I didn't want anything to do with Harry Potter when the books first blew up. I thought it was one of those trends like Pokemon or Power Rangers and wanted nothing of it.
Then a cousin of my mom's asked me if I'd read the books. She told me that she had bought the first one for her son and daughter, and had to read it first to be sure it was okay for bedtime. She quickly became hooked, which seemed like a pretty good endorsement to me.
I bought the first book and really enjoyed. Got the second book, thought it was great. The third book, though, is my favorite. I love how Rowling pulls the reader in and makes you care about these people she's created, without seeming to do a thing. The writing is simple, touching, and genuinely funny at times, which is a great change of pace from the smarmy and sometimes self-congratulating smart literature you find many people reading.
I guess what I really like about HP is that it's direct without being too simple, and deep without being preachy. A fun read that also lets you learn about human nature.
Besides, the word "muggle" is so cute.
