As a buck-toothed third grader, I lost myself in the books of Harry Potter. I found myself hanging onto J.K. Rowling's every word, without knowing or picturing her as an author. I didn't read the series thinking I was reading the words she had written. I read the series like a literary adventure. The books were my escape to a strange and foreign world. I let the books envelop me, consume me, and I loved every minute of it.
As a college student, having read all of the books in the series and seen all the movies, I find myself reading the words through Rowling's thoughts. Particular word choices and phrases result in wondering how she lives her life, the choices she makes, the words she says in everyday conversation. Instead of falling completely into the fantasy world of Harry Potter, I've taken a more analytic standpoint. The author becomes more intrusive in the series, the second time around. Not only because of her great writing, but because of the fame that comes along with her and her books. The books started an entire culture, and it's hard not to think about that when reading.
Nevertheless, I still find myself falling deeper and deeper into the series. I forgot the little details like Hermione's buck teeth and the description of Hogwart's grounds. Little details like that will forever immortalize the books into great literature. I will always be able to disappear back into the wizarding world of Harry Potter, just the way Harry did. I, as the reader, can make the transition between the muggle world and the wizarding world, reality and magic.
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