One of the disappointing things that I found about the series (and this post personifies that reaction) is that I think that hardcore Harry Potter fans think that everyone must think that everyone must react the same way they do. This is unhealthy because books are meant to be critiqued and debated.
In fact, I don’t think that a fourteen year old fan reading Harry Potter could really analyze the themes of the book or debate the books’ strengths and weaknesses... It doesn’t seem like they have any reaction beyond OMIGOD Harry Potter is the best or OMIGOD Ron and Hermione forever... squee!!
Rowlings did a good job getting children to read, but it seems that they’re unfortunately reading the books the same way they watch a sitcom on T.V. I think that unfortunately the ending (especially the ridiculous epilogue) pandered to this lazy reading style.
You obviously haven't read much of the stuff being written by teenagers about the books. Obviously, teenagers are not going to have the life experiences of 40 year olds, but you expectations are simply wrong.
As odd as this may sound to you, not every book was written to have someone critique or debate it. Nor do all people read books with nothing in mind but scoring intelligence points over someone else in a debate.
Sometimes books are just meant to be fun.
Personally, I haven’t noticed in any of the discussion here that “everyone” reacted to same way to any part of the book. Most people see things differently in real life, why shouldn’t they with fictional characters and plots?
Or maybe I just don’t know any hardcore Harry Potter fans that think everyone has to react the same way they do. Its too bad that those are the only people you seem to run into.
Try reading a book just for the fun of it and see how liberating it is sometime. :)
People will read and understand it at the level they are capable of. Personally, I think the child readers of today will be delighted to find new and more intriguing themes as they grow up and re-read.
Gosh ... I have one at home right now. She can and does.