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Harry Potter Strikes Again

I bought the latest Harry Potter book yesterday at the Strand for 18 bucks. Sorry. I couldn’t resist. Those books are like drugs, but in a good way.

What fascinates me most about Harry Potter is that it’s so fun to read. I’ve been trying to pick apart what exactly makes best sellers best sellers, and Harry Potter is the king. I actually heard from a friend that the two highest selling books in the world right now are Harry Potter and the Bible. Go figure. I think it has something to do with fun and accesibility. Harry Potter uses uncomplicated language (it’s a kids book, after all), so anyone can read it. And it’s fun.

I don’t know how many “literary” novels there are out there right now, but it seems that most of them, in spite of any insights into the human condition, contain highfalootin’ language and monotone plots that can only be fully understood, not to mention related to, by a select group of literary snobs.

That said, there’s no way that J.K. Rowling can be considered even a small literary genius. As popular as her Harry Potter stories are, they are pure escapism. And while jr. highschoolers of the future may be forced to read her books too, I don’t think they will be studying her to learn about literature.

I have always despised the labels of “popular novel” and “literary novel”, mainly because it implies that a literary novel can’t be popular and a popular novel can’t be literary. I see no reason in the world why a novel can’t be popular and have lasting literary value at the same time. The principals of good storytelling in no way interfere with the requirements of good literature. Imagine that… stories of value that people actually want to read.

I don’t know about anyone else, but that’s what I’m shooting for.