Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

P: Why do you think that the book you are reading appeals to the audience that it does?

R: As I am reading I continue to wonder what it exactly it is that makes me just as interested in the book now as I was when I was in the first grade. What about the Harry Potter series makes this young boy such a world wide phenomenon. It really is just incredible that a series I began reading in the first grade was the same one that my mom proceeded to read years later when the book became so immensely popular. The main thing that I feel like may be an extremely appealing quality to this book is that it doesn't create a make believe world that takes the place of our own world, she makes this new place that exists aside our own but in secret. She makes it so that it feels like it could almost be real. That there really could be this secret magic world that is being hidden from the rest of us. It appeals to those who still believe in this sort of thing flat out and also to those who like to believe that it does exist out there somewhere. Also she makes the subjects of the book a young crowd which a number of age ranges can relate to. The younger audience that it appealed to was then able to grow up with the characters. For those who can't directly relate to the age range could relate to them and what one but can also relate to the more adult themes that J.K. Rowling presents in the book. The characters do of course begin at the age of 11 but are never seeming to deal with matters that an 11 year old should in the wider spectrum of what the story is about.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

P: What is something new you have noticed in reading the novel again?

R: I understood as explained in the second book that Lord Voldemorts' real name was Tom Marvolo Riddle, which when rearranged spells out I am Lord Voldemort. This gave a deeper meaning to her choice of name for the character which I may not have know the first time I read the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. When rereading this first book, I began to notice even more names which meant something other than simply a fictional title that she created out of nowhere. For example, the first set of names I notiiced came from Harry's list of textbooks and author's that came with his admittance letter to Hogwarts. The one that stood out initially was Phyllida Spore who wrote One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Spore of course has to do with how fungi reproduces (I am taking biology right now so I'm supposed to know that). So I continued to attempt to find meaning in the other author's names. The author of the transfiguration textbook has a last name of switch which again is a clever play on words. The last name of the author of the self-defense is Trimble which of course is similar to the word tremble. I also found a website that explained these plays on words (http://pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmHarryPotter123.asp) more thoroughly. I found out from this site that the author of Magical Theory who's last name was Waffling, is a play on the the word Waffle which means to go on a sort of aimless rant.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

P: What memories come to mind as you read the novel?

R: Having read this book over and over again from roughly first to fifth grade I am finding myself recalling all sorts of memories regarding this time in my life some revolving directly around this book. One of these memories include me sitting in Ms. Smith's second grade class as she asked us what some words were that were used to describe the way in which a person spoke when writing. For example, she said, or he yelled, or they whispered. I remember wanting to impress my teacher as I quickly raised my hand and gave the example, he sneered. My teacher proceeded to ask me in surprise how I knew that word, and I told her that Professor Snape was always sneering at Harry Potter. It's funny that I also remember this so vividly but I know that in elementary school I was so excited to learn that I was soaking everything up in pretty great detail. This is why I now can still recall that the Harry Potter books was where I learned a good number of vocabulary words that I still could use today. Another memory not so directly related that came to mind as I read was when Harry mentioned that Dudley hadn't cried for real in a number of years. He knew that if he scrunched his face up enough he could get exactly what he wanted. This made me laugh because I also remember at this time in my life thinking that my little sister was able to accomplish that task all the time with my parents.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

P: How does having read the book before effect you as you read the novel?

R: Again I am faced with number of moments of foreshadowing in the book which help me remember lots about the books and previous books she wrote as I read. The ones that I have began to notice; however, are not instances of foreshadowing through the entire series but simply a set up for later moments with in the book that I can recall. In the beginning Rowling presents that Harry is fast and can out run Dudley when he attempts to use Harry as a punching bag. This sets Harry up for having the ability to play Seeker when he is seen at Broomstick lessons by Mcgonagall later in the story. In another case Mr. Dursley sees the cat sitting on the stone wall which seems to have a stern look on it's face. That bit made me laugh considering I now know not only that the cat is Mcgonagall but also I know of her stern nature. Also at the very beginning, Dumbledore mentions how Madam Pomfrey liking his earmuffs which makes me wonder wether she went back and added that later after having developed that character more. This of course also could have been foreshadowing to the second book where she administers the mandrake test where all the students must wear large puffy earmuffs. I'm really having a lot of fun looking forward and remembering all these things about the books to come. It is making me appreciate the books a lot more. It's almost feels like I'm in on some sort of secret.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

P: What are your initial responses as you begin reading the novel?

R: Already I have began to notice serious uses of foreshadowing. It's hard to believe that J.k. Rowling could have written as many cohesive books as she did with out some sort of planning ahead. In only the first chapter she has already mentioned the Put-Outer which if my memory proceeds me was used again by Dumbledore in the final book, but I may be making that up. She also mentions how large Hagrid is which in later stories not only explains is because he is half giant but also makes Hagrids giant relatives a huge part of one of the stories. Dumbledore she also mentions appears almost out of nowhere in the middle of the street. I don't believe that she mentions Apparation until a few books in. One other big bit of foreshadowing is Hagrid riding on Sirius' motorcycle. I remember this vehicle occurring multiple times throughout the series. Also, the mention of Sirius Black in itself, she must have had plans to bring him in as an important character meaning her plans for the third book must have already been laid out. It's nice going back and reading a story to which you now know the final outcome of the series. It has continued to bring back memories of all the other sequential novels and I'm finally realizing J.K. Rowlings true brilliance in creating the novels. I just can't imagine having to lay out seven books worth of writing before even beginning the first. I feel like researching her techniques of outlining the tale is worth looking into.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

P:What is your newest book selection and why was it chosen?

