Are we too old for Harry Potter?

[snapes_witch]

Frankly, I don't understand the question . . .

[miared]

In my humble opinion-----NO, we are not!

Hehehehe- at least I do not feel too old for it- yet.

JK just managed to write it in this way that everything becomes more of an intriguing puzzle than some little kid growing up. Themes do not revolve around romance (let´s just overlook certain parts of HBP!!) too much for anyone to get sick over it.
Yes, we do see Harry growing up, but it is all served in small portions, and that maturing never takes the front row either- allowing older readers to be amused by it, but not having to dwell too much on such parts.

And, of course, there is the very wide range of older characters who keep showing up, and who bring secrets so interesting and dark that we simply get sucked in.
Not to mention the number of subplots that our young trio does not fully get, with their young minds.

I like this guessing.
I like the older characters, and the constant exchange between them and the trio. I like the "adult" secrets, the moments of discovery and joy.

I just happen to like a lot of what JK did.

--------------

Not to forget that she managed to set all the locations up so perfectly that we feel right at home. She did that so damn well! Starting with a small delimited (??) place, and letting us get familiar with it first, the Dursleys home- then moving on to the interstation, Diagon Alley- only to bring us to our final destination- Hogwarts.

She does not make the mistake to start off with all kinds of ridiculous names, creatures or places that are yet too big for us. People tend togreatly understimate her skill in that departement alon!

[Brigid]

[quote]This year I have a English teacher who was originally from London who has not read Harry Potter. I have tried to convince him to read them but he always says that he is too old to try them and that I am too old to still be obsessing over them. It drives me completely crazy. I even have several other Harry Potter obsessed friends in that class who have joined me but he still claims that HP is only a children's book. I really don't like this teacher!

Your teacher would flip about me! I am 67 and love Harry Potter, Crazy mostly about Snape. I don't think I'd understand your teacher at all. Seems he is a little over the top.

[SlyRagrihuf]

Not everyone likes the same things. Even us hp fans don't like the same things. We do however, enjoy the books and movies, some like one over the other. This is what makes us "us". The too young or too old persona depends on who is asked. Depends on maturity level, behaviors and habits. IMO we are not immature but, love a good adventure and suspenseful stories constructed with new ideas.
I am very pleased to be able to share these thoughts with you all in the "verse". We are all one year older and still love "the boy who lived", hoping to see more.

[Griffindood]

You are only as old as you feel...remember that.

[Tenshi]

Of course aren't we too old to read. Even if it's a book aimed at a younger audience, it still has educational value*. Just because it's about a fictional story and written in simpler words, doesn't mean that adults can't learn from it and enjoy it.

It's also a good way for non native speakers to read more English books. The HP books were the first books I've read in English (I started as an adult) and now I hardly read any German books. I also recommend the books to aduls who want to improve their English.

[Selmo]

I'm far to old to read Harry Potter. In three weeks time, I'll be 69 and I'll celebrate by re-reading Philosopher's Stone.

I read a lot of so-called children's literature. Should I seek help?

[Liselle]

nope not at all - you're in good company Selmo! Ive enjoyed a lot of children/ten literature. It tickles the imagination very well!

[Atomic01]

Never too old... I'm almost 44

[twinsrule26]

Originally Posted by Selmo

I read a lot of so-called children's literature. Should I seek help?

I find it to be more fun than most so-called Adult fiction. I enjoy it very much. I also find reading it ,helps me to connect with and better understand my young nieces and nephews better .

You're NEVER Too old to read a good story even if it is labeled as children literature .

As for Harry Potter if we were too old we would never have come to CoS.

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by twinsrule26

I find it to be more fun than most so-called Adult fiction. I enjoy it very much. I also find reading it ,helps me to connect with and better understand my young nieces and nephews better .

You're NEVER Too old to read a good story even if it is labeled as children literature .

As for Harry Potter if we were too old we would never have come to CoS.

Exactly . I still read young adult novels along with adult fiction. More so... since a lot of the adult stuff seems overrated some how.

[TWZRD]

My Great Aunt always said that having nieces/nephews was a great excuse to stand around reading in the childrens' section. I wholly agree. I also enjoy reading some old favorites to young folks I babysit. (Please do not give "hello Kitty" books to children. Those excuses for books will corrode their brains!) I don't think I'll ever tire of imagining myself in Molly's kitchen, or attending Hogwarts.

