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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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Professor
Points: 1154
Natalia Flamel says:
What a question!!
I mean, I'm lunatic, freak, sick! Insane about Harry Potter!
I just can't avoid to read the books all the time, see the movies just for recreat the scenes, read in websites about the new book! and the crazy theories about the new topics in the book..
so... YES! I'm still WILD about it!!
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 9:41 AM EST
Student
Points: 232
ginnygurl says:
What a silly question... of course readers are still wild about Harry... DUH... they are making a mint of the books, movies... not to mention all the assorted merchandise. And the book sales alone... setting records all over the place. Besides the article is really a fraud. It's "make news" they only wrote it because they KNOW Harry Potter is still huge and they KNOW it will sell their stupid paper for them. If they really didn't think Harry Potter was still big there would be no audience for the article. SHAME ON THEM!!! ;-)
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 11:59 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 27
alliikat says:
I'll always be Harry Potters #1 fan! It is the only series I read over the summer.
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 12:46 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 398
Keona_Lavwna says:
Anlysts are so stupid sometimes. Some people especialy teenagers are far too worried about what other people think about them. I used to hide my reading of them, butnow my friends and I have grown in our confidence levels, and no longer care about the views of others.
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 3:21 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 9
plimpy says:
I dont care what anybody says i'll never out grow the books.Itotally agree with HogwartsWitch the books have grown with us. It infuriates me that this was even brought up.Adults are just as obsessed about Harry Potter as we are, is'nt that proof enough? Joe is a brilliant writer, how could anyone posably read her Harry Potter books and then just stop w/out finding out the end?
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 6:01 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 9
plimpy says:
I dont care what that rubbish says i'll never outgrow Harry. How could anyone even mention it?I totally agree w/HogwartsWitch the books have grown w/the readers.There are plenty of adults who are Harry Potter fans. THey are just as obsessed as we are!
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 6:09 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 502
hpo says:
They have got to be kidding, How could we dislike Harry Potter?
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 7:45 PM EST
Witch
Points: 832
latinabloomlova says:
I don't care how old you are. If you're navigating this website, you like/love hp. There is no age for HP. It's eternal & timeless.
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 10:01 PM EST
Student
Points: 241
medea_smyke says:
What a silly question? Just look at the sales records and the amount of pre-orders!
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 10:18 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1516
Firenze@yahoo says:
what a silly question. How many of us were adults when we started reading. . . man . . . people. . . dah!
Posted Jun 30, 2005 at 10:28 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
sarahpatrick says:
I've reaad hp books since i was 11..
hello..
we still reading and enjoying the book
sarahpat
Posted Jul 1, 2005 at 2:43 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 319
DuMont says:
no, you don't forget a great piece of work like Harry Potter. You get the odd w***ers who tease you for enjoying it, but its them who are missing out. The books have been as great as ever, if not better.
Posted Jul 1, 2005 at 6:30 AM EST
Witch
Points: 541
*~*~cArLa~*~* says:
I'm in my middle teens and I stil love Harry Potter heaps. I don't think the books really ever where for little kids either I mean some of the books may make little kids feel scared or upset. I know for a fact that I will never get tired of reading these wonderful books.
Posted Jul 1, 2005 at 7:45 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 23
amazonness says:
If it J.K. wanted to write seven books about the Marauders, and afterward seven books about the trio's children, I'd expect I'd still be a foaming at the mouth fan. I'd put Harry Potter books on my shopping list in between the Metamucil and Denture Cream if that's what it took.
Posted Jul 2, 2005 at 2:11 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
sarahpatrick says:
Helloooooo
we are still reading hp books u know
yes..we are still wild about it..
duhhhhhh
sarahpat
Posted Jul 2, 2005 at 6:31 AM EST
Profesora de la Paz
Points: 2824
Sassafras says:
Let's not discount the numbers of adult readers of JKR's magical world. Why would we require and over 18 section on HPANA if it were not so? While there are always growing numbers of children and youth...there will also be a continued interest and growing fan base among adult readers.
Posted Jul 2, 2005 at 5:36 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 302
Bertha Jorkins! says:
r PeEps stiLl wIlD 'bOut HarRy PotTeR????
nOo dUh!!!! y dOo u tHinK pEepS wouLd bE on dIs sItE!!!!
Seesh
Posted Jul 2, 2005 at 7:57 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1386
Alek Voldemortist says:
I am still wild....does that helpp?????
I'll be a HP fan my whole life!!!
Posted Jul 3, 2005 at 3:10 AM EST
Points: 11
SwTNeSs45 says:
People will always be wild about Harry Potter. It will become a classic because it will last so long. When I get older I will still be re-reading the books and if I have kids I'll make sure they read them too. It's crazy to think that people will just stop likeing HP.
Posted Jul 3, 2005 at 6:15 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 53
JK = Genius says:
I certainly haven't grown out of them! My friends all think I'm crazy but what do they know anyway? They haven't even read all of them!
Posted Jul 3, 2005 at 9:24 AM EST
Squib
Points: 149
tee101 says:
I will go CRAZY if I don't get my HP books of HP movies.
DANIEL ROCKS!
Posted Jul 3, 2005 at 12:40 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
sarahpatrick says:
Duhhhh..
we still WILD reading..watching hp...
sarahpat
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 2:17 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 307
Dartsam says:
I know that I will continue to be a fan and it is something that I can share with my kids and my students. Harry Potter crosses the age barriers.
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 11:16 AM EST
Witch
Points: 874
Together Forever, H/Hr... says:
Of course everybody is still crazy for Harry... I mean come on who isn't. I thinhk that saying people aren't still gonna be crazy about Harry potter is like saying people don't need to breathe.....
DanRad820
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 4:41 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23488
KT Lady says:
Are they crazy!? Of course we're still HP fans! The books and the characters are growing up along with the fanbase.
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 6:58 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
sarahpatrick says:
Hey...if we are not wild reading the book or watch the movie..
why is there hpana..
hpana cant work without hp fans..
am i right???
dont u think so...
sarahpat
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 2:50 AM EST
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