Why is Harry Potter so addicting?

Question

HP sleuths practically live and breathe Harry Potter. I know I spend hours on the internet discussing the finer plot points. Why is that?
Real answers, please.

Answer 1

This same question could be asked about 'Nancy Drew' or 'The Hardy Boys'. These are books about the rights of passage of children to teens to adults and the process by which they develop credibility to be believed; even in the world of magical imaginings. We all want to know what the other person went through to make them 'different / great'; or how much trouble they caused to not have to be one of the round pegs in the square pegboard of life. I have read every one of the HP books and am over 50. I read them because they bring me joy - simple as that!

Answer 2

Yes, indeed, Harry Potter everywhere...
It's a great book, great story, a lot of adventure, humour, thrill, fantasy... the kids like exactly this kind of books.
In the rushing world we all live the fantasy and adventure are missing of children's everyday life. They can experience all these reading adventure books. There are many other excellent adventure - fantasy books, not only the classical adventure stories written by famous authors of the universal literature. (R. Kipling, J. Verne, R.L.Stevenson, M. Twain, Al. Dumas, D. Defoe, Ch. Dickens)
But this was picked up by the media and they launched it as "the best book ever for kids..." and created the whole hysteria around it. I don't want to blame anybody for this exagerate publicity, but mostly young people are very sensitive and receptive and can be influenced the most by the media.
Read some other books, and try to promote them among your friends...
There is life beyond Harry Potter...

Answer 3

A number of reasons:

1. It is just a very good story. The characters have depth, the world is cohesive, and everybody can relate to somebody in the books.

2. The writing is fantastic. JKR has used so much imagery, foreshadowing, and thematic details that it becomes something like a detective plot, where we want to try and figure out what will come next.

3. It is about real themes in life that reflect our own real lives. Good vs. evil, love or lack of it, being bullied, being an outsider, not feeling like we belong in the world we have been thrust into, a need for trust and forgiveness, you name it.

4. Because it happens in a fantastical word, it lends to escapism, which can be addicting. We can escape the world's troubles when we dive into this imaginary world, just like we can with video games. This seems like a contradiction to point #3, but the two ideas, reality entwined with fantasy, works very well in literature.

Answer 4

I think Harry Potter- like Lord of the Rings- is so addictive because besides the main plot, there is side information that is just begging for creative minds to make a story of. It gets your mind wondering on why we hardly ever see Narcissus Malfoy, or how Fudge became minister, or what exactly put the Maruaders and Snape on the outs. It's a perfect book for open minded writers to look into and even if you have only a tiny bit of creativity, the books just draw you in. Hope I helped. That's all I have to say.

Answer 5

Daniel or Harry == Harry Emma or Hermione == Emma Ronald or Rupert == Rupert Tom or Draco == Draco McGonnegal or Maggie == McGonneal The phelp twins or Fred or George == Fred and George Alan or Snape == Snape Bonnie or Ginny == Ginny Evanna Lynch or Luna Lovegood katie leung or Cho chang == Cho Chang Gary oldman or Sirius Black == Sirius Black Ralph Fieness or Voldemort == Voldemort Helena or Belllatrix == Belllatrix

Answer 6

Its addictive.

a/ good vs. evil. good wins.
b/ full of bravery, courage, intuition.
c/ all good people stick together and love each other.
d/ voldemort gets more menacing with each book. You feel for your hero. He has such a huge task ahead and he is only a kid after all!
e/ magic and strange plots with characters who are very much of today's generation and thought process.
f/ really intelligent people like Dumbledore
g/ a strong dose of humour

Does that answer you?
Its a damned good read. And I love Harry. I am on my tenterhooks wondering exactly how he will defeat Voldemort now that Dumbledore is gone.

Answer 7

Because we are who we are (I'm a HP sleuth). Why do alcoholics drink alcoholics drink alcohol? We're addicted to finding out everything about the books and making it clear what we know.

Answer 8

I'm not really sure, I got started on them in third grade, our teacher starting reading the series at reading time, then I moved and really liked the book so I continued the series on my own. I now 13 and finished the sixth book last year. I Love the books, but I'm toatally NOT obsessed like some other people I know. I always get so depressed after finishing one of the books, then I watch this paticular flick http://stupidvideos.com/video/flash/Bush_as_a_Guest_on_the_Christopher_Walken_Show/ I sure you can tell it makes me feel better.

Answer 9

I really wish I could help. But i think there may be a support group and cure for this terrible affliction. Go to the pub, get drunk and have fun. You'll never look back

Answer 10

the harry potter movies are all good and yes they are very addicting and i can't Wait for the next one i really enjoy all his movies and have them as a collection as well the books and movies are very well put together and the plots are also good as well as the adventures he has yes they are very addicting and i myself enjoy them all