Harry potter overrated.
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Topics not related to music
Forum Name: General discussions
Forum Description: Discuss any topic at all that is not music-related
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=41922
Printed Date: February 23 2025 at 00:17
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Harry potter overrated.
Posted By: activetopics
Subject: Harry potter overrated.
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:08
| Am I the only one who sees the Harry Potter series as overrated and blown out of proportion? I'm not necessarily saying it's a poor book because it isn't. It is good. But I think it gets a bit too much credit. |
Replies:
Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:09
n0 way doodz ron weazlee 4 eva <3<3<3
In all seriousness, I agree 100%. I just don't see what's so special.
|
activetopics wrote:Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:14
|
Harry Potter is just a bunch of quotes from books and films assembled to form a narration. I saw the latest movie (not out of my own free will) and it was all just a bunch of other peoples ideas, such as "the dark side" - star wars the black cloked people -nine riders from, lord of the rings. ------------- |
Posted By: 1800iareyay
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:22
| No. Eragon is a collection of quotes and films. |
Posted By: Harry Hood
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:25
|
When I was a freshman in high school, my English teacher asked the class to recommended books for us to read that semester. When one of my classmates mentioned Harry Potter, my teacher replied "that's candy, not literature". Pretty much sums up how I feel about the series as well ------------- 
|
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:26
|
Wow. I was about to come here shouting "HARRY POTTER SHOULD DIE A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH!!!!!" but then I heard Eragon mentioned and decided to commit suicide. (I never thought that John Malcovich and Jeremy Irons would both sell out at the same time.) Farewell. |
Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:42
by the time you read this i will be dead
|
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:45
The parallels to Star Wars were uncanny. If I were Lucas I would have sued for copyright infringement. ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 00:51
|
The book has a great story. The writing isn't fantastic, but you can
overlook that. It's a very important book for our generation.
------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 01:00
What just like the Sex Pistols are important for our generation  ------------- |
Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 01:11
| Well it did get kids to read, and anything that get kids to read is a good thing. |
Posted By: Bastille Dude
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 01:36
 ------------- DEATH TO FALSE PROG! |
Posted By: Harry Hood
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 01:36
The estate of Akira Kurosawa should first sue Lucas for ripping -him- off blind. Watch Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" and get back to me. -------------
|
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 02:02
I would watch that, but I've seen bits of it and it looks incredibly boring. So even if Lucas did rip off some of that, at least he made it more interesting.  ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Neil
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 03:02
|
Here we go with this "over rated" stuff again. Something cannot be over rated; it is rated as it is by the general public. Just because you and others may not agree with that rating doesn't mean that it's incorrect. You may, as I do, find the mass hysteria over what is only a book or film distasteful but then the human gene pool does have a lot of shallows.
I've seen the Harry Potter films (I confess that I haven't read the books) and they seem well made and set a reasonable example for today's children. The books have also got a lot of children back into reading which must be a good thing.
I'd compare Harry Potter to the Famous Five and Secret Seven books of Enid Blyton; except that with the huge media market that now exists there is of course world wide hysteria every time a new book/film comes out. ------------- When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 04:31
|
In the case of Harry Potter I say "overrated" - and I mean it. I can understand that kids fall for it, but I can't believe that people who enjoy clever fantasy/science fiction/comedy stuff like Lord of the Rings or Hitchhiker's Guide honestly enjoy reading these books ... let alone watching the movies.
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to: 
|
Posted By: andu
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 04:41
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 
------------- "PA's own GI Joe!" 
|
Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 04:45
Try the books, Douglas Adams was a man of great wit, he also mentions a palnet called Kobaia, who have countless words for war but none for fluffy pillows. - he must of known Magma. I see Douglas Adams as the Sci fi equivalent of Terry Pratchett. ------------- |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 05:04
It's a clever mix of sci-fi and comedy.  ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
|
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 05:16
Well, I did enjoy reading HP... And I wouldn't call The Lord of the Rings just "clever fantasy stuff", but of course that's just my opinion. As a matter of fact, it saddens me when I see Tolkien books lumped in with Z-grade fantasy stuff, because they have much more depth of content. I have read other fantasy authors, and, even if I found them enjoyable, there is just no comparison with Tolkien IMHO. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 05:52
|
^ I agree ... I should have chosen my words more carefully. Of course Tolkien is in a leage of his own when it comes to detail and intricacy/sophistication ... still, the story told in Lord of the Rings is fantasy - good vs. evil in a medieval type world with sorcerers and daemons. The extra depth comes into play when you also know the Silmarillion ...
