The magic returns! Yes, Potterheads, you can experience your favorite wizarding story again with this new and, quite frankly, phenomenal podcast during your self-isolation. Harry Potter at Home is pretty much an audiobook on tape, which will be read chapter by chapter once a week. The catch? Each episode will be read by a revolving door of celebrities from Potter alum to celebrity fans. The first episode, chronicling the first chapter of The Philosopher’s Stone, is read by “The Boy Who Lived” himself, Daniel Radcliffe. And what a journey it is.
If you have read the book (which, seriously, why haven’t you?), then you know how the story goes. Each fan has a different way of picturing scenes and reading dialogue. Dan Rad is no different, interpreting each word with subtle love. His pronunciations and use of pauses in the right moments are a new and fun way of shaping the narrative. I never knew I needed to hear Dan Rad saying “would you like a lemon drop?” or sounding exasperated whilst doing a Minerva McGonagall impression. These are things most of us growing up reading the books did not think of. We’ve also had the film portrayals engraved in our minds for nearly 20 years. Every line is carefully read by Dan Rad, and I loved it. Will this trend keep with a Knight’s Bus-filled guest list? Who knows, but for now, I’m in!
One last thing. When Harry Potter made his way overseas, my first experience was a reading to my 3rd grade class by our teacher. I was enthralled, while the rest of my class appeared bored. However, she stopped after Chapter 3! CHAPTER 3! If you know anything about this book, that is a cliffhanger sure to make the heart stop. As I got home, I told my parents about this book and how I just needed to know what happened. Less than a week later, a copy of The Philosopher’s Stone (the American title sucks) appeared and I devoured it in less than a day.
My Grandmother had purchased it for me and was astonished I read it so quickly. She never once failed to buy me each and every single book in the series from beginning to end. THAT is what Harry Potter means to me. Every time this cultural phenomenon creeps its way into my life, I think about my late Grandma, and how this was really all because of her. I did the same as Daniel started reading from the first word to the last. That is real magic.
