Maybe not as dramatic a rescue as Hagrid storming the door on the Island with the stormy sea but a little of "Robin Williams" in the "Absent Minded Professor" was un expected and a fun way for friends to rescue our hero Harry.

Welcome back everyone - We are taking a ride but not in a "Merry Oldsmobile" with Harry and friends back to Hogwart's. Remember taking spring car rides years ago when a Sunday drive was special?

Thanks Ann for the Welcome!

Well, I bought this second Potter book today. Of course, it is for my grandson, but I shall read it first--just to make sure it is suitable! Heh heh.

I had to go out and buy it. My grand, the man of few words when it comes to books, told me the first book he's been reading and reading and finally finished, "...was REELY REELY good, Grandma. You can buy me some more. I prefer hardbacks..." How's that for a book review!

Jeryn Oh yes the feel of a hardback how discriminating is your grand. So glad you will be with us for this one Jeryn.

Yeah, Jeryn, sure!

I know all about that ruse of "having to read it to make sure it is suitable."

That was My excuse for buying and reading the first 3 Potter books, and will continue to be my reason for buying the next 4.

No one is really fooled; least of all Miss Emily, my great granddaughter who receives them from me!

MaryPage---I'm sure your "Miss Emily" is on to you. She sounds like a wise youngun.

Maryal

so hear you all are- i'm needing to get in a reading frenzy as two books i'm slowed down in harry and plainsong are due back to the library so i'm doing "bathroom reading" to catch up.

like the improved craft of the writing in book two but am thinkings its a bit slow since there was "action" in the first book introducing characters and the props- since this book only makes brief references to the props i'm thinking i'd like more to be happening soner. i now understand why a woman i met who read this book first did not know what all the fuss was about- hope she considered my requet that she read book one.

I think you are quite right, Yi Li Lin.

No one should read the 2nd book without having read the 1st. This is really all one book and, unlike some series, the later books just will not stand alone. IMHO, that is.

Mary Page, Maryal, Yili Lin so glad you found us.

What would we do without Grands - they certainly give us the excuse to allow our 'inner' child as they say enjoy itself - I used to say, what would I do without children for some of the same reasons. This time though, my Grands read all three HP books before I read the first one. Their enthusiasm encouraged me and than, for Christmas they gave me 1st addition hardbacks of all three books. Wow!

Must agree the story is a bit slower getting started but I thought it was because the premise was too familiar with cars in mid-air outside of windows and 'Beam me up Scottie" floo powder transporting folks going to town to buy school clothes. And the weeping willow coming alive, needing bandaging somehow reminded me of the Littlest Christmas Tree All the exchange between the adults seemed as boring to me as I remeber being bored waiting for chance adults encounters to be over when I was a child. I sensed all this jockying to feel as good as or better than. While reading it made me uncomfortable and I just wanted to get to Hogwarts where I just knew we would get on with the 'real' challanges.

Andy says he sure wishes he had some floo powder to get to school... His school bus trip now takes 45 minutes each way.

It's great to be back at Hogwarts!. Barbara, your heading looks terrific.

I read this book when we were discussing the Sorceror's Stone. I'll have to get it back out of the library so that I can keep up with the discussion. I liked the auto trip to Hogwarts. My grandson thought that was "Cool". This seems to be the extent of his reviewing. The trip reminded me of my son's love for the Disney movie "Herbie", about the little VW which had special powers.

The pace picks up once we reach Hogwarts, so don't give up too soon. Sue

now i'm giving some thought to the author and wondering about a series that really must be read one after another without a single volume - other than the first- standing alone. i've beeen a Parker fan for years and you can pick up any one of his books and enjoy it and also get a sense of what has gone on in the lives of the character's before. i think i've got it...he opens his book with the new situation and has the character respond to it with a defined character trait so to speak seeing the man acting consistently in new situations.

so harry et al are acting consistently i think i would have preferred a new situation introduced more quickly and without the sense of parentheses ...harry was locked under the stairs (his was being raised by his uncle who was not nice) etc.

but i am reading away wellhalf away spent most of today trying to fix my computer....did i'm posting

so i figured out i must be a parselmouth too - i've talked to a number of snakes in my lifetime

barbara- where does that word parselmouth come from? or just the author's invention.

Most of the references the author makes to things magical or matters of wizardry lore or naming objects are taken from the history of myth, magic, and so forth. This stuff has come together from so many different traditions and cultures; so many scary stories handed down for untold generations.

I'm betting you can find parselmouth on the web. I know they talk to snakes on the subcontinent of India.

Have not read as far as where Parselmouth is introduced. After much research on the net thinking also, that I thought I heard of this word in relationship to snake worship or talking snake charmers, I didn't come up with anything. After researching Medieval Parselmouth this came up. Not knowing how Parselmouth relates in the story I don't know if Perserval would fit but definatly he has an issue with speaking.

In the legends the Holy Grail is the object of a search, and finding it symbolizes a kind of mystical union with God. When and how the legend originated is unknown. It appeared in several pieces of literature during the late Middle Ages -- from the 12th through the 15th century. The earliest known book to deal with it as a holy object is `Le Conte du Graal' (The Story of the Grail, also known as the Tale of Perceval) by Chrétien de Troyes, a French poet of the 12th century. In it Chrétien unites the religious quest for the Grail with a number of knightly adventures.

In the story Perceval is a knight of childlike innocence. His adventure consists of visiting the castle of the wounded Fisher King, where he sees a mysterious dish--the Grail. Having previously been scolded for asking too many questions, he refrains from saying anything about the Grail. His failure to ask a question prevents the Fisher King from being healed of his wounds. Afterward Perceval sets off in search of the Grail and learns the real meaning of chivalry, or knighthood, and its connections with Christianity.

In later versions of the book, Perceval is replaced by Sir Gawain, who goes in search of the lance that had pierced Christ's side at the crucifixion. In a 13th-century treatment of the story by Wolfram von Eschenbach, the Grail is a precious stone that has fallen from heaven, not a cup. Wolfram's story became the basis for Richard Wagner's last opera, `Parsifal' (1882).

The Grail story is given an explicitly Christian interpretation in the work of Robert de Borron written around the end of the 12th century. He wrote an early history of the Grail in his `Joseph of Arimathea', based on a figure described in the New Testament as present at the crucifixion. Borron identifies the Grail as the cup used at the Last Supper. The Grail is eventually brought to Western Europe, where it is connected with the founding of the Round Table by King Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon.

The version of the Holy Grail legend that had the widest influence in romances of the late Middle Ages was written by Sir Thomas Malory (died 1470?). His book is `Morte d'Arthur' (Death of Arthur). In the story King Arthur has been told that a seat at the Round Table will someday be filled by a knight who seeks and finds the Holy Grail. A stone is found with a sword embedded in it, but no knight is able to draw the sword from the stone until Sir Galahad, son of Sir Lancelot, is brought to the Round Table. He alone is able to remove the sword. Arthur and his knights then set out on the quest.

