Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

The series took the world by storm. Her first book, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, was real literary magic and enmeshed the reader. Her next two books were not that “magical”, but nevertheless still continued to enthrall the reader. Her balance four books were “ordinary” books. However, by then the reader was thoroughly hooked and continued to read till the very end of the very last chapter of the 7th novel.
I was one of those readers!

I didn't start reading the series until book 4 came out, but what a series it was. I am currently rereading the first book for the challenge, and I love experiencing the story with fresh eyes. The descriptors and world of Hogwarts are even better and more creative now. And knowing what happens in the other 6 books doesn't change the experience of reading at all. In fact, it makes everything more impressive. JK Rowling did a masterful job planning out the overarching theme of the series and dropping hints - even in book 1 - that affect the outcome.

I disagree a bit on the quality of the latter books in the challenge. I think from book 4 onward (and especially books 5-7) they got darker and more elaborate, but the quality didn't suffer. I wondered when reading them if she started writing more for the adults reading the books instead of the younger audience, since it seems (at least in the U.S.) that around book 4 is where the masses started reading the series.

As an aside, I had just turned 30 the first time I read any of the books. I wish they existed when I was in middle school.

I disagree about the quality of the subsequent books, I read PoA first and was totally hooked!

I'm definitely in the crowd who finds the series more magical the further along I got. This my all-time favorite series and I plan on rereading it while listening to the audio books this year, assuming I can ever choose a narrator.

Harry Potter: Book or Movie?

The Harry Potter movies were magnificent and many came to know Harry Potter through them. Most of them never cared to read the books!
However, though I liked the movies, I liked the books much more. The "magic" of the books was not there in the movies. Moreover, it is difficult to condense in a movie all the stuff contained in a whole book.

Some of the Main Characters in the Series

Harry Potter is, of course, the hero of the series, the boy destined to finish off Lord Voldemort, the villain of the series.

Hermione Granger is the main heroine of the series. Though she comes from a "non-magical" family, she is a “know-all” of all things magical! Her knowledge of magic helps Harry a great deal in his quest to vanquish Lord Voldemort.

Ginny Weasley can also be termed a heroine of the series. She plays a vital role in the second book, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". And, of course, she eventually marries Harry Potter.

Ron Weasley is Harry’s best friend and takes part in all his adventures, together with Hermione Granger.


Draco Malfoy is a “villain” of the series. He baits Harry continually throughout school and then, as an adult, he becomes one of the "dark lord's" supporters. However, at the very end he does appear to repent of his ways.