How Harry Potter Hooked Us Back Into Reading

J K Rowling was living on state benefits in a flat with her youngest daughter, Jessica. Just after the breakdown of her first marriage, she wrote Harry Potter. It was while later, when riding on a train that the idea stuck with her.

Today she is one of the wealthiest writers. In fact, she is one of the first women writers to become a billionaire. She had an idea and followed through on it. I truly believe that several generations of children are grateful to her.  

As the series began, no one was quite aware of how big the books, and later the movies, would become. When Harry Potter first came out, I had no interest in the series and only went to the movie because my nephew liked it. And he was around eight-years-old. I felt the books were for children and therefore, I had no desire to read them. These books got children to put their game systems on hold while they traveled to a world of witchcraft and wizardry. The books seemed to easily span several generations and the librarians agree it has, it renewed a desire for youth to read.

My son is nine-years-old and he is a huge Harry Potter fan.  While he was not born to see its beginnings, he will be present to see its finale. With the final film release it seems like Harry Potter gained momentum over the last decade. Watching how children and adults from many generations love to read these books, I truly believe that one day when I have grandchildren Harry will take them to a world of enchantment. There are so few movies that are multi-generational and HP is one that my mom, grandma, nephew, son, and myself can all watch together. 

What will happen now that the films are finished? Rowling’s has additional books that she indicated she would release only after HP concluded. So what new world will we fall in love with next? Some friends and I were speculating in 20 years that they will remake the movies or will just leave them well enough alone. It was also speculated that they might make a HP TV show when Harry battles evil, kind of like a magical Law & Order, perhaps Harry would work for the Ministry of Magic. The idea of the show was an April Fool’s joke, but it got such a widespread desire that the networks are likely considering it.

So here’s to JK Rowling and HP! Both came from humble beginnings and achieved greatness. Harry will be missed, but we look forward to new adventures that great books will deliver to readers.