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Post by Sir Blimely Windy on May 15, 2007 8:42:26 GMT
Well, for many it will be the most aniticpated literary event of the year.
In the book club I am not sure we can overlook it.
If you wish to discuss it, or indeed talk about any other books in the series, this will be the place.
The spoilers bit will probably be because there will be discussions of the plotlines - including of the new book when it comes out. There may be speculation about what may happen.
If you do not want to know what happens in book seven or in the previous books, do not read any further!
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Post by cheesygrin on May 15, 2007 9:07:50 GMT
Why are these books so overhyped? They are ok as childrens books but they are not literary genius. There are many authors around who are considerably better than JK Rowling.
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Post by revmichael on May 15, 2007 9:09:28 GMT
Well, for many it will be the most aniticpated literary event of the year. In the book club I am not sure we can overlook it. If you wish to discuss it, or indeed talk about any other books in the series, this will be the place. The spoilers bit will probably be because there will be discussions of the plotlines - including of the new book when it comes out. There may be speculation about what may happen. If you do not want to know what happens in book seven or in the previous books, do not read any further!This is a good idea Blimely. I often hear questions about Harry Potter's adventures in quizzes - and I've never read any of the books or seen any of the films. Maybe one day, when I grow up, I'll get around to reading them, but I would like to have a short summery of what they are all about. I know it's about a school and they play a game called Quidich (I don't even know how to spell it) but that's about it. Help please.
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Post by Sir Blimely Windy on May 15, 2007 9:09:34 GMT
There are, cheesy, I will grant you.
They do, in my very humble opinion, have two benefits.
1 - They are a good yarn.
2 - They have reawakened a love of reading in a great number of adults and children
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Post by cheesygrin on May 15, 2007 10:21:22 GMT
I'm not sayiong the books are rubbish by the way but I think they are overhyped and made out to be considerably better than they are. I agree that it's a good thing they have rekindled love of reading esepcailly in children, but... ah well, look, I'll shut up as I'm starting to sound grumpy ;D
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Post by natty on May 15, 2007 11:24:23 GMT
Well, for many it will be the most aniticpated literary event of the year. In the book club I am not sure we can overlook it. If you wish to discuss it, or indeed talk about any other books in the series, this will be the place. The spoilers bit will probably be because there will be discussions of the plotlines - including of the new book when it comes out. There may be speculation about what may happen. If you do not want to know what happens in book seven or in the previous books, do not read any further!This is a good idea Blimely. I often hear questions about Harry Potter's adventures in quizzes - and I've never read any of the books or seen any of the films. Maybe one day, when I grow up, I'll get around to reading them, but I would like to have a short summery of what they are all about. I know it's about a school and they play a game called Quidich (I don't even know how to spell it) but that's about it. Help please. Michael, as an avid fan of the books I think I may be of some assistance to you. Harry Pooter and the Philosophers Stone (the first book) is set when Harry has his 11th birthday. He is taken in by his Aunt and Uncle, (a nasty lot) since his parents were murdered by the evil Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter attends Hogwarts School and is famous in the Wizarding World because he is the only person known to have survived an attack by Lord Voldemort. The end of the fist book sees Harry's first encounter with Voldemort and the other books (7th and last one is due to come out in July) tell more of the sotry, but it's basically a struggle between good and evil. Hope that helps you.
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Post by natty on May 15, 2007 11:27:02 GMT
I'm not sayiong the books are rubbish by the way but I think they are overhyped and made out to be considerably better than they are. I agree that it's a good thing they have rekindled love of reading esepcailly in children, but... ah well, look, I'll shut up as I'm starting to sound grumpy ;D I think you have a fair point cheesy. Even as an avid fan of the books, I do think that sometimes the whole thing can be too overhyped.
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Post by shemlock on May 15, 2007 11:35:42 GMT
There are, cheesy, I will grant you. They do, in my very humble opinion, have two benefits. 1 - They are a good yarn. 2 - They have reawakened a love of reading in a great number of adults and children I believe this is justification for all the 'Hype', because books which encourage vast numbers of children and adults to read, must be encouraged. When were children so keen to read a book before Potty Harry came along? These books have adventure, good against evil and an orphan making his own way in the world, all be it, a 'magical world'. These have been brought together, in a good read, that fires children's imaginations. When we hear that too many children are sat in front of a television or computer for much of their leisure time, is it not a good thing that there are books out there, that they cannot wait to get their hands on? I, personally do enjoy reading these books, I think they appeal, equally to young and old. I think there is an inverted snobbery toward Harry, as adults, think it is demeaning to be reading literature that was intended for children. It has been known for adults to swap the cover of the Harry Potter book's, to disguise the fact that they are reading them. I am not ashamed to be a Harry Potter fan, and along with my 16 year old daughter, cannot wait for the latest edition. My, daughter, is expected to get A*, in her English, has already achieved A* in Maths, so if Harry has encouraged her on her way, I will thank him, and J.J. Rowling.