The Grail represents not a search for salvation but a vision of God as the reward for a pure life. Lancelot, because of his adultery with Queen Guinevere, only sees the Grail in a dream. Perceval, having committed but one sin, is permitted to see it in visions. Only to Galahad is it given to look into the Grail itself and to behold mysteries that no other human can imagine. After his vision Galahad dies, and the other knights return to Camelot. Knights who do not seek divine help in their pursuit fail completely in their quest.

Aha after all that about Perserval I found the British Harry Potter dictionary and it says a bit more than the Encyclopaedia Potterica

Parseltongue - language of the snakes. Someone who can speak Parseltongue is called a Parselmouth. Harry, Voldemort, and Slytherin are, were, Parselmouths.

Harry Potter dictionary

Evidently this Ford was a big deal in Britian and now something of a collectors item. I've put the link to the website above and if you click on the car graphic you will go directly to the history of this 1960s vehicle.

hi all- need a frame of reference for chapters 1-6 i'm reading ahead because the book is already overdue at the library.- i don't want to give anything away and the "thickens plots" as they say.

I'm afraid I am only at the end of Chapter 2. Just been too much on my plate, lately. It's starting out in a similar vein to the first story--mean uncle, spoiled cousin, mistreated "step-child" situation. Guaranteed to "pull us in" with sympathy for poor little Harry!

yes jeryn and i did not want to reread the mean uncle thing, my criticism of the beginning of the book was to get on with it and weave the references and important histories into the meat of the story. i thought the beginning a bit whiney.

as i'm reading further and knowing there is a book #3 i'm thinking this book might be more of a prologue to the next an almost transitional volume.

All of the books are leading, as do all of our lives, to the final book and the explanation of exactly who and what Harry is.

Even Harry knows no more than we do as we read along. He is learning about himself and his history at the same time we are.

I really like Harry a lot. We get lots of hints, as we read our way through the books, that some of the older generation either know exactly who Harry is and what his powers are, or they have a very good idea.

The books get better and better, but they also get darker and darker. However, I predict we will be completely satisfied and joyful at the end of the last book.

Have you READ the last book, MaryPage?

..."a little bit whiny" to start, well yeah, YiLi, but don't you think that will appeal to children? The book WAS written for children 8>]...

No, Jeryn, the last book has not been published as yet.

I have listened to a lot of the author interviews, though.

This was the headline to my husband's newletter to Alabama public library board members. Sadly 472 reports of challenged titles were reported to our state's public library system. The Harry Potter series was at the top of the "Ten Most Challenged" list. It was challenged because of its focus on wizardry and magic. Did you ever hear anything more ridiculous?

And the remainder of the list were challenged for "offensive language, unsuited to age group, sexual content (4 adult titles).

The other books were: The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Blubber by Judy Blume, Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (this was also cited for being too explicit in portrayal of rape and other sexual abuse), The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and Snow Falling on Cedars by Davie Guterson.

I'm glad our small library had no challenges this year. Today when I picked up The Chamber of Secrets the librarian told me that children (and adults) are finally checking out the 3 Harry Potter titles. I've been reading portions to students when I visit classes at my old school. Sue

Angelou told of her own rape. That is, of being raped herself and what it was she experienced and how she felt.

I think this is something Every young woman Should read!

Anything that turns our young people OFF the notion that rape might be fun and games; that would really, really make them make every effort in their lives to avoid taking chances, can only be a Good thing!

Some folks are just so narrow minded. They want to police the world for everyone. If they find such material offensive, they have the right to just say NO to reading it. But don't take away my freedom to choose what I want to read. Sue

Amen, Sue!

With so many children's books written that include wizardry and magic it is a wonder there are any tales left on the shelves for them to read - I just wonder why all the hurrah about the Potter series -

Well I had not 'driven' or 'flown' into the tree next to my front driveway but it took a handsome dive and a large portion broke off last week during a wind storm. Didn't have the correct tree bandages as they appear to have at Hogwarts that was used on the damaged willow and so my tree had to come down. Boo hoo...it was a 33 year old redbud that alway clarioned the first of Spring with a fabulous meganta display. The tree spread over the driveway and was taller than the house.

My son and his 3 boys come over from Collage Station today and not only cut down the dangerously leaning tree but used his four wheel to tear the trunk and some of the roots from the ground. Of course the logs cut into 2 foot sections still will not be removed by the pick-up service and so for the next few months one log a week will be in the trash. Sneaky sneaky.

I was going to get the boys on this site but they were zonked. The had, on their own, torn down an old wood fence with sledge hammers and lo and behold they actually piled the old rotted boards into a 'neat' pile. What a day - we will all sleep gooood tonight.

We are having our PBS fund drive and last night there was a special with the writers and producers of Brit Comedies. Evidently "To the Manor Born" and "Good Neighbors" were written to highlight the tension between the classes which I learned has little to do with money and everything to do with schools attended and family heritage. The older the lineage the better. I think we in this country are aware of the difference in families that casualy assume fine education and enjoy a longer family history in the U.S. especailly, if the family's background includes significant contributions to the Revalutionary war, the Civil war and for us the Texas war for Independance. But we do not seem to have a class tension or struggle, were as race still produces tension and now it looks like religion is coming back as an issue. I'm trying to imagine class tension and I'm having trouble walking in those shoes.

Need to read and get really into the book tonite and tomorrow. Clients tomorrow afternoon so it will tomorrow night before I am back on.

So good to see y'all's posts again - I missed our Harry group!

By the way have y'all clicked on the blinking pole-star and noted the full moon tonite. The photo of the moon is changed every 4 hours. The site is set up and managed by the U.S.Naval Observatory Washington D.C. It has been fun watching the moon at different phases and last night when I looked in on the site I put my birth date in to see what the moon looked like when I was born - of course I had to follow that with the dates of my children. My daughter was born on a Full Moon day.

finished harry and see the whole book in a new light- one of those tales that makes for the most enjoy after its finished and you look at how all the pieces finally fit. i think this was a good reminder of the diferent purposes of different literature and how tales takes on on journeys and some kidns of novels show us a matrix of things at once. i can hear the kids now- what's going to happen next?

Ah Barbara, my daughter too was born on the night of a full moon, an eclipse of a full moon yet! I remember it well! Hahaha, though I did NOT get to see the moon! 'Twas November 18, 1956, about 2am.

Has anyone seen this? In the Friday, 3-17-00, Cleveland Plain Dealer, this item appeared in a column of news tidbits from around the nation under the heading “Philadelphia”...

