So this month is all about crazes and there was an obvious one staring at me in the Hobbit Hole library. I am, of course, talking about Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone... or Sorcerer's Stone for some.
Now you may be wondering why I have chosen this book when we are all magical folks here. Well, the simple answer is that the world of Hogwarts and everything involving it caused quite a craze around the world, and sometimes does. I will try and look at this from a Muggle point of view to try and understand why the wizard we all know and love caused such a craze amongst our non-magical cousins.
The first chapter introduces the Dursleys and they appear to be very normal. When I read it I found that I was drawn into it when J.K Rowling speaks about Mrs. Dursley's sister. The fact that they are described as unDursleyish as it was possible to be intrigued me and I can see why others were as well. The fact that we know they are Potters and not like the Dursleys made me want to read on to find out why that was. It feels like a plot to make people keep on reading.
As I progressed through the first chapter there are hints of another world and I don't even want to start on the number of times I've dreamed of having another world alongside ours. I think we've all done it. Anyway, back to the story... So there are hints throughout the first chapter and by the end, we hear of this baby called Harry Potter who survived an attack on him by someone called Lord Voldemort and end up being left with the Dursleys.
The indication that there was a magical world alongside ours is something that I could also see drawing people in. We are introduced to a whole new world of magic, friendship, and secrets that is perfectly parallel to our own. It was in 1997 that the book came out and, since, then it has been a craze that doesn't appear to have faded too much. A boy wizard, who survived an attack by the darkest wizard of his age, going off to a magical school for the first time and then learning everything he didn't know before then is something that everyone wishes that they were sometimes... or a witch or wix wishing the same thing.
The first book had everything in it and then nobody could look back. The second book, Chamber of Secrets, was released and everyone came flooding back to the Wizarding World. The discussions of what House you thought you were in and what your wand could be gripped the world. The fact that the whole book series was able to cover so many different ages helped as well.
Then there is the fact that the world offered something that feels like a whole new world... magic. In some ways, we could escape to a brand new world that gives us an escape from the world that we live in. Yet, sometimes, the world felt semi-realistic enough to imagine yourself there and in the story as well; an escape from the real world. It also offered a new way to look at things, gave us so many new curiosities that we used to only be able to imagine that we can now taste in our own right as the worlds have merged. There have been movies brought out, numerous merchandise, and even theme parks built. New generations are coming through and getting swept up into the magical world of Harry Potter. It appears to be something that has been a craze on and off since 1997 and, with new merchandise and movies coming out, I can see why the world is in a Harry Potter craze. There's magic, new worlds, things to learn, merchandise that can engross us into the world. I can see Harry Potter being around for many years to come now.
Anyway... I'm heading back to my Hobbit library.
See you next month.