Harry Potter

[Anonymous]

I've read copiously most of my 43 years, in fact when I was the age HP books are aimed at, I read about 4-5 paperbackls a week due to a 1.5-hour bus journey to school. I was transfered to another place or time every day and the bus journeys simply flew by.

However, I read the first HP book to my daughter chapter-by-chapter each evening at bed time and was left unimpressed. Read about 60 pages of the second one and simply left it there.
Since then, my daughter has read them all (many times)

HP has done a lot for reading as a past time, (the best past time ever) and has hopefully dragged people away from the TV (the worst past time ever), but they are not (in my opinion) very well written books although the storylines are imaginitive, if a little thin.

I have been dragged to the cinema (not quite screaming) to see every film though :roll:

I still read all the time (read 'Almost French' by Sarah Turnbull yesterday), just not children's books :wink:


smudger this is not 'backlash in which some people rubbish anything which is popular ' , a simple statement of fact that i do not find Rowling's writing very good.
In fact, I would turn your statement around and say that it is a sad aspect of modern life and of our society that everyone feels the need to 'jump on a bandwagon'. I'm sure many kids feel isolated if they do not say that they have read all HP books - a bit like not having the latest mobile phone.

 

[Vormulac]

Hi Tony,

I am curious, what is it that you find lacking concerning Rowling's writing? I'm genuinely interested as I read a lot, I have read all the HP books and never really been struck by the poor quality of the writing (and I've read some *real* dross! :lol: ), although this is something that is alluded to by most of the HP critics.

Cheers,

V.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi V

In all honesty, i read the 1st HP book when it came out which must have been the best part of 10 years ago and so I am a bit sketchy on details and could not point to specifics after all this time. Also, although i am pretty well read, I am far from an expert on literature and definitely not qualified to criticise JKR's work - I just didn't enjoy the book, but do appreciate that they are great kids stories (my daughters love them).

Basically, (from what I remember) I found the language and structure to be very simplistic with quite a linear and unsophisticated plot which was clearly aimed at young children (I like a sophisticated and complex plot that keeps me guessing and thinking - sort of engaged with the book). I did not feel 'engaged' with the book nor 'whisked away' to another place as I often am with other books. I was very surprised when adults raved about this and subsequent books as they are clearly not the target audience.
Having said that, I can understand how one who does not read much might well be drawn into a decent story of good vs evil - with good prevailing of course :wink:

I don't know if it helps in any way, but one of my all time favourite books must be James Clavell's Shogun. Possibly if you read that, you'd understand where I am coming from?

 

[StevieB]

Shogun is a fantastic book! I was sadly disappointed that the others in the series were not set in the same time period to be honest - I never found them as engaging. Highly recommend Shogun if you want a good book though, even though the size of it can be slightly off-putting!

Steve.

 

[Anonymous]

Shogun is a fantastic book! I was sadly disappointed that the others in the series were not set in the same time period to be honest - I never found them as engaging. Highly recommend Shogun if you want a good book though, even though the size of it can be slightly off-putting!

Steve.

Absolutely agree Steve - I liked all the others, but not as much as Shogun an his last one, Whirlwind (set in Iran) was another masterpiece IMO

 

[DomValente]

Well I started this debate, without realising it and I have to agree that JKR's writing is bad, the grammar is not great either, something that is usually the problem with American(sorry guys) novelists of late.
The only good thing about her books is that with a little effort you can disappear into another world for a brief period and to me that is utterly relaxing .

Dom

 

[Slim]

How come this thread has received more votes in 2 days than the competition has in 17 :?:

 

[Vormulac]

Thanks Tony, I do kind of agree you to be honest, the first book was extremely simplistic. It did occur to me though, having read all of them within a reasonably short period of time (I only started reading them after the fourth one came out) that the style of writing changes with each one, as the main characters gradually grow up, the plots become darker and the style of the books reflects that too - if anything that's one of the things that keeps me coming back to them.
They'll never be my all time favourites (I think Brian Lumley's 'Necroscope' saga still holds that accolade and Iain Banks' 'Whit' is still the one that gets re-read the most often) but I certainly do enjoy reading them at the time.
For what it's worth, Peter F. Hamilton gives them all a darn good run for their money in my opinion and I haven't read any James Clavell in years! I may have to dig out Shogun again now dammit!

V.

 

[johnjin]

I have just seen this thread and have read through all five pages of it. I am a huge Harry Potter fan and have been captivated by this series for about six years. The first one I read was the second book just to see what all the fuss was about. I was enthralled and rushed out to buy the other three. Book one was definitely the worst of the series and I am glad it was not the first one I read. Childrens books they might be but if that is the case so are many of the so called classics that are around. At the age of 58 and a life long reader I have read many of them including all of Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Tolkien and many many others. I read all fiction for the escapism they give and not for the education. I am not looking for hidden meanings just reading for the pure pleasure of it. From Toad of Toad Hall to a Tale of two cities. Until I picked up a Rowling book I would have said that Enid Blyton was probably the world's greatest writer of childrens novels and I still read them at odd times today. However Rowling has taken over that title in my opinion and not least for single handedly turning around the lack of interest in children for reading.
This is more than enough reason for her to take this title and get very rich as a result. Some have mentioned Cussler, who while being one of my favorite authors with his Dirk Pitt series is also a very shallow writer as far as the plot is concerned. Tom Clancy seems to do a lot better. And I would suggest never ever judge any book that you haven't read by watching the film of the same name.
One thing is for sure I will be reading The Deathly Hallows this Saturday

All the Best

John

 

[Paul.J]

Slimjim81 wrote
How come this thread has received more votes in 2 days than the competition has in 17
I was thinking the same Simon,but thought i wouldn't point it out,as been one of the competitors,didn't want to be seen as moaning :roll:
Just shows how popular Mr Potter is
Paul.J.

