Have you run out of people in your life with whom you can have long conversations about the intricacies of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Well, Pottermore is hoping to remedy that with an official book club! That’s right, now anyone anywhere can get together with fellow Potterheads at an official meeting spot to dissect the ins-and-outs of all the Harry Potter books. Check out the intro video above!
According to the official description, this is “the official club for old and new readers to read and discuss the Harry Potter books together.” It’s a pretty awesome thing as, even though Harry Potter fandom isn’t as heated as it was when the books were coming out for the first time, this acknowledges that 1) Harry Potter is still here, mo-fos, and he’s not going away any time soon! And 2) that Harry Potter is always new to someone. That’s the wonderful thing about books. They get passed down through generations, lent to friends, suggested to loved ones. There’s always someone who will be picking up the stories for the first time, just like there’ll always be someone picking them up for the billionth time.
There’s already an official Twitter for the club, too, where fans have already been expressing their excitement to begin reading and discussing the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone (depending on where you’re reading it). The diversity of readers is pretty magical in and of itself:
@wwbookclub It’s my first time in english. And I think it’s magical! pic.twitter.com/fGpLHLDdcc
— Lea Lange (@lealange16) June 20, 2017
Ready to start off my journey all over again, this time with @wwbookclub @jk_rowling and many more! Let’s do this! ⚡️📖 #HarryPotter pic.twitter.com/mm087Z29JO
— Lea 🌸 (@soztrash) June 19, 2017
@wwbookclub @pottermore These are my Braille copies of the Harry Potter books. Four of these volumes make up the Sorcerer’s Stone. pic.twitter.com/WgxEPmaYwS
— Brooke Cottrell (@BrookeCottrell_) June 19, 2017
I may be pushing 50 but age doesn’t matter, HP is timeless! Couldn’t decide on my fav so had to get all four! @jk_rowling @wwbookclub pic.twitter.com/WefqhIHfKL
— Rob (@GhostlyRob) June 19, 2017
Since this seems to be an open group, I do wonder whether the Wizarding World Book Club will have discussions that are divided by age group. I have an elementary school-age niece who, in the past year or two, has become obsessed with the Harry Potter books and films, having recently read them for the first time. I also know adults who continue to read Harry Potter and write smutty fan fiction.
Now, obviously Harry Potter fans are a kind, caring bunch. I don’t think that anyone would be creepy or horrible. But there are different discussions to be had about relationships, death, magic, and growing up when you’re a child than there are as an adult with more life experience. I think it would be awesome for the book club to have general gathering/chatting areas, but then also have age-appropriate areas for kids, and areas where adults can speak more freely.
Perhaps this exists already. I guess there’s only one way to find out …
*clicks ‘Join the Book Club’*
(via The Daily Dot, image: Scholastic)
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