R: I have chosen to reread the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I remember the first time I saw this book. I really do. I remember sitting in the Winnona Park library as I was looking around for a new book to check out. I can even picture where the book was sitting on the shelf. My thoughts in seeing the book are slightly vague but I remember knowing that a number of my friends had read the book and in the short time I had left in the library I probably couldn't go wrong with this one. This was back when none of the sequels had come out quite yet seeing as I was only in first grade. It's still is odd to me that I remember the exact day that I checked this book out 10 years ago but for some reason I remember it almost vividly. I also recall the fact that I proceed to read the book six, yes six, times as I waited for the other books to be published. With all of this being true and after having read the entire Harry Potter series, why not step back and reread once again the very first book that was ever written? I have also been curious as more and more books have been written, did she really have the end of the series in mind the entire time? I'd like to remember to keep this in mind as I read this story once again.

The Book Thief

P: What role does the main character play in the story?

R: Leisel represents a girl who is very different from the rest of most young girls in Germany. For one thing she has managed to escape the grasp of Death a number of times. Death continues to encounter her; however, she is never the victim in a number of different circumstances. This is why Death has become infatuated with her tale and continues to carry her diary around with him. Liesel is the one girl who had the ability to change her own destiny, or in this case she proceeded to write her own destiny. In a time where a man like Hitler is using words very good words to make people do very bad things, Leisel proceeds to steal these words back. Wether it be from grave diggers or a burning pile of books. She thieves back the words that Hitler has stolen from her. She uses the words she learns to make an everlasting friendship with a Jewish man, to read stories to frightened neighbors in bomb shelters, and finally to write down her destiny in the pages of a tattered diary. Leisel plays the role of the young girl who stood out in a sea of tragedy and misfortune. She represents the power of words and what they can do for a person. In the end of the book, it was words that saved her life as she sat in the basement writing in her diary while her friends and neighbors were obliterated by falling bombs from above. Death chose to tell Leisel's tale because of the unique life she had to offer at the face of death and a shockingly corrupt society.

The Book Thief

P: How does the author use imagery throughout the novel?

R: For me the most vivid imagery I come across is in Death's descriptions of the colors he encounters. In the beginning of the tale Death explains that he uses colors as a distraction from the job that he has been cursed to fulfill. After this he continues to describe the colors of the skies on days where he must capture souls. He mentions the white of the snow when he first encounters Liesel. The white he describes paints a picture of the frozen field where Liesel looses her mother and brother. He talks of the color of the sky on blue days and the bloody-red color on days of massacre and unrest. When the books are burned by the Nazi's the sky gleams in colors of smoke and fire. All of these bring myself as the reader to create pictures of the scenery in my mind which tended to distract me from the finer points of the plot. This seems brilliant considering this is exactly what Death uses to provide himself with a "vacation" from the wretched job. Zusak does not limit the colorful imagery solely to scenery. In one scenario he also described Han's eyes as silver comparing them to kindness. "Like soft silver, melting". The colors that described Leisel's life when he collected he soul were Red, White, and Black. The colors of the Nazi flag. He uses the colors as imagery allowing us as readers to create beautiful pictures but he also uses the colors to have symbolic meaning. It is all very genius if you ask me.

The Book Thief

P: What themes can you see recurring throughout the book?

R: Death as I mentioned previously is an obvious theme throughout the tale; however, I'd like to concentrate on the role a character Hans Hubermann plays in the idea of man vs. society. I recall from Mr. P's class that we discussed this one day and I feel that this character Hans seems to exemplify this theme. Han's is battling with the moral wrongness of the Holocaust compared to his need to help and foster Max Vandenburg. When Max first shows up at Himmel street Han's is apprehensive in allowing Max to be sheltered in his home but Han's is a good man and Max is soon living somewhat comfortably in the basement of the Hubermann home. Han's is soon faced with many moments that question what he knows is right and what society tells him is acceptable. When the Jews are marched down Himmel street Han's scoops up a piece of bread and hands it to a weak old man whom barely has the energy to walk. He is beaten in the streets and is soon so terrified that his home will be searched that he asks Max to leave. He later finds out that Max had no need to leave at all and must live with the chance that he took in sending Max away. Han's is constantly dealing with the hardships of keeping his family safe and trying to battle a cause much greater than himself and his family. Society continues to tell him that his acts of humanity are wrong but his moral values battle this voice throughout the entire tale.

The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Publication: 2005

P: What effect does the chosen narration of the book have on the story overall?

R: The book is told from the point of view of Death. Zusak takes this concept of death and has personified it making it a speaking character in the novel. By making Death the narrator, he has set the tone for the story from the beginning to be slightly frightening presenting death as a theme throughout the tale. This of course is appropriate considering the story takes place during the Holocaust. Death also in this story represents misconceptions that one may make by prematurely judging a person or concept. As in "Black Man in Public Space" by Brent Staples which we read in the Bedford Reader, Brent was prematurely judged by his so called "victims". Death has had the pleasure of having this negative affiliation placed on him as well. What we don't understand, according to Zusak's character, is that death does not want to be this person taking souls. He feels for the victims and he treats them with tender care. Something we may also not expect from Death is his avid appreciation of colors. In the very first pages he compares a normal person's attention to colors lies at the beginnings and ending of days while he has learned to see the thousands of vivid colors throughout. By making Death the narrator of this tale we are given from the beginning an idea of a recurring theme that is to come through out the tale while also giving us a character that we can follow and will continue to develop through out the story.