I LOVE them! I read them as an adult and loved them so much I did midnight bookstore release parties as the later books came out. I even cried my eyes out when I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in CA because it meant to much to me–and I’m not a crier! 🙂 Enjoy!
@Andrea, I worked in a library as they came out one by one and watched as the children reading them grew up as the characters in the book grew up. You may find the first couple of them a bit too young but preserver because they get darker and more sophisticated as they go along. It’s worth the read for sure.
I had not read them either, but my friend gave me the first two and I was hooked. I didn’t watch the movie for each one until I finished the book. The nice thing is I didn’t have to wait for the next book or movie to come out.
Lol. I’ve read them all, they are addictive tales. But I don’t think they will stand up in 100 years time in the same way the Brontes, Shakespeare, the Romantics do. Over-sentimental and mumsy. My main objection to them is they over-simplify adolescence. These are, effectively, teens who never really grow up, have sex, experiment with drugs, get in trouble with the police etc. The premise underlying the series is ridiculous.
@Dominic I think that’s the same with a lot of modern books though to be fair. Isn’t the target audience adolescents? And I think part of the point is to have it separate to reality the wizard world isn’t the same as ours, the equivalent there is messing with potions and spells and they do get into trouble at school. I wouldn’t consider them classics but they will always be popular for that reason. One of my biggest reasons to read is escapism and this grants that for me.
Yes all of that is true. But I worry that the series’ cultural influence is disproportionate to its quality: the books have authored many millennial attitudes toward society, but a lot of the HP series is lies which is a problem: adolescence isn’t really like that and neither is the world (maybe one reason why depression is rife among the younger generations); the folklore references are not invented but borrowed, the characters are 2 dimensional, and the ideas are not original – many owe a lot to writers like Jill Murphy and John Masefield and CS Lewis. On the surface it has ripping plots, dazzling effects and easy archetypes, yet scratch the surface and it is a disappointingly shallow series that is over-indulged and under-criticised. 🙂
I also think the final book should have featured Ron betraying Harry and joining forces with Voldemort over the love of Hermione. I suspect JKR had originally planned to write this (to mirror Pettigrew’s betrayal of James & Lily) but bottled it because of the shippers. I got kicked out of a Harry Potter fan group for suggesting this ?. This is part of the problem with the HP fan groups: many are militant and ungenerous to literary views that don’t fit the prescribed HP religion they have created.
Have any of you HP fans found similar books/series that you liked as much? I’m reading them to my sons and already worrying about what will satisfy us in their wake.
I have read each one 2 times. Once when it came out, once before the movie came out . Most of them I’ve read 3 times actually. I even waited at the store until midnight for 3 of them.
I enjoyed them very much. My impression is, the first one is more geared toward younger kids but after that it was geared for more young adult/ adult readers.
I remember when the last book came out on a Friday night. My sons had a swim meet the next morning. I swear that every single kid had their nose buried in the book, which meant a whole lot of parents were out at midnight getting copies the night before, when they weren’t actually swimming. And the hilarious part is that the cover of the book matched their team suits. I wish I had a picture 🙂
I’m reading through them now. First timer reading the whole series I’m on half blood prince right now Sooo so good. And yes the series is living up to it’s hype. I have no clue how it all ends I read the book then watch the movie
I love them. You certainly dont have to be a child to enjoy them! I read them with my son years ago and have since read them several times over by myself.
I have such an emotional connection to these books. Started reading them with my mom. We systematically read every book and then watched every movie together…except the last one. She passed away right before the last movie came out. These books really shine a light on love, family and grief. Enjoy. Every. Word.
Average books. A lot of plot holes that are filled in by questions to author after she has heard popular option about her own books. And, there was a push to finish the books quickly. This cut down on quality of the last book. The first and the fourth are what I liked. But, there are hard core fans of the second book – don’t argue with them..
Love them. Went on the hunt for the original covers 2yrs ago. I’m looking at getting the newer covers so I can wear them out. Haha. In the beginning, when I was about 10, i didn’t want to read it as a friend was raving about it. She checked out the book for me to read one chapter a night and tell her what I thought about it. For the first 3 chapters I was able to get away with saying How much I enjoyed it, then she started her hints of things that happened and asked a few questions that I needed to know the details for. She was sure to find out the next day I didn’t read it. So I started, and of course, I got hooked and read 4 chapters that night. If only I had the time to read that much in one go. And enough patience to do it. Haha. It was from then, I got hooked. And got frustrated when there were none to read until the following year. Then I had to read quickly again as another friend had finished Half Blood Prince and wanted someone to talk to about it, but didn’t want to ruin it for anyone else. I finished within the week. Haha.
