tzone

[Gray]

Is anybody here reading/read the Harry Potter series?

If so, tell me your thoughts...

_________________
Every body is a book of blood;
Wherever we're opened, we're red
Clive Barker
Parental Advisory: DO NOT CLICK HERE

[Rae]

Yep!

Finished the seventh the other day - and damned good it was too!

JK Rowling, IMHO, is one of those rare authors who improves greatly as time goes on. Each book in the series was far stronger than its predecessor.

Much love

Rae xx

_________________
Take what you need, not what you want.

[Megan]

Oh yes I queued up last friday night, and finished it by sunday evening (though I was taking my time to savour it.)

I loved it, the last 4 or 5 chapters were pretty tough to read through the tears, and (SPOILER COMING) the worst death for me to cope with was Hedwig. Such a great end to the series, massive tension throughout, and a great climax.

_________________
I never look back darling. It distracts from the now

[SamanthaH]

Very Off Topic:
Some stupid scally called me Harry Potter yesterday when I was cycling my bike. Its my hair, it is a mess.

[ice maiden]

i dont know what all the fuss is about

Queuing for a soup kitchen i can understand

almost everything in the HP series has been done before she just put it altogether in one volume - i found as i watch the movies i keep picking up her sources and i find that frustrating - the lists are endless so i wont go into all that again

i suspect the final book is no different

if there was no bewitched and no tom brown's school days no famous five no return to witch mountain and most importantly the internet (kids need heroes) - there would be no HP

She got all her ideas from television as opposed to literature and the links to films and other programs she no doubt watched as she grew up are there for all to see - her advantage was simple 10 year olds had never heard of them so it was all fresh to them - even the train is from the Railway Children and the flying ford Anglia (the young ones, Herbie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a wink to her age group) and so on

wonder what she is gonna do next Rewrite gone with the wind maybe LOL

_________________
Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)

[ice maiden]

i dont know what all the fuss is about

Queuing for a soup kitchen i can understand

almost everything in the HP series has been done before she just put it altogether in one volume - i found as i watch the movies i keep picking up her sources and i find that frustrating - the lists are endless so i wont go into all that again

i suspect the final book is no different

if there was no bewitched and no tom brown's school days no famous five no return to witch mountain and most importantly the internet (kids need heroes) - there would be no HP

She got all her ideas from television as opposed to literature and the links to films and other programs she no doubt watched as she grew up are there for all to see - her advantage was simple 10 year olds had never heard of them so it was all fresh to them - even the train is from the Railway Children and the flying ford Anglia (the young ones, Herbie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a wink to her age group) and so on

wonder what she is gonna do next Rewrite gone with the wind maybe LOL

_________________
Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)

[Megan]

It always irks me when I see this sort of criticism of Harry Potter. Can anyone say there is anything truly original any more? Author, Musician or Artist it is impossible to to be influenced by what has gone before, consciously or subconsciously. Tolkein borrowed heavily from Beowulf and other old mythology, does he receive the same criticism? The same can be levelled at most of the so called great authors.

The Harry Potter series was a good story, well told. Sure technically is is no literary masterpiece. But the only true gauge you can put to a book, is whether is inspires people to pick it up, read it and enjoy it, and Harry Potter did this in spades. People go on about the hype, but forget how that began. The first book became popular through word of mouth alone, all the advertising in the world couldn't have grown it to the level it is today. What it did for children's literature should never be discounted either.

As for the queuing, I queued for the last two releases and have witnessed many people scoff at the idea. My response is this; for one brief moment, millions of people across the globe came together for one purpose. In our increasingly segregated society, where few people even know their neighbours, there was a party atmosphere where strangers talked, joked, and had a good time. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. That night I said that I couldn't envisage something like this happening for a book again, which is a shame, I'm glad I was there.

What will she do next? Whatever she wants, she's earn't it (though she is planning on an appendices type thing for charity). Thank you Mrs Rowling for adding a little magic to my life and millions of others.

_________________
I never look back darling. It distracts from the now

[Hellfrozeover]

Lol say something nice and positive for once, Icemaiden . As for assuming those who were children at the release of Harry Potter did not know of those books, I was about seven or eight I think and I knew of them. Megan is right, nothing is really original but JK Rowling wrote all of the books brilliantly and I'm sure they'll stand the test of time.

