Harry Potter!

I am kind of writing this blog in response to one written by my sister (in-law). It seems she may be a late bloomer to the world of Harry Potter but we have finally sucked her in(insert evil laugh). Oh how I love thee Harry Potter, let me count the ways. Ok, so I am not going to count the ways but I am going to try to explain coherently and sensibly to explain the various and sundry reasons why I so enjoy the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling.

First of all, they are good stories, in my book that is key. A book must tell me a story in order to hold my attention, I don't care how well written it is. Well, thats an exaggeration, I really to care to some extent but if a book is reasonably well written and tells an amazing story I am more likely to enjoy it than if it tells an Okay story in profound and difficult to decipher language.

The writing is easy to read, allowing children, even ones who are learning to read, to enter a wonderful world of imagination and fantasy. I believe that reading is a gateway to knowledge and a life of success. There are children who never get to read such books and I feel sorry for them never knowing the joy of envisioning and entirely different world in their own heads as described by someone else's words.

The subject matter is another reason to love Harry Potter. JK brings up topics that are real and difficult in a way that can help children to be prepared for real life. They learn about dealing with conflict, and that the world is not all good, and about death. The characters in the book learn that violence is not the best way to solve a problem and that children can solve difficult problems if they put their minds to it. They learn about cultural and racial differences and tolerance and intolerance. All of these things are good things that parents should want their children to understand.

Yes the story is fantasy and the circumstances of Harry's life are a bit far-fetched for this world. No the story is not satanic witch-craft. It is a world of imagination that makes a great platform for kids imaginations and I for one think that one cannot be hurt by too much imagination.

I cannot wait for the next book and the coming movies to be released! YAY!