Harry Potter is my homeboy

I feel that sometimes I have quite a problem when it comes to this topic- maybe even an obsession. And I'm down with the fact that J.K Rowling wanted Harry and Hermione together- sure Hermione and Ron were cute but I never thought they would last... 

Cue real life- yes this is a book , and yes I've read the series more times than I can count (typically I re-read the whole thing at least twice year). I remember the glorious day I was introduced to my most favorite characters of all time. It was the summer between 6th and 7th grade and I was at horseback riding Girl Scout camp with my bestie at the time, N. Actually two life-changing books were introduced to me during these two weeks (kinda crazy). Anyways the girl in the bunk next to me received a package from her Aunt who lived in England. Obviously I was curious, because why wouldn't I be, and low and behold she was ecstatic to have received a book. Now, this is nothing I was a stranger too at this point in my life, I loved books, adored them- had already created a passion beyond anything for them, but a new book from England? 

So I asked- "What is that?" Her answer- "Oh, this the second book in this series called Harry Potter." Hmm- "Well, what is it about?" - I replied. And then this answer "Oh, its about this boy who finds out he is a wizard, it's pretty cool- they act like chess players."

What, huh,- this sounds interesting. 

Then camp ends- I go home, I' wandering around the bookstore with my mom a few weeks later and I see the first book (only about two or three copies were on the shelf). "Hey, Mom- this is that book, that girl at camp was telling me about- can we get it?" Why indeed we did, and boom one of the greatest relationships I have with a book was born. 

Looking back I was almost upset with that girl on how she described the book- a boy who finds out he is a wizard and then plays chess?! That was all of the vital information she had processed from the first book! Outrage I cry!

Unless you've been living under a rock then you know how the rest of the story goes- by the time the 3rd book was released in this beautiful land of the US of A the series had taken off as one of the most popular in the world. 

My favorite thing about them- they never get old, I laugh at the same parts, cry at the same parts- feel the same emotions every time I read them. I always want to strangle Umbridge, reach out my hand to save a character, smell a potion or taste a meal. 

This being said, I do like the movies, but I don't love them- I like the actors who were picked to play each part but they just leave way too many things out. I have also visited the theme park- it's also cool, but not as cool as the book is in my mind... 

And obviously if you haven't read this series you really should. It's pretty awesome.

Do you have any favorite books? Series? How were you introduced to them?

*side note*- the other book introduced to me that same two weeks was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which is another life long favorite of mine.