Digit-al Dozen DOES Books - For The Love Of Harry Potter

Hi Goddesses

Soooo, back to work for me today after a glorious week in the company of my daughter and the nail room, but I gotta tell you, a hard day’s work is as NOTHING compared to the hard work this week’s Digit-al Dozen challenge has caused.

This week we are doing Book Week.   And I love books.  So why the hardship?  Well, all the books I love, I couldn’t think of how to translate to the nail –

The Bell Jar

Wuthering Heights

The Time Traveller’s Wife

So then I ended up with a list of “doable” manis – 

Types of book

Types of fiction

Types of non fiction

And none of it inspired me at all.  And something happened which rarely does – for 2 days, I didn’t paint my nails.  I was paralysed by knowing I had to do this challenge, and I desperately didn’t want to do manis for the sake of doing manis – I wanted to produce something I loved.

But I had already done those things before – I did a whole 7 day Harry Potterthon last year,  I did a book worm this year, books I love which I feel I could translate, I have already.  Waaaaaaaah.  

So in the end, I succumbed, and picked things I could do and be happy with.  The other girls will, of course, knock it out of the park, especially Jacki, so sorry, but I promised myself this year I wouldn’t post average stuff or things I wasn’t happy with.

So although dear Harry Potter (again) isn’t my most inspired choice, it is THE book (series) which has had and continues to have the most impact.  I’m so proud of JK Rowling for reminding children why reading is such fun, and I love that Beth and I love reading it over and over and over.  Nothing sums it up better than this, one of my favourite quotes – 

The books also make me quite emotional.  They are for me, totally about love, from Lily’s sacrifice to Voldemort’s inability to love or understand love, to the bond between Harry, his friends and his teachers, and finally, about the love that inspires sacrifice.

My thumb shows Harry, the index The Deathly Hallows, the middle, a heart, for love, the ring finger shows the snitch, which opens so emotionally at the close, and the pinkie is the Slytherin locket horcrux which tests our trio’s love to breaking point.

Harry Potter is a phenomenon that will endure, but do me a favour.  When you think of it, don’t think of commerciality or the films or the theme parks, think about what lies at its heart – friendship, the fight for a better world, and the very best kinds of love.

Enjoy xx :)

Harry Potterthon Round Up

Hi Goddesses

Sometimes I can be the silliest of Crumpets.  I was chatting with my fellow Pottergeeks last week, and agreed to do a round-up post, just like we had at the end of the LOSTathon, and then I realised I rounded them all up yesterday in my Lazy sunday post.  Duh!

So, HERE is the link to Lazy Sunday, where you will find all my Harry Potterthon stuff.

HERE is the link to Beth's Harry Potter mani that she did for her birthday.

HERE is the link to Bee's Round Up post, featuring all her nail art ....

and here, below, are my favourites from the Harry Potterthon, both of them by Bee :)

Enjoy xx :)

Harry Potterthon Day 7 - The Deathly Hallows

Hi Goddesses

Aaah, has there ever been a book more eagerly awaited in the history of our times than The Deathly Hallows?  Kudos to JK Rowling, that's a helluva lot of pressure to handle, and handle it she did, producing a book that whilst not perfect (the saggy 2nd quarter, when she was delaying the juggernaut to come) is nevertheless rich, emotional and fitting.

Where do I start ?   I've read and re-read this book a few times now, and it is one of my favourites, possibly my 2nd or 3rd favourite.  I love every page from the moment Harry and Hermione return to Godric's Hollow.  I don't love the first third so much, but it's necessary.  I totally agree with Stephen King who said it needed "a good edit and less camping nonsense" lol, but all in all, I think she did us proud.

For my nails, I've gone with the ending of the book.  There are many things I love about TDH - the Malfoys, the jaunt to Gringotts, Snape Snape Snape, the real sense of "end of the world" terror - but I decided to go with what made me emotional.  (Well, I AM a drama queen).  Index to ring we have the snitch, the symbol of TDH and the Resurrection Stone.

My favourite part of the entire book is the moment when Harry uses the Resurrection Stone.  I was scared and intrigued as to what would happen.  Anyone who has lost a loved one knows all too well that need for a last hug or goodbye, so I was both fascinated and scared on Harry's behalf.

I think JKR handled this moment beautifully.   The moment Harry is joined by his parents, Sirius and - oh my god! - Remus, my heart just breaks and I blub EVERY TIME.   Then when Lily says "we are so proud of you darling" ... oh man, wow I'm filling up just writing this ... as someone who lost a parent, I know Harry would have given his entire life to hear those words.

