Off the Couch: Barnes & Noble celebrates Harry Potter anniversary

In this file film publicity image released by Warner Bros. Pictures, from left, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe are shown in a scene from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Jaap Buitendijk, File)
In this file film publicity image released by Warner Bros. Pictures, from left, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe are shown in a scene from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Jaap Buitendijk, File)

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.

photo 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.

BARRY: I can't remember if it was for the release of the second or third book, but we had to interrupt a trip out of town for a baseball tournament to stop at Barnes & Noble when it opened to buy the latest release. It was amazing to watch young boys and girls devour those books like they did. Hard to believe it's been 20 years.

LISA: It made Rowling a gazillionaire, making her the real wizard in this story. But I don't begrudge her success. She sparked a love of reading in millions of kids. Like you said: With a book! An actual book.

BARRY: Absolutely agree.

LISA: Plus it was fun to watch the main trio of young actors - Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson - grow up in front of our eyes in the movies. They aged (in real life) from 11 (Watson), 12 (Radcliff) and 13 (Grint) to 21, 22 and 23 by the time they filmed the last movie.

BARRY: If you want something else amazing, master hypnotist Gary Conrad is back at The Comedy Catch. You ever been hypnotized?

LISA: Occasionally by your hair.

BARRY: Oh, go on.

Get event details every Thursday in Chattanooga Now or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.

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