The first time I read Harry Potter was in 2000. I had heard it mentioned by a few people, but not alot about it, and as I didn't watch the news, no media input. So you could say I had reasonably low expectations and I still came out of the experience loving the books. Only after I had read them did I realize how big a deal it was in society and with other children.
Same way with Star Wars in 1995. Never heard about it, my dad said "you might like these" and bought me the VHS set, and only after I had fallen in love with the material did I realize how big a deal it was.