I finally finished reading the Harry Potter series

[rocketpig]

TWRoO said:
As a collection I agree they are excellent, though I am not a big fan of the first two or the fourth book anymore. TBH I think the series actually grew over time in terms of recommended reading age, roughly following the age Harry is in each book, the first two definitely being children's books IMO, with the middle three growing from young to mid-teen fiction, and the last two for older teens and young adults.

I liked the way Harry 'died but didn't die' and the 10 years on epilogue (though found it a little cheesy, and wish it had been cut from the film).
I also agree the wand ownership thing was getting a bit silly at the end with the Dumbledore > Draco/Snape > Harry/Voldemort thing.

If you haven't read it already, I highly recommend the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman, I find it on the whole better written with a really interesting back-story (though if you are very religious it could be a little blasphemous)
In the first book (The Northern Lights, for some reason re-named The Golden Compass for the film even though there are only 2 references to the alethiometer looking a bit like a compass in the book)

I thought having the books grow up with Harry was a really nice touch. It creates a world atmosphere that feels a little more genuine, as if it really was experienced by a child growing into adulthood. But, on the other hand, I can see why you'd never want to read the first two books again. Once you get through them the first time, there is little need to revisit those years.

I have made it through about half of the first His Dark Materials book. I found it mildly interesting but just drifted away from the story for some reason. I need to go back and finish it at some point.