“Harry Potter author sued over plots
An author is suing the writer and publishers of the Harry Potter books, claiming plots and characters in the popular children’s series originiated with her. Three books about Harry Potter, a young wizard, have sold 19 million copies in the United States, and a fourth is due for release in July. The author, J.K. Rowling of Scotland, has become a cult figure among the novels’ readers. A movie based on the first book, ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ is in the works. But Nancy K. Stouffer of Camp Hill argues in her federal lawsuit that ideas for the Potter series were lifted from her 1984 book ‘The Legend of Rah and Muggles,’ which includes a character named Larry Potter.”

Of course Jeryn - become successful and somehow someone figures out how to sue. Not that Rawlings needs anymore publicity but this will only add to the sale of the books you just know that. Timed perfectly for the release of book four!

Ok Yili Lin youv'e laid down the challange and now I must hurry and read to the end.

Sue's list has bawled me over since it was posted - "Of MIce and Men"?????!!!!! Why?

MaryPage darker and darker in what sense? The situations that Harry handles? I hope it shows a stronger and more capable Harry - that is what appeals to me most about these books.

Well, Barbara, the author herself says they get darker and will get darker.

I saw them as getting darker, (I have read all 3), in the sense that the sinister forces are becoming more and more apparent. Harry's life gets threatened more and more. The author says someone will die in one of the books. I am betting it will be Ron; not because I want it to be, but because it is obviously not going to be Harry and I do not believe it will be Herminone because Rowlings has said that Herminone is herself.

You also MaryPage - you have read all three! Oh my I need to submerge and get going. Trying to sort through a million receipts for tax time and the task is not winning just now. Harry or Uncle Sam what a choice!

When you think about it the stories would have to get darker wouldn't they if Harry becomes stronger with age and the opposite of good is evil - up goes the benchmark for good stuff and the evil would have to match.

Been reading Katie's research she has shared in the Library about the suite against Rawlings. You gotta give the gal C for courage taking on the big boys. To be so sure that your idea is so unique that you'll go to that extent to get some of the action - Wow. I wonder who is backing her in that she doesn't sound like a successful author and retaining decent lawyers is not cheap.

Barbara, the suer probably found some sue-happy legal firm who signed her up to get 55% of the take or some such. Or perhaps they found her.

You know, like the accident chasers and malpractice guys you hear in ads on the telly.

She may not have to spend a penny. Let's hope she does not receive a penny either.

from what i know owning creative ideas is a major challenge in all teh arts- and rarely do these suits win- i think there was only one successful one in recent times. wasn't it some beatle song or something?

continue to look forward to words of wisdom from dumbledore his thoughts were what kept me hooked in book one and though i only found one GEM this read it was worth waiting for.

Yili Lin - I, too, look forward to some of Dumbledorf thoughts. One that really stayed with me was from the first book in the last chapter when he was explaining to Harry about the couple who were going to die now that the Sorcerer's Stone was broken.

"To someone as young as you, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

To a child, these words would not have any great meaning, but to us Seniors they can. I have enjoyed reading the two books now, and am looking forward to the others. They leave one with a feeling of amazement and light-heartedness.

Dumbledore is a great favorite of mine as well, YiLi Lin. And he is one I get so very many hints about or from. I think he knows Exactly who Harry Potter is and what his great powers are. I suspect Harry is the greatest wizard ever born and has the power to finally vanquish Evil. I think Snape knows this, or at the least suspects it, as well. And finally, I believe Snape will choose to be on the side of Good over Evil and will untimately protect Harry. I believe Dumbledore and Snape and the other good faculty members know that Harry has to grow up to come into his full powers and save them all.

I cannot give the plot away here, because I am just guessing.

MaryPage, I think you are right in your comments. As I was reading, I had some of the very same thoughts. Well, we'll find out for sure later.

Wow...do we have a Jesus vs. Satan thing going on here? Maybe the Bob Jones' folks ought to take a second look at what modern day 'good versus evil' could look like. All the competition and ... oh I can't even go on my mind is tripping on all the examples of the modern version of the Bible for heaven's sake.

Well if death is a great adventure all will be forgiven! I wonder what you have to do to be a ghost? I sure would like to hide in the woodwork and see my Grands with their children.

Barbara- your last statement suggests that your expectatios will come etrue- people who wish to remain attached to some aspect of their human existence often do in fact remain in a "ghost" state until they or some event moves them on.

re- the first question which is more important skill or equipment- i'm adding a thought- the most important- the desire to win.

hmm all tis good vs. evil is more common in the judeo-christian traditions, in eastern philosophies (religions) it is understood that good and evil are inherent in all phenomenon. i was beginning to see harry from this buddhist perspective- don't want to jump to the end- and was wondering if the author was beginning to tell a buddhist tale and perhaps that's what all the fuss is about. dark magic to many is anything that falls outside the comfortable cultural belief system.

You are absolutely right, YiLi Lin.

Aha - and so now all the fuss is making sense - I just need to press on and get to the end.

I'm near the end too, Barbara. Whew, this book is even scarier than the first! These are life-threatening situations!!

Jeryn, now my previous posts probably make more sense to you.

Beautiful castle...Barbara

The Chamber is darker just as MaryPage told us.

OK I asked the folks in the discussion from England for some help with those references in HP using Kings English and this is the information I received.

Kath - 05:12am Mar 26, 2000 PST (#603 of 606) S.W. Ontario Canada Time + 3 Hours

I will give it a try. I would think the cob would be the round loaf of bread. A cooker is a cook stove. I can't remember what you call them over here as I still call mine a cooker. Squash is a fruit flavored drink. I never heard of polka dots. A serviette is a table napkin. Haricot is an Aztec name given to ANY bean species. Silverside is (I believe) beef loin. Perhaps others have a better answer than I do.

bina - 09:09am Mar 26, 2000 PST (#604 of 606)

LONDON UK - GMT

Hello - I am new to this folder and have just been reading the last posting which you make care to know it is correct on all counts.

Polka dots are small chololate drops about the size of a pea, usually enjoyed by children. However, more specificaly Squash is a 'cordial' comes in a myriad of fruit flavours and is diluted with water and can be used hot or cold. Many people prefer it to 'fizzy' drinks.

I assume a fizzy drink is a soda or pop like a coke. Also, someone shared with me that in many English homes there is a stove called an 'Aga' (not sure of the spelling) called a cooker that burns either gas or wood and coal. The cooker is always warm since the fire is never out and the oven doors open to chambers that keep food warm after it is cooked.

was more in a brain wave mode yesterday when i could not post- but i'd like to hear some thoughts on that great/goodness discussion question. for me though i'd like to know what we mean by 'greatness" before we even decide if one needs to be "good" to be great. for me i equate greatness with courage not necessarily the courage to do "good" things because good/bad are individual perceptions- oops guess i just opened a can of worms about universal morality- but hey that's what a discussion is for.

With your insight Yili Lin I added to the greatness question - a quote made by Voldemort.

