harry potter

Two weeks ago, I and some friends went to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

I had never read any of the Harry Potter books and had no intentions of doing so. I did, however, enjoy the movie quite a bit.

I am ashamed to say—but not so proud that I can’t admit it—that I am a book snob. I am also the sort of person that avoids showing interest in things that are popular at the time. For example; I’ve never seen so much as a snippet of the movie Titanic, I was able to go to UNL without ever showing any sort of football-Cornhuskers fanaticism, and until recently, I had been successfully avoiding all things Harry Potter.

Japan has weakened me.

In the past two weeks, I have not only seen a Harry Potter movie, but have also read a Harry Potter book [Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a 636 paged monster].

My excuse for seeing the movie is that I was desperate for a night out with friends and the friends that were available were planning to see that particular movie.

My excuse for reading the book is that I needed something to read during the 48 hours of travel time I was going to experience going from Japan to Philadelphia and from Philadelphia to Japan.

I do have several books in my apartment, but I’ve already read all of the ones that I’m probably ever going to. What remains unread consists primarily of Japanese textbooks, a couple dry intellectual-type books, and crap that wasn’t mine to begin with: books on culture shock and The Japanese [there’s nothing I hate more than a person’s attempt to pigeon-hole—“understand” if you will—other cultures].

My only option [apart from re-reading The Hobbit or The Good Earth for the billionth time] was to scope out the 5-book English section at my high school.

What do those 5 books have in common? You guessed it, Harry Potter.

All in all, reading the book was not the worst experience I’ve ever had. Sure it got annoying trying to keep the cover and title hidden from view of the general public, but I was entertained and the book really helped make the 11 hour flights pass quickly.

Now that I’m back in Japan, I can’t decide what to read next. Should I continue on to the next Harry Potter? I’ve broken down once, why not twice? I’ve eaten one chocolate, why not two?