Why You Should Read: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (Spoiler-Free)

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hi guys. On this channel I will *always* keep it about the books, no matter the public perception of an author. If you feel that is a reason you can’t stick around the channel, that is 100% your choice and I respect that and wish you nothing but success and happiness in the future.

[@nicolashernandezvidal6040]

Agree! While I don’t support the authors statement, I can still separate them from their work

[@debhanzlik540]

Well said Mike 👏

[@kyliecoffeecatreads5472]

Same im still a big fan of the books, and defo separate the books from the author. Have you read the old kingdom series by Garth Nix first book is Called sabriel also a really good middle grade fantasy that seams to transcend older reading ages . I dont see many people talk about now as it a bit of an older series it also focuses another on death and loss and some of the main characters are necromancers.

[@TrafalgarL4wyer]

Good on you, Mike. Tired of people letting public image affect the worlds that these authors create. Just keep it within what’s contained in the books. No retrospective analysis of what houses really mean etc. No, it was never about forcing values on kids etc, don’t think too much into it. It makes sense within the story, just enjoy it! Haha

[@realmsofreading]

@@kyliecoffeecatreads5472 The Old Kingdom is amazing! My old boss turned me onto the series, and it’s one of the best worlds I’ve delved into.

[@freya7084]

These are by far my fav books ever. They literally saved my life. I was suicidal in 2007, and wanted to read the last one before I died. By the time the book came out, I was better and never attempted. I’m sure if it wasn’t for this I would have died

[@joyousjoyous9358]

Wow! So glad you hung in there. As Dumbledore said: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Stay with us, I'm sure you'll be missed otherwise.

[@verylostdoommarauder]

The books are still transphobic though. Actually, that gives me a good idea: Through a specific series of events the villain saves the main character's life and the main character is conflicted about it when they have to go beat the villain.

[@freya7084]

@@verylostdoommarauder no they are not XD tell me where in the books you see transphobia

[@brandocalrissian3294]

@@verylostdoommarauder they're not transphobic. Take your cult rhetoric somewhere else.

[@flugsven]

So happy to hear that 💛Reading or listening to the books have always been my best grounding technique.

[@iWizard]

I first read the Harry Potter Series as an adult. My wife introduced me to them and we read them out loud each night for months instead of watching TV. I will always love Harry Potter.

[@mikesbookreviews]

That is so cool!

[@annetteanderson7482]

My son was 11 years old when this came out in the States. He was not a reader before this but became an avid reader after reading the first book upon my insistence. Every year when the next book came out he was still Harry's age (until Book 4). He then went on to the Young Jedi series, Goosebumps, Animorphs, and never stopped. He is now in his mid-30s and reading is still one of his favorite activities, particularly in the science fiction/fantasy genres. It only takes the right books to make a child a reader.

[@muhammadhashir6136]

You missed my fav quote, "Don't pity the dead harry, pity the living and those around you."

[@mikesbookreviews]

Making those picks were tough as hell.

[@muhammadhashir6136]

@@mikesbookreviews lols true that

[@roberte.2114]

Was waiting for him to read it

[@stuart1346]

As someone born in the mid nineties I’ll always be a Harry Potter defender they’re great reads I’ve been through all of the at least 10 times and some more than double that.

[@Page_max]

Absolutely agree with you

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

The Harry Potter books were a big source of bonding between me and my daughters, both of whom became immersed in the series. My younger daughter even succeeded in dragging us to Universal Studios to visit all the Harry Potter stuff, so the series is a source of many wonderful memories. I enjoyed your conversion story, Mike, and I agree with you about the virtues of the books, which are a great combination of fantasy, mystery, and coming of age story.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, sharing them with my son has just been, for lack of a better word, magical.

[@atharvadeshpande4749]

@@mikesbookreviews we accept that Unintentional Pun. We all Love something Magical.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

We visited Universal Studios for the first time last year. I think I was more excited about the Harry Potter stuff than they were and I was 50 years old at the time.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Michael_L_Morrison Ha ha! Sounds like we had a similar experience!

