BARRY COURTER: Lisa, have I ever told you about the day 20 years ago that my then-9-year-old son got in the car after school one day and talked about 400 miles an hour about some kid with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead who found out he could do magic?
LISA DENTON: I’ve had the same experience with my kids. They loved the adventures of the boy wizard, Harry Potter. And so did I, though I always had to take my turn last when it came time to reading the books.
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
BARRY: Me too. But it took me awhile to: A) figure out what the heck my son was talking about, and B) realize that he was sooooooo excited about a book. A book! When he showed me how thick the thing was, I was even more shocked and amazed. And not a single picture inside to boot. He couldn’t stop reading it, and when he did, he couldn’t stop talking about it.
LISA: Yes, Harry Potter has been essential reading at my house – without any prodding from me. Amazing stuff. I love the themes of good and evil, love and hatred, life and death. The spunky Hermione, the redheaded Weasleys.
Author J.K. Rowling debuted Harry in London in 1997, but the 20th anniversary of the American release of the first book, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” is this year. To celebrate, the Hamilton Place Barnes & Noble will hold one of its popular parties Saturday from 7 to 9. It will include a scavenger hunt, games like tabletop Quidditch, crafts and a costume contest. Even moms and dads and grandparents take the costuming part very seriously. Remind me to show you my wand sometime.