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Tony R 
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: July 16 2004
Location: UK
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Points: 11979
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 Posted: September 22 2007 at 18:25 |
 Time Signature wrote:
I've read a couple of HP books, and they were okay but no literary masterpieces. I've seen a couple of HP movies, and they were quite boring actually. I don't understand the Harry Potter hype, but at the same time HP has inspired a lot of kids to start reading and getting interested in literature, so I guess it's not all that bad. |
Well said. I agree 100% Anything that gets people reading, young or old, can only be a good thing.
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Chicapah
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 14 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 8238
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Posted: September 23 2007 at 09:52 |
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I read the whole series and enjoyed it immensely. She's a great storyteller with an impressive imagination and she got kids to read books so I don't really see a downside here.
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"Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain
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Visitor13
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member
Joined: February 02 2005
Location: Poland
Status: Offline
Points: 4702
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Posted: September 23 2007 at 14:50 |
Tony R wrote:
Time Signature wrote:
I've read a couple of HP books, and they were okay but no literary masterpieces. I've seen a couple of HP movies, and they were quite boring actually. I don't understand the Harry Potter hype, but at the same time HP has inspired a lot of kids to start reading and getting interested in literature, so I guess it's not all that bad. |
Well said. I agree 100%Anything that gets people reading, young or old, can only be a good thing. |
My thoughts, as well.
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activetopics
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 29 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 156
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Posted: September 23 2007 at 14:50 |
Revan wrote:
Still you are forgetting that its the series that brought back books to a hole generation.
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You mean, "whole"? Obviously you're not apart of that generation. :-P
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Hirgwath
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 16 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 262
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Posted: September 23 2007 at 16:00 |
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I think people ignore the fact that they are supposed to be entertaining novels written for children as well as adults. She was not trying to make the next Finnegan's Wake. I love the Harry Potter series because the plot is interesting and suspenseful (like a mystery novel), and because the characters are very memorable and enjoyable. That's all a good novel needs.
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Skwisgaar Skwigelf: taller than a tree.
Toki Wartooth: not a bumblebee.
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Kid-A
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 613
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 06:01 |
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^ That's actually what J.K Rowling is going to write next, murder mysteries.
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Neil
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 04 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 1497
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 06:27 |
Ghandi 2 wrote:
andu wrote:
Hitchhiker's... is a clever sci-fi? I just saw the movie and I would doubt that, but I never read anything (and I think there also were some TV series). Myself I'm rather a Terry Gilliam man |
The movie SUCKED. And I don't mean the typical "Oh, it didn't live up to my imagination of the book" that is usually said about every famous book that is turned into a movie; it flat out BLEW HARD and BUTCHERED the book. Forgive my CAPS LOCK, but the venom inspired by that "movie" COMPELS ME. So PLEASE, read The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (I would recommend the first, but I fear that much of it is already ruined by that abomination of a movie). My personal favorite is Life, the Universe, and Everything because of one scene that is, as least as I recall it, one of the most brilliant comedic scenes ever, but it wouldn't be as good if you hadn't read the others leading up to it (for those who have read it: I am referring to the part in the mountain with the creature with lots of teeth). I don't remember much of the 4th one at the moment, but Mostly Harmless is very good for the way it ties everything together.
I think the hype around HP bit much, but I can not bring myself to insult strongly any book that can inspire a countdown to its release in Giant. |
PLEASE PLEASE do not ever judge The Hitchhiker's Guide by that abortion of a movie.
For those of you who are unaware the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was originally written in the 1970s by Douglas Adams as a series of radio plays for BBC Radio 4. Douglas then went on to convert the radio series into the first two books and the BBC also produced a short TV series (which wasn't really very good in my opinion). Interestingly all three have a slightly different plot although the characters and essential direction are the same.
Douglas then went on to write more books in the series reaching a total of five before he died. BBC Radio 4 have recently got the original cast and producers together and completed the radio play series to the end of the fifth book; actually using archive footage of Douglas playing Agrajag, one of the characters in the books. Douglas always intended to finish the Radio series and had already recorded some material.
