We Are The Harry Potter Generation

I've been re-reading the Harry Potter books.

It's something I do every couple of years.

Because Harry Potter is awesome.

Last time I read the books (roughly 2 years ago), I made the discovery that I'm younger than Harry Potter. And it was a jarring revelation.

Yes, yes. I absolutely know that Harry is a fictional character. Zip it, you. I am well aware that Hogwarts isn't a real place, and that Albus Dumbledore is a figment of JK Rowling's imagination, and that Voldemort (thank heaven!) never existed. I KNOW ALL THAT. But I'm a Harry Potter nerd; I've embraced it, and you can either deal with it, or else come back when I've posted something else.

Where was I?

Oh yes; last time I read Deathly Hallows, I looked at the dates that HP was born, etc., etc., and I realized that I'm younger than Harry. In fact, Harry was already living in a crib under the Dursley's staircase by the time I was born.

I guess it was a weird realization, because I first read about Harry-the-11-year-old when I was 18. And Jo didn't publish Harry's final book until 2007, after I had finished my schooling and started living my life as a real adult with a real career. Et cetera.

Fictionally speaking, I would've gone to Hogwarts the same year as Collin Creevey (because, let's face it, in a fictional world, I'd have been born a witch in Scotland; probably my folks would've been a witch and wizard, although I think that each of their parents would've been muggles, with the possible exception of my mother's mother? Yes, Grandma Rigby would have some magical blood. Now you know).

Anyway. I've heard the phrase, "We are the Harry Potter Generation." And I can't help but think, "What is the time frame on this 'HP Generation'?"

Does is start with the the kids who were roughly 11  years old when "The Sorcerer's Stone" book first came out? (11 is really a magical year when it comes to wizardom, after all.) If this is the case, that means the true HP Generation aren't much younger than me, maybe somewhere in their late twenties (since book one was published in '98 here in the States).

Or do we go by when the movies first went to theaters? My friend Katie was born the same week as Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed Harry in the movies; if we follow this timeline, the true HP Generation is a bit younger, in their early- to mid-twenties.

I realize that this problem isn't really a problem; especially since a generation spans a handful of years. (Also, because it's a fictitious problem, right?)

But here's the rub: when it comes to Harry Potter, there is no such thing as "too old" to enjoy it.

My mother introduced me to Harry Potter just after I graduated high school in 2000. She told me the gist of it: "It's about a boy who finds out he's a wizard and he goes to a magical school!" (My mom totally said some version of that sentence with an exclamation point.) I (very likely rolled my eyes and) told her I'd rather not, but Mother would not relent; she insisted that I at least read the first few chapters, and I reluctantly agreed.

My mother is usually right. About most things. So I should've figured that she wasn't just yanking my chain when she told me it was a great book.

I devoured "Sorcerer's Stone" within a few days.

Dad ended up buying the first four books, because by that point Harry Potter Fever was running rampant, and, as a family of bookworms, we didn't want to wait in line to borrow the books from the library. Late summer/early fall of 2000...well, those nights were dedicated to reading the first four books of the Harry Potter series.

Which brings me back to my quandary: Harry Potter is technically children's literature. Eleven-year-olds were smitten with the books. I, as a young adult in 2000, was absolutely smitten. My folks, full-fledged adults, were totally smitten. Grandmas and grandpas were smitten.

As each of the next 3 books were released over the course of the next 7 years, I ended up buying my own copy the day they came out.

...Except for the year "Half Blood Prince" was released; I was in the middle of graduate school. I was taking a research class that summer, and the class didn't end until a week or two after the book was published. I gave money to my dad and had him buy me a copy. The book remained in my parents' home (in a whole other city) until I had finished my research class. Mom had a CEU class in Cache Valley the day I finished, and she ended up bringing my book to my apartment that very afternoon. I thanked her kindly and stayed up until 4:00 the next morning reading that book. I think that's the fastest I've ever read any book of any size.

Fast forward to January 2013: my nephew Seth had just turned 6 when his parents let him watch the first Harry Potter movie. Seth went gaga over it. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with Seth regarding HP. Rather intelligent conversations they've been, too. (I tell you what, Seth has asked some excellent questions!) His parents are currently reading "Prisoner of Azkaban" to Seth. I'm not sure a kid could love Harry Potter more than Seth does at this time in his life. Can you guess who Seth is going to be for Halloween?

I know this has been a long-winded post, but here's my point: I believe that anyone who has read and enjoyed "Harry Potter" is part of the Harry Potter Generation. And that spans a lot of actual generations, be it Baby Boomers (like my folks), Gen X (that's me), Generation Y (a handful of my friends), Generation Z (Seth), and all the generations to come.

We are ALL the Harry Potter Generation.

Thank you, Joanne Rowling, for sharing such a magical story that can bridge generational gaps in its own way.

Deactivating the HP nerd in five...four...three...two...

*There will likely be another post, one day, about my favorite HP character of all, Severus Snape*

...one.