Published: July 23, 2009 05:06 pm      

An open letter to the boy wizard

Dear Harry Potter, I am terribly sorry, but I haven’t read any of your books. I have yet to crack the bind on the book, turned the page or even read the back of the cover. Your books — I have heard they are widely popular — sit on the library shelf and in the bookstore window. I can feel you work your magic, trying to reach my inner bookworm. Yes, you do look cute with your black glasses and messy hair. A boyish wizard with tons of stories to share, you symbolize rainy Saturdays, quiet corners with mugs of coffee and snowy nights in front of a fire — all of my favorite things.

Yet, I am still not convinced. Will I like the world of wizards and magic? Surely, if elementary students can read a Potter book from cover to cover, a journalist and English major can devour the series in record time. When you first made your appearance — was it really 1997? — I was in high school, engrossed in high school sports and a new driver’s license. I was too cool to read about an 11-year-old boy. The next year, I fell in love with the classics, cluttering my book shelf with Jane Austen’s novels.



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I forgot about you, Harry.

Until your boyish image took the shape of an actor and, suddenly, there was a face to go with the name. There was a movie and mobs of screaming children dressed as little wizards and witches. I didn’t go to the movies because I have a strict policy: I only watch films after I have read the book. But you were already in middle of adventure No. 4. I was in college, learning about journalism. Too far, I thought. I didn’t have the time to catch up with the rest your fans. I said, “Maybe later, during the summer, I can catch the magical train ride to Hogwarts.” Of course, like most college students, I got a summer job, took as many vacations as possible and never bought the first Harry Potter book. I was a slacker.

I graduated from college. And Harry, I really thought I would settle down and become a fan. But wouldn’t you know it? I got caught up in Oprah’s book club. And let’s face it, Oprah has some major pull. Then there is this genre called romance and as a female, I can’t help but buy endless chick lit books. Oh, and mystery books, Christian books, funny books, serious books — I bought them all. I looked for you at the public library once, but you weren’t there. The reserve list was twice as long as your wand. I left. Like a nerdy bookworm, I went back to school for a degree in English. I found myself drowning in British and American literature. I didn’t even have time to read the back of a cereal box. In danger of receiving bad grades, I decided it was best to avoid you for two years.



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Don’t take it personal, Mr. Potter. I don’t dislike you. I even ignored all that controversy surrounding magic, wizards and witchcraft. I thought it pointless to form an opinion when I had never read the first word. Still, your magic ran deep, with midnight showings, box office blitzes and millions of adoring fans. I suffered because of my lack of Potter knowledge. When I admitted my secret, countless people responded with shock, confusion and disbelief. Some offered to loan the series; others wanted to bring the DVDs for marathon movie sessions. I politely turned them down. I wanted to make the first move, Harry.

Caught up in the working world, I find reading a bit more tiresome these days. Blame it on eight hour days filled with reading and writing. It is hard to muster enough energy to read an entire series of novels. But I have to admit it will always be my favorite hobby. I need to apologize one more time, Harry. You see, I kept hearing about the “Twilight” series and even though the stories are for young adults, I read the first book. I loved it. So I read the second, third and fourth book in the series. I even went to the movies to watch “Twilight.” I chose vampires over you and your wizards. I felt disloyal, like I skipped over the first course in modern young adult literature. I am sure you will agree Edward — the main character in the “Twilight” series — is a more appropriate literary crush. I am weak.



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Last week, the sixth installment, “Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince,” made it to the big screen. I got an invitation from friends to watch the movie last weekend. And just like before, I politely said no. But it created a desire to finally find a piece of magic before my future children consider your books a classic. I remember you, Harry. You are all grown up. A man’s man — not a scrawny little boy without a clue. I wonder how you went from boy to man with only a wand and a few close friends. My curiosity is back and the summer stretches out with lazy Saturdays, beach vacations and mini-road trips. Harry, I think we have reached a compromise. I will offer my time, if you share a little bit of magic. I hope there are no hard feelings. We have a lot to catch up on.

Jamie Parsell is the Lifestyle editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at jparsell@bdtonline.com.