Harry Potter

[Mumrik]

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.

I can't karma you again, so I'll just say: Read them! Harry Potter has one of the worst movie adapations ever because there are so many little details - and characters too - that the movies can't capture.
It's definitely a thing you can share with your kids.

 

[Kanazaka]

I have read and enjoyed all of the books, as well as some of the movies. I particularly liked the descriptions of teen angst and the political intrigue of The Order of the Phoenix and The Half-Blood Prince. I also enjoyed the quest narrative aspects of The Deathly Hallows. It was compelling to learn what the characters did at each stop along the journey, and anticipate what they might discover next. I, too, prefer the books to the movies, since the books flesh out the characters much better, and take the time to fully develop and conclude character subplots (such as Cho and Harry's relationship, which is given more emphasis in the books, especially Order of the Phoenix--in which I much preferred J.K. Rowling's resolution to that of the screenwriters). Some of my other preferred book subplots are Rita Skeeter and S.P.E.W in Goblet of Fire and the Knightbus in Prisoner of Azkaban. All of these seemed more nuanced and emotionally true than the movies' versions (where applicable, since the films cut out a lot of such subplots, as has been mentioned).

 

[Jersh]

Are you kidding me? 😀

EVERYONE LOVES HARRY POTTER.
IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE LYING.

 

[five x five]

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.

Yeah. I was 7 or 8 when I read the first book so it took me a while to get through with that weird beginning, but after it got good I was hooked. Now, at 16 I'm still in love with them. I think the writing is really good, the plots are great, and i love how everything connects. The most insignificant details actually mean something in the end. You'll see what I mean.

I just love it. I love all the characters... except Draco because he's such an incredibly wimp. But the Weasleys rock and yeah, they're all so great! They're actually rather complicated for a "children's" book series. I don't even know if children are even reading them anymore.

 

[Lemon]

*Ahem*

Harry Potter is the best thing to ever happen...ever. You are in for a real treat. My favorite ones are Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix & The Deathly Hallows. *straightens Slytherin tie*

I've been reading since the first book came out when I was in 4th grade and I've lost count on how many times I've reread the series. Harry Potter pretty much is my life...and I'm totally okay with that. ^__^

 

[SpikedBuffy]

I have read 2 and half of them. I started reading the third one, but then started reading another book and totally forgot about HP. In fact that book is still on the bookshelf with the bookmark in it. That was two years ago!

I love the movies though, but I know they had to cut out a lot of the books to fit in the movies, so I feel like I"m missing something.

 

[Jersh]

The movies are also great.
You should watch those as well.

 

[JCC]

Okay, for everyone that's saying that the prose in Harry Potter is well-written or even that it's excellent, which other books have you read and enjoyed?

 

[Perny]

A lot...

The ghost of Sadie Kimber
Silmarillon (Or how it's spelled)
Angels and Demons
The Vampire Diaries
Bram Stokers Dracula
The Count of Monte Cristo
Hmm this will be going on forever..What is your point then JCC? Trying to prove we have bad taste in books? 😛

 

[Miss Universe]

Tried reading the first Harry Potter book when it came out, so, I was like, 11? I don't know.

Yeah, even then, I didn't like it. Sorry.

 

[Flannen]

I love Harry Potter! I have done ever since it first came out.

I do agree on a certain level that JK Rowling's writing isn't exactly amazing, but she writes a darn good story and created a whole world that I fall into wholeheartedly, every single time. And there are authors who are considered to be absolutely amazing writers who do not do anything for me at all.

Nix, you might find the first too a little on the 'childish' side, but from 3 onwards they take a different route. But I reckon you'll like them.

I love the films too. The first 2 have a little to be desired but I think that has a lot to do with how young the actors are. But the 3rd, 4th and 5th films are awesome. I'd advise watching them. Initially, I refused and had no interest in them because I didn't want them to ruin the book, but after watching Lord of the Rings and loving them as well as the books, I decided to give them a go. And I never looked back. 😀

 

[InsaneMystic]

I've just recently (a week or two ago) started to re-read them again... and it won't be the last time around, either, I'm sure. I'm surprised that the childlikeness of the first one seems to get a slightly bad rep here - actually, that's what I very much love Philosopher's Stone for, the creation of all the consistent atmosphere of the setting, befitting the view of a child first taking a glance at the wizarding world. I wasn't too fond of the fifth one (Order of the Phoenix), and the epilogue of the last one is a waste of paper, one of those "sad that trees had to die for it" moments... 😛 but all in all, all seven books are very worth reading.

As for the movies... I loved the first one, but 2 & 3, not so much - and 4 was a disaster if you knew (and liked) the book at all. 😛 Haven't watched 5 or 6 yet. You should definitely stick to the books, and only watch the movies afterwards if you're up for a good nag. ^^

 

[Flannen]

^ Clearly it's not the same for everyone. I know and love the 4th book but I also still love the film! Which doesn't make me any less of Harry Potter book fan! 😛

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

Trying to prove we have bad taste in books? 😛

Nah, its just the 'in thing' to be different.

 

[JCC]

Nah, its just the 'in thing' to be different.

There's nothing different about disliking Harry Potter, it's never been critically lauded in literary circles; its enduring success is because it brought the world out of a brief period of not reading books at all and led us into the age of the pop novel. Basically, we traded no books for bad books and I'm not sure which is better. If the general consensus wherever you are is that Harry Potter is a masterwork, you ought to find yourself somewhere that's got a better general consensus.

 

[Flannen]

There's nothing different about disliking Harry Potter, it's never been critically lauded in literary circles; its enduring success is because it brought the world out of a brief period of not reading books at all and led us into the age of the pop novel. Basically, we traded no books for bad books and I'm not sure which is better. If the general consensus wherever you are is that Harry Potter is a masterwork, you ought to find yourself somewhere that's got a better general consensus.

Just because a lot of people like it, and its been very well received, doesn't mean everyone thinks it's a masterpeice. It doesn't have to a work of academic genius in order for it to be liked; just look at The Da Vinci Code.

And, as someone who is currently doing an English degree, it is actually becoming part of the literary circle, with an increasing amount of critical essays being written on it. I'm even studying on it my Children's Literature module next year; which, depsite sounding easy, actually focuses on and incorporates some of the most technical and complex literary theory there is.

 

[JCC]

And, as someone who is currently doing an English degree, it is actually becoming part of the literary circle, with an increasing amount of critical essays being written on it.

Oh, I know. I've cried myself to sleep because of it all too often.

 

[Lemon]

Okay, for everyone that's saying that the prose in Harry Potter is well-written or even that it's excellent, which other books have you read and enjoyed?

I am insulted. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be or not, but I am.

 

[JCC]

You're not meant to be. I just want to know which books you're using as a comparison. If you read Dostoevsky or Tolstoy then your statement holds more weight than if you read Jacqueline Wilson or Dan Brown.

 

[Mumrik]

I can't stand book snobs. Just because it's not what you consider "good" literature doesn't equal they're bad. They're fun, entertaining books. That is all they're supposed to be.

I actually read and enjoy Tolstoi and Hemingway but that doesn't rule out the possibility that I can also enjoy fun reads like Harry Potter, The Lord of The Rings, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or Murakami's books.