Sunday, April 15, 2018

Book Blogger Hop No. 128: Favorite Fictional Town



Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @





This Week's Question

Is there a fictitious town in a book
that you would love to live in?
What makes it so appealing?

(Submitted  by Elizabeth @





My Answer

Okay, it's not really a town, but a school. However, there's also a town associated with this school, that would be a LOT of fun to live in, at least part of the year! What town and school am I referring to? Drum roll....... the school is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the town is Hogsmeade!! Both are located in Scotland. There's also a London street associated with Hogwarts, called "Diagon Alley", which every Hogwarts student must visit in order to purchase school supplies. 

It would be SO AWESOME to be a student at Hogwarts, and stay there while studying all of the fascinating courses they offer, since it's also a boarding school.

The courses are not only fascinating, but fun, as well! I would LOVE to learn how to turn a teacup into a mouse, play Quidditch on the latest Nimbus edition broomstick (although I'm not that good at sports, lol), learn all about how to care for magical creatures (such as a hypogriff), and engage in magic wand duels for practice! Just being inside the school is SO much fun!! The stairs are constantly changing position, for example, so you can easily get lost, but then you can always ask one of the many portraits hanging on the walls, and one of them will point you in the right direction. (Yes, the portraits all talk and move.) And then there's "owl mail"! You can actually receive regular mail at the school, delivered by an owl. Then you can also use the Marauder's Map, to find the location of the secret tunnel that leads to Hogsmeade!!  

The boarding aspect of Hogwarts is part of all the fun. There are four "houses", or dorms, each having the last name of its founder. The houses are Gryffindor (this is Harry, Hermione, and Ron's house), Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, which is the house in which the series villain, Voldemort ("He Who Must Not Be Named") stayed while he was a student at the school. You don't just decide which house you want to stay in, either. Instead, you are "sorted" into the house that's just right for you, according to your temperament, since each house is known for certain character traits. And just HOW are you "sorted"? Well, with the Sorting Hat, naturally! This is a talking magical hat that is placed on each new student's head. After a few seconds on the student's head, the Hat will suddenly announce which house the student is supposed to go into. And the sorting takes place in the HUGE banquet hall, where all school meals are taken. (When it's breakfast, lunch, or dinnertime, the meals all magically appear on the tables, once the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, waves his magic wand.)

As you can see, it's very, very entertaining (as well as educational) to study and live at Hogwarts!! Find out more about the school HERE!



A studio model of Hogwarts at 
Warner Brothers Studios in
Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England.



According to Wikipedia, Hogsmeade is "...the only settlement in Britain solely inhabited by wizards, witches, and other magical beings, and is located to the northwest of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was founded by medieval wizard Hengist of Woodcroft.... Much of Hogsmeade's architecture reflects its medieval origin."

According to the fan site harrypotter.wikia.com, Hogsmeade "...is a picturesque little village of cottages and shops, with enchanted candles hanging in the trees during the holidays." Doesn't that sound FABULOUS? You can access the Hogsmeade page HERE. 



Hogsmeade Village in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".


There are some fun, interesting places at Hogsmeade, such as Dervish and Banges, which is a shop that sells and repairs magical instruments, Gladrags Wizardwear, which sells clothes for magical people, Madam Puddifoot's, a small teashop which is a popular spot for Hogwarts dating couples, and Zonko's Joke Shop, which sells hilarious jokes and tricks.

And then there's Diagon Alley! Here's where all Hogwarts students get their magical supplies before the beginning of each school year. You can find shops like Flourish and Blotts, a bookstore where you can buy magical textbooks, like Predicting the Unpredictable, The Invisible Book of Invisibility, and Gilderoy Lockhart's Magical Me. Next to this bookstore is Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, where Hogwarts students buy their required black uniform robes. The shop also sells dress robes for important occasions. Then there's Magical Menagerie, where magical creatures can be purchased. (Hermione bought her cat, "Crookshanks", there.) And of course Hogwarts students must purchase their magical wands at Ollivanders! The full name of the store is Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. Here, the wand chooses the wizard or witch, and not the other way around!    