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Post by faeryboots on May 15, 2007 11:41:21 GMT
I haven't got a problem with Harry Potter either, okay, they are not works of literary genius, very few childrens books are. However, as has been pointed out, they fire imagination, they encourage reading and, something that doesn't happen often these days they make a child have some sort of concept about waiting for things. It's great that it has been produced over so many volumes and so much time, kids these days have been brought up in a 'now' society, they see it, they get it. With Harry Potter they learn the excitement of waiting on tenterhooks for the next instalment.
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Post by revmichael on May 15, 2007 16:13:27 GMT
Thanks for your help. Perhaps I will take the first one away with me when we next go on a relaxing type of Holiday - hopefully in August when we stay with our Greek friends.
Thanks Nat for your helpful summary.
I agree that anything to encourage children and others to read is a good thing. When I were a lad clever people complained about Enid Blyton because it didn't have a high enough literary merit but many people of my generation got into reading through the Famous Five and Secret Seven.
A comedian (who's name escapes me for the moment) got banned from the BBC for saying he had spent many a happy hour on the carpet in front of the fire with Enid Blyton.
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Post by paul Zernikazof on May 15, 2007 18:36:07 GMT
I greatly enjoyed Harry Potter, both the books and the film. I read to relax and be entertained and these books are a great yarn. I really do not want something that I have to work at to read when I am relaxing. Why is it that literature that gives you a headache is classed as good and stuff you can just enjoy is not? Is it like music? If its complex and sends you to sleep its good If its stuff you can tap your feet to its not?
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Post by faeryboots on May 15, 2007 19:25:54 GMT
I greatly enjoyed Harry Potter, both the books and the film. I read to relax and be entertained and these books are a great yarn. I really do not want something that I have to work at to read when I am relaxing. Why is it that literature that gives you a headache is classed as good and stuff you can just enjoy is not? Is it like music? If its complex and sends you to sleep its good If its stuff you can tap your feet to its not? There is some great literature that wouldn't give you a headache, Hardy, Forster, George Eliot. For beautifully written modern literature try 'The Remains of the Day' Kazuo Ishiguro. It's only badly written stuff that gives me a headache.
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Post by territalks on May 16, 2007 8:03:50 GMT
I love Harry Potter! I listen on CD and Stephen Fry narrates he is brilliant, he puts on the different voices and bring the books to life for me! I have to wait longer for the CD's but I find it is worth the wait! Love TT xxxx
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Post by Lumipast on May 16, 2007 22:05:18 GMT
Im not a huge fan but as a teacher I get on my knees and thank JK Rowling for awakening a love of reading in children ....particularly the boys. I actually think some of the books are really horrific. I found the 'dementors' really unsettling!
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Post by Glen B Ogle on May 18, 2007 18:56:25 GMT
I'm of the opinion that they're a good yarn, and overall a "good thing" in encouraging reading. Personally I can't wait for the last book (order already placed with Amazon) and expect to have it read within a day or two - might even be forced into an all-night session to avoid any spoilers!
I think one or two of the books have been over-long, and could have been seriously pruned without affecting the story line. I gather she's taken note for this last one though.
Glen
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Post by scoo on May 20, 2007 16:43:02 GMT
I have read all the HP books, some of them more than twice. Reading 'childrens' books is a great form of escapism, and I htink all adults need to escape the trials and tribulations of all the horrors in th eworld today.
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Post by lemanie on May 20, 2007 21:01:34 GMT
I have read these books many times, everytime a new one comes out i read it to the detriment of everything else. but it's not the only childhood book i keep re reading, i love Little Women and Anne Frank, the Secret Garden and many others. Now i'm also enjoying getting the books for my neices and nephews i enjoyed in my childhood and passing the enjoyment along.
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Post by natty on May 27, 2007 19:55:09 GMT
I have pre-ordered the 7th book too. Does anyone have any theories they would like to share?
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Post by xraysteve on May 29, 2007 16:31:50 GMT
The early ones are much better because they are a good deal shorter. I think the length is a victim of the success, it would be a brave editor to argue now, which has reduced the quality in my opinion. Jk is similar to Dan Brown in my opinion. Neither of them are fantastic authours but they are good at what they do. DB writes a good page turner< only one and he has released it 4 times so far but a lot of people have not noticed yet. JK is good at taking a lot of sources and ideas, The best of Enid Blyton, CS lewis, greek myhtology, earthsea, and putting them into one story.
I think they should eb praised for what they do well rather than slammed for what they do not.
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Post by Sir Blimely Windy on May 30, 2007 11:49:30 GMT
I have pre-ordered the 7th book too. Does anyone have any theories they would like to share? Well, JK Rowling has let slip a few titbits to whet our appetites
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