Blog Archives
From House Pride to Books with Pride
Soooo. Can you believe it. 20 years since the UK publication (or Book Birthday) of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Hands up who feels old?
I’m still waiting for my House Pride Hufflepuff edition to arrive from Bloomsbury but here’s a lovely house 🌈 while I’m waiting.
In case you didn’t know June is also Pride month.
Being involved in the Harry Potter fandom, in particular attending events at LeakyCon and with The Harry Potter Alliance I have become much more aware of LGBTQIA+ issues.
One of my favourite Harry Potter memes is this one.
Image courtesy of @Run_Read_Repeat on Instagram. Thanks Emily. T-shirt by SunFrogShirts.
Now, we all know Dumbledore is gay but, importantly, this was never stated in the actual books. In fact there’s no explicit mention of LGBTQIA+ characters. Also Cursed Child fans were itching for a romantic entanglement between Albus and Scorpius but once again – denied.
There are though, thankfully, a growing number of excellent books with good representation and I was lucky enough to interview the author of a newest addition to the set. Noah Can’t Even by Simon James Green is a witty take on a teen boy exploring first relationships, along with his sexuality. Noah’s character gave me echoes of Holly Smale’s quintessential Geek Girl Harriet Manners and that is a very good thing.
Check out my interview with Simon on Waterstones Castlepoint’s YouTube channel and hear us discuss issues such as the need for Own Voices in literature.
Do read Noah Can’t Even too and let me How what you think.
I’m a Proud Hufflepuff and a Proud Ally. I hope I do a good job at living up to the values of both.
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The Anxiety of a Hufflepuff
I recently found out about HOL – a virtual Hogwarts where you can attend classes and chat to other Harry Potter obsessives. It appears this has been going for years (clearly Errol failed to deliver my letter) but they only take students twice a year.
So I enrolled – using an assumed name – real names not allowed and then answered questions for my sorting – and that way anxiety lies.
I am a Pottermore sorted Puff (been on Pottermore since it was in Beta) and although initially a little unsure of this sorting I have embraced my house wholeheartedly, robes and all. So what if I was sorted into a different house – I think I’d have freaked out and so would you!!! [Alex hasn’t written a what if HOL sorts me in the wrong house yet so here’s his Pottermore version instead].
But as fair play is a quality of my house I answered the questions honestly and from my heart and….
I GOT HUFFLEPUFF – phew.
So here is my alter ego:
My name is Elizabeth Darby and I am a muggle born witch. My parents don’t really understand my fascination with all things magical. At least they share my passion for books – really, who here does trust someone who doesn’t read?
People keep mistaking me as being related to the famous Harry Potter because of my forehead scar. I’m sure that I’ll soon learn a way to magically fix it but I think I’ll just keep it. After all it makes a great talking point.
I’m a very proud Hufflepuff and I look forward to working hard for house points mainly through creative writing library projects and taking part in classes. I may even try a spell or two to draw out my latent artistic talents (at least I’m hoping I’m not a complete Art Squib).
I chose to bring an Owl called Nix (short for Phoenix) with me. He’s a screech owl and his red feathers looked a bit like flames.
This term I am taking:
Hogwarts a History: The Founders
Hogwarts a History: The Professors
Journey of the Hero
Scribbling Shack: Fairy Tales
The Magic of Disney
I’ve already started contributing to some textbooks in the library and over the next three days plan to share my entries with you.
If you were to take one of the classes above based on its title only which would it be and why?
Which Hogwarts house/s have you been sorted into?
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Happy World Book Day
So much for sending all the little kids to school dressed as characters from books – what about the adults?
I took myself into university today and lectured for an hour as a Hufflepuff, complete with robes, tie, wand, time-turner and deluminator. The topic – meaningful and purposeful occupation (looking at the history of OT with this slide).
Hoping to read a bit of Order of the Phoenix later – haven’t had chance yet this week.
So how have you celebrated World Book Day?
