I can remember the first time I read "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone." I was sick while my family and I were on vacation at the YMCA in Estes Park, Colorado. The book had already been out for a handful of years (it was published in 1997) and the first movie had most likely already premiered (this occurred in 2001) but I was still quite young. As far as my reactions to the book, I have no clue what I thought about it. Most likely, I was confused and probably a little bit scared.

My mother could probably speak to this but my memory is foggy on that subject (and unfortunately many others). I am more than sure that the book was deemed too dark and too mature for such an audience as myself, because I know that I didn’t start the book again until the earlier movies assured me that Harry would be just fine because of all of his really great friends and Dumbledore (I was young, OK?).

With each new book or movie, I would start reading the series over again. This sounds more impressive than it actually is, however. Note that I did not revisit "Harry Potter" until later, therefore the books were already five or six deep, and the movies trailed not far behind. I attended only a few book premieres, but made them count by dressing as Hermione as accurately as I could.

One year I wore a wig that was intended to be Belle’s from "Beauty and the Beast" but ended up being equivalent to a tumbleweed. (See? A very accurate costume.) That same year I wore a black trash bag as a Hogwarts robe though, so you can’t win them all. Apparently, I made up for it by quoting Hermione in my best British accent and saying, “Oh move ohhver. Alohomora!,” at doors throughout the evening.

As of this past summer, I have read all seven books in a row seven times. This is not in anyway a means of boasting my reading talents, but rather my extreme dorky-ness and appreciation for J.K. Rowling’s talents. There are most likely people out there who have read the series even more times than I have because they got a head start. And there is a reason we all reread the books. Maybe the reason is different for everyone. Maybe there are a few reasons. It could be because of nostalgia, preparation for a new book or movie, the inability to find anything better than "Harry Potter" (likely), or maybe the fascination with the genius that is Rowling. I have experienced all of these things at different times, and at the same time. The most prominent reason these days is the fascination with genius.

Each time I reread the books I find something new that I’ve never noticed before. I discover a character that was mentioned once in "Chamber of Secrets" that comes back in "Deathly Hallows." I realize that an object that is thrown aside in "Prisoner of Azkaban" comes back in "Half-Blood Prince." My favorite character changes every time I reread the books. My favorite character has never been Harry. Sirius Black is mentioned in the very first chapter of "Sorcerer’s Stone" but you don’t think about him again until he becomes one of the most important people in Harry’s life.

Rowling’s brilliant planning and storytelling provides you with clues about the Horcruxes from the very first book onward. Every one on planet earth will continually tell you that the books are better than the movies, in every situation. They may say it in a very know-it-all-like fashion, but they would be right when it comes to "Harry Potter." Did the movies change my life? Yes, of course. But they could never show as much detail and backstory and feeling as the books could. The movies provide next to no information about Voldemort’s life. In the books, you’re actually given an opportunity to feel bad for him.

I will conclude my rant and my shameless plug by saying that "Harry Potter" will never just be a phase. Perhaps you read the books once when they first came out and never revisited them. If you learned anything from my babbling, it should be that rereading the books was one of the best decisions I’ve made (in life and in literature). Yeah, the books are big and they may take you awhile, but let yourself work through them so you can learn and remember all of the magic and mystery.

Allow yourself to get a little choked up when someone dies and freak out when you notice something new. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend using a black trash bag as a Hogwarts robe but do whatever it takes to get back into the spirit of "Harry Potter." It might just change your life.