Oh, I realize how beloved and widespread the Potter books are, and how they are going to be future classics. I'd never discourage anyone from reading them, and have given them as gifts to kidlets in my family because so many people I know love the series.
I actually saw the first movie. I just simply did not care about any of the characters, wasn't interested in Hogwarts, wasn't interested in what was going to happen. I tried to read the first book, because others have urged me to try it, but the Potterverse simply doesn't grab me.
I think that it's probably because I've read so much fantasy over the years, that to me the whole Potter thing is very derivative. I'm not saying that that's a bad thing or that the books should be dismissed; there's merely no new hook that grabs my particular attention.
I'm very happy that the books are popular because they've gotten massive amounts of kids and adults to start reading for pleasure, and have given a big boost to the fantasy genre, which needed it.