_________________
Hellfrozeover be a pirate and a Transgenderzone moderator.

I don't stand under the TG umbrella anymore, it's way too bitchy and crowded in there but it's sunny out here

[Hellfrozeover]

Lol say something nice and positive for once, Icemaiden . As for assuming those who were children at the release of Harry Potter did not know of those books, I was about seven or eight I think and I knew of them. Megan is right, nothing is really original but JK Rowling wrote all of the books brilliantly and I'm sure they'll stand the test of time.

_________________
Hellfrozeover be a pirate and a Transgenderzone moderator.

I don't stand under the TG umbrella anymore, it's way too bitchy and crowded in there but it's sunny out here

[Sophie]

ice maiden wrote:

She got all her ideas from television as opposed to literature

Wait... what's that got to do with anything? Is literature a 'better' thing to be inspired by? Why?

I haven't read the books or anything, but *shrug*, people seem to like them a lot, so clearly there's an appeal there. I know they're one of the few books my little brother reads.

[Alan314159]

ice maiden wrote:

even the train is from the Railway Children

Does this mean that no-one can ever mention a train again when they write a book?
I might agree with you if Hermione had at one point ripped up a red Quidditch robe, tied it to a stick and stepped out in front of the Hogwarts Express, but I don't recall ever reading that.

I too had finished it by Sunday, and was greatly relieved to be proven right about Snape. It couldn't really have been any other way, in my opinion. (I hope I'm OK to write that, I tried to keep it vague and the subject contains a spoiler warning after all! If not then I'm sure one of the mods will kindly amend it. )

[Alan314159]

ice maiden wrote:

even the train is from the Railway Children

Does this mean that no-one can ever mention a train again when they write a book?
I might agree with you if Hermione had at one point ripped up a red Quidditch robe, tied it to a stick and stepped out in front of the Hogwarts Express, but I don't recall ever reading that.

I too had finished it by Sunday, and was greatly relieved to be proven right about Snape. It couldn't really have been any other way, in my opinion. (I hope I'm OK to write that, I tried to keep it vague and the subject contains a spoiler warning after all! If not then I'm sure one of the mods will kindly amend it. )

[Gray]

Quote:

Each book in the series was far stronger than its predecessor.

Yes, but... The Half Blood Prince is my still my favourite from the series.

Quote:

(SPOILER COMING) the worst death for me to cope with was Hedwig

Hedwig. Yeah that was pretty brutal. But Fred's death was by far the worst for me, of course after SIRIUS who is/was the greatest.

Quote:

i found as i watch the movies i keep picking up her sources and i find that frustrating

Have you read the books though? This is a completely different experience. As someone else said, nothing is original any more, you just have to put your own twists on it and make it your own. J. K Rowling did this great, and I have to admit, I have only just read all seven of the books in the last month and they are pretty good, not what I would call great but wouldn't you agree that something like Harry Potter is doing amazing things to get kids to read.

Quote:

What it did for children's literature should never be discounted either.

Yeah. Well said.

_________________
Every body is a book of blood;
Wherever we're opened, we're red
Clive Barker
Parental Advisory: DO NOT CLICK HERE

[Al]

Megan wrote:

As for the queuing, I queued for the last two releases and have witnessed many people scoff at the idea. My response is this; for one brief moment, millions of people across the globe came together for one purpose. In our increasingly segregated society, where few people even know their neighbours, there was a party atmosphere where strangers talked, joked, and had a good time. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. That night I said that I couldn't envisage something like this happening for a book again, which is a shame, I'm glad I was there.

Happens at folk festivals all the time, granted not on the scale, but the frequency is pretty great. Probably other festivals too.

Never could get into Harry Potter myself. Never got further than the first few chapters of the first book. My older sister and mother enjoy them, (although I think my sister was disappointed with the last), and my younger sister can't stomach the books but likes the films.

And all of us still think the hype, however popular the books, has been ridiculously over the top.

[VanessaTyme]

The books were wonderful and by the time I had finished reading the second book I was hooked. Whenever a new book would come out it felt good to have it in my hands ready to jump into the story, like meeting a friend who I had missed for a long time (sorry about the cliche). There aren't many 'epics' that I could say that about (LOTR/Runelords).

This final book felt like a reward. Every book had something important to add to "the Deathly Hollows" and it was fun to see characters and places and objects come back to help tie together the purpose and story of the entire series.

