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tellytubby101I keep seeing all these Tumblr posts about the end of Harry Potter and I'll admit, it's fucking breaking my heart.
Only a few people in RL know this, but my parents never taught me to read/write. They came to this country with a rather dodgy knowledge of English. I only realised this for a few years; I was on a ferry with friends and they (somehow) we were all talking about how parents taught us to read/write. And I realised... mine didn't. I have no memories of that. I remember my dad teaching me how to fish, baiting the hook; I have memories of a younger version of me being taught how to make breakfast by my mum, but no memories of being taught to read.
When I asked my parents all those years ago, they just looked at each other and went, "Huh, we didn't teach you how to read or speak English properly." As a kid, I watched a lot of television. God, I remember that. A lot of subtitled Disney movies and stuff like Sesame Street. That's how I learned (also why I pronounce 'z' like the American 'zee' instead of the British 'zed' to my friends' never-ending despair. I REFUSE TO CHANGE MY PRONOUNCIATION).
My brother had a different case - he went to an early starter school because of his Autism. I had learned to read rather well before pre-school and I spoke my first words before him, so it makes sense my parents paid attention to his literary development (for ages they were worried he'd never speak; he can now, and we're annoyed he won't shut up :D).
I was never overly fond of reading/writing. At that time, I preferred painting and talking in a which mix of Thai-English that screwed around with people. Also, I did that creepy child thing where you'd occasionally have backwards handwriting. Technically correct lettering, just all backwards (which concerned my parents for a while, 'til I grew out of it).
I'M GETTING OFF COURSE. So, anyway, pre-school, reading was kind of there, not something enjoyable yet. Then came Harry Potter. I remember the moment distinctly. I was probably, six I think, and we were at the lake. I was bored because the fish were being particularly lazy and not eating the bait. My mum gave me Philosopher's Stone and told me the book was about magic. Within minutes, I was hooked.
Since I still had a TV, I was a rather slow reader, distracted by the ~shiny~ shows and the hypnotic qualities of The Wiggles. Then my TV broke at the same time I got Chamber of Secrets. I read like my life depended on it. I finished all the books available--which I think at the time was up to PoA, I'm pretty sure. I'd read them compulsively, over and over. Soon I could each book within a day. Throughout school and high school, I followed the series; I've probably read the entire series dozens of times by now.
Harry Potter was there when I was feeling sick, alone, despairing and confused. It was how I found other books (Paul Jennings and Emily Rodda) and the joys of reading. I could probably attribute HP as to why I can write as well as I do - since I enjoyed reading, I could write at a higher level than expected. It helped me achieve acedemically with assignments, research, etc.
Sometimes I think that it's why I'm in uni right now, why I'm who I am right now (Hermione was a huuuge role model for me as a kid, you wouldn't believe it). It's why I love fantasy and magic and why I'm exceedingly good and falling into complex daydreams.
So yeah, that's my story - why I secretly owe JK and these books so damned much. It might be a little dorky to have a book influence my life so heavily, but I'm kind of terrified of thinking of my childhood without it. (And Disney movies, obviously - Mulan and Beauty and the Beast were my favourites. So was Anastasia, but that's not Disney.)
Only a few people in RL know this, but my parents never taught me to read/write. They came to this country with a rather dodgy knowledge of English. I only realised this for a few years; I was on a ferry with friends and they (somehow) we were all talking about how parents taught us to read/write. And I realised... mine didn't. I have no memories of that. I remember my dad teaching me how to fish, baiting the hook; I have memories of a younger version of me being taught how to make breakfast by my mum, but no memories of being taught to read.
When I asked my parents all those years ago, they just looked at each other and went, "Huh, we didn't teach you how to read or speak English properly." As a kid, I watched a lot of television. God, I remember that. A lot of subtitled Disney movies and stuff like Sesame Street. That's how I learned (also why I pronounce 'z' like the American 'zee' instead of the British 'zed' to my friends' never-ending despair. I REFUSE TO CHANGE MY PRONOUNCIATION).
My brother had a different case - he went to an early starter school because of his Autism. I had learned to read rather well before pre-school and I spoke my first words before him, so it makes sense my parents paid attention to his literary development (for ages they were worried he'd never speak; he can now, and we're annoyed he won't shut up :D).
I was never overly fond of reading/writing. At that time, I preferred painting and talking in a which mix of Thai-English that screwed around with people. Also, I did that creepy child thing where you'd occasionally have backwards handwriting. Technically correct lettering, just all backwards (which concerned my parents for a while, 'til I grew out of it).
