The Bryn Mawr Classical Review has posted a review of:
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Translated into Ancient Greek by Andrew Wilson. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2004. Pp. 250. ISBN 0-7475-6897-9.
Yes, that's right, the first Potter book translated into Ancient Greek. And it's been reviewed, so we know there is at least one person who has actually read it!
Now, I need to state for the record (and I'll probably get flamed for it): I haven't read any Harry Potter, nor do I plan to. I have nothing against the storyline or the books or the author, they just don't really interest me. No, I haven't seen the movies either.
The best way I can explain this is to relate/paraphrase a story I heard from a first-hand witness. Most names have been omitted to protect the innocent:
A friend of mine relates a story from his seminary days, when the Left Behind novels were really hot. One student asked the professor (whose name you'd recognize if I passed it along): "Professor [...] — have you read Tim LaHaye?" The professor responded, "Why would I do that when I haven't made it through Aquinas yet?!"
I'm about the same way with Potter, I think. If I ever make it through Aquinas (which I have to admit is low on the list) then perhaps I'll get to Potter. I'll certainly get to it before I get to the Left Behind books. But I've got too much other cool stuff to read in the meantime.