That is an interesting question in that several PBS discussion groups talking about the greatest influnces on society in the twentieth century put Hitlar and Stalin on top of the list. It is true, both men, and it is hard to accept they were just men, changed to world as it was known, while lowering the threshold of of civilized behavior that we are still reeling in shock as we learn more and now see others follow in their footsteps.

I guess to me greatness is a combination of characteristics and attributes that when acted on affect the lives of many. There are great warriors, artists, politicians, authors, rulers, inventors, mathematicians on and on. Some were 'good' which to me means they treated others with justice and they possessed a leadership skill or the ability to sell their ideas in a way that the benefit of their idea was accepted. The opposite, the 'bad' to me is 'taking' in order to benefit, youself or your compulsive fear based strategy.

hmm barbara- okay i hear you in terms of "social" greatness but let me put a nudge in here about individual greatness- those sometimes small deeds of individual men and women that might only tuch a single other life-

aha moment either way IMPACT whether the impact is on many, few creates good or evil how does that sit- greatness is one's ability to impact?????? then i'm wondering in book 2- how great is harry? in book 1 i saw his impact i guess on more people- yet if impact is the definition he is "great" in book 2, what's interesting is how much of harry in present time is great as compared to his reputation and the greatness of his parents. oh and is he great by default? that scar ...did he consciously DO someTHING to ward off the evil or was he an unwitting survivor- i do't remember.

and now to the clincher does he have teo be good to be great? you're right vold is "great" too and i have sure known some great liars in my lifetime- not that their stories were so wonderful but the lies sure had impact. so?

My belief is we will discover Harry, because he was the son of two great and good wizards, had the genes to be The Great Wizard. And the Wizard World hoped this would be so, for they needed someone to destroy Evil. And then Evil destroyed Harry's parents, but Could Not Destroy Him! So the Wizard World hopes Harry is indeed the One to destroy Evil. And they are just waiting for him to grow up. And we are following his growing up from age 11 on to 17 or 18, when he will be fully grown and will ......., what? Destroy Evil? I don't know. You will have to read Book 3. I feel I can point to things in there that begin to give us some additional ideas, but don't want to until you all get there.

Harry's method of feeling free involves flying. His cares fly away and he only feels joy and peace. My freedom and peace of mind involves some physical activity, also.

I feel free on beautiful days when I'm outside walking, gardening, or playing some sport. Cares and worries just seem to fade away when the weather is lovely and I can enjoy God's handiwork. Our world is so beautiful when we keep it clean.

When I'm really feeling low, I lose myself in a good book. The discovery of reading has to be at the top of the list of things which are good for humankind. I would be lost without the ability to read. Sue

Me too, Sue. And my failing eyesight threatens me dreadfully.

I can't imagine life without reading, and I remember what a hard time my Grandmother had in the last years of her life. My youngest sister gave her a large print Bible and a magnifying glass and she spent many hours reading that. Actually, I think that she had committed most of it to memory by the end of her 80s and was just finding the place and reciting it to herself. She died at 93. The last couple of years she was unable to walk as she had fallen. She had hip surgery, but had become senile and couldn't learn to walk again. She didn't read either. Her last years were not pleasant. Sue

Many of us seem to have the story of a loved mother or grandmother that upon reaching old age, falls and breaks her hip and it is downhill from there on. Your post Sue has me speculating about lose as death. The loses we see others experience are most concerning to us since we can hardly imagine life without what we love. I wonder if that is what dying is all about, lose. Either gradual or sudden we loose not only our facilties but the ability to continue doing the things we loved. I wonder if the fear of dying is really the fear of lose and the distancing of ourselves from our own pending grief over this anticipated lose.

Well the various interpretations of 'Greatness' got my curiosity up-- without quoting all the discriptive words the dictionary says;

• large in size;
• larger than others of the same size;
• large in quantity;
• excisive in time or distance;
• remarkable or outstanding;
• outstanding significance or importance;
• chief or principal;
• superior in quality or character, noble;
• powerful, influential;
• eminent, distinguished;
• grand, aritocratic;
• pregnant;
• enthusiastic;
• very skillful;
• first-rate;
• being one generation removed from the relative speciafied.

I'm still pondering individual greatness Yili Lin, and I am having a hard time imagining 'greatness' if others are not affected by what is deemed or who is labled, 'great'. My logic steps in and says if one is affected, like a pebble tossed in the pond the vibrations would affect the many. Impact, I like that word and I can see impact as a change maker...in fact 'greatness' to me is the stuff of change. Hmmm maybe even in reverse; change requires greatness and greatness, the cause of change?? Please tell me how you see individual 'greatness' as micro rather than macro.

MaryPage I think I am also hearing you say, it is not for us to judge but the author has laid out a story in which all the wizards look to Harry to become great, based on heritage. Hmmm my libral politics is coming to play here as I question if we should be looking for heritage to identify greatness-- passing up and therefore, not expecting, or really not even supporting greatness from those that don't have the family background. The story brings the issues of class but, here we have a boy using cello tape to hold his glasses together, not exactly the stuff of a moneyed or upper class gentleman, and yet, his parents give him the birthright to greatness that everyone honors. Hmmm reminds me more of projecting a required royal line rather than each child achieving the honor and greatness to defeat evil. I guess really more like Jesus-- the cream will rise to the top by virtue of heritage??!! Hmm maybe that is why I could relate to Paul/Saul more easily than Jesus.

I got my self so wrapped up in the concept of lose that it almost became like the evil eye-- I didn't want to breath what made me feel free for fear the gods would hear. Whow!

OK, I love to read but usually my reading so engages my imagination and questioning of life that my head feels like a roter router. Energized for sure but not especially free. I really do love being out-of-doors and feeling the wind but alas everytime, I succumb to such the sinus attack followed by, a wonderful athsma attack.

I think water is my freedom maker. Swimming, especially in natural waterways rather than a pool. Sailing, sitting under the rapids in the creek, or wading in that very same creek, jumping in swimming holes, clothes and all, even standing under the hose in the backyard. Summer nights, late and dark, I often shower on my patio with the wind swirling round and the crickets clacking away. And, driving, long trips, especially through west Texas where driving down from the heights of a Sierra range onto the flats and you can see ahead till the earth curves away with often nary a car in sight on I-10 for what 15 miles...amazing! Not especailly fond of driving back east. The trees make me feel so clausterphobic as if I am driving through a tunnel and the tunnel is controlling my eyes as well as, slows me down not being able to see ahead to what is coming. And finally, I feel free travelling abroad alone.

Now when I was a kid I used to dream of flying away from some un-named person trying to capture me and I would dream of flying higher than the telephone poles and worrying in my dream that I would fall into the wires.

Barbara, I don't think the story has anything to do with Harry inheriting because of class or status or royal line or anything of that nature.