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Indeed!

[@jessereads3004]

This is my all time favourite series so I’m very biased, but I’ve never read a series that you can get lost in as much as Harry Potter. A Hogwarts Christmas or Halloween is the dream. It also helps the movies did an amazing job to help you visualize so much. Awesome video!

[@tobyty123]

I reread the series for the first time since middle school (23 now) and some of the most memorable parts for me were the holidays! The atmosphere and visuals and feeling... Harry Potter is a big blanket of immersion and love... nothing like it.

[@zainabr2245]

This just makes me happy. Harry Potter doesn't get a lot of love these days, so thank you for making this video

[@masterknife8423]

I love the HP books. Despite the hate JK Rowling gets these days she's still a better writer than the HP film screenwriters

[@verylostdoommarauder]

*Two giants looking at small guy meme where JK is the small guy and the two giants are Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman*

[@brandocalrissian3294]

She gets hate for having an opinion that doesn't align with the crazy folks. Just like most of us.

[@sppotterstark8057]

The screenwriters KLOVES AND GOLDENBERG did a decent job adapting the books . Better then Percy Jackson, Wheel of time, Witcher tv series .

[@fatshibaballs]

@@brandocalrissian3294said by the crazy person.

[@TeamSnitchSeeker]

Read the series as an adult and still love it. I remember reading the first book in one sitting because it was so much fun that I couldn't put it down. A good story is a good story no matter who the intended audience was.

[@giannimanzano9266]

“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally - and often far more - worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” ~ C.S. Lewis This series will ❤️Always❤️ be a favorite of mine.🤓

[@mikesbookreviews]

Lewis always has the perfect quote.

[@AugsburgPilgrim]

Well, I’m 24 and never had the chance to read them, so I’ve recently purchased the series. I’m not ashamed.

[@GeraltOfArabia]

The Harry Potter series will forever be dear to my heart.

[@adamrenfrow]

About to start reading this series for the first time and I'm 39 years old. Can't wait.

[@ashtonnnr9002]

I know this is late but how did it go?

[@suprith3072]

@@ashtonnnr9002i know this is 3 months late but a reply would be good for this,i’m 23 never watched HP movies or even read a line anywhere because i always thought magic genre is BS but lately I’m starting to think that i should give a go for HP books,all i want from that book is it’s okay if it doesn’t excites me every page but please i don’t want to get bored in the middle phase of the book(i just don’t like Fillers jkjksh)

[@ashtonnnr9002]

@@suprith3072 nah i recently reread all of the books and i forgot how good they were (i read em once 9 years prior). the first 2 books aren’t the most exciting but they are still good and essential to the overall story. the later books actually get really good, though they are much longer so there may be the occasional “slow” section, but other than that it’s still a great read

[@suprith3072]

@@ashtonnnr9002 it’s because i just finished Misery(by Stephen King) and i felt exhausted ngl because i really felt it as BS,the actual interesting part is in the last 50 pages of a 370 page novel so i was just scared that it would repeat again with HP series but anyways i’ll give it a go

[@30goals]

@@suprith3072 Let us know how it goes, theyre really easy to read, and I say that as a plus. It doesnt drag

[@madisongoodyear5040]

Epic intro! Great quote choices.

[@CrapSandviche]

When you coming to the Bearded Fox??

[@madisongoodyear5040]

I’m thirsty! Let’s go now.

[@rejoyy]

I remember reading the series and wanting to hang out at the Wesley's. Such a wholesome home they had filled with food, friends, and good parental figures. Harry Potter is worth the read and the watch. And worth many many rereads and rewatch

[@MonsieurCarrot]

This series is so important to me. I read the books in a dark time of my life and they helped me find the light. The characters are my friends and Hogwarts is my home. I read them every year and it’s always the highlight of my new year.

[@NAFUSO1]

Rowling isn't the greatest writer out there, sure. But she's definitely solid. Dolores Umbrage is one of the greatest villains. A poor writer couldn't have developed that character like she did. The whole revisionist history going on with Harry Potter is ridiculous.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Umbridge...god I hated that woman.

