What I Read in April (Hint: A Lot of Harry Potter)

April 2019 marked the first month in years that I read fewer than five books, but I have a good reason for it! At the start of the year, I vowed to focus more on quality than on quantity when it comes to my reading - to stop aiming for high overall numbers & quit skipping long, daunting books just because they'd make my numbers lower.

So in April, I finished nothing but Harry Potter books.

Is that really worth reviewing? I mean, listen, "worth" isn't the right word there: The Harry Potter books are always work reviewing, discussing, analyzing, dissecting, etc. But I think we all know how I'll review them: 10/5 stars, A+, would re-read again forever & ever, amen.

But still. In April, here's what I read:

Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

Based purely on my own "anecdata" (a.k.a. "asking around"), this books seems to be, broadly, the favorite of so many fans of the series. I think my love of the book is clouded by my dislike of the move, which, in my view, left unexplained so much of the brilliance & nuance of the book - so it was nice to reread the book & remember that I do, in fact, adore it, even if the film adaptation did it dirty.

Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire

This piece of the series has long been my favorite, both in book & movie form: the further glimpses into the wizarding world, as we learn of Durmstrang & Beauxbatons & see into the Dark Lake; the vibrant visuals from the Quidditch World Cup; the sheer genius of the Mad-Eye Moody storyline (no spoilers, if you somehow haven't gotten around yet to reading the series); & end of the book, when Harry finds himself face-to-face with Lord Voldemort & their wands bring on "Priori Incantatem."

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix

I haven't finished this one yet, so it will also be on my May list - but in a post all about my series re-read, how could I not include it? Phoenix features all of Harry's newfound teen angst, what with the secrecy & the scar pain & the almost being kicked out of Hogwarts. It feels, to me, like a turning point in the books' tone & seriousness (err, Siriusness?)

I didn't even listen to any audiobooks during the month, because I spent all my audio time listening to Binge Mode, a podcast that does a deep dive into the Potter cannon, the magical world, & the brilliance of J.K. Rowling. Truly, this is the podcast the Harry Potter series has long deserved, & listening to it as I make my way through the series has brought so much added joy to my re-read.

One last thing: I finally have a new personal email address (after changing my name, you know, a full year ago), so I decided to sign up for Pottermore again... which means I got sorted again, got a new Patronus, etc. I've been so mad about being sorted into Hufflepuff in the past, so I'm not at all unhappy about this development:

Am I deserving of Gryffindor House? Look, probably not. I don't know that anyone would ever describe me as "brave" or "daring." And yes... I'm a Leo, y'all. It just seems fundamentally incompatible with being a Hufflepuff - so even if I'm a not-brave bottom-of-the-barrel misfit Gryffindor, that feels a little bit better, to me, than being an inappropriately sassy misfit of a Hufflepuff.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? How about a Binge Mode fan? What's your house?

Tell me what you're reading, then add me on Goodreads to keep in touch & see what I've read in months past. You can also follow my bookstagram account!

My "What I Read in..." posts include Amazon affiliate links to the titles I discuss. If you buy a book using one of these links, I will receive a small percentage of commission. Please don't feel any obligation to use these links, but if you do, it will help me buy more books.