Reasons why Harry Potter has become a modern classic

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”—Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

In the world of flashy media we live in, you’d think getting a kid to read a book would be hard. And, if any book would be hard, you’d think it impossible to get a 10-year-old to voluntarily read an 800-page book.

But J.K. Rowling has made the seemingly impossible downright attractive to not just children, but adults as well.

Okay, I admit it. I’ve read all the Harry Potter books, in order, cover to cover.

But don’t mistake me for a fanatic. I can’t recite chapter and verse of the books. I can’t quote Dumbledore off the top of my head, and I definitely don’t remember what spell does what.

But I do love them.

It’s been such a long time since a set of books came out that became instant classics—and J.K. Rowling’s work definitely qualifies.

So what’s the real attraction?

Magic is always exciting, especially for the younger, more imaginative set. But I don’t really think that’s it. There’s plenty of books that have magical themes.

And the story is good, really good and extremely well-written. But I don’t think that either is entirely responsible for why kids (and adults) can’t get enough of Harry Potter.

So why would millions upon millions of people flock to bookstores and stay up ‘til midnight to get the next installment? Why has this series of books been translated into more languages than I can count?

(By the way, I didn’t stand in line for my copy of the seventh and last book in the series. but I did buy it the next day, and read it in its entirety over a very delightful long afternoon, sitting in front of a fan, eating blueberries, chocolate and ice cream.)

Ironically, it may be because the books, though fantasy in nature, contain many truths, and they don’t make any attempt to sugar-coat bad things.

Obviously, I don’t know that this is consciously in the mind of every child that reads them, but even to my adult mind, the lack of sugar-coating is very refreshing.

Though fantasy, the characters are real. They have flaws, they make mistakes. And they deal with their mistakes the best they can. Just like most good people do in real life.

Also, there is empowerment in the idea that though a situation may be daunting, with friends, skill and perhaps a little luck, even the most dire of circumstances can be dealt with.

These are themes one is quite unlikely to find on television or in the average movie. But it would seem that even though there is a young generation that has never known the world any differently, they still crave more than big media usuually offers.

Today’s world can be scary, especially to the younger set, some of whom cannot remember a time when this country was not at war, or when “terrorist” was not in every American’s everyday vocabulary.

But even if this was not the case, the world can be a scary place. Having some heroes that actually do good and are skilled in an art they had to work for are attractive role models, something this world can always use a few more of. People that won’t bow down in the face of tremendous adversity. People that seek truth, and eschew what is easy for what is right.

And, in Harry Potter, they have been born, and will probably continue to delight and educate children, as well as some adults for decades to come.

Which is a good thing, because every generation has its obstacles and burdens. And, no matter where or when you live, whether here or in Harry Potter’s world of fantasy, there are always dark and difficult times, and we always do choose between what is right and what is easy.

The Harry Potter novels not only remind you of this truth, along with many others that bear remembering, but provide one with a good, long, nearly 800-page opportunity to enjoy a wonderful, adventure—whether you have the blueberries, ice cream and chocolate on hand or not.

See you soon.