[@mixedbooktape]

This! I remember more than once having to shut the book and put it down before I threw it across the room after reading the things Umbridge did.

[@jacquesduplessis8944]

LOL, I literally had a teacher similar to her in school, always picking on me, making write ridiculous things 100s of times etc.

[@notanthony5676]

shes such a bitch man she always got me on my nerves i cant stand her

[@W3TFART]

I’d be happy to be richest author in the world while in “your” opinion only being mediocre …..

[@madisongoodyear5040]

One of my greatest joys has been introducing these books to my nieces and kids. It’s been SO fun experiencing it again through their eyes.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Same.

[@laurenduke300]

This was the series that got me into reading. I have yet to find anything that has grabbed me the way Harry Potter has. Thank you so much for featuring it on your channel.

[@brettmurray2473]

I attribute Harry Potter to why I read adult fantasy today. It was a perfect intro for a young people at the time.

[@thelemmiebee]

The overarching theme of death and coming to terms with it as a natural part of life was really important to me growing up and losing loved ones. I know millions relate to this but it really struck me and the books have helped me overcome more than I could ever say. I've reread this series dozens of times over the last two decades and it's never diminished in my eyes. The worldbuilding isn't great and there are certainly plot holes galore, but that's not the point. There's more to focus on in this series and the messages stick the landing (in my opinion).

[@bodilveibaek]

First read HP at 27, then heard the audio with Stephen Fry at 42 (highly recommend his rendition if you are into audio books) and thoroughly enjoyed it both times -really takes you into another world, yet is completely relatable and engrossing.

[@maryannemercado3397]

Teary eyes. I really really really love this book. 100% agree with you Mike. Amazing series..the characters. Good thing it's on my schedule reread for March..

[@tamarabrouwer342]

I'm actually one of those people that didn't really grow up with it. I ignored it as a teen. But I tried them when I was older. Now I'm reading them with my youngest daughter. She truly loves it. It made her read. I will always love these books for that reason. Also because it is a thing that I can experience with my girl. And "I solemnly swear that I'm up to to good" fits her to a t. ❤

[@knightonart8886]

I was unfortunately discouraged from reading them when I was a kid. I would have probably loved them. But hey, never too late to learn!

[@saraspangler890]

I’m 68 years old and I have read the books several times. I read LOTR when I was @20 and have loved fantasy ever since.

[@3rdwave_emo]

You never steer me wrong Mike. I listened when you said read dark tower and loved it as my first fantasy series. Once I finish Tolkien I am on to the wizarding world of Harry Potter!

[@verylostdoommarauder]

Sir Terry was a better author. Check out The Color of Magic.

[@brandocalrissian3294]

Dark tower is so damn good. The first law trilogy is some really good fantasy.

[@ThisIsJaysWorld]

Those artworks in your intro are absolutely beautiful. Also, luckily for me I was able to get The Half-Blood Prince the week it came out so no one spoiled it for me and the end of PoA had me absolutely shook the 1st time

[@ravenbellebooks5665]

I still absolutely love this series. It got me through some terrible times in my life, and I will never let this series go.

[@rpow6861]

i read them in my mid 30s... bloody loved em, still do

[@muttineni03]

Wow that's a surprise Mike, I love this series though.

[@MrJacob1487]

Definitely the series which brought me into reading. Great series to hook readers into

[@huntersteed2880]

I was the perfect age when Harry Potter was coming out. It’s one of my favorite series. It is the series that got me excited about reading.

[@Dwish305]

The mystery comment is so accurate, I love how everything tied up at the end

[@fobers95]

Harry Potter and Goosebumps is what got me into reading for fun. Read the first first book in the third grade. Unfortunately the past few years I stopped reading as much as I used to but last years I decided to dive back into reading. Used HP to do it and remembered how much I enjoyed reading. Ended up reading nine books and now reading almost everyday.

