I was a huge Potterhead back in the day (well…I still am, just not as obsessed). I know the books are great and all, I know how addictive her writing style is, that she can create such vivid and engaging characters and places, and the stories keep you hungry for more…but IMO that still does not completely explain the insane hype that generated. I don’t think there has ever been this level of mania and craze for a book – a children’s/YA book for that matter. So I am wondering, what are some of the factor that led to the hype? I’ve heard things like the rise in Internet (and internet fandom), JKR’s rags-to-riches story, etc all contributed. So for those who have been there, what was the mania like at that point, and what factors (aside from the quality of the books themselves) that lead to it?
My daughter (9 at the time) was invited to a Harry Potter party and I was invited to stay. The moms all told me about the books (I hadn’t heard of them before then). This was a year before the 4th one came out. I bought the first three and we were both immediately hooked. I loved the books, liked the movie. Now I am hooked on her Strike series. She really knows how to weave a story and the more you read, the more you learn.