The window of Flourish and Blotts, displaying copies of Magical Me, by Gilderoy Lockhart.



 The upper windows of Ollivanders



As you can see, I would LOVE to live in the Harry Potter universe! I would stay at Hogwarts during the school year, and then get a room at Hogsmeade during vacations. Of course, if Harry and the gang are up for some adventures,  I will DEFINITELY want to join them! In that case, I'd prefer to live at Hogwarts all year round! 




What are your thoughts on
this topic?
If you're participating in this hop,
I'll go comment on your 
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one 
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!  
 







14 comments:

  1. You aren’t the only one who wishes they could live at Hogwarts! There are a number of blogs I’ve seen that say the same. I remember when I first read HP and the Philosopher’s Stone, thinking of all those boarding school stories I used to read as a child. Hogwarts does the equivalent of midnight feasts and there are the bullies you work to defeat and mysteries to solve, just like in the Enid Blyton books. And I used to pretend that was me...

    If I was choosing somewhere in Middle-Earth, it would be Rivendell, I think, but it’s not a town.

    So...My chosen fictional town was Newford, Charles De Lint’s magical place somewhere in the US, where there are fairies in the local park and Native American spirits and you can go hear folk bands in the local cafe...

    https://suebursztynski.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/book-blogger-hop-fictional-towns.html

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Sue!

      Oh, I know!! There are a LOT of us Potterheads, worldwide!! We would ALL LOVE to live there!! :) :)

      Oh, I've never heard of Enid Blyton. I'll check out this author on Goodreads!

      I should have thought of Rivendell, although no, it's not really a town. But oh, it's SO WONDERFUL there, with all those elves!! A couple of other people participating this week mentioned this VERY magical place. Glad you were one of them!! :)

      OMG!!! OF COURSE!!! NEWFORD!! Now WHY didn't I think of THAT town? Although I've only read one of De Lint's books -- a short story collection titled "Dreams Underfoot" -- I LOVE his work!! Yes, Newford would have been a PERFECT choice!! Well, I'm glad YOU thought of it!!

      You know, I have a couple of other De Lint novels I want to read: "The Onion Girl" and "Widdershins". I'm really surprised that his books have not been turned into movies, because he's a TERRIFIC, and VERY imaginative, writer!

      Thanks for the GREAT comment!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  2. Fascinating topic and great post on it Maria. I suspect that Hogwarts would be a pick for a lot of people. J. K. Rowling has really created a magical place. I think that fantasy locales in general would be popular picks for this meme. There is something about magic and the entire atmosphere that is typical of fantasy literature that is attractive. As for the place that I would pick...I would have to give it some thought.

    Have a great Sunday Maria.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Brian!

      Yeah, indeed this is a fascinating topic!! I'm SO glad Elizabeth submitted this question!!

      You're right -- Hogwarts IS a pick for a lot of people. Several of the participants in this week's blog hop mentioned it. They also mentioned Hogsmeade, a town inhabited by magical folk, which is located fairly close to Hogwarts.

      J.K. Rowling is BRILLIANT!! Yes, she has created a WONDERFUL magical universe, one that many, many readers LOVE!! And I LOVE this quote from your comment: "There is something about magic and the entire atmosphere that is typical of fantasy literature that is attractive." Well said, Brian!! Yes, indeed, magic and fantasy speak to a very deep place within all of us who ADORE this genre. I think it's the wish to go back to childhood and experience the wonder and strangeness of the world for the very first time all over again. We also want to believe that magical things really DO happen. Oh, how I wish that all of these stories were true.....sigh.... As you know, I don't like the boring, humdrum, routine reality of Life. I yearn for the excitement of slaying some dragons (or befriending them, if they're nice ones, lol). And the whole thing about waving a magic wand and having certain things just happen? LOVE it!! I especially like the idea of waving a wand, and having the housework do itself! LOL.