I was incredibly worried about reaching this moment in the film, but bless their cotton socks, they didn't ruin it.  It's a moment so precious, so fragile .... ah, love it.

On the thumb we have one of the most heart-warming, heart-breaking, noble, decent acts in the entire book - the moment when Dobby comes to Harry's rescue in a BRILLIANT piece of plotting, and then his undeserved death.  Bless him.   I deliberately did this mani quite plain - with the gravestone under the sea sky, and on the dunes.  Ah, Dobby.

Now, one of my very favourite sequences in the entire book is the one that starts when Harry, Ron and Hermione turn up in Dumbledore's brother's pub and find the tunnel - with Neville! how I whooped - which leads to the Room of Requirement.  A few pages later, my heart sang with joy as all our friends came through the same tunnel including .... Percy "Sorry I've been a twat" Weasley!  Wonderful moment.

So I wanted to honour Neville on my nails.   I love that he has a big role at the end, as he so easily could have been the child that Voldemort killed all those years ago.  I also love how he stood up to everyone and re-roused Dumbledore's Army. And then .... just when the battle is not going well and there is One More Horcrux left ... out steps Neville, all defiant and proud, and proves himself the bravest Gryffindor of all.  Oh I cheered (again) and wiped away a little tear (again).

2 more thoughts before I leave you.   What is that whole nonsense about when Harry and Dumbledore chat at the heavenly train station?  What complete bollocks, and it *almost* ruins all the good things JKR has built up before this moment.

Secondly, I was rather surprised at an emotion this book roused in me.  I am a pacifist.  I don't believe war solves anything, and should be avoided at all costs.  And yet, as I read the book, I realised this was a war I WOULD have fought in, for the progress of evil must be stopped at all costs, and when Molly Weasley shouts "Not my daughter you bitch" at the hideous Bellatrix, not only did I cheer (again), but I genuinely smiled, because once again, the love of a mother had triumphed in this story.

Ok, I'm about to go now, and thank you for letting me ramble on.  I'm going to leave you with a famous quote which I think sums up the darkness of the last few books.   Tomorrow, there will be a round-up post.  Thank you, and I hope you've enjoyed.  Don't forget to check out Bee's mani today either xxx  :)

Harry Potterthon Day 6 - Half Blood Prince

Hi Goddesses

After the hideousness of all that is Order of The Phoenix, Half Blood Prince was a welcome return to form, with slicker writing, actual plot and fabulous goings on.

To be fair, this is the book I probably know the least well.  I think I've read it twice, which is a lot less than most of the others.  I adored the whole Horcrux plot - scary and fantastical, all at the same time - and that mystery drove the book in a fascinating way.  For me, I didn't mind that the answers were slow in coming, because the learnings along the way were so rich, myth-drenched and unexpected (we get to see Voldemort as a CHILD, you say?).

I also think this is where Harry Potter fandom reached its zenith.  I remember all the boards puzzling about the Horcruxes and what they might be - fabulous stuff, and exactly the sort of thing you want to be a geek about :)

You'll be amazed to know I resisted the urge to do *more* blood this time (just) - heaven forbid I should be predictable, and instead I went for some iconic images from the book.

* thumb - Slughorn as an armchair.  Slughorn holds the key to much of this book and so needed to be honoured

* index - the pensieve, which provided so much of the action in this book, with 1 thought in it :)

* middle finger - the golden locket, swimming in its green liquid at the cave

* the ring which contained another Horcrux - and which provided the impetus for Dumbledore's quest

* pinkie - Dumbledore's beard, white and silver

I wish JK Rowling could go back in time and rewrite Order of the Phoenix, I truly do.  When you read the really good books, it heightens the disappointment of OOTP.  

One last word, hands up if you hated the movie makers for bailing on the battle at Hogwarts?  I remember watching the so-so film and waiting for it to hot up ... and then it ended.  WTF ?   Lame.  L-ame.

See you tomorrow for the final instalment - The Deathly Hallows.  Enjoy xx :)

Kerrie Black: http://pishposhandpolish.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma Hoop: http://manicurity.blogspot.com/

Bee Justice: http://beepolished.blogspot.com/

Abby: http://scarletnaildiaries.blogspot.com/

Julie: http://ofknitandnails.blogspot.ca

Sam : http://legiolinde.blogspot.com

Harry Potterthon Day 5 - Order of The Phoenix

Hi Goddesses

So after the euphoria and intricate plotting of Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire, what did JK Rowling do ?  Took a great big fat poo and deposited it over 766 tedious pages.