Rather, it is the sort of thing we would all be expecting if 2 young people of great genius married and had a child. We would wait with a sense of wonderment to see if that child would be The all-time great genius and do something wonderful for mankind, like find the cure for cancer, etc. The child Could turn out to be perfectly normal.

Okay, in this story we have 2 beautiful young people who were also Exceptional wizards and very Good, as opposed to Evil. So everyone is wondering if Harry will turn out to be an even greater Wizard, also choosing to belong to the Good side of the ledger, and possibly Defeat Evil for them all. And they believe it possibly so because Evil, while destroying his parents, could not kill him!

I don't think it has anything at all to do with elitism of any type. We see the child of great actors becoming an even greater actor; the child of painters becoming an even greater artist, and so on forever. It is a matter of what is in the genes. Two dumbbells CAN and DO sometimes produce a genius. Sure they do. But then we look to see what that genius will produce, and that is what this is all about.

Yes, I hear you MaryPage-- I must dwell on this a bit and come up with a way of wrapping my thoughts around this philosophy. For me it is a rather foreign idea to have expectations for a child based on the good genes of parants. My concept of children outdoing their parents has always been on 'need'--needines to prove themselves worthy in their own eyes, the eyes of the public and often their own concept of what they think they 'need' to accomplish in order to recieve the blessings and respect if not love of their parents. This concept of looking for greatness from a child because of his parents is hard for me. I guess I'm thinking I wouldn't want to be that child, with all that pressure and the imposed seriousness the child would have to be capable of so as not to disappoint so many as well as, not really feeling freedom about their own life. As If the child would have to become the hero in order to satisfy society and their legacy. Hmmm this is a hard one for me.

Now even the royal line way of thinking I can accept since most Christian religions teach we are all the products of the royal line of God and to just accept our inherited greatness. Maybe it is this idea that 'greatness' is an important measurment of a man/woman or that striving for greatness is important-- I don't know, something is not right in my acceptable thinking here and I am struggling to figure out where the disconnect is because I hear what you are saying MaryPage and agree your thoughts are what is represented in the story. Although I must say I was overlooking the fact that the other wizards were looking for Harry to smite evil. I was only seeing Harry as, justifying his view of his own prowess as the result of an inheritance from his parants.

Come to think of it this is the way so many thought of John Kennedy, the son of the late president and his mother Jacqualine. So many compared his contribution as an editor as if he was marking time till his greatness would bloom in his later years. It seemed to me to be societies need to appoint a savior rather than each memeber of society feeling empowered to change the circumstances were evil can run rampart.

Marypage- glad you went a bit further and outlined wondering rather than hope- i was having problems understanding greatness as the hope of being great. so wondering if someone will be great sits a bit better.

think i agree with barbara though that i would not wonder about someone's greatness or other value-centered characteristic becuase of a mighty gene-pool. this is not to engage in the tiresome environment vs. heredity debate- but i affirm (for me not trying to force my opinion on any other) that courage even courage to do something not-good is required for greatness. sometimes people have impacts all the time but they are not necessarily purposeful so to me that's not great.

barbara- i think we might agree and not know it- when i was talking about a micro greatness i still said that there has to be an impact- on at least some other- now that other may perpetuate the action like the pebble in the brook, but i think the original action was the great one- oops did i just stumple on another aha moment...perhaps the action is great (or not) and has less to do with the person. would certainly clear up that genepool thing.

think i also hear that marypage you are reminding us that in this work of fiction we are watching the beginning of a life path and that later on we will see harry perform an act of ?greatness. and it is possible he will do that because of groundwork layed in his past and the past of his parents.

It is not "greatness" that is the thing here.

It is a sort of allegory. Evil has smitten the world and made life dangerous for the wizards and difficult for all. Not all of their combined powers have been able to vanquish this evil.

They are looking for a messiah figure, if you will. Someone endowed with the innate abilities necessary to vanquish that evil. They are HOPING it will turn out to be Harry, and these hopes are based on: 1. he comes from a lineage of extremely capable wizards who were "Good" wizards. On the side of all that is good and right. And 2. The most evil of all the wizards was not able to kill Harry when he was a BABY! So they are hoping Harry will grow up and kill off the Evil.

I am not talking here about expecting greatness out of an ordinary baby. I would never do that. I might wonder if the traits would be carried on, as quite often they have been. You know the old saying: The Apple Does Not Fall Far From The Tree. Look, forinstance, at Drew Barrymore. At first I thought she was a disgrace to her heritage. Ethel, John and Lionel Barrymore were the greatest actors I ever saw. I cringed when I beheld the teenage Drew. Well, I saw her last 3 movies and thought she did them Proud! She is growing into her greatness. Her place as a Barrymore of stage and screen.

aha - OK I see - this book seems to be a swing story that leads to the next even more than Sorcerer's stone! It is late and I'm bshed till another day...

aha aha that messiah thing- and i agree that this book is probably and important link to the next and yes yes yes-- the author is so astute as the age of the characters now are perhaps reflective of one of those important life passages. i think in modern times we've done young people a disservice calling them pre-teens or pre-adolescent, forgetting that the groundwork of who they will become is being laid now. thanks marypage i see it all in a new light.

I've been following your posts about greatness. I wasn't able to come up with clear thoughts of my own. However, yesterday I read The Virtues of Aging by former President Jimmy Carter. He had some thoughts about greatness that I think are profound and I'd like to share them with you.

"Suppose we have every material thing we need, plus a good education, a stable family, physical and mental ability, and some good hobbies. For many people, that's still not enough. Within each succesful and happy life there also needs to be some concept of greatness, some superb example to follow, something on which we can always depend, something that is inspirational, exalting, transcendent. We need to explore the maximum capabilities we have--to search for ways to challenge ourselves, to stretch our minds and our hearts. At the same time, we also need a haven within which we can find friendship, encouragement, answers to questions about life, and the assurance of assistance when we confront crises or tragedies...

I think that, regardless of our culture, age, or even personal handicaps, we can still strive for something exceptional."

I believe President Carter is saying that each of us possesses the potential for greatness. Sue

Yes Sue this definition of Greatness is rather elusive isn't it. I like what Jimmy Carter is saying but I am seeing, in today's world often fame is an ingredient for greatness and in order for someone that may be great to get the press that would provide a platform for us to acknowledge and emulate the greatness, the person seems to be puffed out and decorated with trappings that allows him/her to be more newsworthy or marketable. The only sports figure that I can think of off the top, that had not gone Hollywood, is somewhat of a role model and achieved some greatness in his skill and career is Nolan Ryan.

On Charlie Rose the other night the News reporter from Dallas, that is often on PBS Lehrer News Hour, was interviewed. She just wrote a book about Genius and greatness. Her concept is that the 20th century peaked early and the greats were all there by the 1920s and we have been in dullsville ever since. My thought now is not only is greatness an action with impact but it also requires a challange or catastrophe.

