Harry Potter's recruitment of new readers.

[joderu95]

Over the last several years I have noticed many people carrying around copies of the Harry Potter books and I wonder if for many of these people it is the first book they have read for pleasure. Some of these folks, usually teenagers but not always, appear to be the type that would not favor books as a form of entertainment. Maybe not though, that's why I need to get some feedback.

What I want to know is that if you are or if you know anybody who has been brought into the fold by this series (1.) what have you read since then and (2.) would you still avoid novels if it were not for Harry Potter?

I welcome any thoughts on this matter in general too.

 

[Stewart]

I can't say anything on Harry Potter as I've never read them, but I wanted to pick up on this line:

I wonder if for many of these people it is the first book they have read for pleasure

Surely every book they read (with the exception of school textbooks, I suppose) is for pleasure? Isn't that the purpose of recreational reading?

 

[joderu95]

Textbooks and novels assigned in school are precisely why I qualified the statement. Notice I never mentioned recreational reading.

 

[erin1980]

I skipped the harry potter sieries. I will not go into why.

I doubt anyone on this website has only read harry potter. If so they would have joined a harry potter message board - not a general book one. Both my Sister and one of my cousins list the potter sieries as the only books they've read since high school.

 

[joderu95]

See that is what I want to understand, why your sister and cousin apparently find nothing else worth reading. It fascinates me that they would make the effort and leap of faith to read that book, then they enjoy it (or maybe they don't) but then they never bother to try another book?! Any other book?! Is it just a matter of waiting until another book comes out that equals Harry Potter in popularity? It seems then, at least for books anyway, that there tastes are dictated to them.

 

[erin1980]

I have a theory. There's no debate that the books have a fun story line, are entertaining, and suspensful.

Here's the thing - they are written at a low reading level, they're suppossed to be young adult books. There must not be complicated symbolism or metaphores that are crucial for understanding the story. I think Harry Potter books are low intimidation books. People can read them for the story alone, no one is going to ask the reader to interpret what Rowling ment by doing this or that.

The books are quick reads that dont challange the adult reader. I think this enables people to think of the book as entertainment. Some Potter only readers dont think it's fun to have to look up a word they dont know while reading - then it seems like work.

I didn't spell check.

 

[Stewart]

...then they never bother to try another book?! Any other book?! Is it just a matter of waiting until another book comes out that equals Harry Potter in popularity?

First factor: peer pressure. Kids have to read what the other kids are reading.

Second factor: media presence. These books have huge marketing campaigns behind them. They are designed to make kids want them. Other books don't have the visibility these have had.

Third factor: The parents. They just don't care. They'll buy the Harry Potter to shut the kids up. But when its done, the kids aren't crying for other books. So there's no need to buy them more books.