was friends with the most famous wizard in the world. Chamber of Secrets took me to a new place, although darker, where my friends were facing newer, more dangerous things, and I was right there fighting the basilisk with Harry. As a small child, you can imagine how thrilling and inspiring it is to read a tale where an ordinary, young boy can be a hero.
The hard part is putting the book down, and separating my worlds into two. When I was reading, I was a witch and a student at Hogwarts. Away from the book, I was Michelle, a normal kid that attended a primary school. I’ve never lost a parent, and I’ve never faced the most powerful villain in the world, but I always felt like I could relate to Harry in some unexplainable way, like every other kid in my generation could say for different reasons. And THAT is the beauty of the story.
I definitely agree with your post. I remember feeling exactly the same way, Harry, Ron and Hermione were my best friends. I think that the fact the series is so captivating and consuming is brilliant as well as shows how brilliant Rowling is as an author.
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