[@TheBookCure]

I will always remember my mother lining up for me (her adult child) so that I could avoid being spoiled. She doesn’t care a lick about fantasy, but she was happy to do it. ❤️ Definitely agree that this will always be something special. I also genuinely appreciate Rowling’s wit; there are some excellent one-liners in the series.

[@asfaloth12]

Great video! I first read Harry Potter at age 17, and just fell in love with the series. The characters are so memorable, and the story broke my heart at times. So damn good. It is my #2 favorite fantasy series, after LOTR. Thanks for sharing this :)

[@dastardlydylan9165]

I experienced this series mostly through the audiobooks (Jim Dale) as a kid. I would listen to those and eventually the CDs every night to fall asleep. Sometimes I’d stick to one CD for a month (CD 9 in the Goblet of Fire sticks out to me. The first task.) It has such a special place in my heart. I still go through the entire series on audiobook at least once a year. The series is really a pillar in my life.

[@johnrigs6540]

Brilliant review as always! When my daughter was reading this series as it came out I also read them! We were at many of those crazy midnight releases and it seems like we may never see a phenomenon like it again - where hundreds of people of all ages line up on cold evenings at a book store waiting for a new book in a series! I’ve read the series through twice and they remain some of my favorite books of all time. Besides being an incredible world filled with great ideas, imagination and wonder - JK Rowling is simply a brilliant storyteller that can tell her story to anyone at any age. My daughters still love them -they are 20 and 28 - my niece loves them who is 13 - my nephew loves them who is 32 - and I love them and I am in my 50’s! It is INCREDIBLY rare that an author can do this. In fact,I’ve read many fantasy series since then...but there is not ONE that I could say this about. Is there anything that you could recommend that would be even close to this?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Narnia.

[@johnrigs6540]

@@mikesbookreviews Never read it before Just started it!

[@xAlexHDx1]

Fantastic video, Harry Potter is my favourite book series. You're doing a great job. Keep up the good work!

[@fishbowlwoman]

Started the series in my 30's and it's become one of my all-time favorites. There's a lot, LOT more there than just "some magic kids with wands." Love your use of the quotes at the start--those *begin* to scratch the surface of these books' depths! (But DUDE, you needed to sip from a HP mug here! 😆 )

[@mikesbookreviews]

I did sip from a Harry Potter mug.

[@fishbowlwoman]

@@mikesbookreviews Aw, man, I missed it! Will have to watch again...

[@muhammadhashir6136]

"You still readin that Harry Potty shit, its for six year olds...oh and by the way toy story is goat." That dude dug his own grave

[@atharvadeshpande4749]

Lol 😂😂😂

[@saeedajaib]

I can't wait till my daughter get's a little older so i can read this with her.

[@katieedge8247]

Yep, I'm one of those who grew up with the series, and I'll never not enjoy rereading it and rewatching the movies. I think one of the best quotes from the series is by McGonagall in Philosopher's Stone when she says that every child in the (wizarding) world would grow up knowing his (Harry) name. Talk about foreshadowing. Even if people haven't read the books or watched the movies, they've still heard of Harry Potter.

[@Tinahgirl83]

Can I just say how much I appreciate you saying that you will always keep it about the books? That’s what I’m on Booktube for, to find about about good books, not about people’s personal lives. And this will always be an excellent series. Always be a behemoth of publishing history. Thank you! I read them starting my senior year in high school into adulthood. I remember the day Order of the Phoenix came out. I was in college and I skipped classes that day, went to my local bookstore and read the entire thing.

[@kaylafrost4265]

Great video Mike! Totally agree. This series is ageless. :)

[@fcv4616]

I grew up with Harry Potter and, nostalgia aside, I think it’s a great series. The characters are fleshed out, the world building is engrossing (if at times inconsistent), and the story is compelling. Moreover, Rowling is a true storyteller and knows how to hook the reader. I last reread the series a couple of years ago as an adult, and I was glad to see I was still hooked and looking forward for the next chapter, even though I already knew how it ended. Not every author has that ability. There’s a reason why it became such a hit and people were dying to know what happened in the next installment, especially after book 6. It takes skill to write an engrossing book, let alone 7!

[@Neofilmcritic]

Fantastic intro, loved all the different quotes you selected. Harry Potter is my favorite series of all time because it was the book series that made me fall in love with reading and will always have a special place in my heart because of that.

[@robynprice717]

I read the Harry Potter books as they came out, & loved them. I love them that much I read the series every year at Christmas. It's a ritual! & every year, as I mature, depending on how I'm feeling etc... they resonate differently with me every year. I love them just as much now, if not more, than I did when I was a kid/teen.

[@BookishChas]

Harry Potter is one of my top favorite series ever, and at some point I want to reread it. I first read the books in my early 30s, and I was absolutely captivated. I read the whole series in a couple of months. Haggrid is perhaps my favorite character. It captivated my kids as well, and they’ve read it several times. I’m a big advocate for my kids to love reading, and I always tell them “Read what you enjoy.” I like the entire culture that has sprang up around it too, including the Fantastic Beasts movies. I think “Magic School” is becoming a subgenre all it’s own lol. Harry Potter did it, then Rothfuss did a version of it, and now Naomi Novik has one out lol.

[@RiseeRee]

WoT is my favorite of all time, but I always re-read HP every few years too. I absolutely LOVE HP, and I definitely went to Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. I was lucky enough to get picked to have my wand choose me at Ollivander’s 😊

[@aliciasorenson3807]

I love that you made this video. I agree 100%. Even the part where you said you were resistant at first. So was I for some reason. I saw everyone reading and freaking out and it bugged me🤣 and I said I wouldn't read it. Then I saw the first movie trailer and was so intrigued that I gave in. I was a junior in high school and I flew through the 4 books that were out and enthusiastically joined the nerdiest fans.😅 The 7th book came out at midnight before my husband's brother's wedding. I went straight from their rehearsal dinner to the bookstore by myself in an unfamiliar town and waited in line to get that book! Then I read it well into the morning in the bathroom of our little hotel room.😅 Now my kids have read it multiple times!

[@my_cousin_mose9782]

It's not the greatest series ever written by a LONG shot but if I could only read one book series the rest of my life I think this would be it. I listen to the audiobook (Fry) at least twice a year sometimes more. Its just a great story.

[@Buchertn]

I was so fortunate to be a kid when both these book's and films were coming out. I can remember just the pandemonium during that time and it was awsome!

[@tragikk03]

You have the best intros, hands down

[@Drums_of_Liberation]

I was always an avid reader as a kid, but Harry Potter was my real introduction into the world of fantasy. If it weren't for those books, I'd never have gotten into Tolkien, Lewis, Salvatore, and all the fantasy greats. And despite all the hate the series has been getting because of Joan's current opinions, I will always be grateful to her and her writing for keeping me into books.

[@GaryRodeo]

First fantasy series I ever read and I loved it. I don’t understand why some people act like they didn’t love it when they first read it just because it’s in vogue to say now😂

[@alicediamond387]

I read them as an adult and I loved them. I started reading them aloud to my son and about one chapter in, he asked to read them himself. It was the end of our nightly read aloud :( but the start of his solo adventures in reading. I will always love this series.

[@elementblademaster]

Congrats on 40K Subs Mike! Been with you since about 23K or so. Love your content, it's been an extremely fun ride so far! As someone who doesn't really know any fantasy readers in real life, I get my community fix from channels like yours. Keep doing what you do! Can't wait to see this community continue to grow!

[@Sith_Sidooks]

Hey Mike you sure you're actually back to work? Because these videos are freakin killing it man! You haven't missed a beat! Good shit man, thank you for the content 🤘🤘🤘

[@Nina_chitchat]

I loved and still love HP!! 🤩😍 (and I am 40 yrs old) - can't wait to read it with my daughter when she is old enough.

[@verylostdoommarauder]

Percy Jackson is way better for kids.

