the Harry Potter Phenomena
For many years now, the writings of J.K.Rowling have been hailed as the mechanism by which the youth of the world have been returned to the pleasures of reading…. a book! With follow-up movies and merchandising, Harry Potter has remained a popular figure in the minds of school children as we wait anxiously for the next instalment. But has the-return-to-reading rescue really occurred?
Some would argue that the interest has actually waned as the instalments have increased in volume. Do all but the die-hards really have the interest to tackle a 700 page volume (as in HP – and the Goblet of Fire)? And who is it that now waits eagerly for the final book to be released on July 21? Young readers or their parents who remained hooked on the phenomena? Readers might like to check out a recent article in the New York Times - Potter Has Limited Effect on Reading Habits, and then comment on how Harry Potter has impacted on their interest in reading.
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August 10th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Being a parent and librarian and three books behind with Harry Potter I was not hanging out for the new book for myself but bought it for my son, now 18 and at uni. He still loves HP and said his faith was restored in JKR in this 7th instalment as she “fixed” something which he had felt she’d mucked up with a character in the last book. Suitably criptic? I have no idea.
But a few memories of watching his journey with Harry:
When I brought the first one home from the library where I worked on the recommendation of the children’s librarian he said: “I don’t read books other people recommend.” He doesn’t remember this (would’ve been about 10) and laughed when I told him recently. Must have had a bored moment one day and read it anyway. I know that throughout the series he has always read books on the coat-tails of HP because of the pleasure of being absorbed in such a book. One day he came out of his room to tell me he had forgotten he was reading it was so absorbing. And I remember the first time I preordered HP for him he gave me a big hug and kiss - and he was bigger than me by that time. And when I think of all those kids who read and reread Harry I can’ think that it is anything but amazing. JKR certainly has done a great job. I think there are plenty of equally excellent books (many that I think are better written in literary terms) but I have no problem in praising her great achievement. Even if it has only raised adult opinion of children’s literature - and gotten a few more to read it - that is a great achievement. And I still have three good books to read in my dotage !
And , by the way, my daughter wouldn’t touch HP (or any other book) with a bargepole (but her boyfriend still reads them at 20).
Marita