Book Nerds Across America

Do you remember our Lent challenges?  All of us book nerds were supposed to read the book that had been on our TBR list the longest.  I started Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince all the way back then, but I just finished it last week.  Yipppeee!!!!  I finished all of my challenges!!!  It took me a little longer than the rest of the book nerds, but at least I finished :) 

While reading the book I thought of a couple of questions I would love your input on.

First, can you think of a series prior to Harry Potter that really appealed to both teens and adults to this magnitude?  Since Harry Potter we have had series such as Twilight, The Hunger Games, and The Mortal Instruments, but I can't think of anything prior to Harry Potter. 

Finally, what are your thoughts on J.K. Rowling releasing a book for adults?  Do you plan on reading it?  I most likely will give it a try, but I do have this to say... I tried reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer because I loved the Twilight series.  This is her adult series, but I was VERY disappointed.  I read the first two chapters and called it quits.  It was a very strange sci-fi book, which I had NO interest in.  I talked to the other book nerds and they advised me not to continue reading it.  I sincerely hope J.K. Rowling will write something that appeals to the fan base she has already established and will not deviate as far as Meyer did.