This Unwarranted Fuss About Harry Potter

Hey I'm not saying that reading is a bad thing just this kind of fadism. I completely disagree with you that the popularity is due to quality, it happened to strike a chord and was suitable for mass-consumption, that does not make something necessarily good.

yes it strue

What's true? I dislike spammers and others who don't really have anything to say

Just so you know Tolkien also used well known formulas in his books. Also I read books for enjoyment, not just for deep thoughts or analytical thinking. I like many authors one of which is Dan Brown. However I also like Marion Zimmer Bradley, Piers Anthony, Elizabeth Moon, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, John Grisham to name just a few.

Ok I like how you seem to assume that I don't like the fantasy genre, what indication have I given about this? Actually I love Tolkien and Gene Wolfe, I tend to read a lot of fantasy, I read a lot period but that doesn't mean that I rate everything I read. It's escapist fiction- ok - why do people feel the need to heap paeans of praise upon Rowling for playing out a formula?? If you are not into the fan culture why do you buy every book as soon as they come out and dislike the movies because they are not purist enough. A passionate reader by definition thinks about what they are reading, books provoke thought, that's what they are for. Your point about dictionaries is just bizarre but I'll let it go. If you really think that Dan Brown is a good novelist then you have my sympathy, ditto for Stephen King, and personally I don't care how many novels per week you read, I'd prefer to know what kinds of authors interest you. As to the book club idea- Does that mean that I would have to read those books again? Please life is too short

I forgot - I am in my 30's and read around 4-5 books a week in many different genres if that means anything.

Too true in most respects but books have always been written to formulas in what ever century you care to mention. I like good books no matter when they were written. For example I love Philip Pullman's Dark Materials

I agree that there is a HUGE fandom out there. I know with fanfic for the longest time I would AVOID it just because there was so much out there. But, some of it is actually pretty good. I don't think any writer or books are the end all holy texts and deserve constant praise. Every author has had good and bad books. But, too each their own. What some people think are good books, others think are crap. And vice versa.

I think that most of the attention the books get is negative. It is all the people who say they are satnic, They suck etc. That is making everyone else make a big deal out of them. Like anything else if you tell someone they shouldn't do it they will want to that much more.

Abuses adverbs? do me a favour! And if her plots are so 'formulaic' please let us know what going to happen next.

Actually, Rowling herself has said she didn't write these books for children. They were just marketed that way. The plots aren't spectacular. I like the books, and I think they're good, but the plots are relatively formulaic and rely heavily on established arc types.

Plotting is not simply about avoiding contradictions, some things like originality and wit can help as well

It sounds to me like your post is exactly what you say is not. I don't see anything on there talking about commercialism of any sort. You're saying that it's written poorly, has a bad plot, etc. And this person is saying that it's improved her English greatly. You're saying that JK Rowling shouldn't have the success she has gotten, if I am not mistaken. Harry Potter is a book that is fantasy. It is fiction. It gives kids an imagination. Heck, it gives me an imagination and I am 19 years old. Harry Potter, I'm sure, has helped lots of children read...I knew someone that hated reading until they started reading Harry Potter...then they started reading other things, and now they love it. What's so bad about books being pure fantasy? It gives children an imagination. They know what they are reading isn't true. If you're going to bash Harry Potter because of the fantasy, then maybe you should just rip apart Lord of the Rings, Inkheart, and all the many other fantasy books out there. When I'm a mom, I'm not going to give my kid a book about the Great Depression, or an Encyclopedia...I'm going to give my kid a book that is untrue. That is fiction. I would love for my kids to read Harry Potter. It's a magical world. Most books are fictional and fantasy...they give readers an imagination, and heck, maybe even inspire them to become authors, or what to do with their life. How can you say the book is patronizing to their readers? Obviously THEY don't think so, otherwise they wouldn't be reading it. Obviously, you know every single Harry Potter fan on the planet, eh? If you're going to say that a book that has millions of adults, teenagers, and children reading is poorly written, a poor plot, and patronizing to the readers, I'd like to see you come up with something better. It's not easy being an author. Especially when they're making a series of books that have the entire world gripped, ready and waiting.

P.S. I noticed that you're a Lord of the Rings fan. That explains a lot. Also, Lord of the Rings is pure fantasy too.

Ok I see your viewpoint but that is not what my post is about, read it- I'm talking about the whole commercial whirlwind surrounding it, and the fact that it's virtues have been so exaggerated to the detriment of other writers

Yeah I know this, I guess some publishers have more taste than commercial nous

The first four, I read them in Spanish when I was learning I couldn't imagine reading them in English, yes there are a lot of books out there which are much worse but few are as popular

Not all who make it have to be perfect writers, if the public enjoys them, and has funs. Then why does it have to be perfect? I write poetry, songs, and improvision for fun, that people seem to enjoy. Does not mean I ever did well in English! ... but Spirit, Knows I had tried. I never read a Harry Potter book, but anything that has been a hit for over 10 years, and is positive and entertaining, can not be that bad. - DNatureofDTrain

The key word being entertaining, I'm tired of people claiming the greatness of Harry Potter

You've hit the nail right on the head, serialisations sell- not original content

if its overated.. then pls dont read it. if its not of your taste of the fantasy and reality needs of reasoning... then no one is entitled to persuade you to like it.. yes, it is not of professional exellence, but how the book she wrote impressed the world and awaken people's weak and very rational brains made j.k.r. books a delight for the soul. if its sydney sheldon, leon uris or og mandino is of your likeness or whatever standards you have, it is fine and harry poter readers wont argue your plots and non fiction wants. ^_^ my frend, if we intended to make a discussion, i hope so it wont offend other people, even if they misunderstood it, it is really gonna happened of what you have discussed made some points that fans will really retort. the fans of fantasy world was just tired of logic and true to life events everyday fed to our minds, so dont wonder why its been so famous despte of the things you said.., it was the urge to escape facts made the market to harry potter.. and we love that escape. have a nice day.

You are another person who has misunderstood the point of my post, I have not said that the books are not entertaining or exciting- Just hackneyed and overrated

Are you implying something about me? Because I think you are being a bit too cryptic with that one.

Yeah thats something that miffs me, when I was a child Roald Dahl was required reading, that's great childrens fiction but who bothers with it now except for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on TV every year.

My problems are not simply with plotting- also Shakespeare lived in a very different time and his use of the plots he cribbed revealed a poetic genius that is, if he was the one who actually wrote those plays and sonnets as seems highly unlikely

I'm just glad to provoke any kind of debate, or even to simply participate in one, and yes I love reading, that is why I started this topic.

I do recommend Stephen King's non-horror. The Shawshank Redemption, The Body, The Green Mile, Rage... If you can find a copy of The Bachman Books, I definitely think it's worth it. Different Seasons is good also, but The Breathing Method kind of sucks. His lesser known stuff that isn't all about shocking the readers is so much better than the horror. And the short story 'Everything's Eventual' is really, really good.

Or they have a basic understanding of the technicalities and trade of writing. I don't think Dan Brown or J K Rowling are very good authors. I think Stephen King is, but he spends too much time working on his horror and not his regular fiction which showcases his talent. And it has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with the fact that the two aren't good writers.

Ha ha, I'm about as atheist as you can get, I just love good fiction. If you can please direct me to something worthwhile by any of these people I would be extremely grateful to you lol

Don't get me started on Dan Brown, never has plagiarism been so critically acclaimed (although Shakespeare springs to mind) but at least Shakespeare was a supreme craftsman and a wonderful poet