Gosh can't believe we don't have this one yet :) So which book is your favorite?

I haven't read Goblet of Fire yet so I'll go with Prisoner of Ak-whatever. Mostly for it's length. The first two just seemed to short (for a college student/grad) but prisoner's length let the story grow more. I do like how she tries to hid who the real villin is and give a couple red herings.

If you make a search you'll see that there are a couple of Harry Potter topics in here.

Anyway, the best book would be the last one IMNSHO. Rowling keeps getting better, and the story darker with each book. Maybe not very appealing to kids, but it is to me. The one before last was quite good as well.

[This message has been edited by Taluntain (edited March 07, 2002).]

That is good to hear. I am reading the first one now and have not been enchanted by it the way that I had hoped. I was afraid that the book would have trouble living up to the hype, and it has.

I was not planning on reading any more of them, but I think I will give it a go.

I like the last one the best becuase of the suspence. It's also very long. 732 pages I think. The older Harry gets the better the books get it seems. Does anyone know when the next one come's out?

Though the fourth one might be slightly better. I still like the ending of the 3rd book. I couldnt let go off the book. It was the best. Does anyone know when the new book is coming out?

Nobody knows, and there's no set release date, but it's supposed to be this year.

I believe that she said summer this year, but I may be mistaken.

I like the last one the best, except for the crappy and horrible use of irony in the last chapter. Titling the last chapter "The Beginning"? :toofar:

Harry Potter is just too commercial for me. I'll never read them. :nolike:

yeah its turning into a pokemon like saga. i shudder to think of how commercialised it will be soon

That always makes me laugh: to refuse to buy/see/read something just because it is popular and commercialised regardless of the quality. Why does the degree of commercialization make something unpalatable?

Funny you use computers and watch TV... I mean, it's so *commercial*. Everyone has one! Or more! :p

I must - must! - express my opinion on Harry Potter.

Now, there are people who say, "Harry Potter sucks," and they've never read the books - and probably don't know how anyway. But I have read the books - and my opinion and attitude by both Rowling and her childish slop worsened every minute.

The first book would have been an exciting additive to the life of a fourth-grader. Instead, it was smeared in the faces of all society, due to communique coincidence - and soon became, instead of useful, creative literature, a popular hazard to the health of the older literatures - the more depthful stories that had reached grey hair instead of adolesence, figuratively. Harry Potter influenced the ignorant public as a wind would lean trees, convincing most people that literature was, indeterminably, always going to be Harry Potter.
J.R.R Tolkien has been compared literarily to Rowling, who wrote her first story on a napkin. A note here: Tolkien made his own language, which was much more complex than his country's, and a complete world which is more vast in imagination than the Forgotten Realms and smaller in the understanding of the public than Don Quixote. Rowling's Harry Potter was the opposite: a blend of all things common to society's small-minded mythical knowledge and a large begging for its love - and its money - both of which would be gained easily, because society was itching for easy-to-read brainwash portable television.
Literature is an art. Writing is a verb. Harry Potter is mere writing, as its main pinnacle is entertainment, and only serves to go as far as a person can be entertained. There is reason Harry Potter should be an additive to the discussions of inclined literary circles; instead, it should be on the bookshelves of fourth-graders or at their schools. Hearing it discussed by men and women who belong to adulthood - bragged about, even - makes me disgusted. Besides the exceptions of common study of mass money-making socialism based around the most susceptible-to-influence youths of the world, Harry Potter is useless as a form of creative information to a person who reads for insight instead of hand-held television.
It has become a plague of merchandising - and whether that can be tracked down to Rowling or not, it has become as a demon and possessed the soul of the word "Reading". I've seen people walking around public streets wearing shirts that have advertisements for Harry Potter scrawled all across them - or merely HP for a less syllabrically-intensive workout, as that's what all the readers are lusting for. Toys of Harry, hardcover books dropping into the greedy hands of society by the millions... and here's the bottome line: Rowling is a billionaire.
If a writer who is a true philosopher becomes a billionaire off of cheap trinkets and T-shirt sales, then he is not a writer or philosopher, but a politician, a merchant, a scoundrel, and a manipulating conformist. Has Rowling become rich off of an expensive and extremely-popular movie, T-shirts, and cheap trinkets? Yes.
By reading Harry Potter, a person limits his own view of the literate world - as children's tales. Fans eagerly await the next "HP" book and then despise the classical runes of time - forget about Steinbeck, Bierce, Hawthorne, Hemingway, Poe... and concentrate on making more money to buy even more Harry Potter T-Shirts.
Is this entertainment? Yes - and well it is, at that - but it is an imbuation of childishness into a world greatly needing good literature. It is a disgrace to the classics and a force-feeder to their own readers. It'll make me scream if I see another person with an HP T-shirt and an HP hat and HP shoes carry around a copy of Lord of the Rings because they think it'll be another cheap entertainment ripoff like Harry Potter - mostly because of the popular new movie that should be called "Blunt-minded Society's Personal Version of Lord of the Rings." Harry Potter is a book written for fourth-graders, and as such, is being greatly abused.