[@RabiyaRavenclaw]

No one knows about Percy jackson 😂😂😂. HP is the best selling book series on the planet. Go cry about it.​@@verylostdoommarauder

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

I’m currently reading the series for the first time at 25 and loving it. I regret not reading it when I was younger because I got annoyed by all the other kids screaming about it all the time haha.

[@brandocalrissian3294]

I understand that. Sometimes you have to let the hysteria about something die down before you can really get into and give it a fair shot without a hundred different peoples opinions chiming in.

[@ianrobertson7312]

I am apart of that group that started reading because my parents read me the books while we were on car trips. It was this series and The Hobbit that got me into fantasy and reading when I was younger. As a young child, being only 7-9 at the time, I can distinctly remember heading to the movie theatre between 2001 and 2003 to watch both Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and just being memorized. I can pretty confidently say that without these books and movies, I wouldn't be as avid a reader as I am today.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I love stories like this ❤️

[@bobgdn]

I was in my late 30’s when I started the series. I even was one of the billions anxiously waiting for the last book to come out.

[@timphelps3556]

I just read these last year for the first time. Excellent series.

[@austindehn5507]

I don't reread books. But if I did, Harry Potter would be the second series on my list (behind only the Dark Tower). This series will stand the test of time.

[@aquavirari]

I went to the theater with my family when I was in college having never heard of Harry Potter before. When we left, I immediately crossed the street to the Bookends next door and bought that same 4-book boxset. Harry Potter turned me into an avid reader as an adult. Just pure coincidence that I *cough cough* got sick for the next 3 days and had to stay home to read those 4 books straight through. But, if you want more supporting evidence that nothing will ever be like HP, when book 6 came out you could immediately buy t-shirts that gave away the big spoiler. ("So-and-so /redacted/ on page 681" or whatever.) What fandom is so big that it warrants contemporaneous trolling merch!?

[@oswintardis]

Neville is my favorite fictional character of all time! Great video, btw x

[@mixedbooktape]

I was 20 when I started reading the series. Only the first four were out at point. I got into it by seeing the first movie. Binged those first four books and was excited for each new release. The only midnight release I went to was the one for Deathly Hallows. Dressed up and everything. My favorite books in the series are Prisoner of Azkaban and Deathly Hallows.

[@Ryans-Guitar-Shop]

One of the best things that Harry Potter did was introduce kids into reading. At 45, when I was growing up we had few choices of books for teens. It was pretty much adult or kids books. Dragonlance was the series that hooked me in the 80s, but there wasn’t much else. (I was also read King as well which was way too adult looking back now).

[@bc8359]

I decided to give the books a read and I'm absolutely loving them, took me a day to read through the first, currently on the second and I'm half way through it. Ron Weasley is a great character and my favorite. I can see how people would assume they're for children but the books are following the journey of children after all. Coming from Patrick O'Brien Aubery and Maturin series, the books are such an easy read and very fun. I see myself reading the whole series start to end, I found myself this morning waking up and jumping straight back in to continue reading them. I would never have imagined I'd become a Harry Potter fan but here I am. lol

[@30goals]

did you love the rest?

[@bc8359]

@@30goals Absolutely... Read the whole series back to back. Plan on rereading them once a year now. Massive fan

[@clonetrooper2003]

@@bc8359 And? Have you read them again?

[@bc8359]

@@clonetrooper2003 I've read the first 2 again, about to start the 3rd. I've recently moved into PC gaming and my reading has plummeted... I'd typically read a tome every 10 days but over the past few months, I'm barely getting through a book every 2 months now or I just don't finish. I'm disappointed with myself, I'm plan on reading book 3 and 4 this month.

[@clonetrooper2003]

@@bc8359 ok good

[@muthiscocuq8berq]

Alright alright you sold it to me. I'll start the series today. Let's see.

[@MilesWilliams88]

I started reading Harry Potter when I was in 7th grade. I got 3 books in before I thought I was "too cool" for Harry Potter, lol. Fast forward to me being 32 years old, and I'm finally reading the series again. I'm on book 4... I've loved every book so far!

