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As like so many others in this listserv and everywhere else, I feel the need to share my Harry Potter saga.? I like to brag that I loved Harry Potter before Harry became the phenomenon that he did in this country and every other (rather like the song, "I loved country before country was cool).? When my son was in the 4th grade, there was a Scholastic Bookfair at his elementary school.? I was on the lookout for books that would be of interest to him, as this age is where so many boys start to wander away from reading, and there were two hardback copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on the sell cases.? I picked one up, and the rest, as they say, is history.? I knew of no one else who was reading this book or had read it, and the teachers weren't aware of it either.? Can you imagine, only two copies, and I bought the only copy sold?? Unbelievable!? Well, that was the beginning of my son's and mine journey through the Harry Potter books.? For the first two or three bo! oks, we only bought one copy and read it together.? I know that I read the first one out loud to my son.? After that, we each had to have our own copy and read them at the same time, often on the couch together.? We also bought CDs of several of the books to listen to, just to hear the story again.?? When my son went to Governor's Scholar during the publication of the 6th book, I had it sent to him, and we read it via long-distance together.? During the reading of HP7 last weekend, we actually read in separate rooms (didn't want any distractions) and would check occasionally to see what chapter the other one was on.? We finished last Sunday night within 20 minutes of each other.? What a fantastic journey reading these books together has been, creating a bond that will stay with us forever.? As so many book lovers do, I treasure the literary moments in life, especially those with my children.? The two that stand out with my son are when we finished reading To Kill a Mockingb! ird together, and he said, "Wow, that was great!" and the Harry Potter books, with the anticipation and reading of them.? He just turned 20 years old, and I credit the Harry Potter books in part for our close relationship.? Ilene Cooper said it best in the June 1, 2007 issue of Booklist when she commented on the Harry Potter phenomenon, "Not everyone gets to live through a cultural phenomenon, but if you do, it is something you never forget, the sort of experience that bonds a generation."? My only exception to her statement is the use of "generation" at the end, for it is obvious that the Harry Potter books transcend age lines and bond not just a generation, but generations.? Cooper's article is well worth reading, and as it was written before HP7's release, it contains no spoilers.? It can be accessed at http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=booksforyouth?? Kathy Reel Librarian Owensboro, KY ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------