User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4149084-20110715032008

What does Harry Potter Mean to me? Well the question raises several complex emotions to mind when I think of the famous (or in the hardcore christian societies: infamous) series. When I was a child, my family was of the type that if the church says its wrong, then you had better listen. So around 10, when i was getting sick of being told what I could and in most cases what I could not read; me and one of my best friends devised a plan so I could take the books home with me and read them, my parents humorlessly oblivious to my disobedience. So in many ways the Harry Potter book series gave me my first taste of rebellion, freedom, and Medieval/modern magic all rolled into my favorite sort of packaging. Every book in the series brings back fond memories of debates with my best friends, fights over who gets to read the newest one first, inside jokes that no matter how old I become, they are still just as funny as the day we came up with them. Even the 7th book, which was, her weakest (in my opinion the first day I read it) has greatly increased each time I power up my nook to reread it. The story line went from a coming of age story to an all out battle front in a span of 7 books just astounds me. I rarely cry in a book, however when Sirius, Albus, Dobby, and Snape died I lost it at each instance. In fact most of Deathly Hallows in tears because of how emotional it was and how real it felt. Her characters, both good and evil, have such compelling reasons for the way they act (Crabbe and Goyle non-withstanding) that it is impossible to like or dislike somebody just because of who they root for. I grew up hiding the fact that I read the series, so now I refuse to be censored ever again! Harry Potter means freedom and a certain type rebelliousness to me, which made me grow up into the person I am today. and i would love to see the leaky cauldron in person (even if it is just a muggle look alike. :) ) for a belated 20th birthday present :))