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
|
Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 06:25
A good panking will do that just as well. Anyway, I don't fancy Harry Potter, though it might be since I've gotten over my fantasy era quite few years ago, and I can barely get excited of such, not to mention movies or games. Also saying that Harry Potter isn't overrated based on the claim, that the public defines the quality. Well, the author herself said it in an interview, several times actually, that the world is full of better fantasy books than her's, she just happened to have great publicity campaigns and merchandising. It's usually the money/fasion world that defines what we like, admit it. People hold writers like dostoevsky in high value even though most haven't even read his books, they're just not hip. Well all the hype around Harry Potter made Rowling famous. Also, thank God we still have R.A.Savatore who writes 5 books a year. |
Posted By: Kid-A
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 07:19
|
IT'S A FREAKING CHILDREN'S BOOK!!!! I was reading it since I was 8 when the first book came out and it was amazing! The fact that so many adults started reading it shows it is a very good book. Some people on this thread seem to have judged it by the sh*tty films.
If you think it's overrated, you're taking it out of the context that it is supposed to be a childrens book. But it is so gripping and full of character that a lot of adults like it as well. I don't care what some of you literary snobs have to say about them, they are fantastic books.
You can talk all the crap you want about marketing, it's simply bullsh*t. At first when the first book was written it was virtually unknown, and no-one expected it to do particularly well, it was rejected by many publishers and very poorly advertised, and only released in the UK. Eventually it started to catch on and adults demanded a new adults cover as they were embarassed about reading a book with a childs cover in public! Nothing to do with marketing! Marketing had nothing to do with the book getting so popular, although it probably has a lot to do with the sh*tty films success.
If you don't like it, that's fine. But please don't talk a load of bullsh*t about it being a pure marketing success. Harry Potter is not like Britney Spears. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 07:27
| 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. |
Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 07:45
Baargh Baargh Baargh. No use shouting man. I'm only saying what I read the author of the book say. The rights of the book were bought to Us wth great price due to competition and that's why they had to put a lot of marketing. So it appeared to be a success, so was DaVince code, and we all know it's a load of crap but needs to be read so that you know what everyone is talking about. I don't care if it's a childrens book or an adults book, I did enjoy some of the books as well, not as much as most books though. I enjoyed Watership down which is one of the best there is and yet is considered childrens book for some odd reason. Emma Watson is cute though :) |
Posted By: Kid-A
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 08:38
|
Harry Potter only became succesful because it is such a brilliantly creative book which captured the imaginations of most who read it. I'm sorry but I'm not having you dismiss it as just a marketing success. I'm sure J.K. Rowling says that, but she's a modest person. She's hardly going to say 'It's the best fantasy book ever and it sells a lot cause I'm so brilliant'. Sure maybe it has had good marketing, but that doesn't detract from the fact that it's a great book. -------------
|
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 09:18
Lay off, man.  |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 09:21
|
I never say things so close-minded, but the simple truth is that people who say Harry Potter is the best book ever are simply wrong. |
Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 09:42
 Anyway, I never said it was bollocks. But it's a book that has sold what it has to sell. I can't really see people buying HP 20 years from now. Or should they, it would prolly be in the sense of nostalgy by the parents who used to read it while they were young. also, if you say it's the best book you've read, well, that's you opinion, and who am I to judge. But I think you should read more
|
Posted By: Arsillus
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 09:53
My thoughts exactly. Except my only concern is that it seems like they only read Harry Potter and when they're finished, it's back to the Xbox or whatever. But at least it's something.
|
Posted By: GoldenSpiral
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 12:02
|
It's great that it's getting kids reading, especially in the fantasy realm, but I think the adult obsession with it is somewhat overblown. I think it's just that people don't want to think about things. There's no doubt the books are entertaining, and they're popular because they require no adult-level thought whatsoever. that said, everyone should read Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. I honestly can't imagine why those are lumped in with childrens literature ------------- http://www.myspace.com/altaic" rel="nofollow - http://www.myspace.com/altaic ALTAIC "Oceans Down You'll Lie" coming soon |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 12:11
|
If you got into it when it was first big (like me), then you've got a special connection with the story. If not, you probably don't see anything special about them.
------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: 1800iareyay
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 12:13
Calling HP a children's book is a little misguided. The first three most certainly are, but it gets way too dark and deep to be just a kid's book starting with 4. Is it the best book ever? No. Is it the defining series of our time? Most likely. It is the LOTR of the 21st century. I'm not comparing the subject matter or the writing, just the impact. |
Posted By: Forgotten Son
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 14:08
I think claims of adult obsession with it are overblown. Aside from myself, I don't know anyone of my age or older who read the last book. They just read the spoiler sites and proceeded to tell me everything that happened.
