For years the Harry Potter phenomenon has been sweeping the world. Millions of people have enjoyed losing themselves in Harry’s wonderfully magic world. Most of these people still brought Power Rangers lunch boxes to school and stood about three feet tall.
Yet, in the past year, I’ve had numerous “adults” tell me: “You just have to read the Harry Potter books.”
Do I? I held out for a good long time. It was difficult resisting the constant barrage of comments: “You would like these.”; “If you get a chance, when you’re finished reading Kerouac, you should look at these books.”; or “You want to get some pizza? Just let me finish this chapter in Harry Potter then we can go.”
Would these people ever stop badgering me?
Finally, I gave in. I borrowed the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, from my girlfriend. I started reading it on the plane from New York to Durham, NC. I didn’t stop until I was finished, which was weird because that meant flying to and from New York about 3 more times. I think the flight crew was quite confused.
So, yeah, I liked the book, and decided I needed to read more of these books. I headed to the local mall and into a book store. I went to the “Fiction” section and looked for the name J.K. Rowling, the author of said Harry Potter books.
A saleswoman came over and asked: “May I help you, sir?”
I said rather sheepishly: “I’m actually looking for the Harry Potter books.”
She replied: “Sure. Over here.”
We turned and began walking to a different section of the store, away from the grown up books.
I looked at the sign ahead of me and said: “Yes, I guess I am a ‘Young Reader’.”
She smiled a smile that said “No, no. You’re a very sad man who reads children’s books.”
So, I bought my books and read them as fast as I could, loving every one of Harry’s, Ron’s and Hermione’s madcap adventures at Hogwarts. Go Gryffindor!
Now all I can do is sit back and wait for November 16th when the Harry Potter movie comes out…