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UndercoverBoy 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 10 2009
Location: Tulsa, OK, U.S.
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Points: 5148
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 Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:16 |
 DT-PT wrote:
JLocke wrote:
DT-PT wrote:
Yes, I am a huge King fan.  My bookshelf in the basement is full of Stephen King books. I have not seen this comment that he made, I'll have to check it out.  |
I love him, too. You've read The Dark Tower series, I'm assuming?
Anyway, here is the quote:
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I have. Probably my favourite book series of all time. Anyways I read up on the quote. The reaction from Twilight fans was hilarious. One of them actually says ""Steven King doesn't know what a real book was if it hit him in the face. He's just a bloody guy who is jealous of Edward's good looks." That last sentence sums up the intelligence of Twilight fans quite nicely.  |
I really can't see how one can be jealous of a fictional character's looks which is only described in text. 
Edited by UndercoverBoy - June 30 2010 at 13:16
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TheGazzardian
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Joined: August 11 2009
Location: Canada
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Points: 8777
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:20 |
Harry Potter - it was also one of my first fantasy experiences when I was 13, followed by the much-more mature Thomas Covenant Chronicles. Compared to some of the stuff I have read since, Harry Potter has decreased in complexity/maturity in my mind. Especially because I have since gotten into historical fiction and authors like Neal Stephenson, James Clavell, etc.
That being said, it has a nice, magical, almost child-like fantasy about it that only things like Every-Flavoured Beans, magic joke shops, and hidden train platforms can convey. I know that one of the arguments in this thread is that that story grows more mature, but it's the more childlike quantities that I enjoy most about it. Truthfully, I found the series weakest in the sixth and seventh book, where the plot sort of turned towards a Legend of Zelda style plot. The last book was particularly painful, because the first half had me thinking that no reasonable person would behave the way that Harry was behaving.
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JLocke
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2007
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Points: 4900
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:24 |
TheGazzardian wrote:
Harry Potter - it was also one of my first fantasy experiences when I was 13, followed by the much-more mature Thomas Covenant Chronicles. Compared to some of the stuff I have read since, Harry Potter has decreased in complexity/maturity in my mind. Especially because I have since gotten into historical fiction and authors like Neal Stephenson, James Clavell, etc.
That being said, it has a nice, magical, almost child-like fantasy about it that only things like Every-Flavoured Beans, magic joke shops, and hidden train platforms can convey. I know that one of the arguments in this thread is that that story grows more mature, but it's the more childlike quantities that I enjoy most about it. Truthfully, I found the series weakest in the sixth and seventh book, where the plot sort of turned towards a Legend of Zelda style plot. The last book was particularly painful, because the first half had me thinking that no reasonable person would behave the way that Harry was behaving. |
Hmm, you're the very first person I have ever spoken to who stills believes the Potter stories to be little kid-friendly. even after reading the final three books. But hey, if that's the aspect to the stories you liked, I guess that's fine. To say the series isn't complex or mature, however, is doing it a great injustice. my opinion.
And this is coming from a guy who reads stuff like The Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire and The Dark Tower. 
Edited by JLocke - June 30 2010 at 13:24
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Chris S
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:24 |
I couldn,t stand any of it. My kids enjoyed up to the second movie/book and then threw in the towel also. I cannot explain why, just that none of it did it for me and possibly by the time the second movie came out " special effects' had become corny. I know I am in the minority on this 
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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian
...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]
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JLocke
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 4900
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:26 |
Chris S wrote:
I couldn,t stand any of it. My kids enjoyed up to the second movie/book and then threw in the towel also. I cannot explain why, just that none of it did it for me and possibly by the time the second movie came out " special effects' had become corny. I know I am in the minority on this |
Have you read any of the last three volumes of the series? Just curious.
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Chris S
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:26 |
TheGazzardian wrote:
Harry Potter - it was also one of my first fantasy experiences when I was 13, followed by the much-more mature Thomas Covenant Chronicles. Compared to some of the stuff I have read since, Harry Potter has decreased in complexity/maturity in my mind. Especially because I have since gotten into historical fiction and authors like Neal Stephenson, James Clavell, etc.
