FAQF -- The Universal Appeal of Harry Potter

[prefectmarcus at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 23538

** Disclaimer ** The more I think over what I want to say here, the 
more it sounds like a High School teacher critiquing an essay report. 
 But I can't see anyway out of it.  So here goes:


Yes, they are univerally popular. I know that. They are great 
cross-over books.  I knew that too.  The NYTimes blew it with their 
children's list.  That is also true.

What I want to know is WHY the books are so popular.  Why do children 
and adults love them?  How is it that dyslexic and autistic children 
read them when they can't manage more than a chapter or two of other 
books?

How does JKR do it?  As pointed out, she uses advanced english 
construction -- construction that puts to shame most other "adult 
fiction" writers.  She makes use of a large vocabulary.  They are long 
books.  Children are not intimidated by all this.  Why?

Since I've only been seriously lurking here for a month or two, I 
don't know how much of this has been covered before, but I am sure it 
has.  I would like to see what the posters of this list have to say on 
this subject.  The insights forged in the fiery furnance of 
the nit-picking that goes on here have got to be good.

As I said at the start, I hate to sound like a school teacher.  I know 
 how much work went into the FAQs.  I am humbled and awed by it.  But 
this FAQ needs some more work, IMHO.

Marcus

P.S. If this topic hasn't been covered -- highly doubtful -- then 
let's go for it.  :)