I read your post to my wife. She was stunned and said only amazing. She has her Master in Elementary Education. She has read them several times and even have them on audiobooks. They are not “kiddy books “. Young adult for sure. Some of the story line, I think, is on the dark side.
They’re definitely YA, not “children’s books.” That said, they were my favorite books when I was younger, until I discovered my current favorite books (The Wheel of Time) in like the 6th grade.
Amazing! Read all of them twice. Going back again soon
after I finesh the book Im reading Im going to start reading them
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️the best
How many books are there
7.
THE BEST
Do you like fantasy?
yes I do like fantasy
@Andrea it might be for you especially if you don’t mind books about younger heroes
I just finished the last book a couple nights ago! Do it! You won’t be disappointed!
I loved them
Yes!!! The best!! Only series that I have read over and over and never get tired of it.
I LOVE them! I read them as an adult and loved them so much I did midnight bookstore release parties as the later books came out. I even cried my eyes out when I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in CA because it meant to much to me–and I’m not a crier! 🙂 Enjoy!
Yes I love them
My daughter read the series a few times before I decided to read them. I admit that I also listened to the audiobooks. I totally enjoyed the series.
I haven’t either. 50 years old and never picked them up yet.
They are on my “booket” list though.
Someday…
well Im going to library today and check the first one out and start reading it
Very good
@Andrea, I worked in a library as they came out one by one and watched as the children reading them grew up as the characters in the book grew up. You may find the first couple of them a bit too young but preserver because they get darker and more sophisticated as they go along. It’s worth the read for sure.
Thanks for all your comments I am going to read them
I had not read them either, but my friend gave me the first two and I was hooked. I didn’t watch the movie for each one until I finished the book. The nice thing is I didn’t have to wait for the next book or movie to come out.
No they are rubbish.
@Dominic do you really not like them?
Lol. I’ve read them all, they are addictive tales. But I don’t think they will stand up in 100 years time in the same way the Brontes, Shakespeare, the Romantics do. Over-sentimental and mumsy. My main objection to them is they over-simplify adolescence. These are, effectively, teens who never really grow up, have sex, experiment with drugs, get in trouble with the police etc. The premise underlying the series is ridiculous.
@Dominic I think that’s the same with a lot of modern books though to be fair. Isn’t the target audience adolescents? And I think part of the point is to have it separate to reality the wizard world isn’t the same as ours, the equivalent there is messing with potions and spells and they do get into trouble at school. I wouldn’t consider them classics but they will always be popular for that reason. One of my biggest reasons to read is escapism and this grants that for me.
Yes all of that is true. But I worry that the series’ cultural influence is disproportionate to its quality: the books have authored many millennial attitudes toward society, but a lot of the HP series is lies which is a problem: adolescence isn’t really like that and neither is the world (maybe one reason why depression is rife among the younger generations); the folklore references are not invented but borrowed, the characters are 2 dimensional, and the ideas are not original – many owe a lot to writers like Jill Murphy and John Masefield and CS Lewis. On the surface it has ripping plots, dazzling effects and easy archetypes, yet scratch the surface and it is a disappointingly shallow series that is over-indulged and under-criticised. 🙂
I also think the final book should have featured Ron betraying Harry and joining forces with Voldemort over the love of Hermione. I suspect JKR had originally planned to write this (to mirror Pettigrew’s betrayal of James & Lily) but bottled it because of the shippers. I got kicked out of a Harry Potter fan group for suggesting this ?. This is part of the problem with the HP fan groups: many are militant and ungenerous to literary views that don’t fit the prescribed HP religion they have created.
Brilliant
Very good
Have any of you HP fans found similar books/series that you liked as much? I’m reading them to my sons and already worrying about what will satisfy us in their wake.
@Ann for young adults the percy Jackson series
@Ann no and it makes me cry
Miss peregrine’s home for peculiar children series. x
I literally sat and cried when I finished reading hp because it was over, I was an emotional wreck ? and my husband just didn’t understand ??
I read them 4 times. Really enjoyed them.
I have read each one 2 times. Once when it came out, once before the movie came out . Most of them I’ve read 3 times actually. I even waited at the store until midnight for 3 of them.
Best books I have ever read!!!!
Harry Potter books are some of the most popular books of all time – I think they would be considered `good` lol
YYYYEEEEESSSSS!!!!
I enjoyed them very much. My impression is, the first one is more geared toward younger kids but after that it was geared for more young adult/ adult readers.
@Karen they were meant to grow with the reader
Loved them all
Life changing
so many wonderful insights in them. I LOVED them.
Great book have read them multiple times x
Great.
