For the past few months, Harry Potter has been back in the spotlight, with the theatre play, the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” movie and the theme parks.

Therefore, it’s time for me to admit the inconceivable and improbable in 2016 (which might result to a simultaneous cast of spells on me): I HAVE NEVER READ or SEEN Harry Potter.

Am I a true blogger ?

Every good blogger seems to really like the holy trio Disneyland / Scandinavian decoration / Harry Potter : I could also add to this so “cataloguing” and ironic affirmation, macarons and #ButFirstCoffee, but we must admit that it’s a bit true, isn’t it?

So I think in this case I am a 2/3 blogger because I am a fan of the two first but the third one, I really know nothing.

But whyyyy ?

I can see you intensively judging me behind your screen and ask yourselves how I could have slipped through the cracks all these years: I can’t even explain.

I actually like scenarios mixing magic and reality but more when the action takes place in a futuristic universe. Cyborgs, spaceships, science-fiction is really what I like. And, as you know, fan of star wars, am I (and apparently Master Yoda as well).

On the contrary, I am not really interested by the baroque, Middle-Age universes, minstrels, troubadours, and hopping elfs (for instance, the Lord of the Ring, I really struggled to watch it).

My friends always swear that Harry Potter has nothing related to this and I want to believe them… but somehow, I have never had enough motivation neither to start reading the 7 tomes nor to watch the movies (we call this laziness). Which means that since 1997, I am virgin from any kind of Harry Potter culture.

A Life without Harry Potter

Even though, you think I am not the same anymore, I can live with it pretty easily. Sometimes I feel like I live in another world when my entourage starts a Hogwarts related discussion but apart from these moments of loneliness, everything is going fine, my friends accept to be seen in public with me.

But yes, I have a few notions with this saga and know two or three words of the Potter-ish vocabulary but the scenario and unforeseen development of the story are totally unknown.

I won’t die ignorant

With all these years leaving in the ignorance, even though I totally assume it, I feel like I am missing something ‘so great’, ‘extraordinary’, ‘you’ll see it’s so cool’ (impression strongly increased in this period with recurrent Harry Potter news).

So to fill in this culture gap and because despite everything I am curious (with a bit of delay), I decided to start the saga.

YES, you read it well. 20 years after, this November 2016, I will start reading the 7 tomes of Harry Potter.

Action plan

While I’m at it, better doing it methodically, in other words: first the book, then the movie ; read the first tome then watch first movie, and so on, and so forth.

I will share my impressions as and when I read, hoping that I will finish the saga before 2026 (I hardly find some time to read now although I used to read 1 or 2 books per week during high school = probably school pressure).

I also count on you to not spoil me with the end of the story (I succeed for the past 20 years so please don’t scuttle everything, I beg you).

So, yes my train is seriously, terribly, incredibly late but after all the years waiting on the platform, it’s finally time for me to get on board… direction Hogwarts ! (English translation by Quiterie)