Let's Discuss: The Great Harry Potter Debate

I'm on a mission here... so let's not let this spree die down! I'm on a roll here and as you can see, I'm keeping up my goal with posting more discussion posts that will definitely spark some thinking caps in there somewhere! Today's topic is something a bit more personal. And I'm sure we've got our little Harry Potter fans hiding in the corner over there. Well, come on out! I'm sure you're going to enjoy this post.  

The infamous Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is one of the most re-read and just insanely popular series to ever hit the shelves! I, however, never had a chance to read them when I was a child and haven't read them since. Now before you go and rant in the comments below about how awful I am for not have read the series I just want to say that, in my defense, I really really wish I had read the series! 

There have always been four main sides of the debate:

1) The people that have already read Harry Potter. And this group tends to have a major obsession over the series, which is obvious because its so amazing! They can just re-read it so many times without ever getting bored of the characters and the magic! 

2) And those who haven't read the series. They get cast aside because they either have no idea who Hermione Granger is and they can't be appreciative of the magic that is cast inside the book. These guys have usually no clue when a Harry Potter aficionado comes up to them and quotes something from the book! I am sadly classified under this side. 

3) Those who have read the series but really didn't like it. There are very few! These guys are usually discriminated against because of the fact that they didn't enjoy the series as much as some other fan. 

4) Finally the group that has decided to watch all the movies but hasn't read a single book in the series. These guys tend to get the most hate because it basically shows that they have no love for the actual book just the special effects and sounds of the movie. I mean, who doesn't love a great movie? Usually some people from this group think they know everything (and I mean everything) about Harry Potter just because they've watched all the movies. 

Why bring this up? What the importance? 
Well... let's just say I've met readers from group 1 who have most certainly put some hate on those from group 2, 3, and 4. Some, not all, members of group 1 usually get offended when they realize that you haven't read this series. And why did I bring this up? Well.. maybe it just so recently happened to me! Yes, I was maltreated because I have not read the series yet. It's quite sad, really. I don't think its anything to be ashamed of. As long as somebody doesn't say nasty things about the series, they shouldn't be cast aside by other readers. We're all pulled together by one common interest- books! Doesn't matter what type of book or what book in particular because we all just have a love for words and characters. 

You Suck

I admit sometimes I do get upset when people that have only watched the movie became super fans and think they know it all, but that doesn't call for any bad treatment or prejudice against them!! I am going to be reading the Harry Potter series during the month of (I hope) March or April, near spring break perhaps. I'm totally super excited to start the series! I mean I have all the books, and now I'm just waiting for the perfect moment. I hope you all thoroughly enjoyed this discussion post and got a kick out of hearing about my own personal experience with the great debate. 

Comment down below, if you want! What side are you on? Do you think people should be mistreated just because they haven't read the series or didn't like it? Let me hear your thoughts :D 


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15 comments

  1. I love love love the Harry Potter books! I've read them more times than I can count! No books I read can ever compare and I feel that I will be forever searching for a book to fill the void that the end of the Harry Potter series left in my heart. ):

    I definitely don't think people should be mistreated because they haven't read the series, but I do think they should try to read it at some point. For those that have read the series and not liked it, I'm just not even sure how that's possible. Lol. But they shouldn't be mistreated either!

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  2. Ahh I wish I could just shut out school and read this series already! I tend to marathon really long series during breaks or during the Summer vacation. And now that it's midterms week and I've barely got the time to read, I'm not going to be reading the series anytime soon. And it breaks my heart </3

    I totally agree. Who could hate Harry Potter? Even I watched the movies and fell in love with the world and the characters! But they should not be mistreated :D

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  3. Can I add a 5th group? of just me? One that has not read the Harry Potter book series but has seen the entire movie series (Boyfriend made me).... Then I had so many questions that the movies didn't answer that my friends bought me the entire series in book format to read so I would stop asking them. I understand when most people reference Harry Potter since my boyfriend loves those books.... but I am just refusing to read them first off it was cuz everyone was into them and I wasn't into magic books at that time. I know I would love the series but now its like at a point where I have to find someone else that hasn't read the series yet to marathon them with me to make me read them lol. *Hides in pillow fort away from hateful glares*

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  4. That's an awesome group lol, wow I forgot that one! And yes i understand the marathon-the-series part. Later in the year I will be hosting a Harry Potter marathon and re-read-a-thon for anyone who's been dying to start the series and for those that want to reread the series. I think this is just a great way to get the people that have been wanting to start it and those who cherish it so much that they will be encouraged into the fun! it's going to be a great time, and there will be lots of cool HP giveaways and trivia quizzes

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  5. I can't believe that someone gave out to you for not having read the Harry Potter books! I mean, it wasn't like you went on some rant or something saying that they were awful when you hadn't even read them (as a fantasy fan I've encountered people like that), you just hadn't got around to it yet.

