Harry Potter Vs. Harry Potter: An Opinion on the First Three Harry Potter Books Versus the Last Four Books

There is no doubt that the Harry Potter books are magnificent and bound to be classics; at least a great amount of people thinks so and I am one of them. But, when I take away the glee and fanaticism of it all, I am left with the realization that what made me really like these fantasy stories is what makes up the first three books. The feeling of wonder and magic just makes the Harry Potter world somewhere you want to move to and live in forever. As I read on through the fourth book and beyond I started noticing something was different. Although the later books are good, except for the seventh book which I will divulge on later, the original marvel of the first three volumes was gone.

Most Harry Potter fans will agree there was a notable change in the last four books, but to them it's just that Harry is growing up and times are getting darker. That's quite alright and expected in serial books where the main character gets older as the story moves along, specially on one where there is an evil enemy that wants and needs our hero dead. My issue lies in that, as a personal preference, I like to read stories that take me away and really involve me in them, yes there can be conflict and mystery of course, but I don't like to finish a story feeling sad or angry. The latter Harry Potter books contain too much sadness and anger to compare to the first three, which end on happy notes and leave me feeling content.

I am not writing this opinion to start an argument or to be controversial towards Harry Potter fans. I know a larger percentage of Potterheads are more than happy with the path JK Rowling took with her story; many even like the darker turn it takes on after the fourth book. To them it transforms the book from a children's story to more of an adult one and they prefer the graver manner. I don't have anything against that; we are all free to have our own opinions. That is why for me, I prefer the softer nature of the first three novels. I like the innocence and wonderment in them. I like the euphoric feeling of discovering a whole new magical world along with Harry. I like the awe we experience as we see Hogwarts School for the first time. I like the incredulity of it all as Harry learns about his new surroundings and skills while he journeys through his school years. For me, all these wonderful, happy and fantastic moments are slowly lost in the later books. Even the scarier more challenging issues in the first books are in the end met with defeat and with a fulfilling resolve that leaves us anticipating the next adventure.

As we come to an end in the fourth book the notable change is inevitably felt. The wonder is gone and replaced by sadness the magic becomes secondary and darkness takes its place. The happiness Harry once felt as he realized he no longer had to endure his mean aunt and uncle's treatment has turned into anger due to what he is destined for: the nightmarish fate where he must destroy his nemesis who also happens to be the Wizarding World's most feared evil creature. It's a great story and I enjoy the whole series nonetheless, but it became clear to me as the story concluded that my preference stays with the first three books.

As for what was stated in the beginning about the seventh book, I will say honestly that I did not enjoy it. Not so much because of the reasons I did not like the fourth through sixth installments, but more because as a book in its own it was not very pleasing. The writing seemed sloppy at times and somehow rushed. The characters lost their definition; they were mere shadows of themselves. Hermione lost her charm and just became a supporting figure that did a lot of crying. Ron was turned into a selfish and immature version of his formerly clownish and faithful self. Harry was just a demanding angry boy without much personality. As for the rest of the beloved characters, if they were in the book at all, were there as pretty much an afterthought. Most of the book is spent with the three main personages camping out in the woods not knowing what to do. This is followed by an all out battle at the school grounds where half the characters are slaughtered, most without any necessary gain to the story. I could write another whole article about the seventh book, but I will just say that the ending was not fulfilling and for me it was a disappointing one to such an endearing series.

All in all, for me, although the Harry Potter story has been a good one and one of my favorites, the best lies in the beginning of the tale. I dislike the darker path the story takes in the middle and in my opinion the ending is less than perfect. Lucky for all of us Harry Potter fans, we can pick up any book and read it over and over again. Of course for me, those will be my endearing favorite first three books.