Not having read any of the Harry Potter books, I cannot comment on their quality, but I do believe I am hearing bitterness and sour grapes from our journalist friend. :)

Well, I have to say that GoF is my fave, followed closely by PoA and CoS. Sirius rocks! As does Tom Riddle... :)
By the way, why do you think that people have so many -us names? Sirius, Remus, Severus, Lucius, Rubeus... ??

Ara
(Trying to survive 1,5 hourds more...)

Xaelifer...

1. You cannot compare Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings. It's absurd to even mention them both in the same text. HP was started as a tale for kids, and it grew out of that somewhat. LOTR was never meant as a tale for kids.

2. You are disgusted with the HP merchandise, ok, that's fine. But correct me if I'm wrong, that merchandise has 0 effect on the quality of books. You can review the books and merchandise separately, but definitely not say oh, the books are terrible and merchandise only makes it worse. You're not forced to buy the books bundled with a HP T-shirt. So don't go on about as if anyone's forcing you to buy merchandise.

[This message has been edited by Taluntain (edited March 12, 2002).]

I read the books, and they are good. I am a child, though sometimes I can act like I'm not(that's a dif story... ;)) I am disgusted all these companies are making these little stupid harry potter toys though. But I still think the books are good and just because there is a movie on it and tiny action figurines, it doesn't mean Rowling is to be blamed. The fact that one writer cannot stop 3 to 4 whole factories in making them is sensible. But I don't think Rowling should be compared to J.R.R. Tolkien because Tolkien's books are hard-core fantasy while Rowling's books are society in our world mixed with society in Neverneverland.

It's not even as if Rowling is the one pushing the merchandise aspect of this whole thing. Warner Bros. has some rights to it, last I checked, as well as the publishing company.

All she did was write something and sell it to the right people. She is a talented writer, she wrote something that people like. Luck and talent.

The story is endearing and witty, without being "heavy". Not everything has to be serious, it's a kid's book. Adults who analyze things too much should stay out of children's literature, an leave it for those of us who just like to read.

(Just to stay on topic, I don't have a favorite, the whole series isn't out yet. I like them all, so far.)

[This message has been edited by Damona Silvercloud (edited March 13, 2002).]

Taluntain:

Answer 1: I must've been a bit vague - that's exactly what I meant to say.

Answer 2: "You can definitely not say oh, the books are terrible and merchandise only makes it wose".

I do say this - the books were terrible to me as reading matter (they were contentless but for imaging I could behold on the godless Television) and the merchandising discouraged me even more after I read them and the hype was abirth. I see nothing wrong here - you said that it is fine to be disgusted with the $$$ made in the process of writing - and I am. I find it obliterating to my judgement of personal classification that Miss Rowling has made more than one billion dollars off of Harry Potter - something no writer, not even Stephen King and his offspring, have accomplished. Perhaps a person needs an income of money - but many writers see money as a thing to argue against. Argument and action make something literature instead of childrens' slop, except in very few cases, 'HP' not included.

