PermaNews Archive: Adults Like Harry Potter Too

Children of all ages (yes, that includes adults and "grown-ups") have discovered the joys of Harry Potter. What is it about this so-called children's series that has both parents and kids hooked?

Adults are spellbound by Harry
The spell JK Rowling's cast amongst the adult readers is the biggest success of the wizard series.
August 19, 2003 at 11:45 AM; Press of Atlantic City - Comments (32)

Adult HP fans not aging gracefully
That's what the fashion experts at 'Esquire' magazine are saying, particularly if you're a man over 30. Their term for the plus-30 Harry Potter crowd? Kid-ults.
August 13, 2003 at 11:31 AM; This Is London - Comments (78)

Harry Potter gains popularity among college crowd
The average college student will stand in line for very few things: maybe to buy a ticket for their favorite band's concert or something of that sort. A book is not normally among one of these long-awaited things.
July 10, 2003 at 5:27 PM; Indiana Statesman - Comments (36)

Nimbus - 2003 scholars by day, wizards by night
Some have suggested that scholarly writings about Harry Potter are simply ways for adults to justify their addiction to kids' books. But even if you accept that premise, it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer volume of intellectual production going on right now because of Harry. Example: The fan symposium set in Florida later this month.
July 1, 2003 at 1:39 PM; Washington Post - Comments (16)

Why adults like Potter
BBC has a look at why adults like the Potter series.
June 17, 2003 at 7:51 AM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments (26)

Awaiting the magical moment
The Mercury News reports: "So while adults can appreciate that children who read the books may come away with good values, they are just as eager to read 'The Order of the Phoenix.' Many families are ordering multiple copies -- some to get both a reading copy and the fancier, slipcased collector's edition, but most just because everyone wants to read it at the same time. These are families to whom the Harry Potter movies are just amusing fluff, something to do between rereading the novels.[...]
June 16, 2003 at 3:28 PM; iharrypotter.net - Comments (7)

Harry Potter not just for kids
From LA Daily News: "Publishers and agents still seem somewhat unwilling to admit that the 'over the hill gang' is a viable market source for the 'H.P.' series," Barry said. "They still have it in their heads that these are strictly children's stories. We adult fans know that simply isn't so. Most of us think they will be recognized historically among the classics. They, like all the others, appeal to the child in every adult." These are the words of Nimbus 2003 volunteer Kathryn Barry, who[...]
June 15, 2003 at 3:54 PM; iharrypotter.net - Comments (4)

Adults like it better
The Wausau Daily Herald has an article about an adult fan.
June 14, 2003 at 11:37 AM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments (6)

Harry Potter and the adult fans
The Orlando Sentinel has an article interviewing some college-age Potter fans. Nice to see people catching on that adults DO in fact enjoy the series.
June 13, 2003 at 2:47 PM; The Leaky Cauldron - Comments (8)

Harry Potter's 'Phoenix' is perfect symbol of adolescence
As Harry Potter's original fans move into their teen years, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" invokes a powerful symbol of adolescence and rebirth, says a Gettysburg College English professor. "The phoenix and its rebirth provide the perfect metaphor for adolescence. It is the crucible wherein we are transformed from children into adults and wherein we find our true talents. Likewise, the phoenix is reborn through the flames of self-immolation with new and more beautiful plumage."
June 13, 2003 at 2:27 AM; Ascribe - Comments (13)

Grownup fans of Harry Potter get beyond prejudices against "children's literature"
The Seattle Times makes mention of both Harry Potter for Grownups and Nimbus 2003, the first "Harry Potter" symposium for adults, which "will be a hybrid of an academic conference with literary presentations and a Star Trek-like convention where participants play a version of Quidditch," in its article about adult fans of what are normally deemed "children's books". Phillip Nel, author of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Novels: A Reader's Guide, who'll be speaking at Nimbus 2003 was quoted in the[...]
May 18, 2003 at 8:00 PM; The Leaky Cauldron - Browse 20 Quidditch pictures - Comments (8)

More from HPANA

Back to the PermaNews Index.
Back to the Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator.
Browse the Harry Potter Multimedia Index.