Am I too old to read Harry Potter?

[Mummy2022FT]

In my twenties. Never read books nor seen the films... feel like I've missed out!

I started reading them in my 30s as book 3 was published. We say loads of people reading them on the tube and wondered what the fuss was.

I envy anyone who gets to read them for the first time.

I’m so jealous OP. I wish I could read Harry Potter again for the first time.

Don’t bother with the films.

The books are bestselling behemoths for a reason. Because they’re incredible.

You are never too old for Harry Potter. I do a yearly reread and I envy anyone who’s getting to experience reading them for the first time.

There’s a really good podcast called Potterless who’s another adult reading them for the first time, and it’s lovely to listen along at the same speed as you read the books, it makes it feel like you’re in a book club

I’m not a huge fan of the films - definitely read the books first.

Very excited for the TV series coming in a few years though.

Absolutely not too old! I was in my 20s when I first read them. They weren't around in my childhood and I wanted to see what all the hype was. I was over 30 when I finished the last book!

They're pretty standard children's boarding-school-with-magic books, distinguished only by their massive length as the series continues, their detailed world-building, and their huge fan base. I think it's the sheer number of words that makes the world-building so detailed, as JKR responded to fan requests, quibbles and questions about mistakes in chronology etc -- I think personally, they'd have benefited from a sterner edit as the series went on, but obviously there was no will to do so as her fans only wanted as much as possible.

But of course you're not too old. I've read all the HP books to my son, and though I wouldn't reread those for pleasure, I do read a lot of other children's books (Laura Ingalls Wilder, Antonia Forest) on a regular basis.

I read them for the first time in my mid 20s. I'd seen the first couple of films and didn't enjoy them. But I loved the books. I'd deff read the books and then see the films if inclined but wouldn't really bother with the films tbh

Definitely never too old,I read a lot of YA fiction usually because the story telling is so good. The Harry Potters are quite a comfort read really. Enjoy!

I am envious. I loved them and do re read. I would love to have the whole series ahead of me.

I first read them in my 20s. They weren't around when I was a kid! I can remember getting on a tube on the days before ebooks and every other person was reading Potter.

I'm reading them now to my daughter (in my 40s) and loving them all over again.

You are never to old for a bit of escapism.

They get better with age!!!! Wish mine weren’t buried in the loft somewhere.

I read them during the pandemic when I turned 50. I didn't get into them at all when I was younger, but enjoyed them when I actually did read them.

Definitely not too old to read them, but it's worth remembering that they do get more mature with each book, the first one is notably more of a kids books than the later ones.

I read them to my children when they came out (the books, not the children 😂). I was in my late 30s and early 40s. I still re-read them occasionally. Never too old!

There are lots of great "childrens" books that adults could read!

I hope not, I am listening to the audiobook of them for the first time in my mid 40s - I was busy with babies when they first came out.

Read what you like. They didn't appeal to me, but I'm not you.

I wish I could read them now for the first time.

I know someone who read them in their 80s.

Absolutely not!

I remember being on holiday shortly after goblet of fire came out and seeing literally every other person round the pool reading it of all ages from about 10 to 70! I hadn't really heard about them much at that point (I was about 18 so not target age or or exposed to many kids of target age) so I went home and borrowed philosophers stone from my much younger cousin.

I swear JK Rowling cost me a grade in my degree classification because I struggled to put down whichever book had just come out before finals!

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've ordered the first book and I shall begin.... 😊

Please come back and tell us how much you love it… no pressure.

Please don't watch the films before reading the books. The first four films are quite cheesy 🙈 and the later films missed out a lot of details and additional story lines that added depth to the main characters. But they are good fun ...

The books are wonderful and seem to mature in writing style as they progress . As an adult reading the books you will pick up a whole different perspective. JKR did a really good job of exploring themes such as gender, race and ethics all rolled into a story about witches and wizards ! Defo worth the read :) x