Musings on Harry Potter

[wulfblat at yahoo.com]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C16
From: wulfblat
Subject: Musings on Harry Potter
Date: 10/5/99 4:45 pm  (ET)

 What is it about the Harry Potter books that I find so appealing? I
 tend to be a push over for "coming of age" books, but seldom has one
 so completely won me over as this series by J. K. Rowling ("The White
 Dragon" by Anne McCaffery was the last book to do so). Above all else
 we have Harry Potter, an unassuming, non precocious child who finds he
 is somebody special, but doesn't let this go to his head. Next, Harry's
 world is our world, but at age 11 Harry is invited to join in a more
 fantastical side of the universe and escape the cares, pains and worries
 of his other life. Harry's world is now filled with wondrous places
 such as Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and other mysterious locales. Harry
 has a core group of friends such as Ron, Hermione and Hagrid who are
 loyal and supportive. While Harry's new world looks simple and safe
 at first glance, we find dangers lurking in the shadows (and sometimes
 broad daylight), and frequently it is harry and his friends that must
 overcome some threat or evil. Finally, Rowling writes very well and
 doesn't talk down to her audience, which when combined with the other
 compelling aspects of her stories explains why they are so popular.

One of the fun things about books like the Harry Potter series is
that it forces me to reevaluate my own life to see how I can be better
satisfied in this world, because unlike Harry, I'm not likely to receive
an invitation to Hogwarts by owl or any other means.