[unpretty]

I discovered the books in 2000, when GOF was released. I had somehow missed the hype but started reading book 4 to my little sister and quickly got hooked myself. JK Rowling isn't a perfect writer, but she does have a gift to draw you into this made-up world and make you empathise with the characters.

There will always be a backlash against anything popular and the initially mediocre films didn't help the reputation of the books (Chris Columbus was a really poor choice of director) but I do think the HP books will be considered classics in years to come, even if they are 'only' children's books.

[MrsWatermelon]

I read Chamber of Secrets first. My mum bought it for me and didn't realise it was part of a series. I loved it and bought Philosopher's Stone and then Prisoner of Azkaban when it came out. I was either nine or 10 when I read COS but I still read and enjoy them now.

[Smithy1204]

I remember it being very popular when I was in Y5 at primary school (aged 9/10), which would have been 1999 I think. Apparently the first book was published in 1997, with the next two in 1998 and 1999.

I think we read them as a family from the beginning, but my mum was a primary school teacher so I think she knew of it very early anyway. My mum, dad, brother and I used to lie on my parents' bed and read it together as a family before bed. I loved the first few books though, up until about the fourth or fifth book I think. Azkaban was always my favourite.