SURVEY SAYS: Are You Wild About Harry?

July 20, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Our bonus question this week had to do with the Harry Potter "phenomena" - at least by some measures.

Just about 20% of respondents said they had gotten/read/seen the book AND the movie, while a nearly equal 19.4% were “sick of the whole thing.”  

One in ten were lined up to get the final book in the series, and 8.4% had seen the new movie (which, as a number of readers pointed out to me was based on the FIFTH, not the fourth book.  

Now the math majors among you will perhaps note that that leaves a large number unaccounted for – something like 40% – an unusually strong level of “non-commitment” even for NewsDash readers (and you know who you are).   Those responses were split every equally between those who were fans and those who are not.   In any event, you’ll enjoy the VERBATIMS selection, regardless of your perspective.

Gotten/read the book, seen the movie twice (once at the IMAX where the last battle scene is in 3D) and begin grieving for the literary characters I have come to love who did not make it in the end.
The new book/movie hoopla has reminded me that I should consider finishing the third book.
My children are grown; the series is a decade too late for us!
Interested in both but will wait for the hipe to die down
saw the movie - am planning on reading the book in November - vacation reading!
not sick of it-- because I think it's a great way to get kids to read-- but just not that interested in it
Waiting for the DVD and the first round of discounting on the book.
wondered how much $$ the author is making 🙂
Neither read any of the Harry Potter books nor seen any of the movies!
I'll probably order the book online this week and I will eventually see the movie, but I do not care to be the first or even in the first 100,000 to read it or see the movie. I enjoy the stories and movies, but I have too many other responsibilities to have my life revolve around a fictional book.
Gotten the book for the Potter fanatics in my family and probably peeked at the ending just to see if Rowling offed the little *** or not. Kidding a little. She certainly did create a fascinating and intriguing world. The surrounding foolishness does get to be a bit much, though!
No interest in Harry Potter
no interest at all.
Don't follow the Harry Potter saga.
I enjoy the Harry Potter books and movies, but let's have a little perspective. I've ordered the new book but opted for free shipping from Amazon.com, so I'll receive it a week or so after the rush. I'll see the new movie eventually.
I love the books but won't stand in line for them. I read them and pass them on to my grandchildren. I may wait until it is on DVD before I see the new one, that's how I saw the others.
Have no interest whatsoever in the dangerous occult, regardless of whatever spin others put on it by finding various "meanings". The best source for teaching, history, stories, or help is the Bible.
Not interested at all
None of the above.
Happy kids are reading, but not engaged in it myself.
Have not read any of the Potter books nor have I seen any of the movies. Don't plan to either.
Trying to catch up with my 9 year old son--I ahve only read the first two books.
Personally unaffected by all the hipe. Never read a book but have watched some of the movies simply because they were on and I didn't feel like doing anything else at the time. However, although this particular book series doesn't catch my interest, I will say that I am happy for the author's success and glad that there has been some book to sweep onto the scene that engages young readers. Having a library of almost 2000 books myself, I love to read and think that the love of reading is a wonderful gift for anyone to discover and treasure all their life. If the Harry Potter books engage young and old readers alike, then hurray for that.
Never read one book
It' great that a lot of young people will turn off the "face book" and stop text messaging for a while and actually read a book! Personally I am indifferent about the whole Potter phenomenon, my guess is that it has a lot to do with the age of your kids and their involvement.
do nothing.
Not interested in the least. Never read any of the books. Never saw any of the movies. Never will see any of movies or read any of books and YES, am tired of the whole thing!
I haven't ever read any of the books or seen any of the movies, although I have certainly heard a lot about both of them.
gotten the book (we'll be at Barnes & Noble Friday evening for the midnight release...we've already seen the movie...by the way, the most recent movie (the Order of the Phoenix) is based on the "5th" book, not the 4th book as you had mentioned
I just started reading the series because my 9 year nephew became enamoured with it. I've gone through the first four, had tremendous fun, seen the first three on tv, again, more fun, and will most likely read and see the rest when I get around to them (ie: library, tv). Great fun, but like junk food, not enough to bestir a lot of effort on my part to partake.
Never read the book or saw the movie.
I will have heard 10 times from my 13 year old all about how the book/movie were different and asked 14 times when he can get the new book. However, I can't complain. He has had a reading tutor for the past 3 years and used to hate reading. He has now read all available Harry Potter books. My "sports guy" will sit on the couch and devour every word about Harry to the exclusion of all else. Then, I get the etreme privilege of hearing his summary of each chapter as he completes it. This will leave nothing as a surprise when I finally get a chance to read the book for myself. ... by the way did you know that Sirius dies?
I won't get to see the movie until it comes out on DVD
I have gotten and partially read the book, and will be seeing the movie either this Fri. or Sat. Unfortunately haven't had enough free time to have finished the book as yet.