To me Rooevalt achieved greatness handling both getting us out of the Depression and WWII in which Churchill prompted so much that they made a team. Since then I think Kennedy got us moving and recognizing National Pride again with an emphesis on the space race and Johnson seemed to have done the grunt work to get civil rights and equity for the poor. All the other presidents were nice and did some good things but I can't classify them as great having done great things.

The space program is so much a team effort that it is hard to put greatness on any individual.

I think of Terry Anderson who trusted and lost his life and than, oh what was his name, that were political captives in the arab jails for so many years--as having acheived great personal greatness but, I don't see their greatness affecting the average citizen. Just as so many vets acheived greatness and again their lives are a melting pot of bravery, heroism and loyalty during war. No one in that group that we will study in history books as we do Alexander, Ceasar, Franklin, Gandhi, Dr. King, da Vinci, Lincoln, Ruth, Shakespeare to name just a few and all the badys like Hitlar and Stalin.

I was disappointed in this book showing Harry accomplishing his feats with more magic than bravery. Healing with the tears from Fawkes and the magical sward appearing was so much more magical than I remember the final conflict in Sorcerer's Stone. The story was more a mystery novel and the mean spirited ways by some of the adults made me uncomfortable. So much was about 'righting' history. Also, if I hadn't known the characters from the first book I would have little to relate toward their individual character and special skills. Hermoine seemed to be more fully explained but Ron was just there and we never really hear what happens to Colin. We never hear about the headless boy ghost, was it Nick and I'm not even sure I know what that bit was in the story to reveal. All or nothing at all??!! I read Sorcerer's Stone with such elation and joy but it was a struggle to stay with the Chamber of Secrets.

I think I figured out the basis for Parselmouth - The dictionary shows a word Parseverb 1.To break (a sentence) down into its components parts of speech with an explanation of the form, function and syntactical relationship of each part. To meet the requirements of grammatical principles and usage. 2.to describe (a word) by stating its part of speach, form and syntactical relationship in a sentence.intr.to admit to being parsed: His sentences do not parse easilyparsernoun

As to Harry making choices-- it seems to be a mixed bag. He breaks rules left and right...is that saying greatness is not dependent on goodness so much so, that to be good you are following the rules and that leaves little room to creatively act when new challanges are being met?? There seems to be a difference between evil and rule breaking and yet for most children their training is that rule breaking is so punishable because it is the slippery slope to evil. So is that saying, it takes a kid with spunk and willingness to disobey authority in order to accomplish greatness?? Is the bravery of acting in behalf of another, regardless of rules, more valuable than having skills because the skills needed to beat a Riddle/Voldemort are innate and the tools required will appear as needed??

I don't get the sense that Harry chooses to right history or evil. It is almost as if he is following a knee jerk reaction rather than a 'Joan of Arc', forward troops, conquor we must. He uses the cape again and does his fair share of sneeking around, listening. I get the overall impression Hormaine seems to, in this story, take on more of the lead in actualy planning and scheming in order to right the wrong. Definetly got the message it is not cool to brag about conquests and double not cool to brag about conquests that aren't even your own. And yet the power struggle between Ron's dad and Malfoy's dad is like a see saw with one down now but with the implication that the other is up. hmmmm So power struggles between parents is OK as long as the favorite character's parent is on top?

back to this greatness thing- so the greatness must also be know and affect a lot of people?- is it okay to make some money on the deal too? because looking at great in terms of impact and affecting a lot of people (and in this case even for the good- jobs, $, communication, etc.) there is something to be said for our man Bill Gates...

Hehehe another rule breaker??!!

Hmmm had a thought tonight - greatness from our own idividual perspective I think that makes Dumbledore's comment perfect--"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Where as, when we determine greatness in another we are really judging the excellance of the action, the outcome of the action and its impact on others and how well known is or well known the person and the action becomes.

Sounds like Dumbledore is saying greatness is more about risk, and courage and love for others and yourself that could even lead to failing but, it is the choice not the outcome or our abilities that influence a successful outcome that matter. The choice and it's goodness where as, we measure greatness in others by the success and impact they achieve.

Newsweek 4/10/00

"The hottest role in Hollywood right now is Harry Potter. Steven Spielberg reportedly walked away from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" last month over the casting call. The director wanted Haley Joel Osment as the mini-Merlin. The studio and Author J.K. Rowling are Insisting on finding an unknown Brit. "Home Alone" director Chris Columbus agreed, and begins shooting this summer for a 2001 release. But it looks like people just can't wait to get their hands on anything Harry. Book four, "Harry Potter and the Doomspell Tournament", won't be out until JULY 8. Last week it hit Number One on Amazon's best-seller list based on preorders alone."

I am disappointed it is not going to be Spielberg, because he has such a deft hand. Columbus is rather heavy handed. I do think the author is correct about the unknown British boy being the best choice.

Your so right MaryPage Speilburg has magic in his heart - "Home Alone" was fun and your discription is so right on "heavy". Well we shall see hwat we shall see.

I finally started to see some symbolism for myself that I couldn't capture just after my read. The phoenix and the tears is like those of us that have had any numbing experience in our lives and we gave worked to transform ourselves from a place of pain or anger or dependence or what ever and rose out of our own aches with the tears we have shed along our interior journey healing us.

MarryPage, you and Yili Lin mentioned a Buddha like ending to Chamber - would you share what you saw in the ending of this book for me?

Barbara, it is some time now since I finished reading the third book (last fall), and my mind encompasses the WHOLE story, and not just one book. So I cannot comment on just "Chamber of Secrets" and I have to be so careful about my comments altogether because we have not yet gotten into the 3rd book here.

Hope you switch over to the third Soon, because 4 will be out July 8 and I will be reading it that Very evening!

hamm are we going to move to third book- which one is that again- can it be in june maybe? or later may?

Me too, YiLi Lin, I have too many books here with little markers in them saying "Read me, first."

Ohhhh I am so glad to hear others are behind as well - we may archieve this discussion the end of next week and then just resume book 3 in June if that is the best for everyone - or maybe we should just leave this discussion active with the understanding it is semi-active and in June t·e third book will be intrøduced.

It would help though if y'all would give a sentence as to what you thought of this book by next week-- a sort of wrap up

okay glad we will not abandon the read just breathe.

hmm wrap up, we never really wrap do we, one idea just jumps to the next. that is my statement, i think i see this book as a jumper- and if i remember that it is written for a yong adult audience i realize that at the age harry is now my own boys were evolving- sometimes slowly into another stage. that is my criticism of this book, it was way too slow (long) for the single buildup, if there were additional issues or themes at play here no problem, otherwise i think this book would have been better served in the style of a Robert Parker, we know the characters, let them handle a single situation within their character set and be done with it.

that might be a thing here- perhaps the author knows these kids are going to grow into something they are not yet.

would be interesting to throw in a hardy boys or nancy drew or bobbsy twins to see how their adventures were handled.

