Thursday, May 7, 2009

My Harry Potter fantasy

Thanks for the comments on the previous post. If you saw the humor in it, I salute you! If you felt attacked/didn't see the humor, I still salute you. Make my britigerians no vex and block my application for britico visa o, I still wan chop that Nandos. And my Naija peeps, nothing but love from this end o.

Aniwoos on to the koko, make we yarn the main...the main...

I LOVE the Harry Potter books (Never watched the movies though). I was first introduced to HP back in Naija, when one of my oh-so lovely friends happened to move into the neighborhood and me, being the nice and friendly neighbor that I was, popped over to her house one day to introduce myself, make nice and at the same time do amebo work and see who the new chickito in town was. I think we hit it off (although she insists that we didn't..haha!), but either way I made it a point to visit her more often after I discovered that she had an admirable collection of CD's and books. One day I saw the Harry Potter book lying around, asked if I could borrow it and the rest is history...

I put my sister on it. I raved about it to whoever would listen. I mean, Harry Potter had me at Chapter 1.

So lately, I've been having this fantasy. I fantasize that I will walk into a Salvation Army/ Goodwill store and discover that some random individual got sick and tired of their Harry Potter collection and donated the entire thing to Goodwill, and of course I snatch the donated goods up and end up being the proud owner of all the Harry Potter books. Infact in this fantasy I will pay something along the lines of $12 for all 7 hardback novels (Oh, they gotta be hardback...Harry Potter in paperback version will not be as sexy).
Can you blame me for this fantasy? The friggin' paperback box set is currently going for $35 at the minimum on Amazon, and I believe I peeped the hardback set for $100.

But it seems that dreams truly can come true, and if you fantasize hard enough...ish just might pop off. Last week, I really did walk into the Salvation Army and decided to take a quick mental scan of the books that they had on inventory and SHO 'NUFF I could not believe my eyes when I spied with my little eyes, the 3rd HP book; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Ooooh weee, I was pretty darn elated, and even more so after I ended up paying $ 2.00 for the hardback. So now I believe that somehow my wish of stocking my library with the entire HP series will come true, I just need to keep a watchful eye on the book rack in the Salvation Army/Goodwill.

P.S:- If you are looking to beef up your mini library for cheap, Salvation Army/Goodwill is a good place to check out if you're up for it. I recently got 'The other Boleyn Girl' ( REALLY good book by the way, read it before but I figured that for $1, it would be a good thing to add to the library), A couple of Jane Green and Marian Keyes books (Gotta love the British authors, their sense of humor is off the hook) and a rack of others.

Next up on my 'walk into the Goodwill and I pray I see it' list: Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Adichie. I'm definitely not holding my breath for these ones but hmmm you just never know. Oh, those are pretty good books by the way...Purple Hibiscus was a definite page turner, I stayed up all night to finish it. HOYS was pretyy good too but it took me 3 tries to finish it.

Hmmph, maybe one of these days I will blog about discovering these Adichie books tucked away in someone's goodwill store. *Fingers crossed*... In the meantime, I am truly on a mission to stock my shelves with the other 6 Harry Potter books. Wish me luck!

60 comments:

downtheaisle said...

i hope im firsssssssssst!!!!!!!11

Anonymous said...

good luck!

Anonymous said...

i hate hearing peeps say they loved harry potter cs NOBODY LOVED IT MORE THAN ME!!!lol.i started reading that book wen i was in primary five and read it till the last and seventh book in ss3 which means i read that book every year it came out.dnt watch the movies...it will completely ruin it for u!!!!

and yeah...3RD!!!

LusciousRon said...

I loved your last post. Good luck 0n this venture of yours.

Zena said...

top 5 for the first time, omgggggg!! lol

off to read

Shubby Doo said...
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Shubby Doo said...
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Shubby Doo said...

You should watch the films but after u read the books...both mediums for the harry potter tales are great...the films are obviously limited because not all the detail can be packed into 90mins but the are good...not as epic as LOTR but a commendable effort

I have half a yellow sun but am still to read it. I Read purple hibicus but I wasn't moved it at all...it felt forced...I guess fiction doesn't compared to living through it...my father could be a monster at home, growing up, but only with my mother.

British authors are good but my most recent purchase is from a swedish author...the novel is called girl with a dragon tattoo. I also love asian authors...recently got gift of rain by tan twan and god of small things by arundhati roy.

Anonymous said...

interesting quest u have going on...all the best, even though I'm not a HP fan (the author's story motivates me though)...

I like Adichie too; almost done reading purple hibiscus, and look 4wd to getting her new collection of short stories...

BSNC said...

you see dreams abi na fantasy do come through, some part of it though..

naija shawty said...

P.Hibiscus is a must read. I read it last mth, Adichie is good.

