Feeling that way again...

Post subject: Feeling that way again... Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 07:31 PM

You know, that obsession feeling. I find myself wondering how many more times through I could read HP...

Hm, I suppose I'll start with a little history to make this all clear... Well, when I came to Cinescape two years ago, I was a weird little newbie who had read the books about 10 times, give or take a few. And by ten, I do mean all four books ten times each, GoF included. I then fell in love with the books in a whole new way, and read and read and read until my grand total was 25 times through. Obsessed much? Hell yeah. I was -the- guru. I breathed HP, I lived HP, I talked HP, I was absolutely baffled at people who were not followers or had "burned out". Soon enough, however, I found myself running out of time to read (or sleep enough or finish my work, for that matter) and sort of... stopped. I think before OotP, it had been a long, LONG time since I picked up an HP book. I had been writing fanfic though, so I was simply in a different HP phase. After reading OotP (and crying for hours and hours, then weeks later crying again.... then about a month later, having another crying fit), I didn't have the heart to do it, to write or to read. I tried both, and neither was doing it for me.

Now that things have happened in my life, I find myself wanting to go back to things that used to consume me and fill my mind... I want to read again, and read I shall. I believe I shall reread the series a couple of times, and perhaps pick up my writings again.

Now, the point of this topic is this: How are you feeling about HP right now? Are you burned out, are you tired, are you feeling the flame again, or are you totally consumed, as always? I want to know how my little members are feeling, what with the HP hype coming again with PoA movie. So... how are you, HP-wise?

-Siri

~Bitterness: Never be afraid to share your dreams with the world, because there's nothing the world loves more than the taste of really sweet dreams~

Part of the Elite Confused Duo

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 09:47 PM

OOh, good question, Siri.

I was much like you, I think. I read and read the books repeatedly for months. Eventually, (thankfully) I discovered fanfiction, and these boards...this was a very good thing, seeing as how compulsively reading the same 4 books over and over again was getting a tad boring. I needed a bit of variety.

And then book 5 came out. My plan was to read it in one day (which I did), and them immediately read it again, but more slowly. And again, and again and ag - you get the point. But after I had finished the first time, I was so emotionally drained, cried out, and angry, that when I began the book for the second time, I found I just really didn't want to read it again. It was a couple weeks before I even was able to happily return to fanfic or the boards; I just didn't want to think about it for a while. Eventually, I just decided to think about the whole 5th book as a terrible dream, and pretend there's a happier alternate universe out there.

I still rarely even pick up the books, and when I do it's just for answering trivia questions and the like. I'm sure I'll read them again, just...not right now.

The movie, one the other hand... :luv

aoife

[

I don't intend for this to take on a politiacal tone. I'm just here for the drugs. - Nancy Reagan

Keep passing the open windows

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 01:01 AM

There's something about the HP books that is different. I have only read each twice, give or take listening to my mom read my brothers certain chapters over again, or me reading them to my brothers. Evens so, I know each word almost by heart. Its as if they do something different to you. I hadn't read PS for at least five years and I read it again, stilling knowing almost every line. There is something vivid and undone before, and yet ever so tastefully cliche about Harry Potter.

-Trish-<span style="color:purple;font-family:times new roman;font-size:large;]Life is full of difficult decisions[/color]

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 07:35 PM

I was like you, I had read 1-4 tens of times and never got tired of them. Then the two-three year wait came and I sank into everything else; I completely ignored Harry Potter. Then the joyous day came that brought OotP, and I devoured it, in two days to be exact. That flame came back, especially when Sirius died and it nearly killed me (though not literally). I wept and my creative side showed a lot more, resulting in the paragraph down below my posts. Though about a week after I finished OotP, the flame shrank a considerable bit, and I went back to my life. Then I stumbled across fanfictions that people had written on Harry Potter and the flame came back brighter than ever. Pretty soon, I found Immeritus and joined, obviously. Though I'm still not back to my avid reading of Harry Potter books, I still busy myself with fanfics and posting here. Though really, that's all I need, at least till the sixth and seventh books come out. But, BTW, the HP movies do absolutely nothing for me and did not help my spirit at all, except to maybe scorn WB more than I already did for picking such horrible people to play Sirius and Remus, though that's only a matter of opinion.

