Now that I've seen the final Harry Potter movie, now that my school days are over, and since I don't have four or five jobs like I did when I read the first few Harry Potter books – it's time to finally open book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The first thing I noticed was how happy I was reading a J.K. Rowling book again. The combination of her stories and the language choices she makes to tell them just make me happy. Happy.  🙂  How many books make you feel that way?

The second thing I noticed was that I could see much of the story as I remembered the film showing it to me, but I was also filling in all the other parts with the film that is happening in your head every time you read a book. It's fun! I like the combination.

I'm only on page 94 so far, so the only other thing I've noticed is that there is a lot more going on than there was in the movie. Or at least I'm better understanding what's happening. I remember, for instance, seeing Tonks in the movie with Professor Lupin, but I didn't know who she was. And I remember seeing the dark, scary hallway of the safe house in the movie but I'm pretty sure I never knew the screaming portrait was of Sirius's mother. All the extra details are sooo enjoyable!

As always, when I read a good book, I often feel like I'm never, ever going to be able to write as well as this. But at least with the Harry Potter books, that's okay! I'm so happy to relax and enjoy the stories, to be transported away to a place that is familiar and unknown, to be back with old friends and making new enemies – I'm not thinking about writing when I'm reading these books!

And I'm perfectly happy to forget it's my job for a while.

Gosh, I still do hope that someday I can make people forget their work when they're reading my stories!  🙂