Harry Potter

"Do not pity the dead Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love"

-Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Harry Potter series, written by J.K Rowling is one of the most influential book series of all time, if not the most influential and successful. The seven books have been made into eight extremely successful movies, a theme park at Universal Studios, and have created another entire world for the Potter fans. 

J.K Rowling's series was targeted at Generation Y (my generation). The span over which she wrote and published her seven books allowed the reader to grow up with the main characters. When Harry Potter was eleven in the first book, the targeted audience was readers ages nine to eleven. This brilliant writing technique ensured that she would have fans and readers for at least seven years. With the seventh and final book being released in 2007 and the final movie premiering July of this year, it seems that the phenomenon of Harry Potter is over. For many readers, Harry Potter was their childhood, and now their childhood is over. 

I have read all seven books and seen all eight movies, but I am not the typical Harry Potter reader. While most of my friends began reading Harry Potter in third or fourth grade, I didn't start reading the books until I was seventeen. As a child, I loved to read for quite some time, but I noticed that I wasn't remembering everything that I read. Although I was tested gifted in second grade and remained a part of the gifted program throughout high school, I struggled with reading comprehension as a child and still do to this day. I read extremely fast, but unless I am very interested in the subject material, I won't remember a thing. So, as a senior in high school, I finally got the courage and motivation to read the Harry Potter series. Though I was made fun of by many of my friends for reading it so late, I don't care. 

J.K Rowling is the best writer I know (well, I don't know her) and the Harry Potter series are my favorite books. I'm actually asking for them for Christmas :) If you haven't read the books, I encourage you to read them. Yes, they're extremely long. But, they don't feel long (except the 4th and 5th..my fellow readers understand) because the stories are that captivating. Sure, the movies are great. They really are. But if you truly want to understand the love of Harry Potter, read the books. This is coming from someone who doesn't enjoy reading and struggles with it. That means they're pretty darn good. 

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals" 

-Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire