To respond to Seafoam's comments on the negativity in books 5 & 6, I definitely agree that the books got more moody, but as I recall, ages 15 & 16 were a pretty moody time. Considering Harry grew up lacking any sort of parental involvement in his life, he's fairly well-adjusted and has a pretty good sense of self-worth, but regarless of one's upbringing, when you consider the events he has experienced, the tone is bound to be darker. I think the author captured those ages fairly successfully--teenagers are not generally logical when it comes to dealing with crises, either real or of their own making. Unfortunately, Harry was destined not to live a childhood of sweetness & light :( I would suggest reading the final installment and making your judgment after you consider the series as a whole.

Okay, I suppose you all are right. My goodness, I am really sorry now, I think I have been duely humbled, it's funny, I am always quoting "you shouldn't judge a book by its cover." Well, all I have to say for myself is, 'what a hypocrite!' lol. Thank you. To nawatramani, bookwmn53, and Bixie23.

I loved the seventh book, just as much as I loved all of them.

I think that's why the books are so good, Seafoam.  Who wouldn't start to feel torn and alone,  angry after having gone through what Harry's gone through.  In the last book, Harry's friends join him on this mission as he sets forth to destroy the objects in order to rid the world of  Voldemort  and the true prophecy is revealed in the end.  This books shows how much Harry grows and matures  and comes to understand and accepts his choices in life.  What I didn't like was having to say goodbye to so many dear characters by the end of the book.

I think you should at least give it a try.  I hope this convinces you, if not, well, I tried.

I am 56 and I just finished reading Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows. I think it's the best Harry Potter book yet.  Although I am now going to start all over again from book 1.  I haven't read book one since probably 2001 or something.  I  am also proud to be a Harry Potter fan - both the books and the movies!

Anybody have book #4 for sale?

:-)

Linda

I loved the whole series.  I have to say that book 5 was my least favorite.  As posted before, it was very angry and negative.  It seemed like Harry was yelling at someone all the time.  I think the book was well written.  That's not my issue.  It's not my favorite book only because  it was so true to how a teenager acts and reacts in less than perfect situations, and I was also having to deal with those same general attitudes from my real life teenager. 

I am 35 and have no qualms reading "children's" books.  I shamelessly stalk the kids section at the public library.  Not HP, though.  I bought those.....woooo hooo!    Of course, now that someone has said how good the audio version is....hmmmmm....;o)

I read the first few books before I would let my dd watch the movies, simply because I had heard conflicting things about them.  But, I have to say that I love them all and so does she!  We're addicted Harry Potter fans and dang proud of it.  :)

Hi,

My Harry Potter story began about book 3?  or so, my co-teacher (I was teaching 1-2-3rd grades at the time) was tripping out about this book and she just had to get it...she has four boys so I just chalked it up to boys, but continued to hear more and more about it, so decided to give it a go.  My husband and I began by reading it Saturday mornings in bed taking turns reading out loud to each other, but soon I took over as the reader (as a teacher it comes much more easily for me)  Needless to say, we enjoyed this so much, and niether of us cheated and read when we were not supposed to.  Three children later, we are proud to say, that we are still reading it out loud!  Howver, it's more often at the end of the day, after the children are asleep and perhaps a glass of wine or martini rather than coffee!  And , it will take us probably 6 months to get thru year 7, but it's great together time!)

I really enjoyed the HP books! I didn't start reading until after the 3rd was released, but I looked forward to the publication of each of the following books!

I've read all the Potter books. They really are great! I have 2 kids who will want to read the books when they get a little older, so I wanted to check them out. We've got the whole set. I'm a fan and so is my husband. :o)

I am a huge Harry Potter Fan, I have read all of the Harry Potter books including the final 7th book (which is great).  I have 3 children and they have not read Harry Potter past the first book (they are all older teenagers) 

I passed the last book (7th) on to my mom and stepdad and they really enjoyed it also.  I am looking for some new great magical adventure that can compare.