Wow, that was long, I think that's all you need to know!

Bye

<span style="color:navy;font-size:x-small;]*Tears*[/color]

<span style="color:maroon;font-size:xx-small;]Shadows retreat as the sun falls in the sky. The night returns as your sadness remains. It seems the only way out of your grief is that fate in store for us all, sooner or later. But then you think of everyone else, and you realize you can't, for their sake. You think of everyone else who shares your sadness, and remember that they all knew him, even if not so much as you. You feel the hot tears fall again and think,He's not gone. He will come back. I will see him again. You fall against your window sill and look out into the night, only to see the stars twinkling sadly at you. Not caring who hears, you whisper into the night and hope that he hears you, "I love you and I will see you again. I promise." As you take the vow, you stumble back to your bed and cry yourself asleep, thinking, I promise. I promise...[/color]

<span style="color:navy;font-size:xx-small;]Written by Yours Truly :)[/color]

<span style="color:purple;font-size:xx-small;]I can be emotional too, can't I?[/color]

<span style="color:navy;font-size:xx-small;]WOOHOO TAHITI![/color]

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 02:56 PM

I remember how I felt the first time someone mentioned an HP book... I hated the whole thing. And even though people kept bugging me to read the books, I was like, "I'm not going to read that crap!".

But then, I started college, met some new friends who actually shared my interests and that convinced me to read SS. I couldn't put the book down, nor CoS, nor PoA, nor GoF.

It was one of those weird moments when being proven wrong brings you a lot of satisfaction. I couldn't be happier.

I haven't read them as much as most of the people here. Twice a year is fine by me. Plus every time a movie or a new book comes out I give them an extra read.

I was going to read OotP again, but it drain too much emotion from me to get a double dose. (And I noticed I wasn't the only one this happened to.)

There's always the hype. If I'm bored, no matter how many books I have unread, lying around my room, I always go for either one of the HP series, mainly PoA, or Mists of Avalon. Those books always entertain me.

I admit that before I joined this group I had never wandered into HP fanfiction. But it has also become a hobbie, not yet an addiction though.

So that's my status. Although, after watching the trailer for PoA I'm really considering reading the books all over again. Thank the gods the holidays are around the corner. I'm going to actually have time to read them all. Woot!

~ RJ <img src=http://pages.prodigy.net/siriusblack/boards/smilies/dog.gif ALT=":dog]*A melody like "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music" can be heard in the background*

Sirius and Sirius and even more Sirius

Talking about him, sometimes in riddles

Getting his stuff , and watching him

This are a few of my favorite things ...

*As the music fades away, I'm inspired to browse the Sirius Black Fan Club.

Hm , hm , hm , hm , hm , hm , hm , hm , hm , hm , hm ...*

5th Year Joined: Jul 06, 2003 Posts: 461

Right now, I'm trying to control myself not to read the books again, I even gave back PS and CoS to my boyfriend so that I could stop myself from starting again after I read OotP in POrtuguese... I have so much work to do for University and everything is supposed to be done "yesterday" and if I start I'm not the kind of reading a bit every night, I just can't stop while it isn't over...

Blodeuwedd

Muggle Joined: Nov 15, 2003 Posts: 16

One of my friends found out about these books through her work (in research; I guess some of her co-workers got it from their kids, but I really don't know). Anyway, she was trying to get me to read them, and I was like :no "No, thanks! I have like a million books on my want-to-read-list and well, I can put them last if that'll make you happy..." (Needless to say, I never reach the end of that list. Wink

) I could absolutely not understand an adult who could wait longingly for the next book (GOF) in a children's book series! Amazing!

