I'm curious if people that like the Harry Potter movies actually like the books as well. I listened to the first book on tape and then saw the movie. I like both the book and the movie. But, after that, I stopped keeping up with the series.

My son watched all the movies but never read the book. I kind of wish, in some ways, that the movie was never made so that kids would be more likely read the book. I know there are alot of book reading kids out there, but, my son is not one of them.

oh yes i too heard the audiobook before seeing the first film. since then i have read (heard) all the books before the release of the films.

I resisted the books for a while. I kind of felt the media was shoving it down my throat, saying things to the effect of "Everyone with one eye and half-sense is into these books! Don't be a weirdo; join us! Conform! Conform! You will be assimilated!" I resisted. But when the first film was about to be released, I knew my stepson would want to see it, so I read the first book. Liked it. I've read them all since then, and I look forward to the final book -- but I won't be at the bookstore at midnight. ;)

Qapla'

SSB

I have read all of the books as of date. Once you get past the second book and they start getting thicker, you'll read things that never made it to the movies. You'll get a much better insight as to what was going on in Potter's thoughts, feelings, and learn much more than the movies had time to convey.

I highly recommend it. If you must judge the book's worth by reading only one, then I recommend starting with the Prisoner of Azkaban. You'll learn more about Potter's past, the coming threat of Voldemort, and Potter's beginning to come of age.

When I gave in and tried a taste, it was the first movie on DVD from the library. It was better than I expected (dreading it would be much too Disneyesque, me). It got me somewhat interested in the books.

Troy's (Fluke's) wife Tracie gave me the final push in 2001 when I went up there for Sci-Fan. Nexxt summer, I read all five books that were out, back to back.

I knew I was overdoing it when I had a nightmare one night that there was someone tapping at my window at two in the morning. When I lifted the shade, there was a Dementor just the other side of the glass, staring me in the face. Scared the pumpkin juice outta me.

I have a hold placed at the library on the final book. To date, my favorite is still Order of the Pheonix.

When HP first came out, I worked at a fantasy bookstore making sci-fi models. It sounded stupid to me and I wasn't interested. Later I was surfing the cable and came into the 1st movie about 20 minutes in. Watched for almost an hour. Later I watched it from the start. Each time I saw it, it was better. I decided to READ the 1st book. I was hooked. So much more info and detail in the book. I picked up the 1st 4 books as a set. Red 'em all. Couldn't put #4 down, and read it in 1 day! Started about 8:30am and went to 12:30am! Waited with the kids after midnight to get book 5. I'll wait with them this Saturday too! They are a nice escape. I'll buy the DVD's when they come out. I will see the movies at the theatre. It's nice that all of the UK's character actors are in these films!

I knew nothing of Harry Potter until a school in the midwest (I think)
was upset that a large number of children were reading the book.
Naturally, they banned the book.

When I heard the book was banned, I knew I had to read it.
The books were good, then they made the first movie.
I was thrilled when I saw Hogwarts was exactly as I had imagined
it.

The books are good, the movies are good.

I just don't understand why the media refer to the books as
"children's books". They're about children, being read by
children, but not simplistic like a children's book.

People have been dying in the books since page one. That's a
children's book?

So let me get this straight.

Teachers find it next to impossible to wrestle kids away from their video games and MTV and encourage them to read large, lengthy books and novels. All of a sudden, kids start reading such a book.

Teachers ban that book.

Am I missing something here?

Huzz

So let me get this straight.

Teachers find it next to impossible to wrestle kids away from their video games and MTV and encourage them to read large, lengthy books and novels. All of a sudden, kids start reading such a book.

Teachers ban that book.

Am I missing something here?

Huzz


Yes Dave, there are still those who think that witchcraft and flying around on broomsticks are real.

Didn't you know that by reading these books, your children will be signing a pact with Lucifer himself and will become witches?

*sigh* Living 200 years in the past must be so entertaining...

Haven't read the books, and only seen the first 3 movies so far.

