im having to read this for a english class with a focus on children’s literature. im through the first couple chapters, and i can see why it has been so successful: its just easy to read.

its also easy to keep reading, just read a few more pages, another chapter. the underlying story though is really nothing new, just a combination of several fantasy/religious elements thrown together, but with a focus on children.

I know I’m years and years late in figuring out what everyone else already seems to know: this book is amazing. It’s easy to forget it’s meant for children; it’s well-written without sacrificing an ounce of wonder, serious fiction that maintains a sense of humor.

Reading this, I’m also struck by how well the Harry Potter films have brought this world to life. Yes, I’ve seen the movie(s) before reading the book — one of the reasons I’ve held out for so long — and I hesitate to say the book is better, which is so often the case. I did want to at least give the first book in the series a chance before making up my mind, but I’d fully intended to get it out of the way and move on to something else.

Now, though, I’ve resigned myself to reading at least the second book in the series. I have a feeling I’ll be saying the same in a short while about reading the third. Rats.