Then in November 2001 the movie PS/SS came up. And I thought that it could be a great idea to "take" my friend to see it, I was sure I would survive the movie, probably enjoy it too, and then I would also know what it was all about. I was thrilled, completely thrilled! So I borrowed PS/SS from her and started reading. At this time I had NO time but transfer times to/from university to read on. But comming home, I didn't want to wait until next morning to read on, so I would put it down, study until it was time for bed, and then squeeze in some hours reading before getting some hours sleep... I finished reading in just a few days. But it would take a few WEEKS before I could meet my friend and get the next book and it was a hard time... Wink

I used it to reread the book twice I think. Then, when I met her and borrowed COS and POA. That turned out to be lucky as I didn't really like COS. (It took a long time before I started to see it as a book as good as the rest.) However, one chapter into POA and I was hooked, completely hooked. It didn't take long until I owned all four books, reading and rereading them they filled me with happiness, ideas, possibilities... and I longed for someone to discuss them with. I became a much bigger fan than my friend ever was...

Since summer 2002, I have discussed them online, reading the books over and over, watched the first movie over and over, movie COS a few times, it's still not my favourite. In one sense I've discussed them too much, I knew in advance of the supposed quote - supposed since I've never been able to track down the interview it comes from - that "a fan of Harry's would die". So when OOTP finally was released I was so worried all through the book that it most definitely affected my "reception" of the book. My two worst scenarios was that either Sirius or Dumbledore would die... :wah However I started a reread not long after, and there were so much details - especially comic relief - that I missed completely in the first read.

However, the first four books I know almost by heart. I wouldn't be able to recite them, but I generally recognize any random quote from them, who said it and in what circumstance... OOTP I don't know very well at all, but to be able to participate in discussions, I've had to use it extensively as a reference, so the odd thing is that I have a lot better general knowledge of it than of the actual *story* in it... Rather sick! Even worse, for reasons partly outside my control I am currently rereading BOTH PS/SS and OOTP - and that is one HP book too many! I can tell you that! So, I think it would be better if I could finish them and then don't read any HP for awhile... we'll see how that'll work out. The urge to discuss the content, however, is as strong as always...

Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub228.ezboard.com/bsiriusblackfanclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=evreka@siriusblackfanclub>Evreka[/url] at: 11/16/03 11:56 am

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 12:30 AM

Wow, great post, Siri. Much food for thought! *Chews*...

Hmm ... sometimes, I seem to go through HP-phases - I read PS/SS, COS and POA before book 4 came out, decided, like many others, that I couldn't wait - but then, when it came out, I didn't read it straight away, and didn't bother for months. Then when I finally got around to reading it I was addicted once more.

I've read PS and COS quite a few times, POA the most, but not GOF so many times. I should re-read it, really, because there's bits of it I still don't remember.

I was REALLY excited for OOTP, and queued up at midnight with the crowds. I devoured the whole thing in 9 hours, and thought it was amazing, and even though I carried it around with me for days (to look up quotes and so on, and just because I had it after all that time), I didn't feel as though I was able to re-read the whole thing right away, it had taken too much out of me.

Then of course I got my Internet connection and found Immeritus and the HP net fandom - which cemented my obsession.

But as actually reading the actual books goes, I hadn't for a while until I re-read POA, again, this weekend. Also quite a large bit of OOTP. There's SO much of that book I don't remember, that every time I read bits of it it's like I find something new, even though it was obviously there the first time I read it. And even POA, which I've read many times and practically know off by heart - I can read my favourite parts over and over and over and still relish them in the same way, still get the same feelings from them.

I should re-read 1 and 2, purely becuase I haven't in ages, but somehow I don't feel I want to - it's almost as if too much has happened since then, and it would be somewhat difficult reading about the days of (relative) peace when you know what horrors are coming.

