Main Menu

Harry Potter

Started by Drunken Chinchilla, November 18, 2003, 11:35:03 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Say

Ooh...ok then :P

thanks for clearing that up Cat ;)


Say Mistage
Phoenix Online Studios

#IndieSupport <3

dew7

#21
Say, an important character dies but I do not want to say any more because that will spoil it for you.   ;)

Well that wraps it up for tonight ---  :sleepy:
Carpe Diem  Trying to help all of us including myself understand the merry-go-round of life.

Jeysie

#22
(chuckles at the non-spoilers)

Well, I finished the second book, and I'm halfway through the third. I like the Weaselys quite a bit, although I suspect I act more like Hermione, woe be to everybody. :pokerface:i

Peace & Luv, Liz

Jeysie

Yay, a Harry Potter thread! Some more detailed thoughts then...

Anyhoo. OK, so now I've read the third book, and I'm a quarter of a way through the fourth.

First, the bad. Namely that I think the fact that the books are so wildly popular is more a testament to the state of reading among youth nowadays than it is to the books themselves. They're not the best books I've read, and there's not really anything in the books that is revolutionary compared a number of other novels... just that kids don't usually get exposed to those other novels in better circumstances than cruddy reading classes. (I mean, heck, I've been a voracious reader since I first learned to read, and I still loathed reading classes... I can only imagine how a kid less inclined to reading must feel.)

Now the good: Don't read too much dour into my previous statements... I still think they're very good and very fun books (or I wouldn't still be reading them, heh) Plus there's "nothing new under the sun" anyway, and Rowling gives a very creative and fresh spin on everything.

Even better, this is one of the few popular kids' trends within my memory I would consider not to be brain-dead on some level. (That's not to say I think all other popular kids trends are *bad*... there's very few I'd give that label to. Just that most of them aren't exactly intellectually or culturally stimulating.) Besides, it might inspire kids to read more sci-fi and fantasy. :)

Oh, and I still love the Weasleys. I would have loved to have a family like that to hang out with. :) I think I'd particularly enjoy getting along with Fred and George...

Peace & Luv, Liz

Drunken Chinchilla

*Awaits Katie Weasly to appear*

Jeysie: You've so far  read the intro into the world of Harry Potter (imo). From the 4th book onwards the story really starts pick up and there is a definate shift in the tone of the book more towards the adult end.

Oh also ona  side note, so far I havent really been that impressed by the films. If i hadn't read the books I'd be perfectly happy with them but having read the books, it just makes certain faults of the films stand out more. I don't know how they're going to do book 4 justice as theres so much going on...All i can hope for is that the DVDs from now on have a theatrical cut and a directors cut ala LoTR.

Roll on Harry Potter and the Half blood Prince!
Alex Saunders
PR Assistant
alex.saunders@postudios.com



Wii Friend Code: 2734 0562 0353 3928

Kimmie

i am glad to say that i have not read a single harry potter book! therefore i am the best! :suffer:
Shimmy to the Kimmie



I <3 Connor but he is beyond my reach!

Louisiana Night

Are there that few people that haven't read the books? ???

Kimmie

omg i didnt see that say was also a non potter person. huzzah  :iluvu: Say
Shimmy to the Kimmie



I <3 Connor but he is beyond my reach!

Louisiana Night

*looks up estimate of Harry Potter readers in US*

hehe, nevermind. :P

Jeysie

Heh.

I didn't read the books for the longest time... when you're a brainy geek who's used to seeing your fave stuff get cancelled due to low ratings/sales and get replaced with brainless fluff that gets higher ratings, well... it's easy to get into the mindset of "It's popular, therefore it must suck." Heck, 90% of the time I think you'd even be right.

But after hearing bits and pieces about the HP universe here and there, I finally decided to give it a whirl... and now I'm half-thinking I should have read them before. On the one hand, I would have gotten to read them a lot sooner. On the other hand, I get to read all five books so far in one go without having to wait like everyone else did. ;)

Peace & Luv, Liz

Shadowfax

Harry Potter eh?

Well, here's how I see it (puts on critics cap...)

I myself have been forced to read every last book in the series. Personally, I don't see what the fuss is about, there are not stories that I would find particularly memorable nor are they stories that I find particularly gripping (thats what Clare Francis books do for me but that is another matter...)
However, I can see why they are a sucess from another perspective. The stories are clearly written, they are not terrifically complex or challenging reads and I have yet to see anything truly nasty happen to anyone in them (and I mean hardcore nasty stuff which would be inappropriate for a childrens book).

There's my view anyway (admittedly coming from a chap who writes his own stories instead of reading others and when he does read the work of others, it is mostly hidieously technical books that would defy reading unless you really interested in the subject matter.)

Mind you...the increasing thickness of Harry Potter books mean that if I buy the rest of the series I will be able to stack them up with enough height to replace the missing leg of my workbench in the garage!
When cities burn and armies turn,
and flee in disarray,
Cowards will cry 'tis best to fly
and fight another day.
But warriors know it in their marrow when they die and fall,
It is better to have fought and lost than not have fought at all.

