Am I the only one

I tried to read the first book but didn't like it. I grew up reading Narnia Chronicles anyway so this struck me as Lion Witch and the Wardrobe lite. Have seen the movies as they become available on netflix. Not a big fan, but they're not bad movies. I'm more a sci fi person anyway.

Paula

I just had to respond here.  I absolutely love these books.  The movies don't do much for me, but the books are fantastic.  I didn't even start reading them until just before the fourth book came out.  I had resisted until then thinking they were children's books and probably boring.  Then, after SO's mom passed away and I discovered that she had owned the first three books, I thought I would give the first one a try.  Well, I just couldn't stop.  I read the first three in about 2 months and by then the fourth one had come out and I just kept going.  All of my friends had already been reading the books and I thought they were crazy for being so into these "kids" books, but as it turns out, I really enjoyed them.

I know fantasy type books aren't for everyone, and I didn't think they were for me either, but these books have a way of pulling you into the lives of these characters.  You really feel for Harry and the life he was forced to live with his aunt, uncle and cousin.  Rowling really knows how to put images into your head and at the end of each book certain things are wrapped up, but there is still so much to learn about Harry and this unknown magical world.

I hope those of you who never read the books, at least give them a try []  They really are wonderful.

We are the only two. It was hugely popular when I was 15 or so, but I just didn't feel like seeing it.

Three.  I slept over at my cousin's once and we played all three back to back, but they were really boring and I was sleeping halfway through the first movie.

I LOVE Harry Potter. I think the books are far better than the movies. Rowling is so imaginitive and when you see the movies they do leave out some of the small details that are in the books that make them so incredibly wonderful.

I don't feel there is anything "Sci-Fi"-ish about Harry Potter at all. I don't like to compare the books to the JRR Tolken either because I've read those books and normally I finish a book in a few hours and those took me weeks because I was so confused and bored (although I loved the movies). I think you should try out the first book... if it doesn't tickle you within the first few chapters then if probably isn't the series for you. Give it a try though... they are really something not to miss!
 
(Oops, I am not replying to DumDog, I was trying to reply to the OP! Sorry!) []

I've just never been interested in SW.

i am not a dress up like a jedi sw fan, but i do love star wars (ep.4) and empire (ep.5). i remember seeing empire and jedi in the theater as a kid. vadar is such a badass in empire!

the original three movies are less sci-fi and more .... "knights of the round table" or "three musketeers" IMO.

the newer ones suck in comparison to the others. if you only ever see one SW movie, please let it be "the empire strikes back". []

I haven't.  My mom doesn't really like the whole 'magic' thing, so I will respect her and not get the books until I am out of her house, or 18 if she will let me, (she should, she allows older brother to play D&D, although he knows she does not approve.)
 lus I want to wait until the series is completed, coencidently that happens on my 18th birthday, lol.
I want to listen to them on CD or audio casset because I will actually listen to them. I don't always read books anymore, even if I really like them. I used to love to read, but with cd I can read and draw, play with my animals, clean my room, ect... but they are in the childrens section so I have yet to go over there and check them out, maybe when I run out of good ones in the adult section...

ORIGINAL: BEVOLASVEGAS

Gina, why does everyone respond that way?  I've just never been interested in SW.  I've never been a big sci-fi person, so I guess that I just don't see the big deal.

 
I'm with ya!!! I have fallen asleep more than once trying to watch any Star Wars movies. The prequels were a 'little' better but still not my cup of tea. I just don't see the big deal about THAT whole fantasy world. [8|]
 
I have seen 2 or 3 of the HP movies but never read the books. I do enjoy the movies, more for the special effects and creativity, not so much for the story lines.

Alright, I'm sold!  I already have 4 books packed to go with me, but I'm sure that I can read another book or two over vacation.
 
Now for a dumb question...What's the name of the first book?  I mean obviously it's Harry Potter, but which book is it?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

I'm so excited!  I hope you like it!

ORIGINAL: BEVOLASVEGAS

Am I the only person who hasn't read or seen anything Harry Potter?  Am I missing something?  I thought that it was a kid's series, but now I'm wondering if I am missing soemthing wonderful.

 
Add me to the "Never read/seen Harry Potter" list.  do I feel like I'm missing something?  Nope.  It's just not my thing.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone (Different names in the UK and US)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Thanks!!!  I'm going to the bookstore in a bit.

Definately do not mistake the movies for the books. Some movies do a really outstanding job of capturing the spirit of the books (Lord of the Rings for me was that way and I am a HUGE fan of the books) and some just don't. For me the Harry Potter movies are simply Harry Potter Methadone. They entertain me while waiting for the next book but they are not the real thing by any stretch of the imagination.

The first two Harry Potter books are definately kids' books. But really uncommonly well-written kids' books with a lot of subtle things aimed at adults to appreciate. But they are fairly short, easy to read, and have pretty simple plotting (and the common fairytale tropes that all kids love--orphaned misunderstood boy finds out he's something special, come on who didn't have that fantasy as a kid?). Don't get hung up on the fact that you're omg reading a children's book. I was an English teacher in a former life and my husband was an English teacher for many years, so I guess for us it's pretty normal to read kids books but maybe for some people it seems a little weird.

But starting with the third book they begin to move into the realm of adolescent literature. If you can at all remember what it was like to be a teenager I think you can appreciate the later books.

The thing is though I don't really consider these books to be in the "fantasy" genre so much. They take place in this world, the real world. The 6th book opens in the office of the Prime Minister of the UK. And Harry was raised in the non-magic world and we learn along with him all of the ins and outs of the magical world that is right in our own midst but that we don't see or notice. So you're not plunged in to this totally different universe with different races and languages and religions and cultures like you are in most fantasy books. It's our world. It's moden England.

On the Star Wars tip. Wow. I'm old enough to have grown up with them just as givens but I can definatley understand if you're younger never having seen them. And the new ones suck. But if it piques anyone's interest, it is scientifically proven that the first Star Wars movie (episode 4--god I hate that I have to clarify that and I hate these new movies) is not really about an orphaned boy (hey, there's those orphans who grow up misunderstood but really turn out to be special again!) who becomes a jedi knight. No, actually that movie is all about Harrison Ford's Tight Pants. Seriously. They're right up there with David Bowie's codpiece in Labyrinth as important moments in my young womanhood.

If you've tried reading the ooks and didnt like them fine.  But if you havent tried them then dont knock them or rule them out because you ARE missing out on a smashing bit of writing.  (trying to watch the films doesnt count!  i dont really like them all that much, i think they are quite geared towards people who have read the books and already like hp if you know what i mean.  if id watched the films i dont think id bother with the books tbh.)
 
Just read them with an open mind.  Dont think, "oh i dont like reading" or "oh i dont like fantasy" or "oh i dont like kids books" or "it'll never live up to thye hype".  Just curl up with a mug of hot chocolate or something and give em a whirl.
 
I do love reading but i do struggle with a lot of books in the scifi/fantasy genre.  They do have their own words and rules and stuff and that makes it really hard for me to get sucked in.  i feel like im standing in the outside of a clique looking in.  but jkr does it in such a way that you learn about muggles and quidditch when harry does so it doesnt feel like that at all.  he doesnt know hes a wizard and hes just as ignorant about the magical world as you are.
 
amanda, post back and tel us what you think! []

Stacita- I've never watched Star Wars either!

 
Me either.  I also never saw ET...strange, huh?  I do think that anything that gets kids interested in reading is awesome and the Harry Potter books have definitely done that.