well said. I've read all of the HP books except the last two basically because I don't like being out of loops. The rest are sitting on my shelf and not exactly high up the reading list - I will read them because I'm a completist and because being a teacher I need to be able to make informed comments on them.

I've always thought Susan Cooper was a far superior writer. Rowling might have got kids reading, but I'd hope they'd then use it for a stepping stone towards something else.

(some of it reminds me of the stereotypes of adults and policemen in the Enid Blyton books actually)