But as I mentioned, the HP books, all of them, have such good re-read value that I don't seem to get bored too easily. I'd probably find time to read them all if I didn't spend so much time online. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START Very Happy

--><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D]

madzilla -x-

<img src=http://pages.prodigy.net/siriusblack/boards/smilies/sorting_gryf.gif ALT=":sortg]

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 06:55 AM

Years ago, my classmates at my first school always talks about HP... They we're saying spells (with matching swish and flick of their pens) and everything...<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes] Telling how fascinating HP was... They we're talking about this all day...But the sad thing is, no one introduced me to the world of HP...:wah I mean they didn't even talked to me about it... Like when I approached them and asked "Hey, what are you talking about? Can you share it to me too?" They sometimes change the topic or just keep on talking... So I asked myself what's it with them... What are they talking about...

Just this summer, I was so bored, no one to talk to on the phone, nothing to watch... just nothing to do...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ZZZzzz

--><img src=http://pages.prodigy.net/siriusblack/boards/smilies/zzz.gif ALT=":zzz] Then something just hit me and said try reading HP books... So I called my mother and asked her if I can buy HP books here in our country but she said no... Instead she's the one who bought HP books outside the country for me!!:w00t Then I started to read the books and fell in love with them... And from that time, there's no single day, that the word or the topic HP is not mentioned (especially now, because of the coming PoA movie);)

Now, I went to a new school (my second one) and now I know what is HP... I can relate to the people who loves HP and not that I'm bragging but, I'm more updated to my previous schoolmates about the PoA movie and I learned things they don't know (because of this site)...:DD My friends and I had written a fanfic and submitted it to our English teacher as a project...

Now, I can't wait again for the next book... Can't wait to read it... It already happened to me before... I read PoA and GoF within a week and the ending of the GoF is too short right? Then when I heard that the next book would be released soon, I went to the nearest bookstore and asked for a reservation... Then I finally got a copy of the OoTP two days before my birthday!! I'm so happy!!!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START Clap!

--><img src=http://pages.prodigy.net/siriusblack/boards/smilies/clap.gif ALT=":clap]

Right now, I'm really excited for the PoA movie!!! I can't wait... (again)

So you see, I haven't felt that way before...

<span style="color:blue;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;]=>[/color]<span style="color:purple;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;] L[/color]<span style="color:yellow;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;] e[/color]<span style="color:green;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;] e[/color]<span style="color:navy;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;] n[/color]<span style="color:orange;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;] a[/color]<span style="color:red;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;] r[/color]<span style="color:blue;font-family:verdana;font-size:xx-small;] <=[/color]

<span style="color:blue;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;] Life is so unfair![/color]

Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub228.ezboard.com/bsiriusblackfanclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=leenar>Leenar[/url] 

at: 11/25/03 11:00 pm

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 06:39 PM

Well, I only read OotP once *collective gasp* yea, just once. I did read the first four books maybe 3 times each, and I enjoyed it each time.

But I was afraid of getting sick of it, so I put it away. I will read PoA June 3rd.

5th Year Joined: Jul 06, 2003 Posts: 461

OK... Now I'm REALLY feeling that way again... guess I'll have to steal SS from my boyfriend again and start it all over again... All the deadlines and projects and the upcoming exams are driving me nuts... I have to have something lighter these days...!!

Blodeuwedd

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:06 PM

Reading, and obsessing, asking questions and debating things. All over a simple series. It seems so much, and yet it isn't really. I find it amazing how many people can avidly pay attention and snap their heads up whenever Harry Potter is mentioned. To have this one series loved so much that people know everything there is to know about it, is insane. I used to read all the time. It was my favorite pass tie way before the Harry Potter books came out. I found that reading was a good way to escape the crazy everyday scenario that is represented before you. Home, school, homework, arguments, betrayal, lost friendships and parents yelling and screaming. Books are an escape for me. From everything. I'm pretty sure that I already mentioned I never wanted to read the books, They never interested me. My friend kept nagging at me and telling me how good they were but I refused. I figured o they are just kid books, she's being silly.