It is hard to find the perfect book after I have read a Harry Potter book, because I just can't find the something so engrossing.  Any suggestions??   I like all types of books, but the magical fantasy take me to a new world and away from reality, they are great.

You should try Diana Wynne Jones.  Her Chrestomanci series is great.  I would start with The Lives of Christopher Chant.

I really love the Harry Potter series.  DH was a fitting end to the series.  I can't wait to see what she writes next.

While my baby is not old enough to read Harry Potter, I have actually follwed Harry from the begining!! My brothers used to get Disney magazine and one issue they have like a portion of a chapter of the first book, at time they were targeting much younger kids!! I was hooked as soon as I read that and went out and bought it the next day!

I've not read the books, but I've seen all of the movies. Saw the last movie and decided I'd better get busy and read the books. I'll be getting the first one today!

I loved all of the Harry Potter books, as did my husband, but this last one was truly the best.  I love how she brings everything around in a great big circle.  I bought the last one on midnight when they came out and finished it by Sunday night.  I am very sad that it is now over, because I will miss Harry, Hermione and Ron.  I have enjoyed watching them grow up.

I love the books, I know some christians believe that they are evil but I think I am old enough to understand make believe vs reality!

I went to Half Price Books to buy some audio tapes since I was driving across country. They had the first threeHP books. I bought them - why not? I've been hooked every since. No, I did not go to the store at midnight when the book was released! (I waited until the crowds thinned and went at 1:30 am.)

By the way - I am almost 50 and am the youngest member of my family, so no children - although I try to act immature sometimes!

Hello I am new But i HAVE READ all of the Potter Books.. I like the first three the best before it got more comerical. I got my sister and nephew hooked on the series and movies also.. I like that in England it went like wild fire when they first came out by word of mouth thur the playground.. Signs of a Great book :D

I don't understand the whole thinking they're evil mentality.  She's got a very clear deliniation(sp) between good and evil, and good always trumps evil.  She's realistic enough(at least by the later books) to show that there are shades of gray but you can choose how you'll behave, what you'll stand for, and ultimately love is the key to conquering evil.  It confuses me how certain extreme christians can see that as an evil message(but these are the same people that confuse me on a regular basis--there are all kinds of Christians, after all).

I dont have children...but i love harry potter.  I have a friend who is a single mom, and she didnt think she would like the books till she started reading them.  She couldnt put them down and we even started to say we had dates with "Harry" all of our guy friends were confused and thought we were dating a guy named harry.  Her five year old little girl even tattled on her mom to grandma, saying that "mom spends all her time reading harry potter."  I have made another addict.

I became a HP fan when the 4th book came out and I watched the first movie.  I read the first four within 2 months and never looked back.  I wasn't a huge fan until recently and now am slowly buying all the books (since I borrowed the first 4 from the library, the fifth from my friend who is a HUGE fan, and bought and sold the sixth within two weeks).  I think the movies are good for the most part with a few problems in the changes.  Getting ready to re-read the series.

I have read each one 5 times and I'm sure I'll read them all again.

I LOVE HP!!!!

I'll be 62 in two weeks!  Having said that, you should know that I read the very first Harry Potter book by mistake.  I have read all the others on purpose!  Excellent reading on ANY level!

Katz

I so admire J.K Rowling. What a story her story is!  :)

I devoured each book as it came out and could have camped out withall the kids to get the

new release but restrained myself. Who dosen't love some magic and "what if" in their lives?

I am in real estate and manys the time I have gleefully found Harry Potter rooms under the stairs!

It makes the sad days or the boring days that much easier to get thru went you can escape into

some magic. I say Rowling rocks and good on her. Of course I love a success story.

I bet with ALL the reading WE ALL DO - we could write too. If we dared.....................    :)

I hadn't read the series, listening to the hype sort of turned me off but went to visit my daughter and my grandson's godfather had got him the first 4 boxed set and Andy told me_"you have got to read these books". Any time a kid says that, that is what you read next. I loved them, just finished re-reading them for the fifth or sixth time last week. Don't like the movies. The books require way too much imagination to put on the screen. my grandkids and daughter love them.