Do You Believe in Magic?

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:48:25 GMT

Hello again from Mountain Mecca & Hippie Heaven!

This week I spent two wonderful days with “the other man”. Don’t worry, Prez knew all about it. He wasn’t thrilled and his jealousy was painfully obvious but he knows better than to try to come between me and Harry. Yes, Book 7 in J.K. Rowling’s record-breaking Harry Potter series arrived on my doorstep on Wednesday and two (long) years of waiting were over!

I won’t give away the ending but there may be spoilers in here, so if you haven’t read it and plan to, I will give you lots of warning about which parts of this Coconut Chronicle to avoid.

I have a system with my HP books. The first reading is a pig out; I read as fast and as greedily as I can, desperate to know all that happens. The second reading, which usually happens about a week or two after the first, is where I really slow down and enjoy the scenery. The second reading is my favorite because now I’ve satisfied my book lust, I know the ending, and I can appreciate all of the little details. The third reading, usually six months to a year later, is nostalgic – I just want to disappear into a world of magic and mystery and live it all again.

I do this with all my very favorite books. And, yes, I know this behavior borders on obsession – I’m OK with that.

Now Rowling may not be one of them fancy literary writers who deftly pen a 700 page opus about various characters hem-ing and ha-ing about the meaning of existence, but she writes a mean story! I think what many writers, especially novices such as myself, tend to forget is that all the themes, and sub-plots, and metaphors in the world mean zip if you don’t have an interesting story with characters people want to be with for hours on end. We’ve all been trapped at a party or a wedding or a work function with that person who drones on and on about nothing while we frantically try to get the heck out of there without offending them. Yes, their ramblings may have a point but who cares? The same can be said of books, which are just stories written down, after all. If your plot and characters don’t keep me riveted, if I can’t wait to flip the next page, if my husband doesn’t get jealous of your book because he knows he can’t compete and I’m going to vanish for hours at a time, then it doesn’t matter what mind-blowing, philosophical concepts you’ve put into your story – I will find an excuse to stop reading and go do something interesting instead.

But I’m not suggesting Rowling doesn’t have important ideas in her stories, quite the opposite. Throughout the HP series themes such as the seduction of power, doing the ‘right thing’, friendship and loyalty, the danger of bureaucracy, trust, the power of love, tolerance and equality, family, fame, the true meaning of courage, sacrifice, death, and many others, resonate strongly, long after the book is closed.

**SPOILER: Here is a quote from Book 7 which I absolutely love. Harry has told Professor Dumbledore that he would have been a better Minister of Magic than the previous two: “Would I?” asked Dumbledore heavily. “I am not so sure. I had proven, as a very young man, that power was my weakness and my temptation. It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle, because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.” **

Just a kid’s book? I think not.

No, if HP were a story for kids only, it would not be the phenomena it is today. For those who would simply dismiss it as a fad, ask yourself when was the last time a book was read, so voraciously, by people of all ages, races, sexes, and cultures? HP has sold over 325 million copies to date and is translated into 63 languages. The 7th book sold 8.3 million copies in 24 hours! At the last movie, Prez was surprised to see half the audience in the packed theatre was adults (of all ages) without children. I, however, was not surprised.

Why was this book so successful? I think I could go on for hours about that and never come up with a definitive answer. And, really, I don’t care.

So how was the final book? Oh man, wow. So much more than I hoped for! What a gifted storyteller! Tiny threads from the past six books were pulled together in ways I never expected (and some I did – I was right about Snape all along). She left me with just enough answers and just enough questions, which is all I ask of a book.

Does Harry die in the end? This seems to be the big question out there.

Yep, that’s a big question.

Nope, I’m not going to tell.

All I will say, is I cried buckets for at least an hour, which I fully expected to do no matter what. At times I could barely read the words through the tears.

And now it’s over. What an odd feeling – satisfaction and loss. The worst part is not having anyone to commiserate with. I mean, I feel like I should go down to a local pub and sit around with a bunch of half-drunk old men, recalling stories of Harry, “Ay, remember when he crashed into the Whomping Willow with that flying car? Oh, those were the days!” We’d all raise our beers, tears in the corners of our eyes, “To Harry!” we’d slur, slam our mugs on the table and demand another round.

I’m so thankful to have been a part of this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. The books will remain for other generations to get lost in, but the sweet torture of waiting two years for that next book, and then devouring it, with millions of readers wondering how it’s all going to end, that will never happen again. Thank you Jo for giving me this amazing experience. Here’s to you… and to Harry.

To Harry.

QUESTION: Have you read it yet?

p.s. - Please check out the new website for Matriki Beach Huts, the resort we will be managing! (Prez built the website and he's very proud...so am I).

Until next week, I hope this finds you healthy, happy & lovin’ life!

The Princess

A Quickie but a Goodie!

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 05:32:57 GMT

Hello again from a Kozy place!

Is there anyone out there still? Yes, work is still ruining my social life and I spent another free weekend working on my "real" writing. Oh my poor neglected readers, how can I possibly make it up to you?

This is going to be a quickie: it's 10:20 pm and I am wiped out. Drywalling - it sucks. If someone ever says to you, "Hey, I've got a great idea! Instead of going to the beach this weekend, let's do some drywalling instead!!", say no and run away, never speak to that person again for as long as you live.

But just because this Chronicle is short doesn't mean it isn't packed full of super, amazing, really good and cool stuff!!

First, this is long overdue...

My good friend and fellow writer, Miss Sue (whom you may remember from many Baja adventures), has written a children's book, and it has been published!! HOORAY SUE!!!! I've read the story and it is a really neat story about the power of visualization and imagination - two things I feel strongly about. The title is (and it's a good question): Why Do Donuts Have Holes?

I'm so proud of Sue for putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard as the case may be) and doing what so many others only ever talk about. And have I mentioned what a good poker player she is?

Anyhoo, the Prez and I are off on a little road adventure tomorrow a.m., including a visit with Miss Sue, hubby All-In-Jim and dog Max. I'll be writing dispatches from the road, I'm sure I'll have lots of fun road stories. I'd tell you all about the joys of drywalling tonight...except there are none.

Princess tired, must sleep. Check out Sue's book, it's very, very cool!

Until next __??? I hope this finds you healthy, happy & lovin' life!
The Princess

The Coconut Chronicles: Entertainment

Do You Believe in Magic?

A Quickie but a Goodie!