I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a Harry Potter fan. I'm not a queue-up-at-midnight kind of a fan, or call-the-helpline-the-series-is-over fan, but I am a fan. I like the books, I like the characters and I like the fandom. As I sat reading the first chapter on the train today, I thought that right now there are millions of other folks all around the world doing exactly the same thing and I like being part of that. I love the fact that this lady from Edinburgh sat down to write a book in a cafe and since then books haven't been the same.

When I got home I sat down to read properly: cup of tea, comfy chair, toast.

Oh. My. God.

I've read the first 100 pages or so and I cannot remember ever being so on-the-edge-of-my-seat thrilled whilst reading. I was almost shaking with excitement, my arms right now are aching I think from gripping the book so hard! Something about the writing, something about the story and, I think, a lot about the event of reading the last instalment and seeing where it all goes is giddying.

I know it's a children's book. People can carp, tut-tut and lament the infantilisation of our culture. But I'm too busy having fun to hear them.

postscript:
Part of the intensity of my reaction to the start of the book may be because the opening page contains some lines by William Penn, the lines I read at my father's funeral. Unfortunately she has omitted the wonderful opening: "They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it, Death cannot kill what never dies". Part of what has drawn me to the books I know is the fact that Harry is a boy who misses his mum and dad. I know how he feels.