I'M GETTING OFF COURSE. So, anyway, pre-school, reading was kind of there, not something enjoyable yet. Then came Harry Potter. I remember the moment distinctly. I was probably, six I think, and we were at the lake. I was bored because the fish were being particularly lazy and not eating the bait. My mum gave me Philosopher's Stone and told me the book was about magic. Within minutes, I was hooked.
Since I still had a TV, I was a rather slow reader, distracted by the ~shiny~ shows and the hypnotic qualities of The Wiggles. Then my TV broke at the same time I got Chamber of Secrets. I read like my life depended on it. I finished all the books available--which I think at the time was up to PoA, I'm pretty sure. I'd read them compulsively, over and over. Soon I could each book within a day. Throughout school and high school, I followed the series; I've probably read the entire series dozens of times by now.
Harry Potter was there when I was feeling sick, alone, despairing and confused. It was how I found other books (Paul Jennings and Emily Rodda) and the joys of reading. I could probably attribute HP as to why I can write as well as I do - since I enjoyed reading, I could write at a higher level than expected. It helped me achieve acedemically with assignments, research, etc.
Sometimes I think that it's why I'm in uni right now, why I'm who I am right now (Hermione was a huuuge role model for me as a kid, you wouldn't believe it). It's why I love fantasy and magic and why I'm exceedingly good and falling into complex daydreams.
So yeah, that's my story - why I secretly owe JK and these books so damned much. It might be a little dorky to have a book influence my life so heavily, but I'm kind of terrified of thinking of my childhood without it. (And Disney movies, obviously - Mulan and Beauty and the Beast were my favourites. So was Anastasia, but that's not Disney.)
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no subject
Date: 2011-07-09 02:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 12:49 am (UTC)I've seen some of your pictures! They're beautiful! I never would have guessed you had spatial issues. :)
As for editing HP, I can see what you mean. I'm older and read so many more books... it definitely could be improved. But I love it as it is, too, flaws and all. ♥
no subject
Date: 2011-07-09 10:06 pm (UTC)Long comment is long.
PS I miss all of you guys from the forum! I don't get my Australian news anymore! D:
And Zee is perfectly acceptable. You'd fit in well with us.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 12:55 am (UTC)But yes, I know quite a few people who have NEVER READ A BOOK EVER. How can they do that?! It completely astounds me. Books are like portals into another world.
'Zee' has gotten me into a lot of (playful) arguments over the years. I also mispronounce a few other words, but I'm the stubborn type who refuses to change. :D
I have to wonder whether the forum is even still there. :/ FFn does regular purges on abandoned forums. But I miss you too! Though, Australia isn't that interesting right now. We've just some political shit going down which is all ridiculous. asdfghjkl; Australian politicians are all asses.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 12:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 01:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 01:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 09:54 pm (UTC)*scratches head*
Okay, I have no idea where that leaves me.
Anyway, when I was about 12 my dad gave me "The Hobbit" and that ended my chances of leading an non nerdy life... *chuckles*
Now I am almost 34 and still don't read "normal" books. ^_^
I never touched anything besides fantasy and SciFi (at least not voluntarily).
The first time I really noticed Harry Potter was 2000 in a book store in Sydney. There was a big shiny display and I asked my friend if he knew this Harry Potter stuff. He said something like it was really popular at the moment and it was about wizards in the "real world". Back home we bought a copy as birthday present for a friend.
I bought the first book for myself a few weeks later and got hooked immediately. I just love the story and the detailed and beautiful world. I have been on two midnight sales and finished the last three books in under 24 hours. *chuckles*
So being over 30 is by no means an excuse for not reading Harry Potter and not being bat shit crazy. My mom is over 60 and read them too. ;) Her last costume for "Karneval" was a witch with striking similarity to Professor McGonagall.
*hugs*
speechless
no subject
Date: 2011-07-11 01:46 am (UTC)No one would take me to the midnight openings! Which sucked majorly. Now it's too late. D: Well, there's Inheritance coming out in November... IDK. :P
I'm still trying to read through The Hobbit. The long winded prose keeps throwing me off though. I don't need to know the detals of their buttons or whatever! I must say, he's good at worldbuilding. I've never looked at the LotRs fandom, but I'll bet that there's wank for trying to keep everything in the world the same as in the books.
*Hugs back.* :D