SPOILER: Of significanse, the deaths during the final battle were very moving and I had to wipe away the tears frequently (very sad to see Fred go), and Harry's lonely walk into the forest to "fight" Voldermort was touching and emotionally satisfying also.

---------------------

I love the Potter series and it is sad to see it come to an end (even though it was a good ending) . . . but, as a literary work, it isn't on the same level as something like Lord of the Rings (emotionally Rowling gets it dead on). I wish it were but after having read the fourth book I switched to reread LOTR and began the Runelord series and Potter is definitely written at a lower lever of reader proficiency (not that I'm an expert).

_________________
Where Is My Mind?

[ice maiden]

i think Tolkien in fairness was a work of art no television influenced that he was a professor and even wrote a language to go with it - a lifes work

he drew from folklore but had to source ancient writings and tales and built upon them

its obvious that his work has been used a lot by HP the spiders being one

but it maybe was not accessible but became famous without the internet and media management - that takes quite some doing

its curious just how fanatical people are about HP

and how they defend it

its just the ramblings of a 40 yo woman

get over it

i will wait till it comes on the telly - she aint getting my fiver LOL

She stole beyond reasonable amount of ideas from tv shows - you name it if it had any form of magic in it she took it and used it - but the Tom Brown's Schooldays is the key here and ruthlessly plagiarised, as is Just william

Put a pair of round glasses (like Arthur Lowes) on this guy in Just William and who do you have - uncanny
http://www.culttelly.co.uk/content/top100/progid84.html

- even the name potter i feel was taken from one of the last series Arthur Lowe made - Potter Mints the Hotter mints Where he played a bumbling owner of a factory (comedy) POTTER

coincidence - nah it was at the right time to influence her - http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/p/potter_7775270.shtml

and thats what i struggle with really every chapter every line almost is all been done before and it relies on people not knowing the refereneces

if this was an academic work it would almost be empty of original ideas

there is no such thing as an original idea - well thats the challenge of the modern author - there is nothing wrong with pinching a few ideas - but she is taking the p*ss IMO

_________________
Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)

[ice maiden]

i think Tolkien in fairness was a work of art no television influenced that he was a professor and even wrote a language to go with it - a lifes work

he drew from folklore but had to source ancient writings and tales and built upon them

its obvious that his work has been used a lot by HP the spiders being one

but it maybe was not accessible but became famous without the internet and media management - that takes quite some doing

its curious just how fanatical people are about HP

and how they defend it

its just the ramblings of a 40 yo woman

get over it

i will wait till it comes on the telly - she aint getting my fiver LOL

She stole beyond reasonable amount of ideas from tv shows - you name it if it had any form of magic in it she took it and used it - but the Tom Brown's Schooldays is the key here and ruthlessly plagiarised, as is Just william

Put a pair of round glasses (like Arthur Lowes) on this guy in Just William and who do you have - uncanny
http://www.culttelly.co.uk/content/top100/progid84.html

- even the name potter i feel was taken from one of the last series Arthur Lowe made - Potter Mints the Hotter mints Where he played a bumbling owner of a factory (comedy) POTTER

coincidence - nah it was at the right time to influence her - http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/p/potter_7775270.shtml

and thats what i struggle with really every chapter every line almost is all been done before and it relies on people not knowing the refereneces

if this was an academic work it would almost be empty of original ideas

there is no such thing as an original idea - well thats the challenge of the modern author - there is nothing wrong with pinching a few ideas - but she is taking the p*ss IMO

_________________
Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)

[VanessaTyme]

Rowling is to Literature as Elvis was to Music.

Both used/stole devices from their media and repackaged them to be acceptable and enjoyable and profitable by the mass market. That doesn't sound like a ringing endorcement but neither of them were great artist per se they just new how to make a product that people could get behind.

One thing I would add about the 'Potter' series is that although it is not as groundbreaking as LOTR, I found the human emotion and ties to the characters mUch more potent with Rowling than with Tolkien.

_________________
Where Is My Mind?

[ice maiden]

Rowling is to Literature as Elvis was to Music.

[GREAT QUOTE] you should copyright that :0)P

_________________
Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)

[ice maiden]

Rowling is to Literature as Elvis was to Music.

[GREAT QUOTE] you should copyright that :0)P

_________________
Man [...] must count no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth." (Jean Paul Sartre, 1943)