Thank goodness for JB Rowling I say. No matter what anyone thinks she is responsible for making reading popular again, without any bullying or Ozzy getting his sadistic pleasure.

Allowing people of all ages to use their own imagination instead of watching someone else's interpretation of it.
Once they've read HP they might try something else & will have a rewarding hobby lasting a lifetime. People who enjoy reading rarely complain about being bored. It's also the best way of learning grammar & spelling. You only have to look through this forum to see how these subjects have been neglected in recent years. I put this down to the fact reading went out of fashion, substituted by TV & video games. People who don't enjoy reading don't know what they're missing. IMHO
Facts packed into a story. ("Das Boot")
Das Boot is excellent. I read it (English translation of course) before watching the brilliant TV series. Couldn't put it down.