When the first Harry Potter book came out, I read about 75 pages just to see what all the fuss was about. It was the newest publishing phenomenon and I wanted just a taste. After all, J.K. Rowling had written the book for children, not for adults. Yet Rowling's style and tone and especially her unwillingness to simplify or downgrade the language for a young audience impressed me. Rowling became a hero to young readers around the world as they devoured the tales of fantasy and adventure. Sales of the book reached astronomical heights and Harry Potter and everyone at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ignited the imaginations of millions of children and converted them into book lovers.
When I spotted the full set of Harry Potter books at a friend's home recently, she said she'd read them all even though there are no young children in her life. I would guess she's not alone, just one of many adults who've become fans of the series.
With the release of the eighth Harry Potter movie last week, newspapers and magazines devoted a lot of ink to the Harry Potter phenomenon. It's enticing and I feel myself drawn to the world of Harry, Ron, Hermione and the colorful cast of characters at Hogwarts. In addition, I'm intrigued by the effect of the books' language on the general population. "Muggle," for example. Rowling's word for a person without magical abilities has now become synonymous with persons who have no obvious skills. And, looking down the road, in the next year or two my granddaughter will probably venture into this world and I’d love to share it with her.
I think these are good reasons to join Harry Potter's world. I’m just wondering how many adults who are reading this blog have also read one or more of the books. I’d love to hear from you. You may post a comment here or email me at barbara.backus@yahoo.com.