Louisiana Night

Quote from: Jeysie on September 21, 2004, 12:56:44 PM
I get to read all five books so far in one go without having to wait like everyone else did. ;)

Peace & Luv, Liz

and then the 6th is announced. :suffer:

Drunken Chinchilla

Quote from: Shadowfax on September 21, 2004, 01:04:18 PM
I myself have been forced to read every last book in the series. Personally, I don't see what the fuss is about, there are not stories that I would find particularly memorable nor are they stories that I find particularly gripping

But aren't you curious about all the whys and hows behind so much of the books? I think thats the main hook for me, each one so far has raised a new riddle to solve (pun not intended hehe) and more questions raised. Plus I think the whole universe is so realised and lifelike that its easy to slip back into it each time a new book comes out  :smitten:
Alex Saunders
PR Assistant
alex.saunders@postudios.com



Wii Friend Code: 2734 0562 0353 3928

Kimmie

he's only saying that coz he IS harry potter  ::)
Shimmy to the Kimmie



I <3 Connor but he is beyond my reach!

Shadowfax

Well...no...I haven't even seen any so called "why's" or "how's." Any questions are concluded at the end of the book (and the few that remain will obviously only be answered by the last books in the series).

Sorry, I see Harry Potter as a children's story that has just so happened to capture the hearts of everyone except me.

I myself am into extremely dark works (primarily because I write dark works constantly). I do not like to slip into a happy, comfortable world as it represents lies and treason to me (this is more of a personal thing, I deal with lies every day so I have to be on my guard). If the Harry Potter series becomes more brutal then maybe (not violence if that is what you are thinking, more along the lines of the villains being more psychologically disturbing). However, such things are impractical for the Harry Potter franchise to cover so I do not expect it to.
When cities burn and armies turn,
and flee in disarray,
Cowards will cry 'tis best to fly
and fight another day.
But warriors know it in their marrow when they die and fall,
It is better to have fought and lost than not have fought at all.

Shadowfax

Quote from: Kimmie on September 21, 2004, 02:10:36 PM
he's only saying that coz he IS harry potter  ::)

No...sorry...no Harry Potter here. I do extremely high tech stuff...not magic.

Besides, I write books on darkness and evil, there are no "good guys" everyone is corrupt as everyone else so no character is likeable. Hope is considered heracy against whatever false god is in power and free speech is also considered treason by everyone.
As you can see, my books will not make best sellers as a result!
When cities burn and armies turn,
and flee in disarray,
Cowards will cry 'tis best to fly
and fight another day.
But warriors know it in their marrow when they die and fall,
It is better to have fought and lost than not have fought at all.

Jeysie

#36
I prefer darker works myself, but it's bad for the soul to never read anything more light-hearted. And if I'm going to read something light-hearted, I'd prefer it to be something intelligent and light-hearted. I'd consider the HP books intelligent. Sometimes... ya just gotta be a kid again. :)

Peace & Luv, Liz

Shadowfax

#37
(sighs inwardly)

Look okay, maybe I am very, very bleak. If you had gone through what I went through (a horrific period spanning 10 years with fear and pain constantly on the agenda) then you will understand why I adopt such a bleak view. Also, things aren't going well for me at the moment (people armed to the teeth asking for your name doesn't really help.) I have had "that bleak an attitude" for an extremely long time now and current events are not going to make me change it. :'(

BTW When I posted in the Kimmie and Questie magical dream thread about my weird disaster dreams, why did you want me to move down to Washington?

Sorry if this is off-topic, I just have to know!  ;)
When cities burn and armies turn,
and flee in disarray,
Cowards will cry 'tis best to fly
and fight another day.
But warriors know it in their marrow when they die and fall,
It is better to have fought and lost than not have fought at all.

Jeysie

Are you sure you can't move somewhere else?

Anyhoo. While, erm, my life wasn't as miserable as yours sounds, it wasn't exactly happy, either.

I think my personal mantra for my entire life so far has been "This too shall pass." Just a reminder to myself that the miserable times don't last forever... they're just speedbumps on the way to striving towards the happy moments.

Some people here (glares at Questie) might paint me as pessimistic, but I'm really pretty idealistic. I just realize that working towards your ideals only works if you come to grips with reality while doing it.

Peace & Luv, Liz

Shadowfax

Trust me, as a person I am destroyed.

I do have an official doctrine for all the things I have dealt with in life and gives operational experience on how such problems were eliminated (it is an almighty tome I will tell you). I view the remains of my life as a giant problem to be resolved and re-organised anyway.

As for your final comment; I drink to that!  ;D
When cities burn and armies turn,
and flee in disarray,
Cowards will cry 'tis best to fly
and fight another day.
But warriors know it in their marrow when they die and fall,
It is better to have fought and lost than not have fought at all.