How old is too old to start reading the Harry Potter series of books?

[Numenorean]

10

 

[Homerboy]

Thats what I keep hearing from HP fanatics. (mainly my wife)

I watched the first movie, and it kept me entertained, but she insists that I should read the books before watching any more of the movies.

I prefer reading books before watching movies anyway, but HP was not something I thought I would ever like. Guess I will give it a shot.

I saw the movies before reading the books. I often like this method MUCH more than books first.

We all know that a movie can never do the book 100% justice. They just can't. So when you watch the movie (and you like) its good. Then you want more right? So you pick up the book and get to "see" the movie with all the bits and pieces (sometimes MAJOR things) the movie(s) left out.

If you read the book(s) first you just sit through the movie(s) thinking "WTF... they totally skipped XYZ!!!!???!!"

 

[Numenorean]

I saw the movies before reading the books. I often like this method MUCH more than books first.

We all know that a movie can never do the book 100% justice. They just can't. So when you watch the movie (and you like) its good. Then you want more right? So you pick up the book and get to "see" the movie with all the bits and pieces (sometimes MAJOR things) the movie(s) left out.

If you read the book(s) first you just sit through the movie(s) thinking "WTF... they totally skipped XYZ!!!!???!!"

Watching the movie first can ruin the story. It is no longer possible to properly tell it because you know at least generally what happens. It's totally ruined.

Books first, then movie.

 

[thraashman]

Watching the movie first can ruin the story. It is no longer possible to properly tell it because you know at least generally what happens. It's totally ruined.

Books first, then movie.

Depends on how far off the book is from the movie. For example, the book Stardust. Had I read the book first I would have refused to see the movie as I hated the book. But I saw the movie first and loved it, so I read the book. Then there's the movie Wanted. Had I seen it first I would have had no motivation to read the graphic novel, but I read that first then saw a movie with the name Wanted that had nothing to do with the amazing book Wanted except the main character's name.

 

[Homerboy]

Watching the movie first can ruin the story. It is no longer possible to properly tell it because you know at least generally what happens. It's totally ruined.

Books first, then movie.

But even if you know the "ends", the book delivers 90% more "means" to that end. I'd rather not sit through the movie and think about all the shit that they left out or changed. I'm all for movies 1st.


Sidenote: My 9yr old is into the 4th book right now. He's obviously seen all the movies (and has all the LEGOs and shit too of course) He's LOVING finding out new stuff about the characters etc that were missing from the movies. The backstories of the characters, the intertwining of things.... whats interesting too is you can then see that they hinted at some of this stuff in the HP movies, but in 1st watching you would have never have known it. Its like you get to watch the movies again through new eyes.

 

[zebano]

Depends on how far off the book is from the movie. For example, the book Stardust. Had I read the book first I would have refused to see the movie as I hated the book. But I saw the movie first and loved it, so I read the book. Then there's the movie Wanted. Had I seen it first I would have had no motivation to read the graphic novel, but I read that first then saw a movie with the name Wanted that had nothing to do with the amazing book Wanted except the main character's name.

You hated Stardust? I admit the book is 'cute' more than anything else, but I found nothing objectionable about it. It was basically standard young-adult fantasy fare, very similar to reading Lloyd Alexanders Black Coulderon. Of course if you were looking for a serious, gritty book ala GRRM then you're bound to be disappointed. If you read any of Gaiman's other work (Neverwhere, American Gods etc) you should know he doesn't really do serious works, they're fun novels (very similar to Simon R. Green in fact).

 

[Paladin3]

Life is too short to not read what you want to. I read most of the Harry Potter series in my late 30's and early 40's. I also powered through the entire Little House series and a ton of other kids books during that time. I was working as a children's librarian at the time, but hey.

After a while too much children's literature, no mater how well written, wears me out and I have to read something more mature.

 

[tk149]

A lot of people in my department have read them including me, and the average age around here is in the late 30's.

 

[Squisher]

I'm 53, I read them about 8 years ago.

 

[Malfeas]

I read them at the age of 33, overall I enjoyed them. I like the first three books the best. Not because of the smaller size, but because J.K. Rowling hadn't focused so much on Harry's teen angst and increasing stupidity so much.

 

[zinfamous]

Watching the movie first can ruin the story. It is no longer possible to properly tell it because you know at least generally what happens. It's totally ruined.

Books first, then movie.

generally, yes. but remember that books aren't movies. they should be taken as completely separate entities with their own merits.

also, the LoTR books sucked balls compared to the movies.

 

[dainthomas]

Harry Potter books now are sort of the modern day Lord of the Rings IMHO.

HP might be on a level with the Hobbit, but not LOTR. That would be the Malazan series or Song of Ice and Fire. Try going from any of those straight to HP and it feels like you're reading Dora and Diego's Treasure Hunt (which my 4 year old loves, by the way).

 

[snaber]

There is a lady on my bus that has read them multiple times and she is in her late 50's. Her and her husband has also gone to most of the midnight showings of the movies too.

 

[zebano]

HP might be on a level with the Hobbit, but not LOTR. That would be the Malazan series or Song of Ice and Fire. Try going from any of those straight to HP and it feels like you're reading Dora and Diego's Treasure Hunt (which my 4 year old loves, by the way).

Final book of the Malazan Book of the Fallen comes out March 1!!!! I'm psyched.

 

[Locut0s]

You shouldn't feel ashamed reading them at any age. At least you are reading which sadly is becoming a rare thing. However make sure you get some variety and read some of the great works of literature too.

 

[Brigandier]

You shouldn't feel ashamed reading them at any age. At least you are reading which sadly is becoming a rare thing. However make sure you get some variety and read some of the great works of literature too.

But I already read Stephen King.

 

[Locut0s]

But I already read Stephen King.

Steven king wrote Crime and Punishment. It's a little known fact.

 

[Brigandier]

Steven king wrote Crime and Punishment. It's a little known fact.

Nah, I know who wrote Crime and Punishment.

I may have glanced through it once or twice too.