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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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Hermione's House-Elf
Points: 4189
hermioneisahottie says:
I started reading when I was 10! I still read them at the age of 17! Of course I am still wild about Harry!
What kind of question is that...
7 years of dedication!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 871
caraMEL_penguin says:
well obviously readers don't care... I mean the books sell out, JK Rowling is making more money than the Queen of England, and she has more fans than ever!! I think that readers still are very much in love with Harry Potter and the wonderful, magical World JK Rowling has created... <33333
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:44 PM EST
Student
Points: 261
Phoenix_Song89 says:
Hah! thats almost a joke!..am I still ild about Harry...hmm...would I be on this site if I weren't? he he! Harry has created a magical world for readers, that takes us to a place that we dreamed we lived in really...(at least for me!)
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 11:45 PM EST
Witch
Points: 982
~Kathy~Evans~ says:
How can anybody outgrow Harry Potter??? My mom reads it, my sisters, my cousins, my friends' mothers and my friends! We are all hooked on it and would never...ever outgrow or get tired of the books. They are just too good!
Someday when I have children I will give them my HP books and I'm sure that they will love them!
Like I saw someone comment in a post...these books are ageless... We are all hooked and hungry for more!!!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 12:01 AM EST
Points: 749
The Lonliest Knight says:
What in the world. This post has no business on HPANA. Does anyone notice that everyone on this site are the biggest harry potter nerds in the world. O.k maybe that's a slight exageration but you get the point.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 12:27 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 761
Aberforth12358 says:
I don't know about this age thing. I mean even elder people are intersted. And you cannot start reading these book and not see them till the end. I mean the sales might not go up but they most certainly are not going to go down.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 12:28 AM EST
Squib
Points: 158
sylvrbdrfly says:
we are all in agreement, how anyone in their right mind could start the series and then abandon them is beyond comprehension. I admit I just started reading them within the past 3 years, but I've read the series 4 times so far and each time they get better. My husband and I, and even his co-workers, do HP trivia, we have the movies, which are my 3 1/2 year old's favorite...I mean come on!!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 12:34 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1264
-Alf- says:
I'm sure many people that started reading this book at a young age is still a fan to this day. I suppose others see it as a diversion but HP will always have its fans.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 1:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 992
LoonyLuna11 says:
Whatever! I am WAY past the 10-14 market, and I just started reading them last year. The thing about the Harry Potter books is that they are ageless. Anyone can get into them. And I have yet to come across someone who used to be a fan that is not a fan now. Like anyone could read books 1-5 and all of a sudden not want to know what might happen next.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 1:35 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 424
potterheadluv says:
I will admit right now that I AM NOT AN "original reader" meaning that I was NOT standing in line waiting to buy the first book the day it came out. In fact, I didn't even buy a Harry Potter book until right after I saw the first movie but now I own every single book, planned my own potter party taking place at the local Wal-Mart..hee hee...and since I AM off to college, I plan to take my books along with me, and I also plan to read the Harry Potter series to any children and grandchildren I may or may not ever have. I know I wont get sick of this series because of the extent of forshadowing, satire and taking in that I've read all of the books three times. The HP series is definetely a lifetime favorite of mine....SO MUCH BETTER THAN STAR WARS!!!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 2:14 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 1
*SLYTHERIN_PuNk* says:
Hey I can't imagine people not going crazy for the Harry Potter books they're good books. They help keep your imagination going you know. I mean getting to picture things happening in the books before you watch the movies is pretty exciting!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 2:27 AM EST
Witch
Points: 844
Patronus85 says:
I first stumbled across Harry Potter in my high school library and, now at university, still love them as much as the first time I read them.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 2:32 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 971
swimrcooch says:
I didn't start reading the books until after the second movie was out. and at that time i was already in college! I am still reading them and have only gotten more and more into harry potter as the years go on!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 3:47 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1127
Elrond says:
I agree with the statement, these books are for more of a developed mind and I can say that I'm still a fan.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 5:41 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1600
jenn007a says:
I love harry potter and i will always be a fan no matter how old i am. My parents, and nieces and nephew read harry potter too. I think that if one person reads it then it soon goes to the whole family!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 6:20 AM EST
Witch
Points: 720
HugMeDan says:
Whoever wrote that article didnt use his brains. Of Course! We are still fans, have been, and forever will be! Silly man!
Cathy
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 7:08 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 74
ziYai says:
Are Readers Still Wild About Harry? Are you crazy?! Of course we are!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 7:29 AM EST
Squib
Points: 176
blackwolfgrizz says:
Yes as the books get more better for all readers as they contenue.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 7:38 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 597
Metallica says:
Are Readers Still Wild about Harry Potter, are you insane???? I think I have a sick addiction to Harry Potter that can only be cured by serious medication! He he I think thats so impossible to be sick of Harry Potter!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 7:42 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1219
Tiame says:
Are they crazy???????????? I mean they talk as if they haven't even read the books themselves!!!!!!!!!!! Like anybody would get bored of Harry Potter! Even the possibility is laughable!!!!!! As for college and jobs, It's all about concentration when working or studying........I read Harry Potter during my final exams last year and I still got 80% marks which is 7% better than last time when I shut myself off from T.V., books etc.!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 8:04 AM EST
Witch
Points: 605
Sahara says:
I am 22 and I have never before been this excited over the release of a book. The Harry Potter series are for everyone with an imagination. We all have one so there is no excuse for not reading HP.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 8:35 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2878
Oliver Wood is Fit says:
Well, I'm 18 and I know at least four people who are BIG fans of HP, and many more who will read HBP, so I think they'll be both hanging onto their old market and aquiring a new one, so seems to me like sales will be on the up.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 8:55 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2419
Gwenyth says:
I am 22 and I have never before been this excited over the release of a book. The Harry Potter series are for everyone with an imagination. We all have one so there is no excuse for not reading HP.
Hey Sahara stop stealing my lines! hee hee. We are logged into the same puter in case some one wants to know.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 9:21 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1372
Scarysecrets says:
Well, I am 22 and in my second year of University...and I am still has addicted to them as I was when I started reading them in High School. And lemme tell ya, Half the girls I go to university with are equally addicted!!! Our age doesn't matter if the literature is still amazing which, thanks to J.K's brillient writing, it still is. Both my parents (plus the parents of many) and all my older friends and relatives, from my cousin at 27, to my boss at 58, are enjoying the books!
I will always be obsessed with Harry!! :0)
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 9:37 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1106
Melissa MISERY says:
It must have been a slow news day.. If everyone weren't wild for Harry, well.. Duh! Why would they have printed adult covers for the books if adults outgrew Harry Potter? Duh! Nearly everyone loves Harry Potter!
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 10:11 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2353
Loretta says:
People are crazy if they think that they are losing fan base. Potter is never going to be losing the fan base and so what if they can get aunts and uncles and cousins to read. This just means that the fan base gets bigger.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 10:43 AM EST
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