Beyond What the Eye Can See

WORD!

For anybody who knows me, you'll know that books and movies play a HUGE part of who I am. I have been a voracious reader since before I can remember, and I grew up with my parents owning video stores. So to quote random movies or books in general conversation is just the norm for me. I know, it's annoying. I understand, you probably don't get the inside jokes or puns from books and movies that make me laugh hysterically. But please don't judge.

It's fun for me as my children have gotten older to see them make this distinction. Yes, you can love movies. You can be thoroughly entranced and drawn into the pixellated world before you...but delve into the pages of a book...find a whole world that, while the words paint pictures in partiality, you still add your own interpretations. You can truly become friends with books.

My kids have groaned over the years as I've watched a movie after having read a book. I'll be 1 part entertained, 3 parts outraged. How dare they desecrate my friends, my imaginings, like this??? But as they have grown and begun reading more literature (both classic and contemporary), I have seen and heard the looks and gasps from them, as well. And let me tell you: it. Thrills. My. Soul! To know that they've become so involved with the storylines that they notice subtle (and often not so subtle) plot changes or character inferences makes me know that my children have become readers. Kindred spirits (do you know this reference??)! And I absolutely love it.

Canon has been reading the Harry Potter series. He is on The Prisoner of Azkaban right now. We sat down and watched The Sorceror's Stone tonight. It took a lot for me to stifle my laughs when I could hear him in his chair muttering partially intelligible grunts and complaints. "This is ridiculous!" "That is so not what Fluffy should look like!" "Where's Peeves?!? He's the best ghost!" I sat back and let him have his own conversation with himself, thoroughly enjoying the fact that one of his favorite movies has been - temporarily, at least - "ruined" for him! While he has enjoyed all the Harry Potter movies his entire life, a whole new world is opening up to him. He sees it, he knows it, and he can't wait to keep going to see what else he's been missing.