When the first few Harry Potter books were just out, I refused to read them. They were too hyped and surely that meant that they were awful. My tastes are superior to the mass public, you know.

But I do love a well-written children's book . . .

So when local radio personality did a little segment on the Harry Potter books (long before the first film came out) and talked about how she too refused to read them because like me she'd read so many amazing books as a kid (and listed all my favorite childhood books) and said there was no way Harry Potter could possibly compete against those . . . but then was sick and picked one up someone had left for her . . . and loved it. And while was still sick went to get the second and third one . . .

I decided to give it a try.

And hated it. A few chapters in I thought "Geeze, Roald Dahl, much?"

But I was pleased with myself for giving it a valiant effort!

And then a friend insisted a year later that I hadn't really given it a proper chance and I should try again. So I did.

And I LOVED it! And read all four (the fourth had JUST come out) in quick succession.

The moral of the story is: if you're too snobby to be into something just because everyone else is, you're probably just being a jerk and are depriving yourself of something you'd love.