I love- LOVE- children's literature, or "Kiddie Lit" as my mom the English teacher calls it. I particularly like the work of Edith Nesbit, Madeleine L'Engle, and Ursula LeGuin. But I hate - HATE- Harry Potter books. I read them all because so many people whose literary opinions I normally agree with liked them, and kept hoping I could finally please my friends by saying, "good call! This Harry Potter is great stuff!". But I just couldn't like the protagonists. They seemed evil to me. I didn't like that people without magic were portrayed as stupid and worthy of contempt. I didn't like that Harry Potter punished his "enemies" among the other children by inflicting terrible curses on them. I especially didn't like that his little girlfriend, Hermione, was portrayed as an unpleasant character while she acted in a Lawful Good fashion and as a heroine as soon as she started lying and cheating. It might have only mildly turned me off from an author of grown-up fiction, but these terrible moral examples are being urged upon children. J.K. Rowling was once called on this by a kiddie-lit reviewer, and her response was, "I don't write for kids, it's not my fault if my books are marketed that way". To me, this was the last straw. Especially after the first book was such a big hit, there is no way she can disclaim responsibility for her books being read by children. I won't read any more Harry Potter, EVER.

Don't you think you're being a bit harsh? I don't really recall anywhere that Harry himself would have intentionally cursed anyone except in self defense. As for Hermione, she's only portrayed in accordance with real life. In my experience all kids have exactly the same attitude towards kids like her. The book is based on our world after all, not some imaginative place where everyone is nice to each other and nothing really bad ever happens.

I'd say that kids get much, much worse moral examples from everything around them, every day, starting with television and Internet which are probably the two single agents of socialization besides parents, school and other kids that have the most influence on children of today.

I constantly had the feeling that HP & Co. were the good guys, as good as you can be in a world that is not perfect in any regard anyway. Of course, this is probably why the books are not that suitable for very small children whose concepts of good vs. bad are still just that. Good and bad. There is no gray area. Kiddie literature like that is much simpler than the stuff that Rowling writes though. And if she let herself down to writing simple stories for little children I'm sure HP would be just another children's book in a dusty corner of some bookshop, probably never getting beyond the first book.

I can understand what she said about not writing for children. She isn't. However, today's kids are not what kids were 50 years ago. They grow up much faster in terms of understanding what the world around them is like. And they see a lot of it in Harry Potter, and can relate to it a great deal. Some kids can relate to simple fairy tales, but most of modern kids probably can't.

This is my opinion anyway. I have nothing against fairy tales, don't get me wrong. But most kids today grow out of that stage much faster, and trying to persude them that there is only Evil and Good in the world when they can plainly see fields of Gray all around them every day is futile work, and it will only confuse them at best. At worst, they'll grow up with that mentality which won't last a day in any social environment beyond kindergarten. And getting your illusions shattered in real life is a tough experience.

ok. as to my earlier statment, I have nothing against the books, just the merchendise. I even like the pokemon games, just not the merchendise.
As a rule the original product is always better than the merchandise

Taluntain, I do see your point, and I suppose I would say my point of view was "harsh" if I took it a step further and said that no one should read Harry Potter. I have chosen not to read it anymore because it makes me unhappy and worried. I love fairy tales, and when I was a child I know I fretted a lot about what lessons I should be learning from books. Most kids probably aren't like that, I know. But Harry Potter would have scared the &$%# out of the child I was, and I can't let go of that when I'm reading the books.

I think JK Rowling was supposed to have had the draft for the fifth Harry Potter in at the end of the summer, but is rumoured to be suffering from writers block. Hardly suprissing though, she will never be able to get the oppurtunity to be able to work without enourmous pressure again.

I think the best was the third, it was certainly the darkest, and the fourth seemed to have to many repetitive elements from the others.

I don't really recall anywhere that Harry himself would have intentionally cursed anyone except in self defense.

Tal- read GoF again. The last couple pages Harry intentionally curses Malfoy, Crab and Goyle(with help) and it wasn't in self defence. He was just P*ssed with them and got tired of listening to them.

