V's pick #40: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

After my less-than-impressed opinion of Year Two and cheers from John to keep going, I was eager to get into Year Three and grow up a little bit. Thank goodness for pre-puberty.

I devoured this book.

Seriously, couldn't.put.it.down. We went to go see Toy Story 3 last night and I had three chapters left before we got in the car...it took every once of willpower to not read while on the way to the theatre. The minute we got home? You betcha!

I kept thinking to myself yesterday while reading the entire book in about 12 hours, "so this is what all the fuss is about!" It's been a long time since my imagination has been so rapt with firing images so fantastic, scary and wonderful. It's been even longer since I felt downright obsessed with finishing a book; I'm a fast reader but I couldn't read this book fast enough!

Rowling's writing has grown up, Harry and friends are pre-puberty and as a result, all a little more haughty, the adventures are more amazing, Black is a fascinating character, the fear is a little deeper intellectually, the story is unfolded a bit more and there's even mention of a GIRL Harry thinks is pretty! Most refreshing, while Harry does still pull out a hero, we get a break from Voldemort in this book; I was beginning to wait for him at the end like some kind of video game "boss" one must beat before a change of scenery is granted. With Year Three under my belt, it's official: I'm hooked on Harry Potter.