I've gone over to the dark side...

[MelanieMC]

ok, for literally years I refused to read this series, no matter how many people loved it or how many of my friends tried to get me to read it. In fact, it was so well known that I hated Harry Potter that here on mdc I had the ddddc "Harry Potter Hater" for almost a year! Well guess what? For some reason I now REALLY want to read the series! I went to the library today and got the first book and I'm planning on starting it tomorrow. I can't believe I'm doing this!

[charmander]

Yes, you really have crossed over to the dark side!

Good for you - I think you'll like the books. I enjoyed reading all of them.

[annettemarie]

Welcome to the Dark Side! We have cookies and butterbeer.

[Arwyn]

I refused to read them (because of the Americanized title of the first) until my dad bought me all (at that time) four books in the original British version.

It's a pretty fun series.

[Murihiku]

Ooh, please let us know how you (dis)like the books!

They say converts make the greatest fanatics . . .

[JessicaS]

I first read them because Alan Rickman is hot


I really enjoyed them though.

[TEAK's Mom]

My 6 year old has taken over your role as the lone non-reader of Harry Potter. The books are well within her reading ability and she would probably love them. She certainly loves a lot of similar books. However, everyone and their lemur asks her if she has read them, so she flat refuses. My little iconoclast.

(Mind you, I loved the books, too. I just know better than to push my dd.)

[KittyKat]

I didn't read any of them until right before the last book came out.

Once I started reading the first one I could. not. put them down.

We went to the much over-hyped midnight release party of the final book. :

[AutumnMama]

Originally Posted by KittyKat

I didn't read any of them until right before the last book came out.

Once I started reading the first one I could. not. put them down.

We went to the much over-hyped midnight release party of the final book. :

Me too! Except that I didn't make it to the release party because of car troubles. I wonder how long it's going to take me to get over being disappointed about that

[jeca]

Okay I have a confession to make since you have finally crossed over, it was I who DDDC'd you. :

Welcome to the Dark side.

[MelanieMC]

Originally Posted by jeca

Okay I have a confession to make since you have finally crossed over, it was I who DDDC'd you. :

Welcome to the Dark side.

Well, thank you! I loved that DDDDC and I was sad to see it go! :

I haven't got to start reading yet b/c I had some family stuff come up over the weekend, but hopefully I can start tonight or in the morning. I'll let everyone know if I'm truly converted or not when I'm done with the first book!

[annethcz]

I didn't start reading them until after the last book had been released and all of the hysteria died down. But I enjoyed the series and I was so happy that I waited long enough to get all the books from the library without waiting

[amrijane128]

I started reading em when I was a kiddo then stopped... get past the first three books and they are more "adult" oriented. They rock.

[Arduinna]

good luck. I couldn't get past the first chapter or so. Although I did enjoy the movies.

[SAHDS]

I was the same way until I was basically cornered with the first 4 books by my best friend. Be careful, it becomes an obsession!

Have fun!

[kirstenb]

Originally Posted by SAHDS

I was the same way until I was basically cornered with the first 4 books by my best friend. Be careful, it becomes an obsession!

Have fun!

Sounds pretty much like how it went down for me. My BF is a Harry Potter freak and I would always laugh at her for getting so into these books for kids. I wanted to go see the movie with her when the first one came out but she told me she wouldn't see it with me until I had read the book. And the rest is history. I went to every midnight release party with her after that. :

[annettemarie]

I love Potter confessions.

I remember hearing a story/interview with JKR on NPR and thinking "If everybody thinks it's great, it probably sucks". Then I ordered Baby Michael's (now almost 10!) Christmas gifts online and one of the company's sent a free copy. The rest is history.

I managed to hook my BFF, my husband, and three of my kids on the books as well.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

good luck. I couldn't get past the first chapter or so. Although I did enjoy the movies.

The first book, especially early on, is much more geared to a young audience than the rest of the series, imo. The more "adult" focus is especially clear from partway through Goblet of Fire, but I think the series shifts that way slightly between the first and second book, too.

Oh - and I personally find the first chapter of the first...4 or 5 books, to seem more kid focused than the remainder of each book. I think it's something about the way Rowling phrases a lot of the Dursley-related stuff.

[St. Margaret]

Originally Posted by Arwyn

I refused to read them (because of the Americanized title of the first) until my dad bought me all (at that time) four books in the original British version.

It's a pretty fun series.

Oh, you're so lucky! That peeved me too, when it came out. After everyone I knew was reading them, including people I trusted, and they dragged me to the first movie, and I was staying at my parent's house with only my Wordsworth textbook to read, I read the first book in like one night. And then felt lucky that there were more to read readily available! We have a few odd copies of different ones, so I wouldn't do this, but I've often fantasized about getting the complete British set.

[Ruthla]

OK, it's been 4 days. Have you finished all 7 books yet?