[@SGT1979]

We just watched the movies again with the kids, and my 10 year old daughter is reading the books for the first time right now.

[@SpydurPoet]

*comes in singing haters gonna hate* lol Love this. I had a bad taste in my mouth after it ranked above LotR on PBS top 100, but I do actually mean to read the series. Haven’t seen all the movies yet, either, so it is going to mostly be a first for me.

[@nga88nguyen]

Damn. I love the LOTR movies so i tried to read the first LOTR book but it was not enjoyable for me at all. He just keep going on and on about those trees. I mean I can read nonfiction books about tree, it could be very intriguing. But I cant seem to understand Tokien's intention on those pages. As I finished the book i have no choice but to give up, it's just not for me. That felt more like a textbook than literature (some historical books are more fun to me though)

[@verylostdoommarauder]

It also ranked above Discworld, despite the fact that HP is basically just Kroger Brand Discworld.

[@najpotenicewolf934]

I can confirm that for a child, time spent reading with a parent is not just fun, but also great bonding experience for the future. It was actually my mom who introduced me to Harry Potter. She is a primary school librarian, so we had quite an easy access to the books as those were coming out. And years later I realized why I have such a strong attachement to Harry Potter series. It was because I strongly associate these memories with happier moments in my childhood. I have read the books with my mom, watched movies with both of my parents (multiple times). While we read together also some other books, significant part of my childhood (when I was over 7 years old) and teenage years were Harry Potter dominated.

[@dyrcosis]

I really don''t disagree with anything you said in the entire video. I ignored this series until the first movie was about to come out. Less because I thought it was aimed at kids and more because I had no idea what it was really about. After seeing previews I grabbed the first four books and read them all within a few days. From then on I was hooked for life (I was in my early thirties at the time) and became an avid fan of both the movies and the books. The series will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@Musicteachersheff]

I was so annoyed at Harry Potter mania...when the 4th book came out it was CRAZY! Then I watched the first movie on TV and I really liked it so I went to see Chamber of Secrets in the theater. HOOKED! So I started reading the books and have been a HUGE fan ever since!

[@paperbackstash7267]

I read it as an adult, great series. Have the book box sets, and also the audiobooks by Jim Dale, which to me are the most enjoyable audio. I am picky with audio, but these are told in such a lively way they're a delight.

[@verylostdoommarauder]

If you like audiobooks, Penguin put a lot of work into new Discworld audiobooks. I don't know which ones are available so far, but I've heard Andy Serkis reading Small Gods is great.

[@DanClapp]

I remember all the hype when the final book was about to come out, but I had not been able to get into HP up to that point. I was in my local Borders (my beloved, they don't exist anymore) and I picked up the first book and just started reading. I read that whole book in one sitting right there in the store and proceeded to read the rest of the books before Deathly Hallows came out. Reading that book on the day that it was released was so awesome, somewhat because it's a good read, but mostly because I felt like I was part of a movement. Something much bigger than myself.

[@MishaSalnikov]

Love the new beard!

[@cipriansirbu3699]

Hy Mike,you don't have to convince me to read HP,I read them four time in my native language(romanian),and sometime in the future I will read them in english too. P.S. My favourite quote:Albus Dumbledore,,“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

[@LPMagic341]

25 years old now which means yes, I 100% started with HP and Deathly Hallows is still my #1 favorite book above all

[@xJillie]

Her writing is pretty good. Set up unfair expectations for me as a child and young adult 🤣 Those midnight releases were so much fun. We’ll never have that again. I remember covering my ears as I walked to the car, afraid people would be shouting spoilers in the parking lot.

[@castroscorner8466]

I've just started reading Harry Potter for the first time. I absolutely love the movies and have watched them over and over, so much so that I've decided to read the books. (I don't like reading). What I'm finding fascinating is that it feels like I'm watching deleted scenes as I'm imagining all of the characters in the movies and the scenes except now this is a special edition, haha. It's insane, I think I might actually start to enjoy reading!