Interesting-- was in Barnes & Noble last evening and Harry Potter of course is featured at the entry to the Children's area but what amazed me is they have the book available fpr sale and on display in every language woth all the different book coverers. We are not really known as an international community although we have more than a fair share of Mexican Americans and the hill country is full of 3rd and 4th generation Germans with Czechs, Poles and Bohemians to our east that all retain their language. Maybe we are more international then I realized but since we all eat barbeque everyone seems to blend into the Texas mystic.

Desided to leave this discussion up till first part of May and see if I can at least get my grands to post something when I visit one set at Easter and the others the last weekend in April. Then we will only have about 4 weeks til June. I haven't read book 3 yet and I may read it on the plane. Almost bought the tapes to listen to in the car but couldn't believe how expensive they are compared to other stories. $36 per book seems a bit much.

P.S. the Bobbsey Twins were my very favorites as a young child. No magic there that I can recall. Never did read the Hardy Boys and vaguely remember only reading one Nancy Drew but by that time I was into more serious lit. and some adult stuff.

Andy and I have finished this 2nd book, and he's anxious to get on to the next one. I guess I better let him read it first this time, sinve he'll be out of school and I think he and his family will be on the road thru June. Then he can take book 4 with him..

Pat what part of "Chamber" did Andy like the most and did he like "Chamber" as much as "Sorcerer" or was it an extension of "Sorcerer" that just leads to the excitment of knowing more is coming with book 3?

I'll ask him... I'll see him at school this morning...

Oh great Pat-- it is so neat having the feedback from the young readers that these books were originally intended to reach.

Well, I finally got a chance to talk to Andy between math & sciencs clss... He liked the first one, the Sorcerer's Stone. but also said the second book was good.I didn't find out what part he liked best, but I can bet it was the broomstick game.

aha --yes that part was an exciting read. What I liked best about that part, it was Harry the boy as much as magical happenings as Harry reacted to what was going on.

Giltch says; everyone has a chance to be good any part of their life but it is sometimes hard to be great. You don't need to be great to be good and you don't have to be good to be great.

Giltch also says he feels free when he finishes his homework. He says, that feels like escaping from some awfulness.

I learned to help my brother by teaching him rather then just doing it for him. Cade wanted to make a LEGO PodRacer (a Star War's racing vehicle made with LEGO blocks) and was having touble. In the past I would help him by just doing it. Cade would cry trying to do it by himself and so I made a choice to teach him how to do it rather than using my ability to just do it.

Six year old Cade says being good is just a little tiny bit at times being bad.

Cade was confussed and didn't really understand goodness versus greatness. He agrees Voldemort is great and not good but that Harry is great and good. That fact was just too much for him to understand.

Cade says he feels free when after he is inside for a rainy or bad day and then the next day he can go outside to play and that makes him feel free.

Adorable! Wish I could have my 36 year old son back to age 6 for just five minutes.

Come to think of it, 5 minutes is just about enough.

But it Would be lovely!

I recently finished this book. I am looking forward to year 3 but not quite ready to read it. I loved the Mary Poppins books when I was a child. They had magic! Also, the Oz books. I still reread those occasionally. What an imagination L. Frank Balm had. Deb

Deb sorry I'm so late welcoming you to the "Hall." Yes, we are planning to go ahead with book 3 in June. Those that have wanted to continue reading the series needed a little break.

Did you like book 2...what was your favorite part?

I guess I didn't realize this is a reading club sort of site. That is fine. I would love to read book 3 in June. Favorite part? Hmmm. I can't think of one really. I like reading about their classes and the skills they have. And going into that shop where they get their books and supplies. Deb

Yes...yes, do I ever agree with you about the part when they were shopping for their supplies-- I also got a kick out of their sneaking off to the upstairs seldom used 'Girls" bathroom to conjure op their brews and hatch their plans. All the goings on in the Chamber was bit like a movie "Magic Marvel with Bruce Willis" of course I made that name up but it was a bit of new age fantasy. Exciting but again the pure fun to me was also in the shopping sequence.

Deb while we were reading there were additional questions above that directed our thoughts and those questions are changed out during the read. Usually we devote about 4 weeks to a book. When we read the first book we had several young readers sharing their thoughts. We read the book during the Christmas holidays and so we had more young readers visiting Grands. That discussion is now archieved if you care to peek in. Again the final questions and graphics is all that you will see. Questions and graphics are changed out every week to 5 days. Hope you can join us when we get into book 3. Everyone I've talked with gives high marks for book 3 over book 2.

Barbara, I just read your profile. I share your interests other than what I cannot do physically. What are your favorite BBC comedies? We love Mr. Bean, Keeping Up Appearances, and Faulty Towers. John and I play canasta every weekend and that is when we listen to our music. We have everything from Blue Grass to Opera.

I haven't started Potter 3 yet as I am in the middle of three other books but I am looking forward to it. How do you post without giving away the plot?

Deb

Deb we are going to start "...Prisoner of Azkaban" mid June-- Deb usually we are more interested in looking at what the various aspects of the story mean to us and so the plot becomes secondary. Now the young readers usually have a favorite part that they respond to in their posts. Most of us have not read the book when we start and we use the few weeks to read using the questions that are at the heading as a focus to get a bit more out of our read.

OH yes I love the Brit Coms - I get such a kick out of Hyacinth Bucket in 'Keeping Up Appearences' no matter the number of repeats.

I think the 'Vicor of Dibly' is charming even with her off color jokes, the young Hugo and what is her name, the airhead one that assists the Vicer, well they just steal the show for me. Oh and that bachalor farmer always bringing barnyard talk into the show--funny.

Haven't seen 'Faulty Towers' in just years and years but the 'Red Dwarf' is fun and that Cat in 'Red Dwarf' is wonderful.

We have had so many repeats of 'Till Time Goes By'-- for me Lionel is getting tiresome with his crusty ways and even Allister's charm and go go go is to reminicent of the 80s. I do like Lionel's father and new wife. They really show how life can be lived with fun and laughter.

I loved the actor, can't think of his name either, that played Mr. Bean in that police thing he did. That was funnier then MR. Bean in that Mr. Bean had a pathos about it so that I never really laughed along with him where as, that police thing every week was a hoot.

I've been coming home so tired here lately that I've been vegging out in front of the TV and not reading as much. I have sooooo many books that I want to read piled up all around me. Bottom line though I always feel so satisfied reading Children's Lit. In that way I guess I am similar to Lionel in Till Time Goes By. He reads in bed which is something I just never found comfortable. In the recent episode he was reading "Tom Brown's School Days" and I remember in a previous episode he was reading Pooh. The discussion was something about he being retired and wanting to read all the books he intended to read as a boy and just never did.

