Finding Harry Potter

I've just watched "JK Rowling:  A Year in the Life" which was a fascinating, if somewhat guarded, invitation into the world of the woman who created Harry Potter.  James Runcie's interviewing style seemed to suit Joanne Rowling  very well and I'd actually quite warmed to her by the end of the programme.  Now I have to admit that I have never read any of the Harry Potter books and only managed to watch about the first 15 minutes of the first film before falling asleep (and snoring loudly, I'm told) in the cinema.  Whilst I applaud any writer who has the ability to have children and young people clamouring for,and then actually reading, their books, I don't understand the appeal of, and the hysteria which has surrounded, the HP storyline.  I know I'm not alone in this and Anthony Holden has described one of the books as “a tedious, clunkily written version of Billy Bunter on broomsticks”.  So, maybe 2008 could be the year I put aside my reservations and determination to avoid reading the books and find out if I can be converted.