I believed this for a long time, I thought that anything so childish was obviously beneath my intelligence. To my great surprise, when I finally opened the book that summer's eve, that I was insulting my own intelligence by not reading them. The first book came and went easily enough, I found the storyline intriguing and although I was not exactly enthralled by it, I asked to borrow the second book. It was also called to my attention that the brain of my class, who is one of my few classmates that I consider an actual genius, loved the stories as well. So I asked her about them and she began to tell me about how good they were and what made them so great. Having already read the first, I knew some of what she was rambling on about. She talked avidly about the books for a little while, after leaving her house I decided to finally pick up the neglected Chamber of Secrets.

After reading that book it was an obsession. To finish the next two. I had to know what was going to happen, who would get hurt, what sort of turn of events I could expect. I went nuts. Borrowing the third book was easy but I soon found that none of my friends had the fourth one. I went crazy for weeks trying to find a way to get the book. Finally, when visiting my old friends from childhood years I found the precious Goblet of Fire. I pleaded to borrow it and finally I was given the book. I rapidly read it and then abruptly forgot about the whole series. I was oblivious to anything that happened in the Harry Potter world and was making fun of the stupid toy commercials.

About a month after Order of the Phoenix came out I finally got the chance to read the story. I swallowed every chapter greedily drinking in the words off the page. It was hard for me to put it down for trivial things such as food. I mean who needs to eat when Harry Potter is here. I'm afraid that after Sirius's death I wanted more. I wanted so badly to see what else happened to discover everything I could. I wanted to learn things, and find interesting ideas about the book. Feeling as if I had forgotten too much of the past books I went back and read them all, my sister had gotten the box set by now. When reading was too overdone I moved on to living on the outside of the HP world. I was angry that the movie date had to be moved around and everything but I got over it. Nothing it seemed would bring me back to the world I loved to hide in. Until, one fateful day I found myself discussing the books with some friends. Then, I found myself being asked to join these very boards.

At first I thought to myself, you have got to be kidding me a Sirius Black fan club? Why on Earth would anyone want to start one. I was then asked who my favorite character was. All I could do was shrug. I hadn't thought about that . I was in it completely for the story. Having finally thought about it and reread the books a bit I discovered that Sirius really was worshiping. Still, I really didn't want to write an essay, never mind two. I felt like I was being pressured into joining but did it anyway. I wrote something to the best I could considering my lack of motivation. I found my answers were sort of simplistic and was expecting an "Please put more detail here and there reply." When I was accepted, I could hardly believe it. Since then I've been on here scoping out the boards. Posting ( a lot as you may have noticed), reading the fanfics, and now, I have even written one myself.

As much as I may want to get away form these books it's impossible. The Harry Potter books just get to you. There is something about them that keeps pulling you in. The stories others write, the devotion in the boards and the avid readers just makes me keep asking "What is it about these books?" The more I ask the more I want to find out. I'm hoping that staying here, and talking about them will clear things up a bit. Right now I'm feeling as if I need a boost though, not just in Harry Potter but, really in everything. The amount of work I do in anything is slipping. It's becoming so that the stuff I do on here is he most thought I do all day. Sometimes that's not very much. In any case though, I am feeling a little burned out on the books. I know that will be over once the movie starts up and the sixth book comes out. For now I'll have to sit in my slump though.

-Demona-

If anything should move your soul, it would have to be that of the fatal touch. The prick of death leads you either into the true virtues of goodness or to the true deceit of evil.

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 03:42 PM

I love Harry Potter, I truly do, but my "flame" has always been relatively small.

