Why is Harry Potter so Popular?

[BrooklynKnight]

Many people will agree that never before in recent memory has a book (or series of books) been able to capture the imaginations of so many children world wide and actually make them want to read. In a world of video games and internet, and instant gratifcation where images change constantly, its very difficult to entice todays child to actually READ. But somehow Harry Potter does it. Why?

Looking past all the political cartoons and jokes, all the magazine and newspaper articles following the latest novel, what makes this movement tic?

In part, it IS the writing. Rowling somehow manages to pull you into Harry's world in the very first book, instantly making you sympathize with him. A downtrotten boy, abused by his family living a misreable life. Then within the span of a few chapters she makes us want to BE him. Who wouldnt want to be wisked away from their lives to a world where the flick of a wand makes feathers float, and the lift of a hand and a shout brooms fly!
We continue to sympathize and relate with Harry because despite his magical world, school is still school. He faces all the commanlities we did, and do. Confusion, Curiosity, Wonder, a Quest for Popularity, the school bully, school crushes and romances, mean teachers and great teachers, best friends.

Everything. Its all there, so clear and sharp. For most people every page wants to make you be a part of the book.

I belive, that another large part of the following for Harry Potter is due to the INCREDIBLE job done on the first movies. Well, second and third movies aside, you only really needed a first.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone was perfectly cast. It was this movie that first got me curious about the books to begin with. At first I dismissed them as childrens stories. Why would someone in college want to read them?

One day while waiting for another movie to begin, I cought the last 10 minutes of HPATSS. The end was intresting enough to convince me to see the entire movie, which later on I did.

Moving back to my previous statement, that the movie was perfectly cast...is a great great boon to the book.

I cannot pick up the Harry Potter books and NOT see the faces of the actors portrayed for them. I just cant. The actors fit so perfectly into their roles in the movies, that It simply makes the books come MORE alive then they realy are. To this day I cant shake the image of the original Dumbledore from my mind. His replacement in the 3rd movie sucked and Dumbledore will forever in my mind be synonymous with his original on screen persona.

Can any of us imagine any of the characters portrayed by another actor?

I really do think that the Harry Potter movie franchise, has greatly helped the popularity of the books.

Do you agree? What do YOU think? Why is a book about an 11 year old wizard (well now he's 17) so damned intresting?

Chime in!

 

[David Howery]

I'll agree with all that, and add a note that they appeal to both kids and adults (somewhat like The Hobbit/LOTR)....

 

[Umbran]

Harry Potter wise pretty wildely successful as a book before the movies came along, so I'm not so sure the movies are so much a cause as a result.

To fully understand the popularity of Potter, you need to understand the popularity of Cabbage Patch dolls and Beenie Babies. Occaisionally, there's a frenzy develops around a thing that isn't all that different form other things in the market. No company has been shown to really understand the phenomenon - if they could, they'd be able to predict and exploit it, and regularly make oodles of cash. Instead, the world has to sit back and guess, and hope they figure out what the Next Big Thing will be.

 

[WayneLigon]

Harry Potter wise pretty wildely successful as a book before the movies came along, so I'm not so sure the movies are so much a cause as a result.

Indeed. My friend who is manager of a bookstore brought up the first book soon after it had been released in the US. He said 'this will be the next big thing; they can't keep it on the shelves and I'm seeing kids coming in with other kids and shoving the book into their hands'. For once, she was right

Instead, the world has to sit back and guess, and hope they figure out what the Next Big Thing will be.

Yep. There's simply no saying why it's popular. It's not the first book with this concept by far. It's not the first young adult book with engaging characters and magic and fantasy, etc. This happened to catch on and, amazingly, stay around as long as it has. Fads usually die within a couple-three years, but this has proved amazingly resiliant.

 

[takyris]

Umbran said everything I was going to say, and he did so while having a much cooler avatar than I could ever have.

 

[Numion]

Harry Potter wise pretty wildely successful as a book before the movies came along, so I'm not so sure the movies are so much a cause as a result.

To fully understand the popularity of Potter, you need to understand the popularity of Cabbage Patch dolls and Beenie Babies. Occaisionally, there's a frenzy develops around a thing that isn't all that different form other things in the market. No company has been shown to really understand the phenomenon - if they could, they'd be able to predict and exploit it, and regularly make oodles of cash. Instead, the world has to sit back and guess, and hope they figure out what the Next Big Thing will be.

Childrens popular things come and go in about 1-2 years, or thats how long the fad usually carries on top. Didn't those Cabbage things crash pretty quickly? My memory is hazy because I was young then, and not that interested in those But they're gone, at least here.

Potter is a bit different in that regard. It's book six, since how many years, and the frenzy is at it's highest right now, and will probably be larger around book 7. This could be something a bit more lasting compared to some dolls ..

But I think she's just a good (not excellent maybe) writer, has interesting plots (not the best plotter either) and has realized an excellent milieu. The magical world is her strongest point. Maybe chalk it up to imagination, or whatever. IMO that was Tolkiens strongest point also - creating a superb world. I didn't care that much for Tolkiens ability to describe things and his style was a bit dry, whereas Rowlings writing is ok in that regard.

My point: fads you describe can be achieved accidentally, whereas if Potter was a fluke, it would be gone now.

 

[Vocenoctum]

But I think she's just a good (not excellent maybe) writer, has interesting plots (not the best plotter either) and has realized an excellent milieu. The magical world is her strongest point.

What I liked about the books was the excellent use of many different characters. Sure Harry is first tier, and Ron & Hermione are second, but even the tertiary characters bring a lot to the story.

 

[Melkor Lord Of ALL!]

So why is voldemort losing to Wile E. Coyote in this thread? http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=142560

 

[Umbran]

My point: fads you describe can be achieved accidentally, whereas if Potter was a fluke, it would be gone now.

Oh, for there it isn't difficult. In essence - the fad caused it to become popular. The fact that it is reasonably decent YA fiction, and isn't static, caused it to keep the popularity.

 

[Templetroll]

What I liked about the books was the excellent use of many different characters. Sure Harry is first tier, and Ron & Hermione are second, but even the tertiary characters bring a lot to the story.

Exactly. The teachers, the various other students and the muggles. lots of personalities. The town of Hogs Meade, the newspapers, the couple of streets in Diagon Alley.

When I read the first book I was horrified at how that kid was being treated and delighted that he was a wizard and on his way to a very cool school. Each one of the books has gotten me back in that world and on a great adventure in just a couple of pages. Not great literature? Not an issue, it is a great read, lots of fun and I'll be there for the next one. (NOT at midnight... I'll wait til the next morning, thank you very much!)

Wile E Coyote is leading due ot us having seen his evil get crushed in a humorous fashion, we have yet to see Lord Voldemort get treated in such a manner.