Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince -- Warning spoilers

[JesusA (imported)]

I'm beyond caring if there is any redeeming quality to the texts themselves. The most important aspect of the series is that so many people are actually reading and enjoying a work of fiction. Many of them will get hooked by the experience.

The most recent statistics that I've found are that three out of four American children between 11 and 13 have read at least one of author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. So have one in five adults.

Paolo's Harry Potter story was far better than anything Rowling has ever dreamed of, and Slammr's promises to be as well.

Just sit back and enjoy.

[Slammr (imported)]

I'm beyond caring if there is any redeeming quality to the texts themselves. The most important aspect of the series is that so many people are actually reading and enjoying a work of fiction. Many of them will get hooked by the experience.

The most recent statistics that I've found are that three out of four American children between 11 and 13 have read at least one of author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. So have one in five adults.

Paolo's Harry Potter story was far better than anything Rowling has ever dreamed of, and Slammr's promises to be as well.

Just sit back and enjoy.

JK Rowling does and excellent job at setting a scene. She's perhap a little effusive at time -- definitely uses too many adverbs for my taste -- but she tells an interesting , entertaining story. It's a good read. I don't think she's trying to cure any moral problems the world might have.

I'm prepared to give her credit. She's written the world's most popular book.

[colin (imported)]

I don't know what the situation is like in the US. But, I have spoken to a number of primary (children to the age of 11) school teachers who say that as far as they are concerned Rowling has worked miracles.

One said that she had spent years trying to interest the kids in reading books and almost overnight Rowling has achieved the impossible. In her class of 27, 10 year olds, by Tuesday nearly every one had either completed the book or was at least part of the way through. The only exception was a Czech child who's english is not good enough and her parents are trying to get a version in czech.

Personally, I only managed to read one chapter of an earlier book before giving up in disgust.

LOL

[Riverwind (imported)]

Whoa guys ... I thought these were for ADOLESCENT audiences! ;=)

My big complaint about these books is I don't see any solid theme or moral to them. Harry is special mainly because of his parentage rather than hard work (or creativity, or generosity, or any other generally important characteristic).

It seems to me that this book is (probably purposefully) appealing to geeky outcast kids who hope to find out one day that they are heirs to special powers and get a shortcut to fame and power.

I don't mean to knock them as they are obviously popular and entertaining for many ...

Maybe I'm wrong though. What themes do you see in the books?

It is magic, kids from all over the world are reading just for the joy of it.

What more do you need?

River

I have a 12 year old grandson that has read them all, some of them two or more times. What is great to see is the he is reading other book and looking forward to more.

From my point of view, she is one of the most important authors out there.

RW

[A-1 (imported)]

Personally, I only managed to read one chapter of an earlier book before giving up in disgust.

Colin,

Just go see the movies. They are very well done and it is a good time for all.

A-1

[Paolo]

Colin,

That's probably because you're not 11, and Rowling writes on a 7 year old's reading level.

As far as the movies go, the first was fine and got me into the books. I stop liking the books after the third. I stopped liking the movies after the 1st. I only read the books now out of morbid curiosity and to show myself how NOT to write.

[SplitDik (imported)]

It is magic, kids from all over the world are reading just for the joy of it.

What more do you need?

River

I have a 12 year old grandson that has read them all, some of them two or more times. What is great to see is the he is reading other book and looking forward to more.

From my point of view, she is one of the most important authors out there.

RW

I guess I just come from a family background where everyone reads starting at about age 4, so more emphasis is put on what we and our kids read. In fact most of my childhood I was criticized for reading too much. For kids/people who wouldn't otherwise read, I agree it is a positive thing to get them into reading in the first place.

Comparing books, television, and computers (including games) I think computers are best for kids intellectual development due to their interactivity. Reading with adults is of course better, but even the best intentioned parents don't have the amount of time really necessary. Books and television are pretty passive (which is why we like to relax by reading or watching), with books probably exercising the brain better. I guarantee a child will learn their alphabet and arithmetic faster on a computer than by watching Sesame Street.

[jab (imported)]

All this talk, you'd think that Anne Rice had written the Harry Potter books. The difference: HP is far too structured for Anne Rice.

Harry is a classic story, the old "farm boy grows up, is an apprentice

for the old master to prepare for the big battle against good/evil, the

mentor falls, the boy goes into the battle and triumphs." That's Star Wars,

it's Lord of the Rings, it's a standard story.

And it's Harry Potter.

Dumbledore was going to die, because that's the structure of this sort

of story. Rowling knew this formula, exercised it well, and took him down.

But he might not be dead. There are many ways to deal with this, which

still respect the formula: he might be ripe for resurrection (Snape might've

been completing a spell that created its own transferrance of Dumbledore's

sole elsewhere), for example.

The HP are not Faust, but they're pretty good.

And, as compared to "Narnia", they're timeless art.

[Paolo]

What jab mentions is known in folklore as "the hero's journey" and also the Propp's Analysis.

Some time ago, Vladimir Propp noticed that a lot of oral and written folktales all shared common elements. He set about cataloging these, and even wrote a book about it. If I could find it, I'd list the ISBN number and such...but right now, I have no clue where it is.

jab is right - HP, LotR, Orson Scott Card, David Eddings...even Stephen King...follow the trend of the "farm boy grows up..." plot.

It's a story that's been told and told and retold throughout the centuries - it's nothing new. You just have to put a new spin on it with your characters and situations.

[Blaise (imported)]

That goes along with the notion that there is a certain parsimony in the history of ideas. We form ourselves by integrating our personal narratives with shared narratives.

I had almost forgotten about Prop. He is one of those writers who point out something too obvious for most of us to notice. However, when we read him, we have a sense of him stating the obvious.

You can buy his works in translation throught Barnes & Noble and other online dealers.

I am going to have to read the Harry Potter novels. I feel like a barbarian--maybe, because I must be one.