Personally I find them overrated. Prefer Philip Pullman’s work.
I remember when the last book came out on a Friday night. My sons had a swim meet the next morning. I swear that every single kid had their nose buried in the book, which meant a whole lot of parents were out at midnight getting copies the night before, when they weren’t actually swimming. And the hilarious part is that the cover of the book matched their team suits. I wish I had a picture 🙂
Read them to my daughter, it’s a great book series.
I don’t like them, read the first two. But then I don’t really like fantasy.
I read them as a child, not sure if they’d have the same impact if I read them for the first time as an adult x
They’re great.
They are amazing and if you have seen the movies, you’ll find that the books are 1000% better.
I’m reading through them now. First timer reading the whole series I’m on half blood prince right now Sooo so good. And yes the series is living up to it’s hype. I have no clue how it all ends I read the book then watch the movie
@Jolina me too! I’ve seen the first two movies and stopped watching them. I’m on Half Blood Prince as well. I love the books!!
@Kiley I really like half blood prince! What do you think of it? ?
r thy gd,r u kiddin me,they r awesum
If you are a 10 year old
I read them to my 10 year old. I’m not sure who loved them more!
They’re awesome
❤️Harry Potter
I love them. You certainly dont have to be a child to enjoy them! I read them with my son years ago and have since read them several times over by myself.
Im re-reading then at the moment on book 5 ??
I loved them ?
FANTASTIC
I thought it was cute but its very childish. Some people love them. I just need a more adult book.
I loved them!
I have such an emotional connection to these books. Started reading them with my mom. We systematically read every book and then watched every movie together…except the last one. She passed away right before the last movie came out. These books really shine a light on love, family and grief. Enjoy. Every. Word.
Very good
Average books. A lot of plot holes that are filled in by questions to author after she has heard popular option about her own books. And, there was a push to finish the books quickly. This cut down on quality of the last book. The first and the fourth are what I liked. But, there are hard core fans of the second book – don’t argue with them..
They are wonderful books, enjoy!?
I think that sales figures of 400 million says they must be good ?
I like them. I just feel like they’re way too over-hyped. Like they’re good. But not they’re not the best books in the world
Listen to the audiobooks.
Magical
They are amazing
If you enjoy reading children’s books, then go for it! Otherwise, I’d give them a miss and read something written for grown ups.
@David Harry Potter is written for all ages in my opinion
They’re found in the children’s section of my local Waterstone’s, and my local library. So, in their opinion, I suspect they’re children’s books.
However, if, as an adult, you can’t find a grown up book to read, then I suspect Harry Potter books would make an excellent choice.
YES
of course
neither have and I don’t intend to… lolol I hate hyped up books 😛
Books are why better then the movies, there was a lot left out
I enjoyed the first one, but had trouble getting into them after that.
Love them. Went on the hunt for the original covers 2yrs ago. I’m looking at getting the newer covers so I can wear them out. Haha.
In the beginning, when I was about 10, i didn’t want to read it as a friend was raving about it. She checked out the book for me to read one chapter a night and tell her what I thought about it. For the first 3 chapters I was able to get away with saying How much I enjoyed it, then she started her hints of things that happened and asked a few questions that I needed to know the details for. She was sure to find out the next day I didn’t read it. So I started, and of course, I got hooked and read 4 chapters that night. If only I had the time to read that much in one go. And enough patience to do it. Haha. It was from then, I got hooked. And got frustrated when there were none to read until the following year. Then I had to read quickly again as another friend had finished Half Blood Prince and wanted someone to talk to about it, but didn’t want to ruin it for anyone else. I finished within the week. Haha.
Omg they are THE best books! My favorites
They are amazing!
So much fun ❤️
I read your post to my wife. She was stunned and said only amazing. She has her Master in Elementary Education. She has read them several times and even have them on audiobooks. They are not “kiddy books “. Young adult for sure. Some of the story line, I think, is on the dark side.
They’re definitely YA, not “children’s books.” That said, they were my favorite books when I was younger, until I discovered my current favorite books (The Wheel of Time) in like the 6th grade.
They are amazing
You know what I’m in the same boat I have never in my life or read Harry Potter books I have seen all the movies but not read the books
I started the first one and never finished it.
Definitely a must read if you like fantastical fiction!
When you start read them make sure to read them in order you are going to LOVE them!!
Incredible, magical, wonderful.
I am so jealous. I wish I could read them all for the first time again!
First two are lovely but I feel I’m more into towards older children, however once you get to book 3 and beyond they are incredible.
???? YOU MUST!
Absolutely !!!
Loved them better than the films
They are great to listen to in audiobook format, wonderful narrators.
I would love to join