Perhaps authors (real ones, not soulless promoters of copyright toy characters) have to work a bit harder on good stories and characters for Young Adult books, since they can't just rely on prurient content.
Speaking of YA literature, the hubbie of a colleague just wrote this. I liked it:

Young Adult novel (for teens) called the Serpent King was released on March 8. The Serpent King https://www.amazon.com/dp/055352402X..._C2.exb5AAYF7F
A sample of the book if you want to read a part of it to see what you think! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZNE17D2/

Oh, BTW. I guess most of you know that JRR Tolkien had to argue with his publisher to get Hobbit not published as childrens' fiction? As soon as they saw "elves" they just knew Hobbit was a kids' book. Can you imagine most young'uns slogging through the complexities of LOTR? I keep having to look names up in Silmarillion just to stay on the right track! So I summarize: Age is a state of mind, and "young adult" is a suggestion.

[SSJ_Jup81]

Nope, I wouldn't say that. I read the first book at the age of 18. I thought I was too old then, but it was recommended to me by the librarian of my local library back then. She convinced me to give the series a chance (only the first four were out at the time) by telling me that people in retirement homes even read this series.

[HedwigOwl]

Originally Posted by SSJ_Jup81

Nope, I wouldn't say that. I read the first book at the age of 18. I thought I was too old then, but it was recommended to me by the librarian of my local library back then. She convinced me to give the series a chance (only the first four were out at the time) by telling me that people in retirement homes even read this series.

I agree. I was a lot older, buying GOF for my nephew. My favorite independent bookstore set one aside for me, and they actually recommended that they thought I'd like it. When I brought it to my nephew he spent 10 minutes trying to explain the gist, especially who Voldemort is. He was so taken up with it that I decided to read the series so I could discuss it with him, and I was hooked immediately. JKR is a great story teller, clever and funny, there's no age limit on that.

[Pegasus]

One is never too old for Harry Potter. What's the point in living if you have to give up fantasy?

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by Pegasus

One is never too old for Harry Potter. Wants the point in living if you have to give up fantasy?

Definitely. Life is way too short. Enjoy reading whatever books you like.

[The Keeper]

I was part of the Harry Potter Generation. The kids that grew up with Harry and his friends, as the books were released. I'm now almost thirty and I will always cherish that feeling of anticipation and excitement I experienced lining up and collecting each new book as it was published. I will be re-reading these books until the day I die. I can guarantee that. No one is ever too old to have that kind of magic in their life. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

[SlyRagrihuf]

Originally Posted by The Keeper

I was part of the Harry Potter Generation. The kids that grew up with Harry and his friends, as the books were released. I'm now almost thirty and I will always cherish that feeling of anticipation and excitement I experienced lining up and collecting each new book as it was published. I will be re-reading these books until the day I die. I can guarantee that. No one is ever too old to have that kind of magic in their life. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

I am much older than you Sir. I strongly concur with your quote! I have a sense of adventure when I read the books or watch the movies. I am still searching for a copy of the movies the tv stations show with all the extra parts put back into regular rotation. I have the extended version of SS and COS I do own, but the others I have not found.

[PhoenixUK]

It is so exciting to read the "HP generation"!

Again I was the age of Harry when the books were released. I remember the feverish excitement when each book was released. Almost daring to dream I was reading what a close friend had been doing over the last year.

I think it is clear that although PS and CoS were younger books, as the series progressed it managed to fit in acutely adult issues, but that were still in a way that were accessible to younger people. The series manages to deal with things like the sudden death of someone you love in a way that makes you understand the pain, whilst still remaining in the context of life going on, and it being a way to enhance your character rather than collapse.

I remember at the time there was talk of Harry being "too angry" in the latter books. I think looking back now we can recognise that was the result of someone mentally aging well beyond their years. The truth was we had to see the enormity of the final chapters to understand why that was so imperative.

If someone approaches the series with an open mind it is impossible not to grow as a person.

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by The Keeper

I was part of the Harry Potter Generation. The kids that grew up with Harry and his friends, as the books were released. I'm now almost thirty and I will always cherish that feeling of anticipation and excitement I experienced lining up and collecting each new book as it was published. I will be re-reading these books until the day I die. I can guarantee that. No one is ever too old to have that kind of magic in their life. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

Word. Well put and well said. There's nothing wrong with loving and enjoying any books that help to bring those emotions and feelings into the world.