[@MetalGildarts]

Harry Potter isn’t my favorite series, but I still respect it and appreciate it for what’s it’s done for the genre and mankind in general. Enjoy your content like always Mike.

[@brentasmith]

I have absolutely 0 interest in Harry Potter, but great video nonetheless. It makes a lot of people happy so people that do should continue to enjoy it.

[@thomaswootress-reidt101]

I bought into that Harry Potter was crap thing for a while, but then I started to remember how much I loved each book (except book 5). Started it in the 4th grade and I killed the first 4 books in like 3 or 4 weeks. So hyped for each movie. Good times.

[@AlexMoffet]

On face value, yes it is a kids book at book 1. But something I like to note is, he goes to the mirror of Erised to look at his dead parents because he never knew them. And in book 3 he has a guilty pleasure for a lack of better words to hear his mothers voice, that isn't kid book stuff, that's deep shit

[@debhanzlik540]

I remember when I picked up the first book and it opened to "Keeper of the Keys" seriously come on I was hooked! And so it began....I read them all, my husband, our sons, now a daughter-in-law, our oldest granddaughter, nieces and nephews. The midnight releases, the long discussions and, like you said, future bibliophiles, this series created in my family alone will be cherished forever. I can only hope that a few more of our grandchildren will experience these books too and the discussions will continue, if not that's okay too. Thank you as always Mike for your honesty and great reviews.

[@thewhitewolf1156]

DONE! Actually rereading the series now, on Order of the Phoenix

[@g2024_]

Have them all and read them many times, nothing wrong with being a HP fan

[@mfar3016]

I was an adult when all the Harry Potter books hit, during a time in my life when I wasn’t doing much reading. I figured I’d eventually get to them, but it wasn’t a priority. When the movies started coming out, I avoided them because I prefer to read the book first for any movie adaptation. Fast forward to a decade or so later, my little cousin passes away tragically & I learn he was a huge Harry Potter fan! I then bought the box set, in his honor. I started book one, but put it down, for too long that I need to start over! 🤦🏻 I only got to the part in book one where Harry got to his school & was determining which team he was going to be on. So, I am THAT person, who knows next to nothing about the trilogy! This video has piqued my interest in returning to the box set!

[@TrafalgarL4wyer]

Harry Potter is undeniably AWESOME! Even if the last time I read it was when they came out

[@emmelinegracecartwright4064]

I cant imagine a world without Harry Potter. I grew up with it, my son grows up with it. I even read the first book in German, English and Czech. And all the otherd in German and English too. That boy is part of us all!

[@emmettfitz-hume9408]

Count me as a Neville Longbottom fan. Neville is just so courageous, in the way of men who went to war and never looked like anything special and then they won the Medal of Honor. just a simple, decent guy. He's not the Chosen One (though making him the Chosen one would have made it one of the most EPIC twists of all time...) but he does nearly everything the Hero does anyway. He's very Sam Gamgee. Neville rocks.

[@juliaforsyth8332]

Quite agree. He was my favourite too. Grew up rather dishy too!

[@holmesgirl3673]

A good story is a good story, no matter what. I read these as an adult and loved them. I've also read them multiple times. They are quite layered; including characters, world building, themes & motifs. I think adults notice things than kids do. You also pick up things in subsequent readings. The interesting thing about these is the kids age as the series goes, rather than just one adventure after another; and it ends. It doesn't go on & on like say, Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys

[@maddy6033]

0:07 happened just today, my colleague made comment on Harry Potter, after I told her I'm planning on a reread. Yes never gets old

[@new_mercury5367]

When the first film came out my girlfriend at the time had read the books that had been released up to then. It came out near her birthday and no I wasn't really keen on seeing it We went to see it....well after that I read all the books, have read the subsequent books, seen all the films many times and as it happens my wife is also a big HP fan. We visited the set tour in Lobdon for our 10th wedding anniversary and were supposed to be going with our son last Christmas. That obviously got pushed back vut hopefully won't be too long until we can go back. Age definitely doesn't matter