|
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.
Reader Comments (541)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2010 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-350 351-375 376-400 401-425
426-450 451-475 476-500 501-525 526-541
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1737
HermyG13 says:
I don't remember the first time I read Harry Potter, but I know I didn't see it as anything more than another good book to read. Luckily, I became my obsessive self 2 summers ago while watching the Chamber of Secrets non-stop. I'm sure they are ones that have left, but also readers gained.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:09 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 371
Mamaille says:
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! That the most redickulus thing I've heard all year. seariusly, If we wasn't interested in the new HPBP than not to many people would care about when the book is comming out. and this is form a 17 year old girl, who is going to college in less than a year!!
Note: I will read Harry Potter books even if i was in college anyway :)
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:10 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1228
Hermy-ninny Granger says:
How could you not love Harry Potter? That article is a disgrace!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:15 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2563
School Governor says:
I'm just as wild about Harry as I was 4 years ago, when I picked up the Philosophers stone.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:15 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4040
Dan's no.1 fan 4ever says:
I'll be a Hp fan forever!!! I was about 7 when I read the first book...and I love them just as much (actually a lot more!) than I did then! It annoys me the way they are classed as "childrens' books." :@/
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:16 PM EST
Sly Slytherin
Points: 4753
Sly Malfoy says:
No matter what age I am, I will always read them. I think Harry Potter books is for any age, but not for too young kids though.
Order for Snape's Defence
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 506
Paracelsus says:
I think that you can never outgrow Harry Potter.
Things that you read as a child have a different meaning when you are older.
You continue to see the same things, but in a different light.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 713
umbridgehater_DanielLover says:
The times is so stupid! they're insane! crazy! how could they ever think we're getting tired okf harry!?!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 771
Weasley Witch says:
Not be into Harry Potter????
Are they insane!?!?!
It's not about age, it's about liking the theme, the characters, the plot line, the story line, JK's way of writing...
I could go on and onm, but in short:
I'll like Harry Potter 'till the day I die.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 713
umbridgehater_DanielLover says:
Exactly! i totally agree with you! :-)
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:43 PM EST
Witch
Points: 713
umbridgehater_DanielLover says:
Its like what someone said in the beginning.....all the times has to do is look at all the pre-ordered books and all the book parties.......and they should have their eyes opened!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 722
Snitch_seeker_girl says:
Well, U think the book, really needs be understand with people who know about the subject. In my opinion some poeple don't understand very well the expresion of the characters, and sometimes this can advance your brain or somethink like that
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:50 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2158
Rowan Gryffindor says:
Are they serious? really are they? I really believe that these people must walk around with their eyes shut!! I mean here am I and here are all of you and we are all of such a vast age range froma ll over the place and well....maybe we need a neon sign....................
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:52 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 399
Crazie4Dan says:
I think we gained alot of fans with the movie PoA. I always liked to read the books before that movie, but I never reeealy became crazy about the books until I saw Dan on the bid screen all grown up, that made me look him up alot, and I got directed t alot of HP sites, and fell inlove w/ the books again
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:57 PM EST
Squib
Points: 104
Most Awfully Bad says:
Harry Potter will only loose fans with microscopic attentions spans who really didn't enjoy the first book, and just hopped on the bandwagon for the sake of being part of it all. Everyone interested in the books in the slightest wants to know how it ends, and what happens before then!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:58 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 549
JamesPotter15 says:
What? Of course we love the HP books! There is no way to hate it! I would like to take this moment to say that Hermione Granger is hot...*grins stupidly*
-Prongs
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:58 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2133
White Owl says:
I don't think that anyone who started the series is not going to finishit.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 3:59 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1601
Truska says:
That is a kinda stupid question! Of course we're still wild about Harry Potter! Stating the obvious I think. Anyway, who would read the books and then not read the last one?
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:06 PM EST
Student
Points: 221
ccgirl says:
I still read them even though I am a bit older than I was when I started reading them. Even if the 7th book dosen't come out for 10 years I will still read it.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:08 PM EST
Witch
Points: 722
Snitch_seeker_girl says:
Do you think we need a big brain to understand Harry's book?
I think all people who really like read, could understand, and fell the expressions and laught and be sad or something like that. I mean some people really needs to understand but is because the don't want to read the book and only do for ...I don't know, because is famous.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:08 PM EST
Student
Points: 273
LilyFlowers says:
how could anyone not want to finish the series?! that's insane!! how could they even think about that?
*Emily*
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:09 PM EST
Witch
Points: 631
unicorn handler says:
Really! I'm 15 but if I was 20 I wouldn't stop. It's kind of cool because for the movies I'm right at that age (well with the characters atleast, the movies kind of take a while to make) and the books (only one year behind from hbp!)
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:13 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 401
Kelly2008 says:
If someone wants to know whether or not readers are still interested, take a look at some of the websites, like MuggleNet and this one, for example. That should clear things up.
As for me personally, I still love these books!! I think I was like eight or nine when I first read SS (I can't even remember) and now I'm 15 and still obsessed!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:14 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1781
TheOtherMinister says:
I was 10 years old when I first read HP, now I'm 15 and I have read at least 1 chapter per day since then. The person who wrote that article must be out of his mind!!!!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:21 PM EST
Student
Points: 225
Balthazar says:
What kind of question is that? Lost readers? Yeah right
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:25 PM EST
Student
Points: 277
Hanhan204 says:
I am still a potter fan, kind of. Te huge wait between the books isn't a pleasent wait becasue I just want to know how the book ends. From the time in between when I finished reading the 5th book and the wait for the 6th book I have sort of grown out of the potter phase I have been Potterless for so long that I am getting used to it not being here. But I cant wait for the 6th bok.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 4:28 PM EST
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-350 351-375 376-400 401-425
426-450 451-475 476-500 501-525 526-541
Back to top of page