Apr-17-2010, 07:18 PM (UTC)
I think the best HP book is the third one, Prisoner of Azkaban. It has the most interesting and important themes and has some very nice plot twists (and all my favourite characters are still alive in it!) After that the series sort of went downhill for me, although there were still bits I enjoyed (like most of book 6, the Halfblood Prince). I don't think Rowling handled the "darker" parts very well, and Harry grew to be so annoying it was almost painful. But even so, I'd definitely recommend them, they're much better than a LOT of what's out there and popular and they're very much part of our culture now, so it's easier if you know what people keep referring to. 
Oh and Nuytsia, I love your new Murray icon!

Oh and Nuytsia, I love your new Murray icon!

"Green nubs on the dry sticks of the clematis promised that the appearance of death was not death itself." - Ship of Destiny