Harry Potter Around the World

Matt and I are whipping through the latest Harry Potter book and have seen a ton of people around town reading it under trees at the park, in cafes, etc. I just got an email from a Spanish friend of mine currently living in Germany who is racing through his copy of the book. And now, a photo from BBC Africa of girls in Kenya reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. What a nice reminder that all over the world people celebrate stories whether it be through oral traditions, songs, or books. It seems that people everywhere who have the luxury of free time, literacy, and access to books are having a good time with Harry Potter. Despite painful political, social and economic differences around the globe, including the inequalities of globalization- the same process that brought this book to Kenya, it is so nice when the world feels small and connected. And while in many parts of the world, including in East Africa, girls don't always have the chance to go to school or learn to read, it is refreshing to see a photo of girls enjoying a good story.