As if I'm going to read the book again just for that. :heh:
I'll take your word for it. And yea, I do remember it now. And I'd say it was more than justified. :square:

I tried to read the first book, but I stopped after page 47. It was not exactly my kind of book.

Harry Potter were good books. I've read them all. I didnt want to read them and for awile I wasnt going to but I got swept up in it and started to read them. I've read them all and I liked them but they were to long for me. I will read anymore that come out because I'm hooked on them. But at least I'm not a person who reads them over and over. Once is enough for me. The first book was slow and stupid. To much explaining and such as I think. The second and third book I forgot about. The forth was good but their was just tomuch all at once I think. It really didnt blend in and glide smothly over. But it was ok.

I have a hard time seeing the greatness in Harry Potter. It swept America like no other. And it wasn't even that good. It is ridiculous to see higher level people-in real life, not games-reading elementary school books.

I didn't expect to like them, but I enjoyed them immensely.

I can't stand the commercialization it's going through, but nothing's perfect. In any case, I don't see why you can call it 4th grade slop. The first one was very childish, but...**!NEWSFLASH!** Harry's a child.

I liked the books because it was exactly what I had wanted to happen to me at that age. I also like the books because it honestly shows a maturation of sorts. Harry does curse people on purpose sometimes, but you could probably count these occurences on one hand. I think that Rowlings is trying to show that Harry is just as human (is that the right word?) as the rest of us and that he's not a superhero...yet.

I've got this guy in my class who, along with his best friend, read the series musta 6+ times. He has read HP2 4 times in a row!!

"ridiculous...higher level people...reading elementary school books."

Hmmmmmmmm...

Well, I have not only read the books repeadetly but I have also been hooked on fan fiction :)

Lets just say that I have some opinions concerning the characters that wouldmake the author swallow her tongue :)

Ara
(Trying to not to bleed all over the floor is hard, you know...)

Sorry, but I really think Harry sucks! I mean, he flies in a car and get attacked by a tree?

Man this must be the worst set of stories ever invented!

wildfire:
I believe that she said summer this year, but I may be mistaken.
you're partially right... rowling intended to release the new one this summer but has apparently been struck-down with a case of writer's block, recently announcing that there'll be no new harry potter this summer. aww...

You could always look at it from an outcasts point of view.

Who are the main groups of childen who are bullied at school, the ones who stand out from the crowd for some reason or other. Be it that they have ginger hair and no money (Ron), or wear glasses, have silly hair and come from a broken home (Harry), or that they are mearly intelligent but come from an ethnic minority (muggles) family (Hermione). JK has taken the typically bullied and downtrodden typecasts and turned them into hero's and friends. Good on her from the bullied people out there. Well done JK

I have to ask.... does anyone else like Lucius? I personally am a huge fan of his, as well as SNape's. Also, I am a member of the Society for the Ethical Treatment of Peter Pettigrew....

Ara
(Withdrawal, that's the word!)

Well, I have read all the books, i didn't really like them that much until I read The Prisoner of Azkaban (sp?). I had high hopes for Goblet of Fire, and was very cross when the book just... stopped! I know she got a stalker and everything, but just stopping!? grr, that made me angry. I wish they would hurry up and sort out book 5, as I'm nearly finished re reading the discworld books again and i'm gonna need something to read!

/me clears her throat

I'd like to share my opinion that Severus Snape is the sexiest, most attractve, and compelling characcter I have ever encountered in literature. All hail the Potions Master!

Other incredible characters are:

Lucius Malfoy
Remus Lupin
Sirius Black
Hermione Granger

Anfd the most moronic being:

Ron Weasley
Pansy Parkinsson
James Potter
Cornelius Fudge

And....

PETER PETTIGREW DESERVES ETHICAL TREATMENT!!!!

Ara
(If your life sucks, find someone who blows)

Ok, so pleace tell me what'as so good about this Potter guy? The story is a bit main stream (Been there, done it) The things that are suppost to be funny are sad. And the main caracters are a buch of losers who are turned into heroes?