They sound interesting, and I want to read them. But I decided to wait until they were all published first. I didn't want to get into them, then have to wait for another book to come out.
The past couple years I have changed my plan yet again.
Now I am going to wait until all the movies are out first.

The reason for that ......
Books are always better than the movies. So I will watch all the movies, enjoy them for what they are. Then read the much superior books after the fact.

I can respect people's concerns about children and withcraft being a problem, even if I strongly disagree. My son (8) is a Potter fanatic and has not yet sprouted horns or started speaking satanic spells. Many feel that lending credence to witchcraft, spells, living evil, etc. will harm children. BAHHH I say. Look at fairy tales from the past. Look at Hansel and Gretel. Stepmother abandons kids in the woods to die because she doesn't have the money to feed them. Captured by a witch who wants to cook them and they only survive by killing the witch. That's terrifying to a kid. And we've been telling kids that bedtime story for nearly 200 years.

Harry Potter stories speak to family, love and friendship triumphing over evil. Also, they are a ton of fun and filled with a bright, imaginative spirit. I love them and am thankful that world exists.

If you like any movie based on a book, then you should take the plunge and read the book. Chances are that you will like the book better.

They have cut/change quite a bit between the Harry Potter books and the movies that by the current movie they are almost like 2 different stories.

I can respect people's concerns about children and withcraft being a problem, even if I strongly disagree.

I CANNOT respect these people's concerns. the harry potter books/movies are pure fantasy, like the wizard of oz, or the neverending story. are these people afraid that they are raising kids so stupid that they cannot differentiate between fantasy and reality? considering that these are the same folks that are pushing the creationist view of "science" maybe they do have something to worry about....

theyre really worried that their kids, once theyve grown up enough to really think for themselves, might look at some alternative beliefs like wicca, and possibly give up the dogma they they were indoctrinated into from birth. which leads me to think that if they believe their kids faith is so weak that indulging in some obvious fantasy can shake or break it, perhaps they should really look at their own faith and not worry about dragons and elves and hippogryffs.

i came kinda late to the HP phenom( didn't catch the first flick 'til it was on HBO) . i like the movies and the books . i prefer to see the movie first and then read the book . that way whatever happens at the theatre is more fresh . then when i read the book i get more insight and detail .
hb

I CANNOT respect these people's concerns.

Well, more a live and let live kinda thing for me.

Well, more a live and let live kinda thing for me.
well if they felt that way, i would too, but alas, they dont. its not that they dont want their kids reading/watching it (thats their business and all well and good), its that they dont want the rest of us to have to opportunity to do so.

In my experience, that's a small (but vocal) minority. I know 2 families who don't allow their kids to watch Potter. They know my son is a Potter fanatic and have never said a negative word to me or him about it. They even came to a Potter-themed birthday party.

Those who insist others must live by the constraints they place on themselves are very tiresome. Fortunately, they are rare and generally ridiculed into obscurity.

Those who insist others must live by the constraints they place on themselves are very tiresome.i agree.
Fortunately, they are rare and generally ridiculed into obscurity.let us hope so. history shows they will grab as much power as they are allowed to.

I suspect that many people who haven't read Harry Potter are just not readers. If you are one of these people, I strongly suggest that Harry Potter is a great way to start reading (that's why they are so popular with kids).

Movies, songs and books all have the same appeal. If a movie or song affects you emotionally (makes you smile, scares you, soothes you, excites you, etc.), you have a tendency to enjoy it and even go back to it and re-watch or replay it. There are many books that affect the reader emotionally. These are the one's you can't put down (Peter Benchley's "Jaws" was one that really did that for me). These are the ones that are sheer joy to read.

The Harry Potter books are a joy to read. They are adult books written in a way that children (and casual readers) can enjoy. They are great stories that hold your interest. Never highbrow and never juvenile.

If you are not a reader (never have time, don't like to read, etc.), you owe yourself the experience of reading . . . and Harry Potter is a great place to start.

Jim