That Harry is Quite a Character

I admit it. I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I can't even tell you how many times I've read the series, or seen the movies. Two days after its release, I have read The Half Blood Prince. Did I like it? Absolutely. Will I read it again? You bet. Probably next week.

I've spent some amount of time over the last few years pondering why I am so taken with these books. After all, they are written for children. So why am I, a mature adult (she said wryly), so captivated?

I didn't have an answer to that question until I started seriously writing fiction. The act of developing interesting, honest characters provided me with a Eureka moment. Or rather, it was the act of struggling to develop those characters that provided the Eureka moment. I realized I love the Harry Potter series because the characters are so real. By that I mean they are flawed, they are moody, they are often inconsistent in their thoughts and actions. I always love the good guys, but sometimes I don't like them very much. I find that honesty so refreshing that I'm able to read the books over and over without getting bored. And in trying to create honest characters of my own, I appreciate what an incredible talent J.K. Rowling has and what gift she has given us.