As for Harry Potter book, I read those books ehn by borrowing or whatsoever means. I dont possess any till now. The movies are not as detailed

ShonaVixen said...

I've never been into Harry Potter both books and movies...I like JK Rowling, wish i could write half as great as her BUT it ends there...

Tairebabs said...

I soooo envy people who read novels. My sister is one of them. How do you guys do it...if it is not compulsory to read a book ...i usually prefer to wait for the movie...I blame it on too many years of studying law.

In my head and around me said...

My fantasy is being able to buy it in that lovely chest it comes in.
You should WATCH "the other Boleyn girl". Those ancient people were freaky.

Send me an address and I will send you brand new Chimamanda books PH and HOYS if I can find it. And no, I am not being nice, I want something in return. Mail me! inmyheadandaroundme@gmail.com

Uchenna said...

other books that u might enjoy "infidel" and "kite runner"

also there is a new book by a fellow FGGC alum, that just recently launched. Its called "I do not come to you by Chance" already read some excepts and it sounds like a page turner as well.

u can order it online. The author's name is Adaobi Nwaubani

In my head and around me said...

I forgot my wicked laughter: Hahahahahahaha!!!!

Beulah! said...

I wish u luck oh!, who knows, i mite come and borrow...lol.

Giagerry said...

lol u r such a reader!!
for me...HP was the first book I ever read...and made me become a reader...and after the last one...I went bk to my old self-not reading books anymore..
U shuld watch the movies tho!
did u kno that dumbledore was gay?
just found dat out!

Zena said...
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Zena said...
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Zena said...

No movie/film will ever be as good as the movie, but you shld watch them, they come really close, Mgbeke I love you more and more jare, I'm THE hugest Harry Potter fan, I've read all the books more than four or five times, I can quote chapters from the book, yup dats how obsessed I am

Of course I've read HOYS and Purple Hibiscus as well, I fell in love, I've told myself I would name my daughter Olanna,even though I think I like Kainene character a little more.

And you should try Indian Authors, I love me some British Authors, but I've been picking up things like Jhumpa Lahiri and I love her work. The Interpreter of Maladies, a collection of short stories is a good one.

You know she came out with another book recently(Ngozi Adichie)? It's called "The Thing around your neck" I believe its a collection of short stories and of course it hasn't come out in the states yet, it'll be out sometime in June, best believe I pre-ordered it already off Amazon

You know I'm yet to go to a salvation army store? I don't know why...and I just stumbled on ur other blog, I AM AMAZED!!!!!! That's your closet? You shld update more on that one now..like kai! I was green with envy for more than one reason...I just don't trust buying online, e-bay don teach me lesson, thrifted means purchased from thrift stores abi?

(We seriously shld open a blog on books or something)

kai, again I wrote essay on ur wall, sorry ppl!

Chomy said...

(screaming and pointing)ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww u r a nerd...ewwwwwwwwwww....(). fine babez don't read...they just sit preety and wait for their munions to read to them....gorrit!! pls do not embarrass our kind jare....LMAOOOO


OK that being said...who the hell is Harry Potter, is he some kind of Arabian Prince, or some Oil company mogul...does he have horses and arches and arches of lush land on which to play Polo on??? Is he related to Obama? Does he know Prince Harry?(thinks) this Harry Potter guy has a book about himself so he must be preety much a big deal like Ron Burgundy...i wonder if his apartment smells of rich mahogany too...so many questions Babez, so many....please enlighten me, u r the teasher, so teash me!!!..


signed,
Damsel in Distress

Original Mgbeke said...

Downtheaisle: Yes you are!
Kmplx: Thanks mi dear.

Leggy: Hahaha, we need to have a who loved HP the best competition. Yeah I was never really interested in the movies.

Luscious R: Thank you and Thank you. :-)

Shubby: I usually find that films seriously downplay the movies, but I can't blame them, there is only so much you can squeeze into a 2 hour slot. I watched the 'other boleyn girl' and felt the movie was so BLAH compared to the book. Can you believe I still haven't watched LOTR? It's on my to-do list. Awww you're like the first person I'm seeing who didn't love Purple Hibiscus.
Will make note of the Swedish novel/Asian author and check 'em out.

JustDoyin: Yes J.K Rowlings story is inspiring, no doubt. Enjoy PH o, will look into getting her collection.

BSNC: Yesss o. We thank God.

NaijaShawty: Yes, Adichie is really good. LOL, that's my Harry Potter story too..borrow posing.

Shona: Awwww, as a bookaholic you should try it one day o.

Tairebabs: LOL, funny funny. I started reading when I was 10 sha, I've always enjoyed it. I'm not that much of a movie person sha.

Inmyhead: Yesss those chests are sooo nice. I no wan do too much open eye for that one. Wooohooo, I emailed you. Let's talk business, lol!
Oh, I watched the Other Boleyn girl and kinda disliked it.

Uchenna: I read the Kite Runner o, will look out for Infidel. Good looking out on this Adaobi Nwaubani novel, make I scope am for Amazon.

Beulah: My sister, come and borrow o!

Gee: Awww, come back to the book club. Yes o, I heard that too about Dumbledore. Crazy stuff.

Zena: Oh baby, this is my comment box na...I like reading your long comments. LOL @ you saying 'wall', you don tey FB for too long ehn. :-p
Omo I remember how the books would be coming out and I would sign up on the library waiting list and there would be like 25 people ahead of me, it was that serious o. I wanna gather all 7 books and then read them all over again.
As per HOYS, yep me too prefered Kainene's character, plus her name is ever sexier than Olanna.lol
Will keep an eye out for your recommendations, and abeg send me the new Chimamanda when you finish am...lol, see awoof monger like me!
Ok so you're in NY and you've never been to the Salvo army? I be feeling like you see will so much cute stuff in the NY zones as per NY people are just cute. (I'm such a NY groupie), pop into your local one one of these days and let me know. Yes thrifted= from the thrift store/goodwill/salvo. I will try and update that one more often. I am such an e-Bay junkie and thank God, it's been nothing but positive experiences so far.
I'm down for the book blog, any day.

Original Mgbeke said...

Culture my babe: You CRACK me up! Lmaooooo, no be small damsel in distress. Abeg o! Harry P is my college sweetheart, we met at Hogwarts and we are getting married soon so you better start getting to know him sharp sharp 'cos you are supposed to be on my bridal train. LOL

Anonymous said...

biko where did u hear that dumbuldore was gay?those r just speculations...if it wasnt in the book then its nt true!!!

Kemberly said...

Mgbeks! Kedu! I've never read any of the Harry Potter books because they were banned at my secondary school-Lagoon. So me being the goody-two-shoes I was back then, I never really got into them even after I graduated high school. I believe what happened to you here is what I call the power of successful visualization and the law of attraction! You have what you think! You have what you speak! If you imagine/dream it, you will achieve it!

Nice Anon said...

I'm a Harry Potter fan and I have read some of the books as well. I know what happens in the end. I also love LOTR.

One collection I wish to stack up on again is James Hardly Chase books. We used to have lots of them before we moved from Naija. His books ROCK!

Unknown said...

so, I'm the 28th.........yayyy!!!
(I want to make myself happy....lol)

I love Harry Potter too but I've not read the 7th one. That's the one left for me to read.
And I've read Purple Hibiscus too.... definitely a page turner.
I'd read Half of the Yellow Sun when I get home.

yayyy....... again to being the 28th and to think I stalk this blog much, I need to step up my game!! :)

exschoolnerd said...

i think id have been a HP fan if mumcy wasnt always raving abt how demonic the book is and all...so i dont even want to be caught with the book before they label me witch..i can still remember what happened when they saw a little mermaid poster in my room..

mizchif said...

Hehehe. Being a Harry Potter fan myself, i can say i'm happy for you. I remember seeing the collection at galleria one time and when i saw the price, i sharply moved along!

Those goodwill stores are just the truth when it comes to finding books, i must visit all them oxfam ones in jand, found some Dan Browns there the last time.

Goodluck with the rest of your mission!

Anonymous said...

Sho.. See me see kasala o.. Just because I idey formm jacking, na im i comme be number 31?? Mscheew!!!

Anyhows.. meself don dey tap some okriks books from Amazon o.. All dem Basi and Company, Jagua Nana, The palm wine drinkard dem...

Ms.O said...

ohh I am reading half of a yellow sun right now...loves it so far!

Anya Posh said...

Fellow harry lover here. I have fantasies of being Hermoine & hooking up with ron & harry at the same time. THREESOME!!!! I kid.
But still, hermione's pretty cute [you need/HAVE to watch the movies]. I can't wait till the 6th movie comes out. It was supposed to be out last december but we're looking to june now. ANYHOW>..I love harry potter & the whole concept of the series. My sister in 9ja thinks it's just plain ol' witchcraft a la hollywood. But I beg to differ. Harry POTTER is an ADDICTIVE entity...better than witchcraft. Better than those silly Twilight books.
I made the mistake to watch the twilight movie b4 I read the 1st book. The movie killed it for me...totally ruined it & put me off b4 I could even get to the book.

ANYWAY, long story. I'm in luv with HP..as in daniel radcliffe can crawl into my bed anytime. Have you seen him lately? He has scruffy facial hair & errthang. So delicious ;p

-Ok, e don do. signing off. HP groupie/degenerate.

Unknown said...