That being said, it has a nice, magical, almost child-like fantasy about it that only things like Every-Flavoured Beans, magic joke shops, and hidden train platforms can convey. I know that one of the arguments in this thread is that that story grows more mature, but it's the more childlike quantities that I enjoy most about it. Truthfully, I found the series weakest in the sixth and seventh book, where the plot sort of turned towards a Legend of Zelda style plot. The last book was particularly painful, because the first half had me thinking that no reasonable person would behave the way that Harry was behaving. |
the Thomas Covenant Chronicles were great 
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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian
...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]
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TheGazzardian
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 11 2009
Location: Canada
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Points: 8777
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:27 |
JLocke wrote:
DT-PT wrote:
Yes, I am a huge King fan. My bookshelf in the basement is full of Stephen King books. I have not seen this comment that he made, I'll have to check it out. |
I love him, too. You've read The Dark Tower series, I'm assuming?
Anyway, here is the quote: |
My girlfriend read the Twilight series because she was curious was the fuss was about. The entire time she complained about the writing, and at the end seemed mystified that it was so popular. So much so that she ended up re-reading it with the intention of figuring out what she missed. After multiple go-throughs, she's finally given up and admits that it's insanity that it's so popular.
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Chris S
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:27 |
JLocke wrote:
Chris S wrote:
I couldn,t stand any of it. My kids enjoyed up to the second movie/book and then threw in the towel also. I cannot explain why, just that none of it did it for me and possibly by the time the second movie came out " special effects' had become corny. I know I am in the minority on this |
Have you read any of the last three volumes of the series? Just curious. |
No I refused too sorry.
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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian
...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]
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DisgruntledPorcupine
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 16 2010
Location: Thunder Bay CAN
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Points: 4395
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:30 |
TheGazzardian wrote:
JLocke wrote:
DT-PT wrote:
Yes, I am a huge King fan. My bookshelf in the basement is full of Stephen King books. I have not seen this comment that he made, I'll have to check it out. |
I love him, too. You've read The Dark Tower series, I'm assuming?
Anyway, here is the quote:
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My girlfriend read the Twilight series because she was curious was the fuss was about. The entire time she complained about the writing, and at the end seemed mystified that it was so popular. So much so that she ended up re-reading it with the intention of figuring out what she missed. After multiple go-throughs, she's finally given up and admits that it's insanity that it's so popular. |
Maybe girls nowaday have a thing for creepy undead guys and man-eating wolves. What is the story? Just a girls choice between bestiality and necrophelia? The writing is just poor. I'm guessing it's only popular cause girls are getting caught up in the fantasy.
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JLocke
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 4900
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:31 |
Chris S wrote:
JLocke wrote:
Chris S wrote:
I couldn,t stand any of it. My kids enjoyed up to the second movie/book and then threw in the towel also. I cannot explain why, just that none of it did it for me and possibly by the time the second movie came out " special effects' had become corny. I know I am in the minority on this |
Have you read any of the last three volumes of the series? Just curious. |
No I refused too sorry. |
Oh, well. You're loss.  At least check out the trailer I posted at the top of the thread so you can see how much darker the story gets by the end. For me?
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TheGazzardian
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 11 2009
Location: Canada
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Points: 8777
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:32 |
JLocke wrote:
TheGazzardian wrote:
Harry Potter - it was also one of my first fantasy experiences when I was 13, followed by the much-more mature Thomas Covenant Chronicles. Compared to some of the stuff I have read since, Harry Potter has decreased in complexity/maturity in my mind. Especially because I have since gotten into historical fiction and authors like Neal Stephenson, James Clavell, etc.
That being said, it has a nice, magical, almost child-like fantasy about it that only things like Every-Flavoured Beans, magic joke shops, and hidden train platforms can convey. I know that one of the arguments in this thread is that that story grows more mature, but it's the more childlike quantities that I enjoy most about it. Truthfully, I found the series weakest in the sixth and seventh book, where the plot sort of turned towards a Legend of Zelda style plot. The last book was particularly painful, because the first half had me thinking that no reasonable person would behave the way that Harry was behaving. |
Hmm, you're the very first person I have ever spoken to who stills believes the Potter stories to be little kid-friendly. even after reading the final three books. But hey, if that's the aspect to the stories you liked, I guess that's fine. To say the series isn't complex or mature, however, is doing it a great injustice. my opinion.
