What is it with this Harry Potter?

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 3:28 am

George Gordon - J K Rowling is not a genius, and to the best of my knowledge such a claim has never been made on her behalf. She is a very good writer of stories for older children and young adults. You need to do more than "thumb through" a book before pronouncing judgement on it. Oh, and by the way, the title is "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".

Aavalanche · Post by **Aavalanche** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 5:28 am

Poor gorge, so quick to "have a go" he gets the title wrong!

And don't (gore) me quite so fiercely now, when you know that you are not sure.

vern.silver · Post by **vern.silver** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 5:57 am

I have not read any of the Harry Potter books although both my wife and stepdaughter have read them all. I tried reading the first book and couldn't get past the first two or three pages and I am a fan of science fiction/fantasy writing (as well as just about everything else).

I came across this review in the Saturday Globe and Mail (Canada) by a Sandra Martin who is a Senior Arts Writer for the paper, and who obviously read the book. I will excerpt a few comments from her review here if that's ok with the arbiters of word who lord over this forum. Ok, even if its not!

"As a novel, Phoenix is not great literature, but it is a page turner .. "

"Ms. Rowling sets up three other sources of conflict to flesh out the Themes in Phoenix ... "

"The first pits the bureaucrats at the Ministry of Magic against the autonomy of Hogwart's school ... it is almost as though Ms Rowling, a former teacher, is commenting on current issues in education ..."

"In the second instance, prejudice gets a workout in the internecine battling between the "pure-blood" wizards ... who are unwilling to accommodate wizards who have tainted their bloodlines by marrying muggles - ordinary humans. There can be little doubt that she is sending a message to her older readers about the horrible and destructive ends of racism and class-consciousness."

"Finally, she sets up a conflict between youth and age in the painful and ultimately deadly misunderstandings between Harry and Dumbledore ... their failure to listen and to respect each other results in terrible loss and causes them both horrible anguish."

"It is this psychological dimension that makes Harry Potter different ... Ms. Rowling's books are not simply about the struggle between the forces of good and evil. Harry's task is to learn very human traits: how to control his impatience and his anger, how to resist his compulsion to be a hero, how to avoid despair and pessimism."

"That is one of the reasons, I think, that Harry Potter has transcended the children's genre and appealed to readers of all ages. Depression is something we can all relate to, no matter how young or old we are. So is the fear of losing a friend or a parent. This book could be a lot leaner, but Harry's zillions of fans will joyfully wallow in its fleshy excesses. ..."

I may just try these books again.

Vern

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 6:27 am

Thanks for that review, Vern. Now I can understand much better why a dear friend of mine so highly recommended the books to me. She said, "They're incredible. You'll love them." She is one of the most serious people I know, an avid reader of her National Geographic collection [can reference articles almost verbatim], and all things she says and does are with serious consideration and depth. She's well beyond being a young adult and highly intelligent. When she told me about the books, she didn't have time to go into this kind of detail. I trusted her judgement on the quality of the writing, but now I can see more clearly why she thought I should read them. Thanks again.

~ Elizabeth

George Gordon · Post by **George Gordon** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:13 am

LinMag and Aavalanche/Byron,

I didn't get it wrong.

J.K. Rowling's first book had TWO titles. One for Great Britain and Europe. Another for the United States.

I was living in the United States when it was first published there. The editors, believing the American public would never understand the concept of a "philosopher's stone" Disneyfied the title into "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

And a "thumbing through" is all some books deserve.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:20 pm

George Gordon, I knew what you were talking about with the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I didn't realize there was another title in Europe. I was wonder what all the hee haw was about. Thanks for informing me. Some of my older grandchildren, the ten and twelve year olds, were big into Harry Potter to begin with, but I have noticed it was a passing fad because they are not into to this book the same way. Even kids will decide for themselves what they like and don't like eventually.

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 3:19 am

Sorry, George G, I wasn't aware of the second title. I still think you were wrong to express such a categorical opinion on the worth of the book and the skill of the author on the basis of "thumbing through". Such a judgement is only based on random, possibly unrepresentative, snippets, and can give you no idea of the sustained themes of the book.

Aavalanche · Post by **Aavalanche** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 7:38 am

It seems that apologies are in order George. Who would have thought two titles? Typical of the American approach to marketing.

Still, you have no one to blame but your self, given your usual - leap in boots and all- postings. No damage done hey george?

When I am not this hunchback that you see, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 3:58 pm

Still, you have no one to blame but yourself, hmmmm Aavalanche ?? Was that suppose to be an apology, for leaping on that retaliation band wagon of trying to get even.
With all the mud slinging on here why come with phony apologies.

Jo · Post by Jo » Wed Jun 25, 2003 10:47 pm

My children grew up with Roald Dahl's children's books (including his Revolting Rhymes). It gave them a totally irreverent sense of humour and a healthy disregard for authority and pretension.

They enjoy the Harry Potter movies and they did once pack the esteemed espouse and I off to a Terry Pratchett booksigning (they were too busy and wouldn't be seen dead at those things anyway).

In my misspent youth I may have bandied the odd impressive sounding book about - but I've now learnt that reading is a very individual taste and I read only what gives me enjoyment and heightens my awareness (and that doesn't always include pleasant books - sometimes one needs to be shocked back into reality).

Jo

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 12:26 am

I don't like Harry Potter but anything that encourages children to pick up a book and read can't be bad.

The Beano and Dandy were always a good read and they weren't particularly well written.

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 2:00 am

these days a lot of children don't read very much at all, spending hours every day in front of a T V or playing computer games, so it's good to see them reading any books. Once they experience the pleasure of reading they are likely to continue the habit throughout their lives, and will widen their choice of books. I have always read a lot but in my time I read an awful lot of rubbish, which I did enjoy for a while. It stimulated me to become more discerning and widen my horizens eventually, although a light hearted bit of nonsense is still OK if that's what I feel like.

What is it with this Harry Potter?

potter