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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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Witch
Points: 721
Lupakitty says:
It's hard to admitt this but I didn't like Harry Potter when it first came out when i was around 11. Now that I'm 18 I love the series and wouldn't give anything in the world to miss out reading them. My aunt is almost 40 and she loves him with the same passion as I and my grandmother started to get hooked to him in the spanish books. I can see why the books might lose readers with busy schedules but i'll find time somehow. : D
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:19 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 350
Puffskein16 says:
...Losing readers because they are getting older... I don't think so! I think if a reader really loves Harry Potter, he/she would never lose interest in it.
I know will still love Harry Potter even when I'm 100 years old!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:23 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 50
moose says:
okay, well OBVIOUSLY anyone posting on this site is a crazed fanatic. Wrong place to post the article, really.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:25 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1538
Stoutheart says:
I'd never heard of Harry Potter until a couple of years ago. I was 26 then. I'm 28 now and still very much interested in them. I can't see starting a series of books like these and not being completely driven to read every one of them!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:31 AM EST
Weasley Garden Faerie
Points: 4481
Tamlynn says:
I believe that the books are growing with us. The 1st book was the beginning of Harry's journey of learning in the magical world and each book after that has more mature content as Harry grows.
So I think that once a youth reads Harry Potter they see that Harry is growing just as they are. I am a mother and my children are age 2 months to 10 years. I can't speak for the baby, but the others love Harry Potter and my oldest wishes that the stories were real.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:35 AM EST
Student
Points: 225
Magical Angel says:
Oh please... that is not an issue of any kind. The fans are only growing as the series comes to an end
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:40 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 487
Gizymotor says:
I could NEVER out grow the Harry Potter series!! I started to read the books two years ago when I was 18 and I LOOOOOVE them!! My Step dad was actually the one who introduced me to the books and now reading the books is something of a family affair shared now with my mom and sisters who range in ages!! The books have something for everyone which allows them to bridge the generation gap!!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:41 AM EST
Northern Belle
Points: 3968
American Angel says:
Wow, they sure don't know Harry Potter fans very well! I have been reading Harry Potter since I was about 11 and I'm going to be 16 in less than a month! I'm convinced that once you get started reading Harry Potter, you can't stop!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:41 AM EST
Ravies Flying Instructor
Points: 3162
love2fly says:
Oh the Harry Potter world Sucked me in over five and half years ago, and I don't think its about to let me go any time soon. The last book is going to to be out when I am more likely in my mid thirties and trust me I will be there to read it, and then to reread the books over and over again.
I already have my kids 6 and twins 2 loving Harry mind you I do edit out parts, and I have only read the first two books to them.
They are begging me each day to let them watch the first movie as well.
LOVE2FLY
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:44 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1530
ginny weasleypants says:
Are you people serious!??! of course we're wtill sild about it! i'll never leave harry, never! never ever ever! and you can't stop me! ha!... wow, really forgot what i was talking about...
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 12:50 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 315
Linnen Potter says:
Nonsence! I started reading Harry back when I was in the seventh grade, and when I moved into my dorm in college, it was completly decked out in Gryffindor colors.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:07 AM EST
Lily Potter
Points: 2450
~*~Millie~*~ says:
i was in primary school 8 or 9 when the teacher read the first book and mabye the second to us.. i wasn't completly hooked till i htink12 or so when we were going on a campervan trip and i got the first book out from the libary and i have been reading them evr since.. i'm now 15 nearlt 16.. :D
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:12 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 418
spunkygrl says:
I'm not sure what the L.A. Times was thinking when they did that article, I'm 25 now and have loved the HP books since the beginning and I don't see my attention waning. If anything I think you appreciate some of the subtleties more. I think the HP books are timeless and will never be too young for the people who appreciate them.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:14 AM EST
Witch
Points: 574
TroubledVeela says:
I still love the books and hope that the last two will retain the same quality and imagination etc as the first bunch. However I must admit that I'm losing some interest as the story goes along, going from fanatic to fan, probably because Harry is changing, becoming complicated, growing up etc but also because the movie qualities have changed everything somewhat(it's easier to quickly watch a movie than read a whole book in the same amount of time). I guess I'm one of the few, but at least I'm still a fan (rather than a fanatic)... I can wait a few extra days to avoid the rush for HBP when I couldn't have for GoF and OotP.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:19 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2231
Harry's Detour says:
i was in high school when the first one came out, and I'm still a fan. Good stories transcend age, nationality, culture, creed, etc. They can be enjoyed by anyone.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:25 AM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?
that is the most stoopid thing i have ever heard!
of course we are still amped for HP! just because everyone is getting older doesnt mean the age is going to effect my liking for the book. nor anyone else.
there is noting to worry about :o)
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:27 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 340
Julie Stone says:
Personally I don't think it's possible to outgrow Harry Potter. And if you do that's crazy. I know I never will!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:28 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 339
ShannIAm3888 says:
How can they think that readers have grown too old for Harry Potter?? Everyone I know who started reading the books in 6th grade are still reading them in 12th grade and college. There's even a Harry Potter club at my high school! And it's not just a certain group of people; it's everyone. Everyone still reads the books and watches the movies, whether they publicize it or not. Everyone's waiting for the rest of the book series and movie series. I think Harry Potter is just one of those books/series that everyone, no matter what age, can relate to, understand, and enjoy because of its real-life issues depicted through something that most people have thought about or wish was real: magic. It addresses universal themes through a universal idea.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:37 AM EST
Squib
Points: 151
The Auror says:
I don't care how old I grow or when I get to read the last book because Harry Potter will always rule my heart. It is one thing I can't stop reading. It's like it has got some magic of its own.I will always remain a potter fan.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:42 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1823
zues says:
I'm 24 and a love the books, I started reading them last year and as soon as I finished one a grabed the next one. GOF is my fav. If anything I think that more people are into the books.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 1:43 AM EST
Witch
Points: 585
MagicAliSomniac says:
I started reading the series when I was 21... (right before OOTP was released; I was dared to read books 1-4... i didn;t want to-- "kids books" but now i am hooked. So there!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 2:08 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 452
Salwa says:
I'm still wild about Harry so are a lot of people! Look at all the fansites!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 2:11 AM EST
Witch
Points: 700
MGentry says:
I think that the current number of readers is clearly evidenced by the number of books sold. One only has to look at the pre-sale numbers to know that almost noone has given up on Harry.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 2:12 AM EST
Witch
Points: 809
~Hermione <3's Ron~ says:
I agree a 100% with this article. I mean, when i started reading Harry Potter i was 13, and i am 18 now and i still love the books. the feeling for it has not lost me yet, but i do kno some people my age who have lost that feeling for harry potter. but its ok, the fans that have started to loose the feeling for harry potter, it has been replaced by a lot of other people. Harry potter is the coolest!
mwa
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 2:17 AM EST
Student
Points: 266
A1000wtp says:
Im almost 18 but i still love the books. I think us older folk will still read them but they wont walk around talking about it like we used to. We also wont buy any Harry Potter merchandise.. But hey the books are the only thing that really counts anyways.
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 2:29 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 13
ruperts_girl371 says:
I KNOW that I Will NEVER be tired of Harry Potter! I LOVE Harry Potter! My Best friends mom is obsessed with Harry Potter. Just like me! and she is 34. So maybe we have lost some people, but we still haave alot. I remember that I read the 1st Harry Potter in 2nd grade. Now I'm in 8th. And I love it!! I can't wait for the HBP!!!!
Posted Jun 25, 2005 at 2:29 AM EST
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