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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Harry Potter series turns 20

In this Monday, May 20, 2013, file photo, Sotheby's director of the department of printed books and manuscripts Dr Philip Errington poses for photographers by holding a first edition copy of the first Harry Potter book
In this Monday, May 20, 2013, file photo, Sotheby's director of the department of printed books and manuscripts Dr Philip Errington poses for photographers by holding a first edition copy of the first Harry Potter book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" containing annotations and illustrations by author J.K. Rowling on top of a stack of other annotated first edition books featuring at auction, at the auction house's premises in London. Wizarding legend Harry Potter's tale has turned 20. Author JK Rowling's first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in Britain on June 26, 1997. Since then, it has sold more than 450 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 79 languages. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."

Twenty years ago today, that sentence welcomed readers into the world of Harry Potter - and things have been anything but normal since.

The boy wizard (who is actually 36 today, following the novels' timeline) has grown from a thin orphan with unruly hair into one of the world's most recognizable, beloved, and valuable personages/Forbes. More here.

Question: How many Harry Potter books have you read or movies have you seen?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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