I barely remember when I got SS. My mom bought it for me because she had heard so much about it, but it was the very beginning of it all and I didn't know anyone at the time who had read it. (In fact, I don't think I knew anyone in the first place, I had just changed schools, it was just before or during 5th grade.) I read it and thought it was a good book, but I have never been an emotional child. I don't remember getting CoS at all, nor PoA. I remember trying to read it during 6th grade at school, but I just couldn't get into that much. I'm ashamed to say that I don't think I even finished it.

I've always been a reader, and books have been my ultimate escape for the longest time. Because this topic was brought up, I'm sitting here in my own confusion and disbelief. I blame my lack of culture from 4th grade- my parents and I spent a year with my ailing grandparents, out in the middle of nowhere, and my mind was rotting the whole time. It wasn't until GoF came out that I became a fan. I read them again, much later on, and my little flame grew much bigger.

I've read them all maybe 3 times each, and Ootp once. I made the mistake of reading Ootp in one day- I was a zombie for the following two weeks. I was drained of emotion before the end, and despite the depression of it all, I just couldn't cry, and my flame dwindled.

Watching the movies always brings me up, though. I even had a huge crush on Dan Radcliffe, but I decided to give it up. That's the thing, I let go of everything just too easily. That's why right now, HP has not been on my mind much at all, except on these boards.

Now that I've rambled about my lack of obsession, here's my conclusion. I'm a true fan, I believe in everything they stand for, I'll quote it every now and then, laugh out loud when I remember the funny bits, sigh and reminisce on the sad parts, and I'll discuss it whenever it's brought up. But I just can't re-read them like most of you can, it's only when I feel like it's necessary to refresh my memory that I do. They're definitely a part of me, but there's so much more that's me as well.

There you have it, folks, my sentimental bit for the day. Wink

�Know Your Roots�

1st Year Joined: Feb 06, 2004 Posts: 73

I have been out of Harry Potter since I saw "The Chamber of Secrets" (the first time) in the theatre. Even then I didn't have much interest in it as my phase ended shortly after PoA. I think that was due to the rudeness I met with trying to get the fourth book. Happily though, when book V came out I began getting more and more anxious to read it and it wasn't until Christmas I was able to get the book. But even then, I wasn't able to read it until I came back from Winter Encampment (and that was after I found out Sirius died...discussing HP with three officers is AWESOME!) that I was able to read the book.

Another thing though...it's a wonder how life is...but I think I was meant to read it at the time that I did. It's strange but a lot of what was going on in Book V mirrored things going on at my CAP squadron. At first, I told no one...thought that they would think I was beyond creepy. But as the connections grew stronger, I began discussing it with my best friend (another HP fan) and she started seeing them too. Luckily, things are going well at my squadron. Though, can't say the same with HP as I am upset that Sirius was written out of the serise.

Though, I think the real funny thing is...is that my renewed interest in Harry Potter comes from direct orders from my Commanding Officer...ha ha ha...he thinks it's funny too. Oh well.

I'm just following orders.

Oh...to add to my growing interest in HP...I got the book, "Quidditch Through the Ages". It is SO cool. My dad thinks I'm crazy but oh well.

-Akili

Post subject: Re: Feeling that way again... Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 02:34 PM

Hmmm...I remember the first time that I read a Harry Potter book, it was actually my fifth grade teacher who let me borrow it. At first I thought that the books were just cool, but then after the second and third I was totally hooked. That summer I would be on the internet from eight in the morning untill noon reading fanfics.

My "flame" sort of died down before GoF was released, then that summer me and my cousins read practically non-stop for three days. Then I became less interested. And now it's like an obsession that I day-dream about, making up stories when I'm bored or even when I'm trying to get to sleep, an escape from reality in a different world.

Anyway, then after I read OotP I went back to internet with a vengeance and joined this club.:w00t I guess these books just hooked everyone because it is like an escape from reality, and the characters are all people we can relate with. I JKR is reall good at making people feel sorry for the characters, especially Sirius. :wah

I guess I would like to be "normal" and not be obssesed, but it's just too fun escaping reality!:luv

Shadow