You see, from what I've read of His Dark Materials, I don't think they're that different. Both appeal to adults because they have many levels to them. The Simpsons of the literary world, if you will. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 14:23
Well, here's another one.... You can find my age in my profile, if you don't know it already... I got the book about a week or so after it came out, when I was in the USA, and read it in about a week.... Can't say I found it as successful plot-wise as the others, but it sure was an entertaining read. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 14:28
I know... you were glued to that thing  ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Forgotten Son
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 14:35
I read it in two days 
It would have been one, but I went to a Steve Vai gig the night I got it. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 14:39
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Revan
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 18:19
|
Still you are forgetting that its the series that brought back books to a hole generation.
------------- 
|
Posted By: Ghandi 2
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 18:23
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.
|
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: September 22 2007 at 18:25
Well said. I agree 100% Anything that gets people reading, young or old, can only be a good thing. |
Posted By: Chicapah
Date Posted: September 23 2007 at 09:52
|
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. ------------- "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 |
Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: September 23 2007 at 14:50
My thoughts, as well. |
Posted By: activetopics
Date Posted: September 23 2007 at 14:50
You mean, "whole"? Obviously you're not apart of that generation. :-P |
Posted By: Hirgwath
Date Posted: September 23 2007 at 16:00
|
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.
------------- Skwisgaar Skwigelf: taller than a tree. Toki Wartooth: not a bumblebee. |
Posted By: Kid-A
Date Posted: September 24 2007 at 06:01
|
^ That's actually what J.K Rowling is going to write next, murder mysteries. -------------
|
Posted By: Neil
Date Posted: September 24 2007 at 06:27
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.
 ------------- When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: September 24 2007 at 09:17
 He doesn't quite write that many a year. Maybe 3 at a push. -------------   
|
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date 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.-------------
|
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 24 2007 at 09:33
What about Robert Jordan? All he does is write. OH! And he collects pipes. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: September 24 2007 at 09:39
Erm, no he doesn't, he died on the 16th.  -------------
|
Posted By: Zargus
Date 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.  ------------- 
|
Posted By: Lucent
Date Posted: September 24 2007 at 21:04
|
VOLDEMORT KILLS SNAPE! |
Posted By: Ghandi 2
Date Posted: September 24 2007 at 23:59
| 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. |
Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 00:10
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.
|
Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 00:55
We are all going to...       ------------- ¡Beware of the Bee! |
Posted By: ShipOfFools
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:35
|
I agree, there's nothing really special about Harry Potter.
------------- 
"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace" - Buddha |
Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:42
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.
-------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
|
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:50
| Don't forget about what trash is popular in music today. Just because its popular doesn't mean anything. |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 15:53
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. |
Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:00
| ...but Wizard rock is overrated. |
Posted By: Hirgwath
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:05
Exactly. Think of the children! She's not going to experiment with disconnected narrative, or have characters that are heroin junkies who enjoy discussing Jean Paul Sartre while shooting up, or a plot that revolves around a serial killer who lives in a trailer park in Alabama and reads Dostoevsky and Carl Jung. She's not the kind of writer who is going to over-complicate and obscure things just to be more "literary", "existentialist", "modernist", or "postmodernist." She realizes that a novel is essentially pop entertainment (Gasp! The truth is painful!), regardless of what anyone may tell you, and that it takes characters to empathize with and intriguing plot to write a good novel. She's also a genuinely witty writer (S.P.E.W., for instance, was a very clever parody of parts of the political left). Folks, just because assholes like Harold Bloom (a famous literary critic) will automatically ignore the value in Harry Potter, doesn't mean that you should just to appear to be "smart." Harold Bloom is a literary critic/theorist, and is thus less trustworthy than say, Dick Cheney. If you like Dickens or Jane Austen, or if you have an intellectual interest in Christian morality (You don't have to be a Christian!), or if you happen to just love novels with all the essential elements (again: plot and character), then these are just plain wonderful books. Snobs...please reconsider your views. ------------- Skwisgaar Skwigelf: taller than a tree. Toki Wartooth: not a bumblebee. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:24
|
I generally dismiss posts containing "overrated" outright. The term basically equates to saying "I don't like it, and I'm smarter than everyone who does."
Arrogant!
 Re the undoubted value of the books, others, such as the above person ^, have said it already, and very well.
