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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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Half-Blooded Fooch
Points: 2447
fooch48 says:
The last book will come out sometime when I'm in my 30's and I'm sure I'll still be into reading them! Who wouldn't want to read the end?!
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:02 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2401
tonks 27 says:
What on earth is that article talking about? "lost readers"? yeah right!!! talk to anyone and they'll see just how hooked we still are!
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:05 PM EST
The Last Herald-Mage
Points: 2621
darrrrkwind says:
I don't think they have much to worry about. Anyone who's drawn in by the stories enough to keep reading this far into the series will certainly find the time to finish it. I know I will! :-)
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 654
Millennia says:
All the LA Times has to do is look at the amount of preordered books to realize their article has no merit. People losing interest in Harry Potter; have they lost their minds???
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:09 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 372
loopy luna says:
Readers tired of Harry Potter?!!!? They're crazy! I used to read Harry Potter to my oldest when he was in elementary. He swiped the last book out and read it before I got a chance to when I bought it at midnight! He started college this year and I know he'll read the new one -- but not before me this time! He won't be here when I pick it up -- he'll be gone on a trip! I get first crack at it. Ha ha hahahahahaha!!
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:09 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3262
lettilynn says:
I think that there will be fans of Harry Potter for a long time. Look at how many of us are adults on this fansite, and all the 10 to 12 year olds I know are anticipating the next book.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:10 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2168
HogwartsWitch says:
I think that the books have grown with the reader - a young child who started with SS when it first came out would now be a teenager ready for the darker direction that the books have taken. And as those "original" readers get older, they will appreciate the books in a different way - as Arthur Levine said "there's sophisticated wordplay and humor and political satire that is appreciated by older readers...." - he hit the nail on the head right there. I love JKR's dry wit, but I know my much younger niece doesn't always pick up on it. And there will always be new readers - I didn't pick up the books until I was 33! The number of preorders should clearly answer the question if readers are still wild about Harry!
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:15 PM EST
Student
Points: 211
sillyally says:
Of course, we are still wild about the books! Is LA Times kidding? Would people devote so much attention, and time, to all these forums if they weren't? Would we be placing pre-orders on the book if we weren't? Would we tolerate the movies even though they sometimes drift away from the original plot and have some missing scenes we love if we weren't?
Duh!
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:15 PM EST
Duchess of Dork
Points: 6749
Mama.Lala says:
I believe that most, if not all, original fans of HP are still wild and crazy about the books. And it's certainly not only for children. My mom was the one who tried making me read the series when they came out. So, it goes to show it is for everyone. And I plan on being crazy about this series for a very long time.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:15 PM EST
Squib
Points: 106
pinklepork says:
This is my first post ever. I visit this site everyday but never actually signed up to be a member but after I saw that article I had to. THEY ARE CRAZY. I find that as I get older, I am able to appreciate Harry Potter a lot more. I am as addicted to it as ever. I don't care how old I get, Harry Potter will always be the best story ever made. (although Buffy and Angel are close!) :)
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:16 PM EST
Wind Made Solid
Points: 2579
GryffindorGrad99 says:
Why would this question ever have to be asked? Haha! Shoot, I didn't even read my first Harry Potter book until I was almost 21 and now I can't wait until HBP comes out! It wouldn't make any sense that kids would lose interest as they grew older, I would think once a HP enthusiast, always a HP enthusiast.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:19 PM EST
Witch
Points: 621
JoRowling says:
Are you mad, the book sales for HBP are off the charts. I think there are becoming more and more fans. It must be amazing to have this many people not only read your books but to like them or love them or become completely obsessed with them. I think JK Rowling is a genius. She has to be to come up with all of these characters and to think up the story and what happens for 7 years straight and it all fit together.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:19 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 96
The Half Breed Prince says:
We are still wild about the books!!!
come on.. what are they thinking ?
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:21 PM EST
Ravenclaw Mastermind
Points: 9744
Isilwen Ciryatan says:
How could the original fans lose interest in Harry Potter?!? The books are so gripping. You don't have to be a young kid to love them. They really go out to everyone. I just find it hard to believe that people could go and lose interest like that.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:21 PM EST
Mistress of Music
Points: 8868
ViolaNut says:
Oh, puh-lease! I picked up SS for the first time when I was already 20 years old, and I'm not going anywhere, that's for sure! My students are mostly pretty nuts about Harry, some of their parents are "worse" than the kids, and everytime someone ticks me off by teasing me about it I just buy them a copy of SS and soon enough... they're hooked too! I've done it to so many people I'm starting to feel like a drug pusher... ;-)
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:21 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1264
fairiewing says:
I'm guessing whoever asked that question didn't check out the massive fansites.
These will be used in literature classes for years for analysis and for examples of excellent writing. This series will be loved 100 years from now.
Off to have 3 hours of discussions...
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:22 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2976
Apollyon Pringle says:
I can understand why they've posted an article about this. I myself thought I was losing my Harry Potter fire not too long ago. But with the release of book 6 and getting ready for the 4th film, it's hard not to get excited. The flame is back...
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:23 PM EST
Witch
Points: 935
fizzingwhizbees says:
I will be reading Harry Potter till the day i go blind and after that, well theres the books on tapes and when i go deaf and blind, theres brail, when i lost my feeling, i would have memorized it all, how dare they say we would out grow this.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:24 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1856
Rupert Baby says:
Totally true, we may loose a few but not many. The books are writen so that almost any age can enjoy them, there really is something for everyone, i started reading them when i was 10 and now im 17 and i love them more than ever. There continues to be more and more children who "come of age" and enter the world of Harry Potter, we are not losing fans but gaining them. It's a wonderful thing.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:26 PM EST
Dragon Rider
Points: 4437
~MalfoyPotter~ says:
yes! first page! WE ARE INSANE ABOUT HARRY POTTER! OF COURSE!
~MP~
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:27 PM EST
Queen of the Yarn Ball
Points: 3838
red&gold says:
I think this is the most insane question anyone can ask... Of course it is still popular... it hasn't lost any fans... only gained, say a few billion!!! The fact that every release the first run of the books is growing, that should tell them something...
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:29 PM EST
Royal Family of Posts
Points: 4395
HP-crazed-family says:
I will be 30 next week. I started reading the books about two weeks before OotP was released. I think Harry Potter is ageless. My husban and I read the books and read them to our 4 year old son. Both my hubby and I have read each of books 1-5 multiple times and will continue will the final two books.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:29 PM EST
Dragon Rider
Points: 4437
~MalfoyPotter~ says:
We want harry potter, and we like Harry Potter! HARRY POTTER ROCKS AND RULES THE WORLD! I'm completely obssesed! ^_^
Sorry to double post!
~MP~
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:29 PM EST
Squib
Points: 175
Kreacher_elf says:
Of COURSE we're still Hooked on Harry. Hardly ever do you find someone who just quits in the middle of such an awesome series!!! Plus, like it said, more and more people are picking up the books because it comes so highly recommended from family and friends.
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:29 PM EST
Witch
Points: 507
jmfrogger says:
Well, I agree, the great thing is, I'll continue being a fan, even as my daughter grows up and I can read it to her as a bed time story. It made be a few years until she reads some of the scarier parts, but she'll be a Potter fan before she's out of the crib for sure!
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:31 PM EST
Seeker of the Wands
Points: 18200
SunbeamVi says:
I think that the Harry Potter series is great! Many people of different ages like to read Harry Potter. I think that it is a fantastic series!
Posted Jun 24, 2005 at 11:34 PM EST
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