Before I get too much further, let me just say “Yes, Rach, I know I’m a dork!”
In my friends circle, I am definitely the one who is almost child like in my obsession with Harry Potter. It’s an obsession that was slow to grow (I actually hated the book when it was first read to me in Library class during year 7) but is now fully fledged, right down to the HP themed tattoo that I have had designed.
People see me reading the books and ask when I am going to grow up and out of my infatuation with the seven part series – my response is generally “Are you serious?” which doesn’t tend to go down too well.
Harry Potter signifies a lot of different things to different people. For me, it was the escape from the teenager angst that plagues all of us. It continues to be my escape from a reality that drives me batty at stages.
The main theme of HP is that you can achieve whatever you want to – if you try hard enough. It’s about recognising that the biggest power of your life is harnessed within yourself and your own misgivings about your strengths.
I am a “Potter-Head” and don’t see myself growing out of this any time soon. I can sit and read the books for hours on end and watch the movies at the same time. I would be lying if I said I have never dreamed of reaching the sacred walls of Hogwarts, or that I have never gotten cranky at my mother for clearly hiding my Hogwarts acceptance letter.
When I read my bibles HP books, it feels as though all the stresses and unfairness of the world melts away and leaves me alone while I follow Harry through whatever trial and tribulation he is beating at the moment.
I don’t see how I am any worse than the adults who are obsessed with Twilight, Tru Blood or the like – they are all fantasies and ones that we all know will never be real. I think it’s because Harry Potter is viewed as a childs series and has no real connection to “real” life, whatever that may be.
Aside from the universal popularity, even on a “bad” movie (HP’s worst grossing film Prizoner of Azkaban still grossed $90M more than Twilights best movie Eclipse) Harry Potter has a wide and varied audience. School aged kids to adults like me all have a little piece of something that can identify with in the film: for me, it’s that feeling of never quite fitting but always trying to that Neville Longbottom struggles with.
I guess you could say Harry Potter ending was one of the “big” things in my life – at the end of 7.1, I didn’t cry because of the death scene, I cried because I knew that there was only one more movie and after that, they were done. No more. Finito. KaPut.
What do you think about Harry Potter? Do you love it, hate it, obsess over it, plan your wedding to one of the Weasley twins?
I would love to hear your views on the matter. But until then, mischief managed…
Ramblings of a Ringless Wife 
My girls have friends who have neither read these books or watched the films, because they are “devils work”. It’s a shame that some people can’t see past the magic, to the stories underneath. 😦
They are missing out on so much. The sad thing is the same people don’t see anything wrong with Lord of the Rings. Go figure……
the magic so superficial to the real stories underneath. I know who you’re talking about, and it makes me feel sad that they won’t get to to experience it.
Maybe they see LOTR differently because the magic is not so obvious? It is just an underlying current (on which the whole movie is based) whereas HP it is obviously in your face?
It’s ok. My sisters and I can perform Avada Kevadra like pro’s!!!
xxxx
I basically grew up with Harry Potter myself. I am 20 years now and have been following the story from around my 11th year. I am not ashamed at all, but rather proud of the fact that I classify the series amongst my favorites.
At one point I had a really hard time in RL and Harry Potter helped me overcome thoughts of suicide – that’s how strong the books are. The magic itself is not in the wand swishing, but the world JKR has created and the wise words she has written. HP might have been childish the first three books, but it gets more mature as it goes and I think that’s what makes it perfect, at least for those of us who have grew up with the series – the series grew up with us too. (:
i liked feeling like i grew up with the characters too: it was as if they could partake in what we felt because they felt it too!
I am 42 and think Harry Potter Rocks! Will be reading it (all of them) again in the next school holidays… Someone has ‘borrowed’ my last book though and I do need to find it, or have my darling daughter buy me a new copy, or loan me hers?????
can lend you my spare one 😀 xxx
I’m 22, I read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban first. And that didn’t seem like a weird thing to do at the time. I remember it was a bit of a guilty pleasure thing. I was ten when I picked it up from the floor of my brother’s room and I’ve never put the series down. It’s funny because for a long time before I did read it, I refused to, purely because everyone else was reading it at the time (hipster before it was cool).
But there’s something about the way we ‘grew’ with Harry and Ron and Hermione that made growing up a little bit fun. I was 17 when the last book came out and that just seemed perfect to me.
Why not have a little bit of Harry? My friends think I’m a major nerd and a wee bit obsessive, but they still buy me Harry Potter themed gifts. So that’s all that matters right?
The first time I learnt of Harry’s existence, I hated him with a passion. We were forced to listen to a teacher read it aloud and I couldn’t stand it!
But I picked it up one day of my own volition and fell in love with the stories.
You are right in that growing up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione was what made the book magic – we could understand, identify and appreciate the angst that they were going through.
My friends think the same of me, but like yours, they still buy me Harry merchandise because they know I will love it immensely.
As long as I am happy, they’re happy… even if I am a nerd!
xxx