Talking about perception, I think I’ve mentioned before that my wife is a Potterhead, right? Well, she is—our Christmas tree decorations are Harry Potter-themed, and our Tree Star is a Sorting Hat. Yes, really. You get the point.
Once upon a time, though, my perception of Harry Potter was very different. Let’s rewind to 2001, maybe early 2002. I was already an avid reader, and at the time, I had a girlfriend in university who also loved books. One long weekend, we went to an island, and it rained the whole day.
I had already finished the book I brought with me, and she suggested swapping books. That’s how I ended up skimming through Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or “Harry Potter’s first book,” as I called it back then). Why just skim? Well, I was 18, on a rainy day in a Caribbean island cabin—with my girlfriend. Let’s just say my focus was… elsewhere. Plus, the book was in Spanish, and I thought, I’d rather read this in English someday.
My perception? “Nice story, funny, but not my cup of tea.” Back then, I was reading The Name of the Rose and Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco—dense, intricate books that made Harry Potter feel almost too simple. Besides, I’d just seen the movie, so I assumed I knew what to expect.
Fast forward to today, I’m married to a wonderful baker who’s not just a Potterhead but also hangs out at Harry Potter events. We even went to the Harry Potter store in New York recently, and seeing her excitement there reminded me of how I feel in a museum.
That’s when I decided to revisit Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. On a couple of long flights, I loaded it onto my iPad. Before I knew it, I was halfway through the second book. And you know what? My perception changed completely.
Reading it as an adult—and having absorbed second-hand Potter knowledge from years of hearing my wife talk about it—I realized J.K. Rowling didn’t just write a clever children’s book; she created an immersive universe. Her narrative isn’t as intricate as Tolkien or Herbert, but it has a charm akin to George Lucas or Philip Pullman: simple, relatable, and incredibly engaging.
Why does this tie into perception? Because the book is all about it. It starts by introducing us to a magical world through Harry’s eyes—an orphan boy raised by his unpleasant relatives who suddenly discovers he’s a wizard and, not just any wizard, but one who’s famous in a world he knows nothing about.
Harry’s perception, shaped by years of mistreatment, collides with that of his peers like Ron and Hermione, who grew up in wizarding families and take magic for granted. The result is a delightful exploration of how different perspectives shape our understanding of the same world.
There’s this part where Dumbledore says, “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” Now, back in 2001, my 18-year-old brain heard that and went, “Huh, that’s deep, moving on.” But reading it now, it hits differently. I mean, leave it to Dumbledore to casually drop a life-altering perspective like it’s the weather report. He’s not just talking about death—he’s talking about everything we fear because we don’t understand it. I could almost hear him say, “Joel, stop assuming New York smells only like pee and rats—go have your day at the Museum”
If you’re looking for a fun, easy read that’s both entertaining and filled with subtle life lessons, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a great choice.