    I think a good analogy for Harry Potter is to compare the books to The Beatles. Both have legions of fans who will declare that they are the greatest things to happen to the world, but there are also loads of people who desperately want to be 'cool' and 'edgy' who call them overrated. And, if you listen to the latter for a while you kind of begin to believe that. But, when you finally read the books or listen to The Beatles, you realise that they're just really well constructed, highly enjoyable and overall just really pleasant.

    Sorry, I just had to do a music analogy.

    Killian
    http://leaf-on-the-breeze.blogspot.ie/

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    1. I loved the music analogy and wish I was able to come up with those right on the spot. Thanks for the amazing comment and just making me feel a whole lot better :D

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  6. I am ashamed to admit that I fall into the group that gets upset when I hear someone has not read the Harry Potter series. To me, it is like required reading. Harry Potter has been such a big part of my life that I have trouble understanding how someone lived with it. Although, I am getting better with accepting the fact that not everyone will read, or even like, the books.
    But, I do not agree with the people who refuse to read the books because there is "too much hype." I have several friends who I have been trying to convince (for years!) that the books are seriously worth the hype. Unfortunately, they remain book hipsters and will not read the books.
    Thanks for the great discussion!
    Tessa @ Crazy for YA

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    1. Don't be ashamed lol. It's like someone saying they won't read The Divergent series because of all the hype. I think it's a cop-put excuse for not reading the series. I can't wait to be starting the Harry Potter series in February. I've kind of been waiting for the moment when I finish a series that's longer than just 4 books. Maybe I'll even finished the Mortal Instruments series finally! Thanks for reading :D

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  7. I wish I was older when Harry Potter first came out. The first book was published the year I was born! If I'd been older when I first get into Harry Potter, I will be able to participate in various Potterhead activities like wearing robes to the cinema to watch the new Harry Potter movie or able to join in the hype and excitement of Potterheads all over the world while waiting for the next Potter books. But I was too young and unable to enjoy Harry Potter at its prime. I remember watching the first three movies and there were no subtitles and I couldn't understand the accent when I was a kid so I had no idea what they were talking about or what the movie is about! I remember watching it so many times but never really understood it. But I do now! xD
    Harry Potter fan can be mean. I watch the movies before reading the book. I felt hurt when the groups I joined bashed other Potterheads who hadn't read the book because I hadn't too at the time. They shouldn't be like that. I don't know how the Potterheads are now and if they are still as mean. I haven't been active in any Potterheads group anymore. Too much negativity. Hope it will change soon though.

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    1. Potterheads? Why have I never heard of that group!?! I wish I had actually read the books when I was younger even though they were all out. I have to admit I wasn't as interested in books when I was younger because of all the other possibilities of things to do. Hope the negativity changes as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts <3

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    2. Potterheads is a name for Harry Potter fans. :)

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  8. I would be one of the few who are in group number three. Yes, I read the books. And yes, they were okay. But I can name numerous other books that are better... But I'm definitely not going to bash these books because they got people to read again (since they made reading a trend). And while I'll say they were better than Twilight, I'll still lump them with the Twilight fanaticism... But this is only my opinion, and very few people share this line of thinking when it comes to Harry Potter. I'm glad to hear you're going to read the series!

    Thanks for visiting my haul

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    1. I see where you're coming from and thanks for agreeing with the discussion. I remember when people were all over Twilight. I was one of those people, and I've read all the Twilight books and loved every single one of them. I can't wait to get started on this series either. Thanks for commenting :D

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  9. This is a really interesting perspective and I love the various points you bring up in your discussion :) I can't believe you haven't read Harry Potter and am so looking forward to seeing your thoughts in February when you read them. I'm actually in none of the groups you listed. I think I'm in Group #0.5 I am one of the few people who have read/watched the entire series and am not crazy about it. I still love the series but I'm not urging everyone to read it and I don't include it in favorite books of all time. I would love to re-read the series with you, but I don't have the time #readerproblems

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    1. Haha very interesting. Didn't know there was a group like that that existed. I guess we'll see when the time comes! And yes, I know the feeling #readerproblems

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