I am huge JK Rowling supporter, so I like that she admitted how much she struggled with this book; how the birth of her son interrupted her flow and gave her writer's block; and how it wasn't quite the sum of its parts.   Nevertheless, expectations were *hideously* high, and interesting though the concept of an Order is, the book seems to have no narrative thrust whatsoever, and I really, and I mean REALLY, struggled to think of ideas for nails.

In the end, I settled on Ms Dolores Umbridge, quite possible the scariest character in the Potterverse.  All sugary pink and saccharine sweet on the outside, and pure distilled Nazi on the inside.  There is something utterly disturbing about her, and she is without doubt the most "real" character in any of the books.  How many politicians do we see on a daily basis proclaiming they act in the interests of the Greater Good, when the only God they serve is themselves ?

I could go on, but I won't :)  The only other thing I'll say is that I thought Imelda Staunton captured her impeccably in the films - an utterly brilliant realisation.

So, what do I love about this book?  Not much.  It's my least favourite of them all (although I'm not a Chambers fan, at least THAT book is shorter).   I love Bellatrix, I was itching to know the precise words of the prophecy (shock, Neville!), and I loved the fight scene at the Ministry of Magic.

And then poor Sirius.  I am disappointed in JKR here, but I know why she did it.  Arthur Weasley was supposed to die, but she changed her mind at the last minute, and chose Sirius instead.   Whilst Harry's pain (and Remus's concern) were moving, I think she killed him off too quickly - I am sure there was more story to tell.  I understand the concept of the hero walking into the final battle alone, but how much better if Sirius had died in Half Blood Prince, or at the start of Deathly Hallows (instead of Mad Eye).

One final word on the nails.  I like them.  I feel I have captured the essence of Dolores.  I love how 4 nails are super twee and then the ring finger is totally jarring and a little disturbing.  So thanks, Dolores, for prompting me to finally crack out all the cat stamps lol.  The index finger by the way is the houndstooth design of her main outfit in the film.   And if you haven't guessed, the accent nail is the scratches that appear on Harry's arm spelling "I must not tell lies" - utterly barbaric.

As ever, don't forget to check on my lovely cohorts.  We're posting through the weekend .... and then rounding up on Monday ... at which time, there MAY be a little extra surprise mani :)

Enjoy xx :)

Kerrie Black: http://pishposhandpolish.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma Hoop: http://manicurity.blogspot.com/

Bee Justice: http://beepolished.blogspot.com/

Abby: http://scarletnaildiaries.blogspot.com/

Julie: http://ofknitandnails.blogspot.ca

Sam : http://legiolinde.blogspot.com

Harry Potterthon Day 4 : Goblet of Fire

Hi Goddesses

So here we are, halfway through already, and look what we have today - the biggest, fattest book ever lol.

To be fair, although GOF is huge, it's massively enjoyable, and I don't begrudge it any of its 636 pages (unlike Order of The Phoenix, but we'll discuss that tomorrow).  For the most part, GOF romps along, and then, at the end - KAPOW!!!  Fabulous exposition, magic and witchcraft.  Ka and boom!

I love the ending of GOF, and by ending I mean every moment from when they enter the maze.   It's just fabulously paced, shocking (Cedric!) and full of myth.  It's also one of those hugely emotional moments that make Harry Potter so vivid for me.  When Harry and Voldemort's wands collide and invoke Priori Incantatem, I can feel Harry's pain as his parents stand alongside him and protect him from evil.  As I mentioned before, as someone who has lost a parent, these are the moments I most strongly identify with, and my heart breaks everytime he realises he can't hold on to the moment forever.

So today's nails don't capture Mad Eye, the World Cup, the Death Mark, the tents, and all the other things I thought about, and instead they focus solely on those spine-tingling moments in the graveyard.

The thumb represents the maze, and is a mixture of a-England Dragon and Saint George (am I the only one who finds this ironic?  A battle of good and evil within a battle of good and evil lol).

The other nails are all on a base of OPI Metallic 4 Life and feature the bone of a forefather, the flesh of a loyal servant and the blood of a mortal enemy.  The pinkie is the moment Harry and Voldemort's wands fuse together and allow Harry's parents to protect him.

Thank you for all your comments so far.  I think we've all found this a hugely enjoyable challenge, so make sure you check out each and every one of the lovely ladies HPing it with me :)

Kerrie "Sirius" Black: http://pishposhandpolish.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma Hoop: http://manicurity.blogspot.com/

Bee Justice: http://beepolished.blogspot.com/

Abby: http://scarletnaildiaries.blogspot.com/

Julie: http://ofknitandnails.blogspot.ca

Sam : http://legiolinde.blogspot.com