Am I missing something? I just can't believe everybody is sucked into this Harry Potter hype... are ar all of you waiting for mail from warthhog (<-- or how you call that school place).

So.. tell me!

:eek:

Late on the bandwagon ... but I finally saw the HP movie ... and it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be! My wife (the chief skeptic in the family) was very impressed :good:

SleepleSS, why are you posting on a DnD board? 'Cause you're waiting to receive your complementary spellbook and sword?

The books are popular because they are FUN. Do you play video games because the poetic mastery of the concept of unreality fuels the flames of conceptive power into a roaring inferno of self expression and domination of the mind of the masses causing a vast explosion of realization and heightened awareness of social values, concepts, and morality so that you can find the raw stuff of nature flowing into your mind and allowing you to mold your world around you? No.

SleepleSS, why are you posting on a DnD board? 'Cause you're waiting to receive your complementary spellbook and sword?


uhhh... so you are trying to tell me something?

The books are popular because they are FUN. Do you play video games because the poetic mastery of the concept of unreality fuels the flames of conceptive power into a roaring inferno of self expression and domination of the mind of the masses causing a vast explosion of realization and heightened awareness of social values, concepts, and morality so that you can find the raw stuff of nature flowing into your mind and allowing you to mold your world around you? No.


So they are "fun"? I guess I have lost my sense of humor then... Did you ever seen the movie IT? Or read the book?

About the video games:poetic mastery of what? No I'm playing games that are fun or intresting. when it is not, I don't play it anymore!

In other words, or you got my question wrong, or I don't understand your way of answering.:eek:

I'm not quite sure of what you were writing in that last post...

I'll answer to the best of my ability:

1) I asked if you were waiting for your sword and spellbook because of your question: "are ar all of you waiting for mail from warthog". I would think it was pretty obvious that I was being sarcastic in my reply to your post. I think it's kind of ironic, you saying you don't understand the Harry Potter hype while you sit there messaging on a DnD board.

2) You asked if I had seen the movie "IT"...Um...What? Do you mean the movie "of it" as in Harry Potter? If so, then yes I've seen the movie and read the books and so forth.

3) That huge phrase I stated in my last post was extrememly sarcastic. Obviously a little more than you could handle. I'll re-state in a simplified form:

Do you (SleepleSS) play video games for some higher purpose or because they're fun? You said you played them because they're fun.
Cool, next step: Why do people like Harry Potter? *Ahem* Answer: Because they're fun, either to read or watch.
You don't find them fun? Fine, but don't try to insult the rest of us that do think they are.

You also seemed to be confused by the "Zero to Hero" attitude of the books. Hmm...Baldur's Gate, Wheel of Time, Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, Shannara Trilogy and Heritage, Narnia Chronicles...the list goes on. What's to be confused about?

K, I was talking about the movie called IT. a story by Stephen KIng. In that movie/book a couple of high scool losers save a town in the end. so that's the connection zero to hero. The problem with harry is: he's a zero in this world, then goes to another one and there he is a Hero WItHOUT DOING ANYTHING. That's what did bother me.

I just can't get it that people who liked quality work like LOTR do also like a story about some smart kid named Harry. But no I didn't want to insult people who do like it, I just don't get it...



[This message has been edited by SleepleSS (edited June 19, 2002).]

I don't like HP either, IMO it does not have a point, like LotR has. And it is all like black vs. white. Ok, if i am shattering some beliefs here, complaints can be sent to ezelloharshark@hotmail.com. Anyway, this world in what we live is grey. There are no 100% innocent people, nor 100% evil people.

Oh, got a little bit carried away.
And I don't like that ALL non-magical people are portrayed as stupid and magic-hating.

That is all.

Eze&Sharkie, I like you! Finally some one who understands me!

But I had another question: Does Harry symbolize Jezus? He had a bad youth, but then All people loved him! Except the ones who are portretted as EVIL. If Harry got killed in the end, My point is proven.

So me dislike of Harry Potter is because Me dislike Jezus... Intresting...