the restricted section
I actually think JK Rowling was rather brilliant in NOT making books very central to her series. (The book signing scene in Flourish & Blott’s in Chamber of Secrets is hilariously spot-on!). But the library in Hogwarts is a thing of beauty:
The Restricted Section was right at the back of the library. Stepping carefully over the rope that separated these books from the rest of the library, he held up his lamp to read the titles.
They didn’t tell him much. Their peeling, faded gold letters spelled words in languages Harry couldn’t understand. Some had no title at all. One book had a dark stain on it that looked horribly like blood. The hairs on the back of Harry’s neck prickled. Maybe he was imaging it, maybe not, but he thought a faint whispering was coming from the books, as though they knew someone was there who shouldn’t be.
He had to start somewhere. Setting the lamp down carefully on the floor, he looked along the bottom shelf for an interesting-looking book. A large black and silver volume caught his eye. He pulled it out with difficulty, because it was very heavy, and, balancing it on his knee, let it fall open.
A piercing, bloodcurdling shriek split the silence – the book was screaming!
-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