 

[ByronBlack]

Vormulac - nice to see a fellow Necroscope fan on the boards! They are without doubt my most favourite and loved books that i've ever read - even more so than Anne Rice who is also a big favourite of mine.

Have you ever considered the simularities between the main character of Brian Lumley's Necroscope: Harry Keogh and our beloved/loathed Harry Potter.. both young kids when they discover their talents, both have major issues with their parentage, both continually deal with evil, both have a very strong connection with their nemisis (and if i'm right, then the final harry potter will be even more similar..).

I've often wondered with JKR read necroscope and thought about making a 'nice' version of the hero - also named Harry!

 

[Alf]

For those folks who don't rush to look at Matt of a morning, thought this might amuse:

 

[Paul Chapman]

So Putin won :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Green]

I was installing a sign last year when a woman a woman fell flat on her face at the bottom of my ladders, it was JK Rowling. She was busy looking up at me fitting the sign and tripped over.

Thats all I have to say.

 

[Vormulac]

Getting ogled by a multi multi multi millionairess eh, Green? You could be sorted there, mate :wink:

 

[Benchwayze]

My daughter (in her thirties) has read a few of these books. She says they all contain the same theme. The eternal struggle between good and evil. Just like Tolkien and Star Wars. My daughter became bored with Potter. She claimed the only variations were characters who are slightly different, or who grow a little older.

I tried to read one, but I found basic errors that should never have escaped a good editor's blue-pencil. I gave up after a few paragraphs.

I like to think Rowling's books encourage young persons to read more, but they might also teach bad habits in English. Not that I am an expert, but I do try.

I am afraid that while there is money to be made from HP, Rowling will continue to write about him. This little rumour we heard about HP dying, might have been a 'lead-line' to test the waters for demand. So Harry Potter books, with their static themes, 'fantasmagorical' plots and some shoddy writing, will continue to be published and sell. Just like James Bond! (And Dirk Pitt! Lol!)

Yours in fun
John :lol:

 

[Alf]

Having read this concerning the inability of publishers to spot the nose on their face, I think hoping for a good editor with the blue pencil is probably in vain.

Cheers, Alf

 

[wonky]

i've just finished it and thought it was a bit long especailly as he gets killed in the first chapter. Only joking!
i thought it was great, i don't know about bad writing or not, but i liked it.
I looked at the bit that alf put about Jane Austin as well. Do you think its because the first one was written about 200 years ago so might not be in fashion now and the ones who looked at it thought it old fashioned?

confused (maybe not .com anymore)

 

[Losos]

There's always a sort of backlash in which some people rubbish anything which is popular - not sure why that is, but they are probably making more of a statement about themselves than what they are distancing themselves from.

Rowling actually writes very well, firm characterisation, strong plots and great themes (good v evil - nothing stronger!). Her style is unexceptional but sound, rather cinematic in later books, which appeals to younger readers in particular. She has a very developed vision of the continuing story, which adds to the interest.

Two points - there is not really a distinction between children's and adults' books - and if there was, why would children's books be considered inferior?
She has brought millions of people, many of them youngsters who didn't read much before, back to reading for pleasure.

From my own point of view, seeing how more able youngsters are caught up in her stories and get tremendous pleasure from them I am very grateful to her.

And her books have sold 325 million copies. So at least a few people find her work OK.

Well said - I agree with you all the way. Dom asked us we read Harry Potter, well my answer is NO but why should I denigrate people who do?

I think JK Rowling has to be admired, and her publishers too. They have found a 'market need' and filled it. A few years back I worked with a young female graduate who was in the process of getting her Chartered Accountants qualification, she was one of the most intelligent people I've met in recent years, she read every Harry Potter book, what's wrong with that? As I say I don't read them but like Smudger says, they are about good & evil, they encourage youngsters to read, and they don't (So I'm told) have blatant sex, violence, or crudities in them. How can that be bad. If you don't like them.........fine, but why knock people who do?

 

[StevieB]

No sex granted, but the violence is there. Curses that cause excruciating pain, curses that kill, the climax to the last book was a death and the climax to this, indeed the premise of the entire series is a battle to the death between Harry and Voldemort. Neither can survive while the other lives is I believe the phrase that is commonly used in the books.

While the violence may be masked to a degree by the fantasy nature of the plot, it is manifest throughout the novels. From the very start when Harry's parents are murdered until the final battle. Is it any worse than the violence in LOTR for example? No, but then that was not aimed at children especially AFAIK.

I am neither condoning or supporting its use in the series, merely highlighting its presence.

Steve.