Comments on: Is Harry Potter Worth This Ruckus?

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:13:40 +0000

Have you started reading Freakononmics? Now THAT is an interesting book. (We also bought Harry Potter on opening day. Haven’t read it yet, though)

By: jim

jim — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 12:34:00 +0000

I enjoy doing my part to fuel mass hysteria.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:27:13 +0000

They’re terrific books, sure. But at this point I think the security is kind of like that around the recipe for Coke and the list of KFC’s “11 herbs and spices”…self-perpetuating hype. By appearing to be paranoid about security, they can fuel the buzz.

Which means…guess what? You just helped, a little.

Try not to hold the hype against the books, though. The only thing sillier than choosing what to read based on what’s hyped is choosing to what to _avoid_ reading based on what’s hyped.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 06:04:06 +0000

My comment was going to be that it seems it’s enjoyable for all, not just for kids… but you can see that from your other comments!

By: thc

thc — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 03:22:54 +0000

I have read one of the books and, at age 47, still found it entertaining. It’s wonderful that a series of books could generate so much interest at a time when it seems most kids would rather play video games than read. Still, the ballyhoo is fascinating.

Great post!

By: jim

jim — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:35:39 +0000

I can understand the popularity, and I applaud it (reading is FUNdamental!), but this level of security for a book just seems a bit much.

By: Mel

Mel — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:21:39 +0000

I have never read the books or seen the movies. Much ado about nothing, wouldn’t you say?

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:27:42 +0000

I just turned 40 and LOVE Harry Potter – I mean, I laugh out loud at the play on words of Ms. Rowling. She’s hilarious. And I bought the book, because I re-read my Potter books about every year or so.

By: nickel

nickel — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 16:42:25 +0000

I pre-ordered a copy for Satruday delivery from Amazon for my kids. By the way, I just ran across an article about a store in New York having accidentally sold a copy early. I wonder what the repercussions from Scholastics will be... Anyway, they're fun books to read, even for an adult, but it's particularly enjoyable to read them with my kids. fivecentnickel.com