Happy Birthday Harry Potter!

I couldn't do my usual Friday post, but it worked out well. Today I can write a little bit about Harry Potter.
Harry Potter is hugely popular. Even if you haven't read the books, you've seen it on TV, in the movies at amusement parks, even at the grocery stores! But what do you really know about Harry Potter?
Harry Potter shares JK Rowling's birthday. So Happy Birthday to you too JK! He was born on July 31, 1980. I didn't read the book when it was first first published. When I finally did get around to reading it something struck me in the first chapter.  Harry's Aunt Petunia, and his Uncle are discussing Harry before he came to live with them. The Uncle asks Aunt Petunia the name of her sister's son.  She says "Harry. Nasty common little name if  you ask me." 
Not too long after that, the second son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was born. He is Prince Henry, but is called "Harry." 
That always amused me.  Wonder if Diana enjoyed the books or if she liked the name? Either way, just to give you an idea of how old the Harry Potter books really are, the first was written before the strapping, young prince, who just recently stood up as best man for his brother, was born!!!
Since the point of my blog is to encourage reading, you might be wondering why I am writing about HP?  Birthday aside hasn't everyone read his books?  The answer is no. I just found out people love HP, see the movies but don't nessecarily  read the books.  My Tim's girlfriend is one of those people. She is a bright young lady who doesn't like to read. <I am working hard on this flaw and hope to have it alleviated soon!>  She didn't know which character's died at the HP movie. During the movie, we sat together. Being the evil person I am, just before certain things happened, I would lean forward and whisper to her  "So and so gets it now. You'd know that if you read the books." 
My Sarah said she would have killed me or least moved to another seat, but if Jayme is nothing else, she is sweet. She stayed next to me the entire time.
The point is, just because you've seen the movies, don't assume you know Harry Potter. There are many things in the book that are missed in the movie. The many nuances that help bring everything together. The books are big, so that may intimidate a non reader, but trust me on this. You'll find yourself loving every word.
Happy Birthday Harry Potter.  Tell your mother JK Rowling we said thank you for bringing the written word back to an electronic generation!