[HPforGrownups] Re: What does Harry do for YOU?

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 40502


--- In HPforGrownups at y..., sabrinarae77 at y... wrote:
> I am a college student writing a paper on why Harry Potter is great
> for adults and kids.  I would like some feedback/personal opinions
> about why you like Harry Potter.  Thanks.
>
> Sabrina

I for one did not jump on the Harry Potter band wagon right away.  I was of
the mind set that "It's only a book, what is the big deal, it can't be that
good!"  Well just about four months ago I finally gave in and ordered all
four books.  I am a teacher after all, so I figured I should keep up with
the trends.  I had a partner teacher who was reading them and kept telling
me how good they were.  So finally after all four books sat in a stack on
the floor for about three months I picked them up.  Half way through SS/PS
the DVD of HP came out.  I watched it and couldn't wait to finish the book.
I finished the remaining three in five or six days (mostly in the evenings
as I was attending workshops every day).  Anyway, I was enthralled.  I
simply could not keep myself from picking up the books, even if it was just
before I walked out the door and only had time for a couple of pages.

Another thing about the books is they capture your emotions.  I am NOT an
overly emotional person, I rarely cry and never over books.  So here I am
reading GoF at the graveyard scene.  When Voldemort shouts "Crucio!" at
Harry, I literally closed my eyes.  Of course I then found that I couldn't
keep reading that way :)  Later once Harry is back at Hogwarts and retelling
the events to Dumbledore and Sirius I sniffled my way through, wanting
desperately for someone to give the poor child a hug!  I blubbered my way
through until finally Mrs. Weasley got the hint and gave Harry his hug.
Well,
I lost it, absolutely bawled.  I was so glad there was no one there to see
it!
The night after I finished GoF, I lay in bed actually worrying about Harry
and
his emotional state.  (Then I got a little worried about my own emotional
state!)

Anyway, my point being, these books are so well written that it doesn't
matter if
you're 10 or 25 or 55 or whatever.  They are perfect for anyone who wants to
escape into another world.  The language JKR created for these books truly
helps in creating another world that is so vastly different from our own yet
so
realistic in the books that we really wish it were real!

Richelle