Harry Potter

[Nix]

Well I have finally given in and bought the first 4 books off ebay. I was wondering what you all thought of the books and if i'm in for a treat or not!!?

 

[Sweetescape]

I've read them all and but I've only read them all the way through once. I didn't really get what all the fuss was about, JK's writing does get better with each book but the plots and characters never really gripped me.
There not hideous,just an average kinda book in my eyes.

 

[JCC]

Well, I suppose you're in for a treat if you enjoy the inherent shame of reading a book for sub-intelligent children and the experience of your brain slowly dribbling out of your ears.

 

[Washburne]

I like the whole Harry Potter concept. And opposite sweet I do care about a lot of the characters. What you will be in for can have to do what kind of expectations you have starting to read the books. The first one is clearly a childrens book. Not a bad one and can defenitely be enjoyed by adults too. As for the writing I'm generally a bad judge at that to begin with and I've only read one of the books in english so I'll stay away from that discussion. If you finsish all four books and go on to the fifth a little warning might be in place. But we can take that if you ever get to that point. And don't think I mean the fifth book is crap. I think it's my favourite of them all. Or at least one of them.


edit: He he. Was just waiting for JCC to make a post. 😛

 

[Perny]

If you've seen the movies first, and actually LIKED them, then you are in for a major mind treat! The books are by far the best, and the details the movies left out...VITAL!
I've been a fan of the books since I got the first for my birthday years back. My favorite is the third one. It just rocks my socks

 

[Nix]

Well I have never seen the films or picked up the books. I intend to start reading tonight 🙂

 

[Perny]

Good 🙂 The first chapter or two of the first book is a little boring. But then stuff happens. And good for you not having watched the movies.

 

[Ulrikke]

I personally love the Harry Potter series - have been a fan since I was 12 years old - and I don't really get where JCC is coming from. Sounds like the usual hate some people against all things popular.

Okay, maybe the first few books are clearly childrens books, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing - they're great children's books that doesn't talk down to the kids - and the series does get more and more adult as you go along.

Obviously everything is a matter of personal taste, but if you even remotely like the first book or two and the themes they bring up, I would advise you to see the series through. There are some great things in store!

 

[Friendly Lurker]

I like the books a lot but not a huge fan of the movies. I think you'll enjoy them, Nix!

 

[anyatara]

The movies weren't all that good, compared to the books. I love the books, Harry Potter is probably my favourite book series, ever. I read the first one when I was about six, and to be honest I don't really love the first two books, all that much. The story definitely gets more indepth by The Goblet of Fire, and the Half-Blood Prince, is the best. But, the first few are still good. Definitely worth reading, in my opinion.

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

Honestly, I think a big part of why I liked the books so much in my teens was the whole 'waiting for the next book' thing. I jumped on the HP bandwagon when I was about 11 maybe, shortly before the 4th book was released. Well, and since that's where the story really takes off imo, it had this effect on me that I just couldn't wait for the next book and, in consequence, also reread some of the other books.
Now that the entire series has been published, it has lost a whole lot of its charm to me. On top of that, I wasn't a fan of the ending, but I guess you don't have to deal with that yet anyway.

 

[Professor Walsh]

I wasn't among the trendsetters when it came to Pottermania, I think I started reading them when the fourth was about to be released. The first two books were enjoyable the way I've always liked to read good childrens literature even as an adult. From the third nook onwards I'll just say I enjoyed them, full stop. The books are what I see as good quality light entertainment.

 

[Lindsey McDonald]

I really love the Harry Potter books. The way they are written fascinates me. The first one is a children's book, no doubt. It is about children, written from a child's perspective. But as they go on, Jo Rowling was very aware that her audience, and her characters (and of course, her writing ability) were growing, so they become steadily more complex and mature. The way Harry will look at a situation in book one is entirely different to how he will do so in book three. So I like that they don't remain static, like many childrens' series.

They can also be wickedly funny, especially in the later books where Jo can play with minor characters who you've come to know and love. Dumbledore and McGonagall are just plain awesome. The thing I like most though, is the coherence. As you're reading, you really get the feeling that this is one fixed world. She didn't make it up as she went along. There are so many things - even in chapter one of Philosopher's Stone - that are incredibly important later on. I don't like magic stories where there's a sudden magical Deus Ex Machina. That doesn't happen here, as all the groundwork is laid well in advance.

And remember, The Weapon We Have is LOVE. [/CheeseyWrockSignoff]

 

[Perny]

I like that the story grows. You start with a child, so of course it's a little childish. Which is fine. The story evolves, and the older Harry and CO gets, the more the story takes a mature turn. From innocent children to morbid adventures. Loves

 

[Bluebird]

I think they're good books, fun and entertaining in their way. I started reading them when the first book was out, so I must have been about 11 and there was no hype back then. I'd heard of The Philosopher's Stone vaguely, but it really wasn't well known like it is now. Thought it was pretty good and read the 2nd one when it came out, and since she took so long to write all 7, I eventually read the last book at age 21. 😉 I don't like the films though.

 

[white avenger]

My sister is one of those people who adamantly refuses to read the books, see the movies, or even discuss the subject except to say that the books are blasphemy and teach innocent young children about the occult. Luckily, she attends a different church than we do, because our minister once mentioned how much he and his entire family love both the books and the movies.

 

[Perny]

^She sounds...

It's not blasphemy you know. My old teacher once compared the similarities in the books with the bible. Intersting as it was, I forgot it.

 

[anyalover17]

Harry Potter is amazing. End of story.
Oh my god, I just love it so much. I'm actually re-reading Half Blood Prince right now in preparation for the movie.

Also, come to Slytherin... we have Bellatrix Lestrange. XD

 

[Mumrik]

Honestly, I think a big part of why I liked the books so much in my teens was the whole 'waiting for the next book' thing. I jumped on the HP bandwagon when I was about 11 maybe, shortly before the 4th book was released. Well, and since that's where the story really takes off imo, it had this effect on me that I just couldn't wait for the next book and, in consequence, also reread some of the other books.
Now that the entire series has been published, it has lost a whole lot of its charm to me. On top of that, I wasn't a fan of the ending, but I guess you don't have to deal with that yet anyway.

This is exactly what I wanted to say.

I remember getting the fifth book in English because I couldn't wait for the German copy any longer and read it in three days and nights with a big English dictionary next to me. Since then, my English skills have improved a lot and I've preferred reading the English originals of any book (if there's one available, of course) ever since. So probably Harry helped me improve my English.

I've reread the books recently and some of the charm for me is gone, 1) because of the waiting and rereading the books prior in anticipation and 2) I started them when I was ten and kind of grew up with Harry and his friends and I can't relate to them that much anymore in the first two books, stupid as it sounds. I still love the whole series, I still have my favourite books and the first is one of them, but some of the magic I felt when I was younger is lost.

It's still a very good read, no matter what age you are because yes, the first two are children's books but good ones that don't talk down to their readers or assume they're stupid because they're children, but I've seen people of every age enjoy Harry Potter.
I got so attached to most of the characters over the years, loved several, loathed a few of them, but you can still see the parts I cried over in the last three books.

I really wouldn't have want to missed that experience. And I... had something really witty to say as a conclusion but I forgot.

 

[Rayne]

Wow, I didn't realize the first book came out so long ago...time flies! Glad you started this thread Nix! I was fond of the writers personally story and rise to stardom but always figured it was just a kid thing so I never actually read the books. When I gave in and saw the movies I was pleasantly surprised and now it's one of my favorite story lines. If the books are half as good I think I'll give 'em a shot. I can read them with the kids.