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JUNE 24, 2005 at 11:00 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Los Angeles Times via The Leaky Cauldron
An interesting article
from The Los Angeles Times questions whether readers are still interested in the Harry Potter books. The article wonders if the original fans, now teenagers and young adults, have outgrown the books and if the publishers, Scholastic, have a challenge in trying to keep the series compelling for the original readers who may now heading off to college and jobs.
Scholastic editor, Arthur Levine comments that the books were never for young children:
It's the kind of depth and sophistication that can be appreciated by an older age group as well as a very clear and compelling plot line that draws in the younger children. It's never been a book for very young children. In the early stages we thought it would be mostly 10- to 14-year-olds. The unusual qualities of the book were that even though there's sophisticated wordplay and humor and political satire that is appreciated by older readers, the younger readers are going for the more direct issues of character.
Barbara Marcus, Executive Vice President of Scholastic commented that while they believe they may have lost some fans, that number has been replenished by their parents and extended family:
I believe we have expanded to parents, aunts and uncles and grandparents. And then we have the new readers. The beauty of the children's market is that our readers come into the market and they grow with us. There are new children every year who are ready for Harry Potter.
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Points: 13
Benco says:
Harry Potter will consume my thoughts until 16 July. Of Course!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:54 AM EST
Witch
Points: 815
Lirael says:
I've only just joined up 1.5ish years ago. now I'm an addict, and am withdrawing from HP...quick...20cc's of HBP, STAT!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:59 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1574
Polgara7 says:
Why would the LA Times even ask this question? Have they seen the record breaking pre-orders? It doesn't make sense to me. Maybe they were just looking to sell papers by using the pre release mania for anything Harry Potter. I am in my mid 30's and find the books addictive. I know many other adult HP fans as well. It's not a series that you outgrow, really.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:59 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
I Who Lived..To Read says:
Gah! Of course I'll still be reading it...and I'll continue to re-read the books even after the series is done and over with...*sob sob...kind of* How can people NOT want to read the books is the real question!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:01 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1373
mynanfanciesdumbledore says:
I imagine most of the original readers are still intrigued by his adventures, this site is a prime example of the diversity of Potter fans are!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:02 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 516
King of Potter Knowledge says:
Who on Earth would waste their time investigating something like this?
Someone with a very sad life thats who!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:03 PM EST
Student
Points: 250
Wolf Animagus8 says:
You have got to be kidding me! HBP is the most wanted book in the series! I think that the number of Harry Potter fans are increasing with every book.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:04 PM EST
Points: 212
xxSweetTart791xx says:
Nobody could grow out of harry potter because you can grow up with Harry and the characters and its not just a kids book because it has a darker side to it.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:14 PM EST
Professor of Seanology
Points: 5283
Dr. Nicole says:
I have been reading Harry Potter since I was a young teenager. I am almost 21 and I am so excited about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Each book has something that each of us go through in our lives. Bullying, being new, secrets, first crushes, and mainly first of everything. I will be a HP fan forever.
~Nicole
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:19 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 61
WitchOfTheRoses says:
The person who did that article did not do a lot of research. I've been reading Harry Potter since 2000 (I was 11) and am still a huge fan (I am now 16)!!! I think, no, I KNOW that, even if I was 52, I would still read them, no matter what...
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:22 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Ha!
You're kidding right? I might be in university when the seventh book comes out and I'm pretty sure that I'll still be into Harry Potter books. People of all ages just adore Harry Potter so you basically can't outgrow those books! They're just too good!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:26 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 72
Elphias Doge 16 says:
I don't know. When there isn't anything new about harry like a book or a movie i'm not so excited about the whole story and many times i think that it's stupid that i started when i was 12 and i will end it at 18!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:28 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1057
Herminone Potter says:
Ok, how on earth can they be talking about they lost readers, I have become even more of a fan as I've grown with the series. I'm 18 now and the last book will come out when I'm in my 20s and I will still love them! Harry Potter Rules!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:35 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1079
GluexXxEater says:
The books are selling faster than ever. I really don't think that they are losing that many readers. Of course they are but the are making so much more. My friends and I use to read them together but now they think that they're too "cool" for the books. But that's fine, if your not a true fan then the series is better off without you. We don't need people who won't read it just because of peer pressure.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:40 PM EST
Snape's Advocate
Points: 7177
Snape's Bodyguard says:
Judging by how many books that have been pre-ordered, I would say that of course we are all still mad on Harry Potter.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:46 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2852
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Thats a very interesting article..... I know I have grown with Harry Potter for the last 5 years ever since I could read in english.... I think that Harry is gaining even more fans now because of the movies and people want to read the books before the movie comes out or if they saw the movie they would want to read the book.... Thats my opinion... I know that I'm never going to stop being a Harry Potter fan....
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:48 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 308
Heir_of_Ravenclaw says:
It's crazy! What are they talking about?! I was about nine when I started reading the books and I'm almost 15 now. I'm still as excited about the books now as I was when they first came out. Besides, like they said, there are always the new readers who'll discover Harry Potter.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:49 PM EST
Weasley is My King
Points: 5042
HarryPotterGeek says:
I have to agree with sniverlus. Isn't it setting records before it's even out? Maybe we are replacing fans that have "fallen away", but I think even old fans that don't obsess over it still (in a good way!!!) will pick up the books...
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:57 PM EST
Witch
Points: 670
Gryffindor_chick says:
Thats just bologna. Are these people crazy?! there will ALWAYS be people into Harry Potter. no one can outgrow Harry Potter. If you were a fan when they 1st came out, & your still a fan, you cant just drop Harry Potter. no one could stand the torture of not knowing the ending!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:58 PM EST
Vader's Veela
Points: 3858
seekerfan says:
They are so way off base. Don't they realize how many ADULT fans there are? Do they think that people won't be interested to find out how the series ends????
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:04 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 465
Kathy_Riddle says:
Are u kiddin???????I'll be 18 when the last movie comes out and i dont care! i will still be crazy about HP!
Trust me, when you just LOVE something you dont just give it up!!
give me a break!
Potter RULES!
and if we lose some, every year, and even every day we win some!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:22 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 467
the_pensieve says:
Grow tired of Harry Potter?!! Have these people lost their minds? We're obsessed, what other book coming out do we know down to second when its going to be released!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:24 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1918
not*so*sweet*strawberry says:
Are you kidding? I'm one of the original readers! and i still read it!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:26 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 418
shimmeraei says:
Being one of the original fans myself, I agree that they have lost some friends. I remember in middle school some of my friends being avid readers. And now some of them, because of silly reasons (i.e. the mainstream popularity, which I believe is just a ridiculous excuse) don't read them anymore, and even refuse to read them. It's sad, it really is. This series set landmarks in history. It's a huge part of our culture-EVERYONE knows who Harry Potter is, if they've turned on their tv or gone to school. I was an original fan. I will always be. For that I am proud. I'll be 19 or 20 when the final book comes out...and I know for a fact I will be reading the books to my children, and my grandchildren.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 726
Turtle on Speed says:
Hello...of course we all still like Harry Potter! It's not the sort of book you can just forget about very easily. All they have to do is see how many preorders there are, or how many members there are on HPANA! almost 30,000 members! amazing
HARRY POTTER ROX OUR SOX!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:30 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1472
ebony ivori says:
That's crazy. I've never once thought that I was to old to read Harry Potter and I'm almost sixteen. He's growing just like us so I'm about the same age as him haha. I don't know why anyone would say that. I think it's more popular now than it ever was, with HPANA as proof.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:31 PM EST
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