Deb hope you can join us in round 3 of Harry's adventures at Hogwarts when we have a go at it in June.

I've been enjoying Harry and even more then the Potter exploits I've been enjoying the sequals to "Wind in the Willows." I came upon The "Willows in Winter" a few years ago and was just enchanted and now I have all 3 sequals written by William Harwood with the cooperation and blessings of the family of Kenneth Grahame.

Hi Deb and Barbara! We also like to watch programs from the BBC. We used to get "Are You Being Served" on PBS, but now we have a small satellite dish and we get a channel called BBC America. We've enjoyed the Vicar of Dibbly on that, but now it's over. We've started watching an Irish sort of soap opera called "Ballykissangel" which is pretty interesting and the scenery is magnificent. We tried to watch a Scottish soap, "Hamish McBeth", but the accents were so thick we found it hard to keep up with the dialogue.

I've been busy reading romance novels with Marjorie and old favorites, so haven't done much thinking about Harry Potter lately. in response to the question about feeling free, I think I feel most free when I can sleep until 8:00, eat breakfast, and take a 2 mile walk. The birds sing so beautifully and right now things are still green (but not for long if we don't get rain soon). This retirement schedule sure beats the dickens out of up at 6:00 and at work by 7:00, staying after school for lengthy faculty meetings, coming home to fix dinner, clean the kitchen, and grade papers and work on school projects til 10:00 or later! It's knowing that I don't HAVE to be anywhere or at a certain time each day that makes me feel free. Sue

I haven't heard of the Vicar of Dibly. I am interested to hear there are sequals to the Wind and the Willows. I'll have to check on those.

Been awhile since I poked my nose in the Great Hall. Been so busy that I think if I sat in one of the overstuffed chairs in the Hall I would fall fast asleep and probably turn to stone like Nick the almost Headless Ghost did.

Well I almost have things ready to go for the third book. I Should have to site up next week and we can start on the Sixteenth of June. Everyone says that book 3 is the best or at least a tie with book 1. With book 4 coming out July 8, we could just go from book 3 to 4 without skipping a beat. And now that the children are out of school maybe we will even have a few comments from the young readers of our wonderful wizard Harry Potter.

I picked up Book 3, "Prisoner of Azkaban" while in England. So I'll be here too.

Terrrrific Pat - this should be fun!

Hi! Will there be a new site for the third book? I have just started it. It is fun. Deb

Yes, Deb a new site - because of my arm I had to put it off just a bit. Originally thought I'd have it up for the 16th but now I am shooting for the 20th or 21st.

I haven't started actually reading but I understand from my Grands that they think book 3 is the best book. I have noticed it has more pages. Understand book 4 will be out July 8 - we may finish book 3 up by the end of July or surely by the first part of August and then go right into Book 4.

Harry Potter is a fun read isn't it?

I agree, the third book is the best. What a great imagination she has. Sorry about your arm. Deb

I have book 4 on order in advance from Barnes & Noble. Can hardly wait! I'm just as bad as the kids, but then I swear this is NOT really just a childrens' book at all.

Just a quick hello...I plan to join you for the discussion of Book 3. I've been slow to start reading these books but love them now. Book 4 will come out on my birthday.

As some of you know I live in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Wanted to let you know that we are all safe and our house is fine (NBC was broadcasting from in front of it). Provided we don't all wash away this summer I will be reading Book 3 with you.

Hurray Ellen-- we should be able to start next week - still getting some graphics togther but my dream is to get into book three and follow up right away with Book 4 and then give our Harry a rest till the next book. How is your little one Ellen?

Hi, Barbara! He's doing great--turned a year old last week and is working hard at learning to walk. Today we went to the swimming pool and he kept letting go of the sides to take a few steps before remembering he can't walk and sitting down abruptly. He also started playing a new game; he crawls away from me and I chase him, saying, "Mommy's coming to GET you!" This makes him laugh like crazy--and crawl faster.

I read occasional pages of Harry Potter to him but he doesn't seem impressed so far...

Ellen how much fun - children are great - Last Saturday one of my past clients had a first birthday for her son. He was much wished for and will probably end up being their only child. At the party were so many of the Chinese families I've worked with in the past couple of years, all with their children. I had so much fun as the children all had memories of things we did together while their parants signed papers or made discisions.

Swimming is one of my favorite activities and teaching my babies to swim was such a joy. I remember my youngest, born in September and so that second summer he was older, he would just fling himself in the pool with complete confidence there would be someone to catch him. And yes, he learned to swim before the summer was over.

My daughter was the most scared of not floating to the top if she went under and so she didn't swim till she was 5 or 6. I would stand in the pool and ask her to go to the bottom holding on to my legs and touching my toes till she felt comfortable enough to let go and realize she would just float to the top. When she finally had enough courage to travel down in a floating position rather then her usual sit-down position it all happened. She went on to become a lifeguard and teach swimming lessons to infants and their mother's as well as to the blind.

My oldest I think was born swimming - I do not remember anyone teaching him-- he just swam. hehehe a natural as Harry is a natural Seeker playing Quindditch

Ellen, geese, you sure are living in the News, aren't you? Glad you are okay.

I am really enjoying book 3. I have book 4 on order too. I've never read a series like this other than all the Oz books. Great fun. Deb

Deb it is fun isn't it - I never did read the Oz books but I understand Katie from Calif. is very familiar with them. I must hurry up and crack book 3-- sounds like you are well into it. I just love these perephial characters and their names are just a hoot. Who was it I have forgotten already-- moaning ______ and Nick the almost headless ghost just funny, funny stuff and yet so serious.

I sure feel like I'm living in the news, Deb. Although this latest news--how does a person LOSE a hard drive, anyway? Mine's never been out of the computer!

Teddy was much more confident in the wading pool today, although we got off to a rough start when he rubbed sunscreen into his eye. Well. You can't tell them not to do it! Neither can you take them outside in New Mexico without sunscreen.

The names in Harry Potter are getting me, too. I think Nearly-Headless Nick is a scream, although gruesome, too. The other one I can't get past is Severus Snape; it sounds like "sever his nape" = "off with his head." Judging by what I've read so far I don't think Rowling would telegraph a character's fate that clearly. Maybe this is what he has in mind for Harry?

Somehow I have not followed all this about the NEWS. Been so swamped here lately that I barely have time to eat much less watch the news. Also, I do not subscribe to cable - so please what is this all about. Now Teddy, getting sunscreen in his eye -- that I can picture without any camara and the big tears -- Ohhh dear.

I have a difficult closing I am working on that should be finished up this week and then onward-- to getting Harry's third book site up and running.

Yes, the names in the book are just great. This book has some new faculty with great names too. I'm almost done reading it. Happy Reading! Deb