The books do make an excellent read, combining humour, science fiction and a very british social commentary. I would also recommend the radio series as a very good listen; after all the whole concept was originally designed for this medium. 
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When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory.
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VanderGraafKommandöh
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 09:17 |
Passionist wrote:
Also, thank God we still have R.A.Savatore who writes 5 books a year.
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He doesn't quite write that many a year. Maybe 3 at a push. 
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VanderGraafKommandöh
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 09:27 |
As Siam said, at least it is getting children and teenagers reading. I have never read a single HP book, or seen a film, so I cannot comment.
I am an R.A. Salvatore fan though, so you could say I like some pulp fantasy fiction.  Although within the Forgotten Realms, there's lots of weird stuff to imagine, which makes it more interesting, than a fantasy fiction book set on earth. |
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Shakespeare
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 18 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 7744
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 09:33 |
Geck0 wrote:
Passionist wrote:
Also, thank God we still have R.A.Savatore who writes 5 books a year.
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He doesn't quite write that many a year. Maybe 3 at a push. |
What about Robert Jordan? All he does is write. OH! And he collects pipes.
Edited by Shakespeare - September 24 2007 at 09:33
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VanderGraafKommandöh
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 04 2005
Location: Malaria
Status: Offline
Points: 89372
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 09:39 |
Shakespeare wrote:
Geck0 wrote:
Passionist wrote:
Also, thank God we still have R.A.Savatore who writes 5 books a year.
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He doesn't quite write that many a year. Maybe 3 at a push. |
What about Robert Jordan? All he does is write.
OH! And he collects pipes.
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Erm, no he doesn't, he died on the 16th. 
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Zargus
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 08 2005
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 3491
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 19:38 |
I agree that its good that it gets young kidz to read, its a good start for them, it makes them discover that reading is fun. And later they will probobly find greater books. 
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Lucent
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 18 2007
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 259
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 21:04 |
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VOLDEMORT
KILLS
SNAPE!
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Ghandi 2
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 17 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1494
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Posted: September 24 2007 at 23:59 |
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Lucent, die in a fire. I'm not sure if that's real or not because I haven't been following the series, but you should still die.
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Leningrad
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 15 2006
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 7991
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Posted: September 25 2007 at 00:10 |
Ghandi 2 wrote:
Lucent, die in a fire. I'm not sure if that's real or not because I haven't been following the series, but you should still die. |
That's a tad harsh, don't you think? I suppose we could stab him a few times, but nobody should have to burn to death.
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cuncuna
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 29 2005
Location: Chile
Status: Offline
Points: 4318
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Posted: September 25 2007 at 00:55 |
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¡Beware of the Bee!
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ShipOfFools
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 23 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 107
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Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:35 |
I agree, there's nothing really special about Harry Potter.
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"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace" - Buddha
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mystic fred
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: March 13 2006
Location: Londinium
Status: Offline
Points: 4252
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Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:42 |
ShipOfFools wrote:
I agree, there's nothing really special about Harry Potter.
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there must be some reason why these books sell in millions all over the world - J K Rowling is the best modern British children's writer since Roald Dahl, i've never read a single book but i will give credit where it's due. 
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 Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Shakespeare
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 18 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 7744
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Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:50 |
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Don't forget about what trash is popular in music today. Just because its popular doesn't mean anything.
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Shakespeare
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 18 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 7744
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Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:53 |
Lucent wrote:
VOLDEMORT
IS
SNAPE!
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Or you could just tell them how it actually turns out. Ahem. Harry is about to prostitute himself on the streets of London when he is attacked by a group of outlawed farm animals, whom he conquers, then befriends, and then rides to the nearest evil castle, where he fights a giant talking spider which murders him, he comes back to life for no apparent reason, finishes the job, then returns home for some immoral play time.
Edited by Shakespeare - September 25 2007 at 15:54
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Harry potter overrated.
