Another Book Update

My son and I have finished reading the first instalment of Harry Potter:

We both come to these books from different places - my son has seen all the films which I have never managed to stay awake for the entirety of any of the films (not sure what that says about me or the films) ~ anyhow I was constantly being interrupted by his interjections, 'that's not what happens' or 'I love this bit' etc which did make me chuckle but it also made me think about the differing pictures we must've had in our imaginations. His were of the actors and the settings from the films and mine although I haven't been able to escape the films entirely was a real mixture of what I have seen and what I had to make up for myself. I have to say I really like making those pictures up myself - I think the films have robbed my son to a certain extent of his creative imagination - it is a real shame! It is my fault of course - I should have read the books to him before the films obviously! That brings me on to my next point: I didn't get the Harry Potter hype and to a certain extent I still don't but I am not generally of a fanatic disposition. (Things I like - I like but wouldn't spend days camping to get the next book etc etc.) However after reading the first one I did enjoy the story, being taken to another world and lived the fantasy of being magical ( only a little bit - like I said not fanatical by nature!) I think thats where JK Rowling really did excel and for some reason critics have failed to notice is that she wrote FOR children. The simplicity is perfect for children with emerging literacy skills and the story line is exciting and full of a fantastical adventure that nearly any child anywhere can relate to whether it is the unhappy home life or the challenging school life or maybe it is the escapist element of their happy humdrum life but it is clear that Rowling knew a lot about children and what they like ~ CLEARLY, and yet she gets slated for it!

We are on Chapter 3 of the Chamber of Secrets and hopefully we will be able to get through the next 6 books before the year is out! My son is optimistic but when I saw the length of  the order of the phoenix I became a little worried! I hope I am as enthusiastic by December as I am now - we will see!