I know everyone is talking about Harry Potter, Harry Potter that, and I’m no different. I got my hands on the book Saturday afternoon and then got my word count on V.C.O.E. Book 3 out of the way so, as tired as I am, I could read it. 
Between running errands, writing, and letting my daughter pound the knots out of my neck and shoulders, I’m only on page 100. But boy am I enjoying it!
I’ve read every Harry Potter book so far, and this one will be no exception. It all started when I read the first book. There was so much hoopla about the darned books I thought, as a good mom, I’d better see what my kids were reading so I could make an informed decision on whether I’d have to nip ‘em in the Harry bud or not.
I was hooked! Immediately hooked!
What really wigs me out is the simplicity of the stories. Anyone can read a Harry Potter book. And while the world building is awesome and the characters, surroundings, etc. are original and unique, it’s not written in a way that’s overly descriptive or makes me ’see and feel’ the surroundings. That’s not a slam, just an observation, ’cause I happen to love the Harry Potter books. Yes, I’ve seen all the movies, too, except for the latest one. I’m waiting for the lines to die down just a bit so I can take my kids to go see it on the 3D Imax screen.
But my point about the simplicity of the writing in the books is this: Anyone can read a Harry Potter book (which expands JK Rowling’s reader base right off the bat). The stories are engrossing and pull you right in, regardless of the lack of complicated descriptions, etc (again, which is a plus). AND THE AUTHOR IS THE FIRST BILLIONAIRE WRITER AFTER WRITING ONLY SIX BOOKS!
Hell, I’ve written seven book in the past year and ain’t nowhere close to JK Rowling’s income. So what was it that made people flock to Harry Potter? Was it timing? Was it marketing? Was it JK Rowling’s book coming along to fill a niche at the right place at the right time? Or was it sheer luck?
Whatcha think? And if you’re reading the latest book, where are you? No spoilers though! ;D
I’m done. I took the weekend off to read and to avoid spoilers… I finished late Saturday night.
I’ve loved the series from day one. For me, it’s her world-building. She’s created such an incredibly vivid and detailed world and just wrote the heck out of it so well that she drags you into it and hangs on so tightly you can’t, and don’t want to, let go…
I wish I could pinpoint Rowling’s success… both as an editor and as a writer… tho, while it would be way cool to be the editor who discovered the next Harry Potter, I think me and my bank account would prefer to be the creator. *grin*
by Grammar Geek July 23rd, 2007 at 10:07 am