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The Harry Potter series has sold more than 325 million copies worldwide. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was the third book to be published in the Potter series.
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It takes a Potter-reader to understand what it is to be under the "imperio" spell, but I won't be giving much away if I tell you that it means I've been charmed.
When I was first introduced to the Harry Potter series, three books and two movies were already out. I was resilient in my objection to read "these children's books." It was only after my sister practically forced me to see the third movie that I decided to go back and read the books in order.
And ever since then, I have been captivated by the grand tale of Harry Potter and his fight against He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named.
I do not think I am a Pottermaniac. I was not lining up days before the release of the final book to get my copy. However, I did go to the bookstore first thing in the morning to grab it.
When I decided to read the series from the beginning, I went to the library and borrowed the first part, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I breathed through that part (which I did find a little childish) and was on to the second and much better Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
From the third part, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and onwards, I believe J.K. Rowling achieved a rather impossible task; writing books that appealed to a younger and older audience. From there on it was a wild rollercoaster ride. The seventh and last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is an incredible finale to a series that has changed a whole generation of children.
The New Pied-Piper
And herein lies the true magic of the Harry Potter. There are people who hate the series for various reasons out there. Some think that it is glamorizing black magic while others just hate the fact it is so popular. But if anything can be said, I think we should all be very grateful to Harry, Ron and Hermione for bringing a whole generation of video-game-playing children back to reading.
Pretty much the same as how the Pied Piper of Hamelin captivated children with his music, so does Rowling with her writings.
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| Unlike the Pied Piper, J. K. Rowling has earned a fortune, becoming the world's richest author. |
I watched on the news as children lined up to get their copy of the seventh book days before the release date and it was very satisfying. When traveling on the underground train in the UK a few years ago, I was surprised to see kids sinking their tiny faces into their Harry Potter volumes rather than a Nintendo Gameboy. I know people who have never picked up a book before Harry Potter and now they are hooked on reading.
The books are also filled with values that many parents would love to instill into their children. Values of friendship and love and the idea of sacrificing yourself for the great good are a start. It is easy for children to relate to the characters of the story which is why they are more affected by them. They feel that the Hogwarts students are going through the same things that real children go through - and that makes them even more real.
A Whole New World
But the question on every writer's lips is, "What is the secret behind the incredible success of Rowling's story?"
I believe that the captivating spell that Rowling has cast upon us is her ability to create a living, breathing world. She did not just write a story, she wrote a world. She wrote a history.
The last time such a complete universe was created was the masterpiece Lord of the Rings (LOtR). Remember how Tolkien gave us a complete magic world with its own inhabitants, history covering thousands of years and its own set of languages? Well, Rowling is the closest thing to that (though not to the same epic scale of LOtR.)
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| The Lord of the Rings trilogy was another masterpiece that won over the imaginations of many adults and children alike. |
But you do still get a history that spans many decades in the Harry Potter series, and this is especially revealed in the incredibly packed seventh book. In addition to that, Rowling has a wonderful eye for detail. The books can either be an easy-reading fun pastime, or they can be a great challenge for hardcore readers to wade through every minute detail to learn more. It is not very often that I read a book twice to learn something new, but the Harry Potter series did that to me.
Black Holes (or "Veils")
But apparently, this grand scope and intricate level of details is the main problem of the series. The books have been scrutinized more than any other novels released lately. That has resulted in some gaping plot holes that no one can explain. Problems I'm sure Rowling herself did not anticipate.
The biggest plot hole actually has to do with the fundamental back-story of the book! The books start by recounting the death of Harry's parents on the hands of the evil Voldermont. No one survived that night except for baby Harry but somehow, it seems that the whole world knows all the details of the encounter that night and everyone knows it is the reason that Harry got his trademark scar.
There are also several plot holes in each of the books, with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix probably having the biggest one (but I will not give it away in case someone is still reading the series). I will just say it involves a very important gift that Sirius Black gives Harry Potter that is very underused.
The seventh and final book has also been criticized for having too many flaws. As some fans have been pointing out in forums, it appears that Rowling may have created a story too big to wrap up logically. The seventh book in particular has too many "coincidences" that happen to bring the plot together. Too many, in fact, that an avid fan pointed out to me it felt like a Bollywood film at times.
Nevertheless, this is a very small complaint in what is essentially a wonderful experience. We need to see the Harry Potter series for what it is, a beautiful fantasy story about the fight between Good and Evil. The intricate tale has captured the minds and hearts of millions worldwide.
The only problem now is waiting for another story to achieve the phenomenal success that is Harry Potter.
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