When did you start reading the HP series?

[***Heather***]

Yes, it's another HP thread!:

I feel like such a faker. My little sister got books 1&2 for Christmas one year. She talked about them non stop. Kept telling everyone they should read them. I kind of laughed at her. (I mean, come on, books 1&2 do look childish!)

I didn't get interested in the series until Movie #2 was coming out and Oprah had a big show about it. I remember seeing the scene where Ron was puking up slugs and Colin says "Harry, can you turn it around?!" so that he could get a good shot.

According to my research, that means it was November 2002. The first 4 books were already published!

Oh well, on the bright side, that means I haven't been waiting as long to find out what happens.

When did you get hooked?

[mmace]

Hi, my name is Marissa, and I have never read any of the HP books and I have never seen any of the movies.

Hi Marissa!











Seriously, I never have. My daughter has all of the books and I keep saying I'm going to read them, but somehow I never do....

[Finch]

Marissa....



I started reading them um....I *think* it was right after book 5 was released...yeah....so I was a latecomer to the books, but a huge fan of the movies. I saw the movies and got interested in the books.

[Pandme]

I got into it after the first movie came out. As I walked out of the theater I walked straight to a bookstore and bought all 4 books.

I became really into fandom for a while there. I was actually a moderator at a Harry Potter messageboard for a little while. I had Potter friends from different countries and we actually did meetups and things. Although we are not as crazy as we were right before book 5 came out, many of these people are still my close friends.

[Earthy Mama]

I'm pretty sure I didn't start reading until after book 6 : . I don't know why I denied it for so long. I absolutely love them.

[Hatteras Gal]

I remember the craze around the release of book 4, summer of 2000. That was the first time HP came up on my radar. So I checked book 1 out of the library and I was hooked.

[l_olive]

I was lucky enough to begin reading The Philosopher's Stone before it was even released in the US. My nephew had gotten a British copy from an overseas friend for his birthday, and I read the first few chapters aloud to him before bed. I was hooked immediately and stayed up all night finishing it!

[***Heather***]

Originally Posted by Hatteras Gal

I remember the craze around the release of book 4, summer of 2000. That was the first time HP came up on my radar. So I checked book 1 out of the library and I was hooked.

I remember seeing stuff on the news about HP fans lining up for the release of a book or movie and thinking "what a bunch of geeks!":

And then I became one. BUT, I have never dressed up or camped out for HP. I'm too shy and don't like to admit my geekiness IRL.

[woodchick]

Book 2

[AutumnMama]

Hm, about 6 months ago :

I don't think I would've ever read them on my own, but my SIL let DH borrow the first one a while back.
He never read it, and it had been kicking around the house for a few weeks when one day I decided to pick it up and start reading it.

I think I finished it that day, and went on to borrow the rest from the library and devour them as soon as I got them

I'd actually love to read the whole series again before the 21st, but I think the books are all checked out atm (of course).

Anybody wanna loan me books 1-6 till the end of the month? :

[honeybee80]

I think I also started reading them shortly after Book 5 was released. It was the summer I was pg with my DD, so 2003.

[mightymoo]

I started reading when book 4 was released or shortly before I believe.

[Alohamelly]

I started reading them when they first came out. I lost interest around book 4 due to all the rage and hype surrounding HP. I haven't read book 5 and don't care much about the upcoming movie either.

[Justmee]

I started reading the summer book 4 came out. I was at camp babysitting and I picked up book 1 and then I just had to read the other 3. It was right when 4 came out so I didn't have trouble borrowing the 1st 3 from people. Then I read 4 when I got home (was able to get it out of the library by then). I was hooked. I own them all now and I'm re-reading prepping for the realease of #7!!

[Dar]

After the second one, but we went back and read the first one first, because Rain has always been compulsive about reading a series in order...

dar

[Ruthla]

I also ignored the books at first- they were something my little cousin read.

When I was pg with DS(fall 2001), I had to slow down and had more time for reading. I decided to read Harry Potter since I'd heard so much about it. I read the first 3 books in the month before he was born, and the 4th after he was born (I had to keep that one out of the library longer than a week! Less time to read with a newborn!)

When the 5th book came out, I bought a copy a few days after it was released, and I bought a boxed set of the first 4 books at the same time. DD2 got hooked when she saw me reading OoTP and wanted to read what I was reading- I suggested she start with book 1. Shortly afterwards, DD1 got interested as well.

I pre-ordered book 6 and had 2 copies sent to our house on release day. It didn't work out so well because 3 of us wanted to read it right away! I would have pre-ordered 3 copies of book 7, but DD1 will still be at camp, so I'm only getting 2 and I'll trust that one or both of us will finish before she comes home on the 23rd.

[LiamnEmma]

Just before book 5 was released. We had book 1 in the house for a few years -- dh had won it at a work thing -- but I hadn't read it. I knew two colleagues who were reading the books to their students and they took them to see the first movie when it came out. At that point I decided to try book 1 out and was immediately hooked. OOP was imminently due at that point so I was able to race through the first five books before I started the long wait.

[JessicaS]

I was actually *refusing* to read them. I wouldn't have anything to do with the books.

Then the first movie came out and my family MADE me watch it. After staring at AR doing his Potions class speech I read them all.

That was not long after GoF was released.

[primjillie]

I think I started after Book 2 came out. I've read them all many times and just finished them again so I would be prepared for the new movie and the book. I'm a HP geek and can't imagine anyone not reading the books. I think they add so much depth to the movies. I wish the movies could include everything in the book, but knowing the whole story really rounds it out for me. I waited too long to get tickets for the opening nite, but I will be there Wednesday afternoon. I am both dreading and dying for Book 7. I don't want it to be over!!!

[mummyto3girls]

In 1997, when the first book came out, I was hooked since then. I can't handle more days of torture for book 7