 I guess that in my day, the hugely-selling Hardy Boys books I devoured were "overrated" as well. That's strange though, as I grew up to study English, and read and enjoy many acknowledged classics of literature....  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:36
|
Agreed, the term "overrated" is not only insulting, but it means nothing in particular. However, the final verdict that we all agree on is that you can like or dislike whatever you want, based solely on the substance, not on its advertisements, knock-offs, by-products, reviews, fan-mania, et cetera. (Am I right?) I do like the books (except for the most recent three) and the movies are half-decent (except for the newest), but the fan-mania that tags along with it is utterly obnoxious and annoying, and because of it, many people have developed a bitterness towards the Harry Potter thing in general. I think that's the only reason people are being close-minded in this thread - and still, it's not as bad as other topics. The only point I was making in my previous post (two posts ago, I guess) was that you can't simply say "it must be good because it's so famous." That is all. |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:38
WHAAAT?!?! We will never know how his hugely massive series will end. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:40
|
I do agree with Hirgwath and Peter 100%. What does 'overrated' mean anyway? That we don't like them? Yes, the HP books may have been hyped and all that, but they're much better than they're usually given credit for. As Hirgwath said, they can be very witty, and they also contain lots of reference to British contemporary society, as well as nods to a long-standing tradition of literature for young readers. Moreover, and most important of all, they convey a very clear message against racism in the indictment of Voldemort's followers towards Muggles and Mudbloods. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:46
Yeah it doesn't stand to reason (or else McDonald's would be the best food in the world, and Coor's Blight the best beer) -- however, SOME stuff actually is famous because it's very good (see various literary classics, sex, etc). ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:47
| Sex is so overrated. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:51
Not that you'll ever know, unless you're really my wife....
Dear? Honeybunch?  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Passionist
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:53
Heh, all I know is that they keep my dad busy as he's translating one of them all the time to my language. He's not a fan though, not even close |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:53
That hurts. A lot. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:56
|
^ Maybe if you spent less time shaking your spear and changed your name to something like Dipwick (or Longfellow) you'd feel differently....
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 16:59
Why not try it without the sand?
(And remind her: "blow" is just an expression!)
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 17:11
Well Salvatore's books are a guilty pleasure of mine, but he's not that fantastic a writer. I really love the Forgotten Realms setting though and as Salvatore seems to have written the most FR books, with the longest series of one character, I started with him. His Sellswords books (I've only read Servant of the Shard) was a breath of fresh air after the Drizzt Do'Urden books though. Elaine Cunningham is a better writer, but less prolific. Although both Cunningham and Salvatore have also written Star Wars books, so they must be doing something right. Apparently Salvatore's SW book was quite dark. I only wish his FR books were darker (he's limited by Wizards of the Coast, unfortunately). -------------
|
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: September 25 2007 at 17:13
I'm just glad the expression wasn't tooth job. Some lesser intelligent people may have done some ridiculous things... |
Posted By: andu
Date Posted: September 26 2007 at 06:32
I think your post dismisses your contribution as valid; I know you haver a point, but the way you put it is just as arrogant as the stand you accuse. And referring to a public person as to an "asshole" because you don't agree with him it's the perfect anti-argument (and, maybe, a show of personality that doesn't do you any good). It only looks like the opposite snobbery of the snobbery you're seeing. If we're talking about value, remember that value comes from fulfilling a purpose. A purpose of a book can be both a good entertaining leisure, and a complex artistic achievement. It depends on who reads it; myself I go for the second purpose, and I judge books by it. Not that I'd refuse the right to judge it in the other way (as you do). And I find calling a literary critic a "snob" is just... I don't know how to call it. A literary critic is supposed to talk about books from the perspective of artistic achievement. It's their job. If Harold Bloom says that a certain book is a sub-standard literary product, it's honest expertise (just like it would be if he called it a masterpiece). [You can only argue against his stand by staying on the same grounds, otherwise it's not fair. If Bloom says a book "is bad", it's not logical to respond that "I liked it" (or "that's snob!" ); they're just two different plans. A literary critic's opinion that a book is bad does not imply nobody should read it, just that those who seek exceptional artistic achievement - like me - should avoid it]. Had he started talking about the book as a popular culture item, now that would have been hypocrisy. That's for people and sociologists to speak about.Hey, I'm sure we can all live together, we just need to be fair to each other (and show some civility, of course). To each his own. Cheers, ------------- "PA's own GI Joe!"
|
Posted By: andu
Date Posted: September 26 2007 at 06:34
Having in mind the "do you laugh when typing lol?" poll, I announce you that I just LOL. Actually, I LMAO ------------- "PA's own GI Joe!"
|
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: September 26 2007 at 21:35
| How about the movies eh?....every single chick in this world thinks its the most important series in the world....pfft its js a childrens book for dud sake |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: September 28 2007 at 08:08
Steve Vai gig? Now that is childish
And to all those who implied that "over-rated" has no place in intelligent discourse, and that the HP books getting young people actually reading again is a good thing... Have a five clappie salute:
+++admin hat on+++ Let's try to keep this within the thread title though, eh? There are many other threads relating to books as a whole. +++admin hat off+++ +++wizard hat on+++ Personally, I like the whole series of books - the films can be hit or miss occasionally, but I do find the books to be well written, and have grown with their core audience/fanbase +++wizard hat off+++
Actually, I look quite good in that hat... +++wizard hat on+++ ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Forgotten Son
Date Posted: September 28 2007 at 08:56
Yeah there is. He's a wizard for a start, that's pretty secial.
Meany
|