Harry Potter Reading Parties

I know some people will find this odd, but I was invited to two (yes, two) Harry Potter reading parties on Saturday. What is most entertaining to me is that the hosts and attendees included none of my writer/reader friends.

FYI, this post is HP7 spoiler free, but the next post below has tons of HP7 spoilers. FYI. I will also be blogging about how Harry Potter is a multicultural character at Shen's Blog.

Before I went to my first Harry Potter reading party, I ran some errands, one to a library. Outside the library was a small park, and as I was walking through, I noticed two people, lying on the grass. They were reading:



I thought, "I bet they're reading the latest Harry Potter." So I introduced myself and asked them if it was okay to take a photo for my blog. They laughed and said okay. And continued reading. I was envious because I only was past chapter 3, and they had gotten so much further!








On to the reading events! But at the first Harry Potter party I attended, they hadn't opened the book yet. Or even the box that held the book.






Some people like to read the last page first, so they know the ending.


"WHO dies?"












Others like to start from page one and let the story unfold. And grow.


"So good to see the gang back together!"








Some people like to read alone so that they can scream or curse at the book.


"Noooooooooo!"






Others like to read the same book with others to simultaneously share in the shock. Or laughter. Or crying.





Still others are perfectly content reading independently but still in a group, silent in the sun. Or soothing in the shade.






With snacks and a glass of orange soda, or lemonade.