Preparing for Harry Potter 7
Written by: Keakealani
Many of you are very excited about the last installment of the famed Harry Potter series. But how do you make the most of this final book?
Step one: Reread the previous books.
J. K. Rowling has hidden tons of clues in the previous books about future adventures; the only way to find and appreciate these clues is to read the first six novels over again. Additionally, those books ought to draw some questions from the reader which can be answered in Deathly Hallows. Re-familiarize yourself with the characters and relationships while you read; this will help you quickly understand the nuances presented in future episodes.
Step two: Check out some fansites.
Unless you are already a Potterholic, you probably haven't bothered to read the information that is shown on fan websites and, of course, J. K.'s official site. Some reliable sites include the Leaky Cauldron, MuggleNet, and J. K. Rowling's official site. These sites not only contain extensive canon information, but exclusive interviews with the author and publishers and many other goodies. If you, like most people, are too lazy to reread the entire book three or four times to figure out how Sirius Black is related to James Potter, one of these sites will have the answers for you. If you can't find the answer to your question in the static resources, consider asking on the forums related to those fansites. I personally really like MuggleNet's associated forums; the Chamber of Secrets and the users lurking there are likely to be able to answer your questions and cite canon evidence if you need it.
Step three: Plan out your Harry Potter Day.
Okay, so maybe you're not a big enough fan to attend a midnight release party or grab the new novel first thing in the morning. However, we all know how addictive those books can get once you get your grubby hands on it, and you won't want to be distracted constantly when you're trying to read. If you have a family, especially with multiple kids, consider getting two copies or setting a schedule so that everyone gets a chance to read without having to wait too long.
The first thing to take care of is always your health - have some one-handed healthy snack foods (granola bars and veggies do the trick) to eat between chapters, and some quick and easy meals that can be prepared quickly or in advanced. Find a well-ventilated but private place to start your adventure and get to tidying up a bit. Reading in a messy or stuffy area may result in increased dehydration or just a less-than-comfortable experience.
Once you've got everything settled, the only thing to do is wait. The fifth movie, Order of the Phoenix, is released on the 11th of July, so go ahead and soak that up for a couple days in preparation for the final book. There's only one left, so make the most of it!
Keakealani is secretly in Dumbledore's Army
Light is a muggle or that's what he wants you to think.
If you have any comments or suggestions about this article you are more then welcome to PM or email the author.