(no subject)

[lizzybennet]

I reread Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone this week. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wonder if I need to put my thoughts behind a cut for spoilers? Nah...I'm guessing anyone who hasn't read it by now has no intentions of doing so.

I felt like I had a whole new insight into Harry, Ron and Hermoine this time around. This is the first time I've reread this book since my initial reading all those years ago. Naturally at that time I was so anxious to read it that I flew through the novel. This time I tried to take my time. I'm no good at meandering through books. If I like them, I devour them like a glutton (this is why Chris grumbles when I read too much. I tend to ignore the real world and get lost in the literary world.)

So, here are my thoughts after this time through:

-Neville played a much bigger role than I recalled. He was there at several of the key moments and I'd forgotten that. It's too bad his character wasn't given that opportunity in the movies. It's almost like they are a foursome at several points, instead of the well-known threesome. Also, I noticed many more examples of Neville's bravery. I guess I'd only noticed his courage as he got older, but now I realize that it was there from the very beginning.

-When Harry, Hermoine, and Ron cemented their friendship via defeating the troll, I got teary-eyed. JK says "From that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things that you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them." *sniffle* So cool to go back to the beginning of their friendship again.

I had another thought but it slips my mind right now.

It's been a busy day around here today. I've decided it is much more difficult to get a rental house up to move-out expectations versus an apartment. We have the dang yard to worry about to! All those noxious weeks springing up like crazy while the lawn refuses to green up like I think it should. Naturally I'm assuming our landlord is going to dock us for everything possible. If the lawn needs reseeding, that comes out of our deposit. If the wood floors are scratched (which they are but I can't tell if it's from us or if it was that way when we moved in) we are also held responsible for that. I know she plans on selling the house rather than rerenting it, so I don't know how much remodeling she plans to do before then. We also did a lot of packing in the basement and put several China/Asian books on freecycle. I have a box full and hopefully someone will be picking them up any minute now.

That's all friends. I hope you all had a grand day.

Comments

[themenow.livejournal.com]

How can she dock you for the yard? It's one thing if the lawn was torn up, but you guys had a horrible winter and rainy season...seems like that's more act of God and you shouldn't be responsible for having to reseed. I've never heard of that before. Then again, I've only lived in apartments and the lawns were cared for the management.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

We are responsible for keeping the lawn watered, mowed, weeded, etc. It's part of our lease :(

[themenow.livejournal.com]

I see a commercial for some Scott's lawn stuff. Supposed to help grow grass pretty quickly. Don't listen to me. I know absolutely nothing about lawn maintenance.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Our lawn is actually looking pretty good. There are just a few patchy spots that worry me. You know I HAVE to worry about something!

[themenow.livejournal.com]

Crazy woman.

We should trade worries sometime. Yours seem somewhat more reasonable than mine. (Stupid book reading! *shakes fist at stupid book*)

[kimaginethis.livejournal.com]

I really think that your connections between the young Gryffindors and the people they became makes me think about my own children. Did you wonder as you read just how close your own kids will be because of so many shared experiences?

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I'll admit, I didn't think of that connection at the time. However, I have often thought that my kids have a closer relationship than the average set of siblings because of our time in China. The whole time we lived there the boys were each others only friends. They had a couple babies to play with, but no one their own age that lived close enough to be a consistent friend. As a result, they really do play so well together, and rarely feel the need to seek out kids in the neighborhood for play time. I hope they always stay so close.