By weeks end I will have seen the movie (maybe twice) and purchased the book. I will not be able to read the book until after my two daughters, ages 11 and 17, have read it first. I feel a bit sad that this is the last in the series.
Wait fro my grandchildren's opinions on both.
I will have requested the book for my birthday in August and hoped that I did not know ahead of time who was killed off.
Get motivated to start reading the other books so I can read this one. When I'm done with that, I may decide to watch all the movies. I'm sure they'll be out on video by then.
I haven't read the books or seen the movies, but the phenomenon is somewhat interesting.
Waiting to buy the book (at a discount) at Costco.
I will have seen the movie and the book. My 19 yr old daughter will have seen the movie (after rereading all the books, some twice, which she does before every movie/book release)and gotten/read the book. I've been told I can read it after her, but if I take too long she will borrow it when I'm not reading it (how generous) and reread it.
Will probably wait for the movie to come out on DVD. Haven't bought any of the books.
I would have chosen e) by the end of the week I would be sick of the whole thing, but I have been sick of the whole thing for years now. I may be the only one, but I just don't get what is so special about some children's book. I have better things to do with my time and there are so many great books for grown-ups out there that I have no interest in this series.
I can honestly share that I have not ever read or seen 1 Harry Potter book or movie. I don't know what the hype is all about, and I have no intention of finding out. It will be glad to have the whole saga put to rest.
Frankly my dear, I just don't give a d****.
Haven't read any of the books or seen any of the movies and don't know what all of the fuss is about...
I will read the last book after my daughter is finished with it and I will watch the movie when it hits DVD. No hurry.
None of the above
Just glad this will be the last of it
Once the book is released I like reading the on-line synopsis, then when I finally read the book (in paper back), I'll be prepared if any of my favorites die.
Track down a niece or nephew for the synopsis.
Just don't even care
I want to see the movie, but with 4 kids and the price of a movie ticket, I'll have to wait until it comes out on video!
Harry does nothing for me. Much to the chagrin of fans, I tried to watch the first movie, and the whole Quidditch game pushed me over the edge of boredom. Sorry, they won't make anything off this gal.
not interested now and never have been
All of the above. I have two ten year old sons.
Will eventually read the book and will wait for the movie to come out on DVD and rent it.
Try to see the movie.
Although I will not be standing in line at 12 midnight to get my book, I did order it from Amazon back in January and paid extra to have it delivered on Saturday. I have participated in numerous discussions as to whether Snape is "friend or foe", who will die in #7, and if Neville is actually the chosen one. I guess the most telling aspect is I wanted to answer the Harry Potter question rather than the 403b survey.
I hope to have the book, I chose it as a "rewards" item from one of my credit cards, not sure what their timing will be. We're waiting until next week to see the movie, we prefer not to be in a crowded movie theater if we can avoid it.
haven't even seen the first movie!
No interest what so ever, except to see the lengths to which some parents will go to satisfy their kids desires. Reminds me of when my children were little and we HAD to get a Cabbage Patch doll or a Tickle-me Elmo.
wait for it to come out on DVD
N/A not involved at all.
be sick of the whole thing, but be glad it has replaced Paris Hilton on TV.
buy tickets to the movie for a neighbor i don't like
I am excited about the last book - I can't wait to read it, but I also don't want it to be over. I did not want to read these books, I started by reviewing the 1st one so my son could read it...and then I couldn't put it down!
And debated the items left out of the movie, speculated what will happen in the final book, and tried to commit to NOT READING THE ENDING BEFORE I FINISH THE BOOK.
Saw the movie last week; will start the book this weekend. Who cares about 403b regs, I want to know if Harry and Ginny get together again. --Karl S.
I'll find out from my daughter how the book ends (she said the movie was great) and wait for the movie to come out on DVD.
I read the first chapter of the first book and never picked up another. But my daughters, aged 21 20 and 17 are very involved. They've read each book numerous times and eagerly anticipate each release. Then my husband and I learn about the story as dinner conversation or long car ride conversation or walk around the block conversation (and believe me we get EVERY detail!)
You failed to provide the option "are over 12 years old and don't plan to see the movie or read the book."
I didn't even know there was another MASH movie
don't care about it
Usually, the release of a new Harry Potter book spurs me to pick up the previous book, which I never got around to purchasing. I guess that makes me a more casual fan than others.
If it takes a young wizard to get millions of kids to read a book, I'm all for it.
I will get the book on tape and listen to it while taking a car load of boy scouts to and from camp. It is amazing how quiet and cooperative the boys can be for a 3hr car ride if they are properly entertained. Unfortunately camp is not for another two weeks, so I will have to just be patient to know the end.
We going to see the movie Saturday night. We'll probably pick up the book from Costco then as well. I am sure they'll have plenty of copiues in stock. And if they don't, I'll wait and hold my hands over my ears when the talk of the final ending takes place.

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