Is it unreasonable that aged 30 my favourite books are the Harry Potter books?

[DarlingDuck]

I read them all once a year, usually around Christmas

I think when you have a favourite book, it's because the memories of the time you read it are conjured up each time you re-read it. It's not just the story or the writing.

In that way I would say Anne of Green Gables was one of my favourite books, though probably everything I've read since was better written. It conjures up lying on my bed on a Saturday morning, rain on the windows, just lost in Avonlea and the people that lived there.

I do find it funny that people assume this is all the OP reads or that she thinks they are the best written books she's read.

I think YABU - but then I can talk - I read zombie fiction - inluding kids books

YANBU.You enjoy it and that's all that matters. They're your favourite book after all, you're not claiming that they're the best books ever written.

Yanbu! They're my favourites too. I read them regularly plus I have the audio books which I've listened to several times! Christmas is a perfect time for Harry potter

Ps I'm 28 :-)

Yanbu, they're probably mine as well thoughto be honest never stopped to think which book/s are my favourite before.

I read a lot, I've read 80% of that top 100 books list that was doing the rounds last year. I read everything apart from chick lit really.

YANBU, you like what you like and there's nothing more comforting than re-reading a favourite book.

There's also nothing wrong with liking children's books. I went Waterstones looking for a book for DH and asked the man behind the counter for a recommendation.

Me: I'm looking for a book but it's not for me so I'm stuck for ideas, I want something he'll find interesting but not too heavy.
Him: What is he into?
Me: Magic, sci-fi, fantasy, that sort of thing.
Him: Has he read Skulduggary Pleasant? It's a bit like Doctor Who, if Doctor Who was a skeleton detective with a Bentley. It might be a little old for him though, how old is your little boy?
Me: ....... 29

Oh Anne of Green Gables is fab! That's a whole series too.

She was quite the proto-feminist if I remember correctly.

"There's something relaxing about reading a book that you don't have to focus on too much because you've read it a million times, you can just float along and enjoy the ride."

Yes, this! It's escapism, pure and simple. Lord of the Rings does it for me as well as the Discworld novels, His Dark Materials etc. - anything with a complete alternate universe that I can wallow in for a while.

I did find the HP books grating, I cannot get on with JKR's writing style, but there's no doubt that the universe of it is incredibly captivating. I read an awful lot of slashy HP fanfic instead.

YANBU. And, contrary to some posters' views, of course it doesn't suggest you don't / can't read anything else. For the record, I've been an avid reader all my life, have read lots of 'proper literature' and did a heavily literature-based languages degree, but am a massive Potter fan. Oh and I'm forty this month in my thirties.

Definitely comfort reading, I love them! I read them a lot when I was pregnant and my brain couldn't cope with anything more high brow!

And I display them proudly at eye level, not hidden on the bottom shelf with twilight and various rubbishy girly books. I need something to read in the bath!

YANBU, I find them enjoyable. Complete relaxation and escapism.

I have read 100s of books, probably well over 1000. Actually I know well over a 1000 as I cleared about 800 out of my loft when I moved a few years ago.

YABU. Read them once, but they're hardly worth a re-read...

Now Laura Ingalls Wilder is a different story

YANBU I love them too read the 1st one again only yesterday, even my dad whose in his 50's and headhunted by companies all over the world because of his expertise in his field has read them all and seen all the films!

YABU. Of all the books in the world and Harry Potter are your favourites??

You need to broaden your horizons!

YABU. There are many good books and more are written every year. Why on earth would you spend many weeks out of every year reading the same simple children's books?

Reading isn't just escapism. It is also intellectual stimulation and entering new worlds outside of your knowledge/experience/comfort zone.

Browse Amazon for inspiration.

Why is HP badly written? Just interested as to what makes a good children's fantasy novel (as trying to write one myself!)

Why can't reading be escapism? If one also reads plenty of good books (as the OP does) why not indulge in comfort reading sometimes?

I read serious stuff all day (academia), don't judge me if I want to read something simple sometimes to get away from it all.

darlingduck are you my husband? He's only reads Sookie Stackhouse or Harry Potter!

YANBU

dreaming - Reading the same seven novels every year is not really the same thing as "sometimes", though, is it? OP seems to think there is only Harry Potter and classics like Jane Austin in the world, but there are loads of different books out there you can read, many of which are both entertaining and intellectually challenging.

I don't think it's unreasonable. Lots of adults would say Toy Story or similar films are their favourites so why should a book series be different?

Love them hugely but terry pratchett is my all time favourite

Outrageous!

I studied literature at uni (which is a great way to kill a healthy love of books) so did a lot of "serious" reading and I do think there it's worthwhile having a go at some of the heavyweights simply because they are the foundation of so much modern stuff. But your favourite book is a very personal thing. I do like a bit of a fantasy saga myself...

And now you can use a Kindle to hide your shame