Kathmandu:

Harry Potter the boy wizard, out of author JK Rowling’s imagination has become a hero for many youngsters around the world today. The series by Rowling has brought quite a stir with its creative and insightful story and is so well written that it has enough charisma to force even a non-reader to turn off the TV and open the book. For a generation raised on computers and animation, Harry Potter provides creative fuel for their growing minds; the power of Rowling’s imagery ignites imagination.

Fans all over the world are waiting eagerly to lay their hands on the last and the seventh book of the series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows which is due to release on July 21. Even in Nepal in stores such as Mandala Book Point and Pilgrims Books House bookings are open. “Especially teenagers are hooked to these books, those who grew up reading the series are the ones most excited about the last book,” says Madhab L Maharjan of Mandala Book Point. Where as Madan Shrestha of Pilgrims Books House feels its not only the previous readers new fans are adding regularly, “It’s not only individuals even school libraries buy

the series, some even come to buy it as a gift, Potter books has become sort of a culture for youngsters,” says Shrestha.

May be the fan following is not as big as in other countries but it is as strong as elsewhere. Eliza Karmacharya, 18 says she was a member of Potter Fan Club in her school’s hostel, where they got together religiously and discussed the books and characters. Talking about Harry she excitedly gushes, “I always had a huge crush on him, I have been reading Potter series since grade seven and I have been struck with its magical spell. Harry is of my age I have always been crazy about him and of course Daniel Radcliff too.” Another avid fan Nishan Malla, 17 never misses to get Harry Potter books and movies and has a huge collection of games available of the series. “It is a different world of fantasy all together. And I like Harry because he has guts to face Voldemort, when the whole wizard world is scared of him,” he says.

Maharjan feels that this time the interest for the last book seems less compared to previous years and says, “There was more booking for the fifth book (Order of the Phoenix).” While Shrestha feels that after the movies were made the craze has became even greater. “Before there was no bookings done for Potter books in Nepal but after the fourth book (Goblet of fire) people have started booking their copy as they want to be the first to read it. This time we have around 150 bookings,” he says. Both fans agree that the books are better than the movies, and both of them vote Prisoner of the Azkaban as the most well shot movie so far.

As the series is coming to an end Eliza wants the ending to be happy, “I think either Ron or Hermione will die and Voldemort should die. But if I were to write the ending I will kill Voldemort, bring back Dumbledore to life, send all the death eaters to Azkaban, Ron and Hermione will get paired up and I get Harry,” she adds with giggle. But according to Nishan, Voldemort should die ‘obviously’ and so should Percy ‘as he is acting too smart’. Being diehard fans they don’t feel that the prices for books are too high and think as each new series comes with a pretty long gap so one can save enough to buy it. “It all depends on customers willingness, the book is priced at Rs 1592 and there are readers who don’t hesitate to pay the price,” says Maharjan.

Shrestha on other hand says, “Right now it’s the hardcover when the paper back comes it will be cheaper. Those who can’t afford this one can buy that but it will come a bit late so fans buy the hardcover ones.”

After spending almost a decade with the magical and mystical Harry, fans don’t want to part away from him.

“I think Rowling should not stop writing Potter series but instead of continuing she can write about past events and stories about James and Lily Potter and others,” says Nishan.

The book has brought new adventures and magic back in the life of techno friendly teenagers.

The books still offers powerful lessons in compassion, courage, self-sacrifice and doing what is right despite the risks.

A Harry Potter fan waits in the rain reading a Harry Potter series book outside Waterstones book store in central London, on Friday, ahead of the release of the latest novel ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’.

Genius word play by Rowling

• Beauxbatons means “lovely wands” in French.

• Crucio (as in Cruciatus Curse) is a variation on “crucify.” Or, if you like, “Crucio” is Latin for “to torture.”

• Dursley is town near where Rowling was born.

• Grimmuld Place...grim old place

• Hedwig is the patron saint of orphaned children.

• Hogsmeade may be a play on “hog’s mead.” Mead is a type of beer sweetened with honey, and “hogs” may be a reference to Hogwarts.

• Knockturn Alley...nocturnally, or “by night.”

• Lupin is Latin for “wolf.”

• Mirror of Erised, which is “desire” spelled backwards.

• Mrs. Norris is one of Rowling’s favorite Jane Austen characters.

• Patronus as in “patron,” and Latin for “protector.”

• Sibyls are mythological prophets who spoke of the future whether they were asked about it or not.

• Slytherin...slither in

• Veritaserum. “Veritas” is Latin for “truth.”

• Boggart is a phonetic rendering of the Irish term “baggart,” meaning “threat.”

• Floo Powder = flue powder —Agencies