Harry Potter? You're on your own. Purple Hibiscus is a fantastic book.

Zena said...

lol @ wall, I just noticed that

Roc said...

Salvation army got a bookstore??
F'real?

Never read any of the Harry Potter series.. Might just give it a shot since you gave it a glowing recommendation

Buttercup said...

I think I'm the only one who doesn't like Harry Potter..as in, kai! lol!

good luck getting the other books..

I loooooooooooooove Purple Hibiscus!

meeseey said...

i know im the biggest HP junkie out there no contest! dont bora even starting
think i kid? okay who stays up all night (n finishes) reading goblet of fire?
or skips studying for a math exam in place of studying n HP book?
who?
who?
yep thats rite
me! *with the coolest smug on her face*

lol s'pity no thirft stores where i am the *cool* way to dispose stuff is to dump it in a trash bag *rolls eyes*

on Adichie's books, read purple hibiscus n its a very good book
didnt get my panties in a wad for it tho..
reviews of half of a yellow sun say its absolutely beautiful i mean who gets an orange award for a crappy book?
*okay moment i gloat* she came to myschool 2 months back! n she has a killer sense of humor made me proud to be a Nigerian most def!

Anonymous said...

hey u just got tagged check it out!!and do it!!!

O'Dee said...

Only watched the movies, and the other Boleyn Girl was really good.

SouLBoutiQue said...

I love Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, but Purple H more sha! I think she has a new book if I am not mistaken. You should read the Icarus Girl as well. After exams I am sinking my head into Midnight By Sister Souljah! But I may need to refresh my memory and read The Coldest Winter ever again...
Ag

Afrobabe said...

Lol @ hoping to find Adichie's books at the salvation army…I buy all my novels in the charity shops here as well…I get them for £1 or less…
I even saw some HP books but unfortunately I am not a fan...

Confessions of a London gal said...

Yay! Another HP fanatic! I soo love them. I've all the books ever released by J.K Rowlings. And the movies? Absolutely fab! U cant die a happy death until u've seen 'em all! A new one's even out in June.
Lol. As u can see, i dont joke with my Harry Potter!

Rayo said...

i love them so so much. cnt count the no of times i've read them ova nd ova.

Chomy said...

i want to hear someone say they dont like this Harry Potter dude.....all love and no hate makes this a 'safe' battle.....LMAOOOO

i can't be the only weirdo who doesnt get it.....who is this HP person and what kind of car does he drive?????:P

bob-ij said...

Umm...I don't read HP books at all. And the movies?? I try just cuz I like movies. But it's like whatever for me. Sorry :-(

P.s. I don't like Lord of the Rings either...lol I guess I just hate creepy-looking animals...:D

x!

*Diane* said...

You have very good taste in books. HPseries are some of my favorites. and i gree the motion that you should watch the movies...again not as detailed as the book..but still pretty good.

Roses said...

Hi O.M!
Im a HUGE Harry Potter fan! woop woop great taste. Um Im new around here btw...im unaware of the correct blogville etiquette! do I introduce myself? Im Roses and Im always on your blog and I have only just plucked up the courage to make my own. Hi again! lol
x x x x

Smaragd said...

got hooked on the HP books from the first page as well some 9yrs ago!

dreams do come truee my friend, maybe when u have all these books (i love Marian Keyes as well), i'll stop by urs on my trip to the states and borrow me a couple...lol

wish we had such things as Salvation army stores or Goodwill in naija.

Reverence said...

for some reason i could never bring myself to get into harry potter.
i blame it on my naija MFM days, u know those people dont play with their witchcraft steez.

I am at the library on a warm saturday afternoon. chai!

Anonymous said...

mehn I read it OH...all of them...chai...omo you dey wish gan o! shuooo!

AliceDCL said...

love harry porter books, and love the movie, its twice fun to read the books and then watch how they interpret them into movies,

Nice Anon said...

Mgbafo m, Where are you are?? I dey miss you ooh. Come out of hiding!

Woomie O! said...

You should see the movies, they're equally interesting.
And quit looking for a worn out version of Half of a Yellow Sun...nothing beats reading a brand new book!

tobenna said...

And they say nigerians dont read???

Unknown said...

We here miss you oh! How we for do now?!

webround said...

u can buy all those cheap books from the comfort of your house. try allbookstores which is a book price comparison site.

another place to buy cheap books is from your local library when they have their regular sales. at my library, they'll do something like - fill a bag with books for $5. it doesn't matter who the author is (and the bag is big)

Nigerian Drama Queen said...

So...I'm moving to DC very soon:-)

Nice Anon said...

When are you blessing us with an update na?

Chomy said...

bia this babe...UPDATE already na...i need to get all riled up !!!! currently way too mellow which is scaring the living daylights out of me....give me something to spaz off about woman... !!