Beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997 Rowling's pen then proceeded to spin out a story which within three years was a phenomenon, quickly morphed into a juggernaut once the film of the first book was released in 2001, and shows no sign of relinquishing its cult status now. No doubt when today's children are grown, they'll hand their copies over to their children to become immersed in, and so on...Rowling - as I am so fond of pointing out - is the first writer to become a billionaire through her efforts; not only was she extensively consulted throughout the making of the films (which fact alone has made any author who's watched their work lost in the translation from the page to the screen green with envy) but thanks to lucrative deals on toys, video games, and merchandising of every sort the one-time single mum who wrote her masterpiece while raising her daughter on social assistance has ensured that her great-great-grandchildren will still be rolling in dough a century from now.
To say that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was successful is an understatement of massive proportions; the book sold 11 million copies in its first 24 hours. All told nearly 400 million Harry Potter books have been sold worldwide.
*Naturally, so was I; far be it from me to miss out on such an important pop culture event!
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Is it wonderful?
ReplyDeletePotter-riffic!
ReplyDeleteI switched off on Potter about 3 chapters into the second book. Im sorry, I just can't be bothered to read yet another explanation of Quidditch. I just didnt care the first time. I'll stick to Phillip Pullman.
ReplyDeleteI'm staying with my parents this week, and my mother is reading the Deathly Hallows, so I get frequent updates on who's died. Last night my dad and I had to go out for Chinese food, as she was so engrossed she neglected to cook us any dinner. Still, one night in 30 years isn't too bad. Let's just hope she finishes it tonight, otherwise... bang, zoom, straight to the moon.
Jokes, obviously.
Yeah, no Quidditch in the last four books, mate. Just one mortal peril after another. Of course, for me Quidditch would be a mortal peril too, but you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteThe books are not to everyone's taste, admittedly. But I feel I'd rather have millions of people lined up to read this author's words than, say, Mein Kampf.
As soon as J. K. Rowling inspires any "Triumph of the Will" type stuff I'm done too; until then it's "Harry Potter Uber Alles"!