How did you catch the Potter bug?
Im just curious to know how everyone became HarryPotter lovers. Did you see the movie first or read the books?
I myself was snoozing on the lounge on a hot summers day in 2002 when my then 6 year old son wanted to watch Harry Potter and the philosophers stone movie for the second time. I thought what on earth is so great about this movie and actually opened my eyes and watched it with him.
Needless to say I loved it and couldnt believe I had totally been ignoring all the Harry Potter hype that had been happening. Talk about a muggle or what!
My mother went to the bookstore to get a birthday present for my little brother and Harry Potter was reccommended to her, but she asked me to read it first to see if it was appropriate. As soon as I had, I told her that it was, but she’d have to go and buy him another copy, because I was keeping this one, and while she was there would she get the next two for me
(this was before GOF)
In 2001 my 11 year old daughter came to live with me. Her father didn’t/doesn’t ‘believe’ in reading (how sad is that?) so I went and picked up the HP books that had been released. We read the first one together but she unfortunately lost interest. However, I have been hooked from the start, own the books both in printed form and CD and have read (or listened to) them all several times.
Most of our friends were raving about the books. We borrowed the first three from someone, read them all, and we were both hooked. Own our own copies now, as well as all the movies that are on DVD so far.
I got interested when book 3 came out. There was a little bit of hype, and I’d seen it in all the bookshop windows, so I bought the first book, read it in an evening and promptly went out and got the next two!
My friend lent me the first three books at the end of 1999 (the year book 3 came out) and the beginning of 2000. I didn’t get my own copies of the books until just before GOF.
My students where talking about it in 1998. I think there were two books out then? I went to the book store and picked up book 1. I didn’t actually read it for months, but once I did I was hooked. And I just LOVE rereading these books; I usually do it at least once a year.
My husband was flying to London in 1999 quite a bit and often stayed with friends who had kids. He heard about it there and brought me home a copy of the Philosopher’s Stone which I loved. Since the GB versions are slightly different (size and content) we’ve continued to get those versions. Which means I can’t read the new one for almost a week after it come out.
In about 2001 I read my copy along with my oldest daughter, who had the American version, and we had a blast finding all the differences. Most were small changes of term (trunk/boot) but it started some fun conversations about language.
I used to work in a bookstore. And well, I will read just about anything so that would explain me picking it up the first time. I got sucked into the realm of HP afterwards. I have always had a love of mythology and that helped to suck me in even deeper.
I started back in 2003. My family had all watched the first two movies and praised them, but I thought they would be “dumb, kid movies” so I never watched (at the time, I was really into the LOTR movies). When I was visiting them, they made me watch the first movie and I was HOOKED. I watched the second movie after that. Then I proceeded to buy books 1-5. I read them all within a month, only to wait two years for the next book. And of course, I went to the midnight showings of all the following movies… I can’t get enough!
I read it because Philosopher’s Stone was being talked about so much. I am involved with Guiding here in NZ (like Girl Scouts in the US) and was hearing a lot from the girls as well as from my Mum who read them before I did. We have done camps etc based on HP since (have to be careful though in case we have any stray muggles who don’t get the magic themes).
I’d like to comment, although I’m not (yet) a member of this read-along!
I’ve been a fan since the first book was out/2nd book about to be released. My sister was in college and attempted to “get out of work” by signing up for Children’s Literature instead of a “regular” English course. Sorcerer’s Stone was on the list. The whole family was instructed to read it after that, and we were all hooked. Everyone in my family has read all the books, and we really get into it! I think the world Rowling has created is fascinating, and I love how it’s sparked so much interest in reading in children!
I would love to join with you in reading, though I don’t think I can read a book a week - I may jump ahead back to the 5th book, so I’m ready for the movie! Is that allowed? I’m off to check on how and if I can become official!!!