      I should have thought of Rivendell or The Shire, in the LOTR books. But the Harry Potter series has really captured the imagination of SO many people, and the books and merchandise are SO ubiquitous nowadays, that Hogwarts and Hogsmeade (and, of course, Diagon Alley) were the first places that plopped into my mind, lol.

      If I had read "The Chronicles of Narnia" by now, I might have picked Narnia. Gee, that's yet ANOTHER book I need to read! Lol.

      If you think of a fictional fantasy place you'd like to live in, Brian, do come back and let know. I would LOVE to find out which one it is!

      Hope you're having a great Sunday, too!! Thanks for the great comment!! <3 :)

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  3. Wow on those photos, Maria. FAB!!

    Thanks for sharing all this information. As you know I have never read a Harry Potter book, but these photos are tempting.

    Always a TERRIFIC answer to the Blog Hop's questions.

    Thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Elizabeth!

      Yeah, aren't they GREAT? I got them from Wikimedia Commons, except for the one of Hogsmeade. That one has a copyright, but use is allowed on certain occasions, such as when one wants to discuss Hogsmeade, as I have done here.

      You're very welcome for the sharing! I know you don't read fantasy, but believe me, the Harry Potter books are a LOT of fun!! You might end up liking them! So give them a try!

      Awwww....thanks for the compliment!! And let me say that this a GREAT question, too!!

      You're more than welcome! Thanks for the lovely comment!! HUGS!! <3 :0

      Delete
    2. Yes...the photos are awesome.

      Glad you liked my question.

      Delete
    3. SURE did!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  4. I love your description of Hogwarts and the Harry Potter world and I know just what you mean - I'm hoping this summer to go to the Harry Potter World - I particularly want to visit Ollivanders because it has my son's wand in it - he was the young James Potter in the films and when he visited it, he said that his wand is actually there:))

    That said, I'd love to live in Bag End in The Shire - I'd fallen in love with the hobbit dwelling before I saw The Lord of the Rings films but they so perfectly recreated it... Thank you for a lovely post, Maria:)

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    1. Hi, Sarah!

      So sorry for the delayy in replying.....Life caught up with me again!

      Oh, thank you SO much for the compliment!! And I'm SO happy for you, because you're going to the Harry Potter World!!! YAAAAAY!!! I didn't know there was one in England!! HOW NICE!!

      Oh......WAIT A MINUTE!!!YOUR SON WAS A PART OF THE HARRY POTTER MOVIES?! OMG!!!!! And HE played THE YOUNG JAMES POTTER?! OMGGGGGGG..... Do you think I could have an autographed photo? OMG!!!! What a LUCKY kid!!!!

      Again, I apologize for the late reply..... :( I had not read this comment until now, so I didn't know that your son was actually in the films! What's his name? How old is he now? Which movie was he in? OMGGGG!!!! I STILL can't believe it!!!!!

      As for Bag End in The Shire, heck, I'd LOVE to live there, as well! I LOVE LOTR and Tolkien!!!! YAAAAASSSS!!!

      You're very welcome for the post!! And thank YOU for leaving such a SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS comment!!!! WOWZA!!!!! HUGS TO YOU & YOUR SON!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

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  5. Best answer! I'm still waiting for my letter to arrive haha :D

    Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles

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    1. Hi, Brittany!

      Awwww.....THANK YOU SO MUCH for the compliment!!

      Yeah, I'm still waiting for my letter, too!! :D

      Thanks for the great comment!! Hugs!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  6. Maria I also picked Hogsmeade but your answer is so much more detailed...love it as there's so many things to love about Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. I just want to live in Flourish & Blotts and keep all my money at Gringotts.

    Angelica @ Paperback Princess

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Angelica!

      YAAAAAAYY!!! You picked Hogsmeade, too!!! I think this was a popular choice for the hop!! And really, there are SO many fascinating things to check out in the HP universe.....sigh....how I wish I could study at Hogwarts..... and YEAH, living in Flourish & Blotts, with all of your money at Gringotts, sounds like a TERRIFIC idea!! I'm with you!!

      Thanks for the great comment!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete

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