And this is coming from a guy who reads stuff like The Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire and The Dark Tower. |
The only of those series I've read is the Dark Tower, which I quite enjoyed, and the end of which was pretty mind-bending (couldn't get through the first Wheel of Time book, don't know why). And I am not saying that Harry Potter does not mature - although, getting "darker" and "more mature" are not necessarily the same things - I am just saying that, in contrast to the things that I read nowadays, it is relatively less mature.
I'm not really sure what about Potter is less kid-friendly in the last three books - I mean, Dementors were introduced in the third book and death has always been a prevalent aspect of the book (Harry's parents' death has always been in the background, for example, and the third book has a suspected serial killer as one of the main elements). In terms of complexity, the younger kids are challenging themselves with plots that have so many moving pieces, the better, as far as I am concerned.
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Epignosis
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:35 |
I tired to read the first book...I just don't like her style.
I really like the first two films but after that it just gets goofy (like the time traveling bit...so much wrong with that).
Edit: I meant tried, not tired. 
Edited by Epignosis - June 30 2010 at 13:41
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JLocke
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2007
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Points: 4900
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 13:37 |
^ Once we again, we are polar opposites, Rob. In comparison to the the later stories, books/films 1 and 2 are a chore for me to sit through.
Although there are some big events in book two that end up playing huge roles in books 6 and 7.
Edited by JLocke - June 30 2010 at 13:38
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harmonium.ro
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 14:11 |
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Last option for me.
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JLocke
Prog Reviewer
Joined: November 18 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 4900
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 14:17 |
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Oh, I also really enjoy the Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore. Anybody here familiar with them?
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AbrahamSapien
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Joined: December 27 2009
Location: Slovenia
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 14:37 |
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I've read it 'till book 5 a few years ago and well, It turned out boring for me after that. It started to repeat itself, Harry was turning into an EMO wizard with no one understanding his deep pain ... Nice but too long.
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JLocke
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 14:46 |
AbrahamSapien wrote:
I've read it 'till book 5 a few years ago and well, It turned out boring for me after that. It started to repeat itself, Harry was turning into an EMO wizard with no one understanding his deep pain ... Nice but too long.
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If I have one complaint about the books, it would be that I do indeed feel she took too long in revealing the 'real' plot. Teenage angst ended up being too much of a focus for a little too long. I honestly think had you pushed forward into book 6, however, you would have gotten back into it. Everything sort of shifts in that one.
And the seventh book is nothing like any of the previous books.
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Tarquin Underspoon
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Joined: September 12 2009
Location: USA
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 14:52 |
AbrahamSapien wrote:
...after that. It started to repeat itself, Harry was turning into an EMO wizard with no one understanding his deep pain ... |
Yeah that's pretty much it....
I admit, I am of the generation that tore through those books like a starving dog ripping up a New York strip. They may not be the best stories I've ever read, and they may be childish in many aspects, but I cared so much about it at the time that I can only look back on it with fondness. Sure, this series is no literary masterpiece, but it was to me when I was twelve, so it has a special place for me.
The movies, too, are objectively nothing special, but really I just enjoy watching the stories I devoured so ravenously come to life on the screen. For that reason, I think that preview may be onto something when it calls itself "The Motion Picture Event of a Generation". I know I'll be in the theater for that one, regardless of how "immature" the books may be to me now.
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"WAAAAAAOOOOOUGH! WAAAAAAAUUUUGGHHHH!! WAAAAAOOOO!!!"
-The Great Gig in the Sky
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rpe9p
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Joined: December 31 2008
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 17:23 |
AbrahamSapien wrote:
I've read it 'till book 5 a few years ago and well, It turned out boring for me after that. It started to repeat itself, Harry was turning into an EMO wizard with no one understanding his deep pain ... Nice but too long.
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Yeah book 5 was the worst, there was a little bit of that in book 6 too so I dont see how people are saying those are some of the more "mature" books. The best book in the series was the fourth
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Triceratopsoil
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Posted: June 30 2010 at 18:56 |
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Since I started reading Vonnegut, Burgess, Kesey, Heller, etc. stuff like that is just infantile and boring. And predictable
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