wooooow,too much Harry Potter reading around

Is it really so brilliant??
I myself,haven't succumbed to the hysteria (D_J:make the goddamned thread

)
yet,but i plan to get and read at least one harry potta book this summer.I've seen a yummy hardback german edition i'd love to get my dirty fingers on... I'd like to see what is so special about the books.....
So,I prompt all the harry potta maniacs to repky to the following questions:
*What is so special about the bookies? The plot??? is it gripping or what?
*how is the writing of this woman?? good? average? nicely styled language etc??
*Does any of you possess HP merchandise?
Does any of the Swedes (or even Norwegians-even though i've seen none) that surf the board like Karin Fossum??
I'm curently reading terry prachett's Mort....started yesterday and despite my lack of time I'm already on page 67 (and plan to reach 90 if i don't fall asleep with the book in my hands tonight)...It's amazing,I love the atmosphere of "magic" that manyof TP's book contain....and btw,Death is one of Pratchett's coolest characters....
/troll