Why did we start reading the books?

[Haggridd]

No: HPFGUIDX 22368

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., MmeBurgess at a... wrote:

> 
> So, I'm just curious as to how/why/how long other people read the 
> series.  Does anyone have any really cool story?  I know mine is 
not, 
> I just happen to love books and got hooked.  
> 
> Angela

I first heard of HP when I read an article in the N.Y.Times about the 
Potter phenomenon, that children who had never read for pleasure were 
devouring the books and that it was a child-led movement, not a 
marketing driven campaign.  My Kelli loves to read, while her younger 
sister Kristen is only interested in tennis.  This was at the end of 
1999.  Serendipitously, I saw a display at a local book store, and I 
bought the kids a hardcover boxed set of the first three books for 
Christmas.  (I love the feel of a hardcover book, and I think kids 
deserve them too. The UK editions are just perfect for little hands, 
better than the US.)  Kelli, as usual, read them and loved them.  To 
my surprise, Kristen too read all three books and cried for more.  
Believe it or not, I did not then read the books to see what all the 
fuss was about, but come that summer, I bought a copy of GoF for each 
of them.

It was only then that I read all four books almost without stopping to 
eat or sleep.  I knew that there was something here not seen since the 
U.S. publication of LotR in the sixties.  Since that wonderful 
epiphany, I have purchased the UK editions of the books, the Dale 
audiobooks, and the Fry audiobooks.  I found a very nice message 
board, found ff.net, and ultimately, HP4GU.  Once in awhile, I marvel 
that my passion for the books has not waned-- but not very often.

My latest activity is beta reading HP fanfic for some rather good 
authors, whom I try to help in whatever way I can.  If anyone is 
interested in the stories, e-mail me.  I think we all are plugged to 
death, so I won't do it here.

I am a bit concerned that we will get deluged by posts from fans of 
the movie who haven't read-- and will never read-- the books; then I 
berate myself for being a snob and an elitist.  I am ambivalent about 
this.

But I continue to wait impatiently for OoP!

Hagridd