J.K. Rowling’s hit Harry Potter series finally became available on the Kindle on March 27th. I admit, this announcement does sound a bit anticlimactic since all of the books and movies have been released already.
For those who are not familiar with the actual plot, it features a boy wizard named Harry who must defeat the Dark Lord, otherwise known as Lord Voldemort. The seven books in the series take readers through many adventures that result in both sad and happy endings.
I’m not usually one to read fantasy, but this series sucked me in along with most of the rest of the world. I think the endearing characteristic of these books was that despite the supernatural element to the story, the characters were very human. The issues that Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione faced were not all that much different than our own. Relationships, doing well in school, death, rejection, and more were very evident throughout the series.
The movies overall did a good job at capturing the magic of the books. I think the final one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was my favorite book and movie. Well, part 2 of the movie that is. It is heartbreaking, but it ties everything up nicely.
Future Harry Potter readers will have it easy because the Kindle weighs next to nothing compared to the print editions. I remember when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix came out. It is the thickest book in the series, and the ones to follower were not all that much thinner. Especially considering that most Harry Potter fans will sit and read the book for hours on end. It always was such a let down when the book ended.
I didn’t get on the Harry Potter bandwagon until after the fourth book was published, but I fondly remember eagerly waiting for the new ones to arrive. Now Rowling has finally joined the growing digital book world, and her beloved Harry Potter will be enjoyed by readers of all ages for many years to come.