Harry POTTER

[Shizuoka Dolphin]

I'm continually FASCINATED with the unstoppable phenomenon that is Harry Potter.

I'll admit upfront that I've not read the books, although I have seen much of the films. From the films, at least, it appears pretty standard stuff to me, and not especially original stuff at that.

But what about the BOOKS? Make no mistake - this is a series of books for children. The fact they have proved to massively popular with adults says a lot more about the adults reading them than the books themselves, but what is it that make them so popular?

Is JK Rowling a talented writer, or just a chancer who struck it lucky with her first half-decent idea? I'll be interested to see how she follows up after HP is done and dusted.

But what do YOU think, random internet-using Brighton supporter? Have you read the books? Seen the films? Do you have an opinion? I'm CURIOUS as to the reasons behind this literary success story.

 

[Gully]

Haven't read any of the books and only watched one and a half of the films, fell asleep during the second one and woke up during the credits. There is a lot of hype about her work and that seems to be what attracts a lot of people, a bit like the book The da Vinci Code, people read it because they don't want to be left out when it comes to having an opinion on literature. If sheep could read, this is what they would choose.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I've read them all, and they're QUALITY

 

[Frutos]

I've read them all and enjoyed them. I didn't enjoy the films so much though, but maybe that's just me.

Mind you, I very rarely enjoy films that have been adapted from books I like (The Da Vinci Code movie, for instance, was a MASSIVE let-down). The only book adaptation I can say off the top of my head that I enjoyed in movie form was Stephen King's 'The Green Mile'.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I've read them all and enjoyed them. I didn't enjoy the films so much though, but maybe that's just me.

Agree with that. The films aren't in the same league, though to be fair they have got better each time

 

[Hannibal smith]

I've read them all, and they're QUALITY

My thoughts exactly. A lot of the best books I have read in recent years have been kids books. Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials series is superb. Brighton born author Philip Reeeves Mortal Engines quartet is a great read.

I've never understood the distinction between kids and adult books personally. A Philip Pullman book is no more a kids only book than say Terry Pratchett.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Read them all,and they get more and more tedious.

Can't blame the woman for churning them out,though,eh? Is she an Albion supporter at all?

 

[Nibble]

Harry Potter is a book for children about wizards. What more needs to be said?

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

JKR is an ungrateful old bag who refuses permission for anything related to Harry Potteer to be used in the English Language Teaching profession... the same profession she used to work for. Thanks Ms Rowling for kicking us in the teeth by not allowing us access to one of the best sources for getting children interested in learning a language

 

[Robot Chicken]

but she HAS given permission for Universal Studios to build a Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. That will earn her a few bob.

I've never read any of the books but I've seen all the films.

They should make a series of films of the Terry Pratchett books, that would be quality. The Hogfather was a good start. More please.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Brilliant i think - but then i started reading them as a kid so my opinion is slightly flawed.

Can't wait for the last one though

 

[Paul Reids Sock]

When i was younger i read the first 3 or 4, but when they started getting to be long books i gave p cos im a lazy bastard, started reading the first two before the hype so i think of myself as a bit of a trend setter but just lost interest cos im a lazy bastard and cnt b bothered to read that much, my mum and sister (23) love them. She is a great author and i loved the books but i think the films are shite and the bird that plays Hermione (sp) is a right bitch apparently, i know a lad that was an extra and the fame went to her head a bit too much and he told me a stry of her slapping an extra cos he got something wrong and then just being like they can replace you but not me...

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

i REFUSE to be sucked in and read the da vinchi code, or potter, or lord of the rings.

 

[Shizuoka Dolphin]

i REFUSE to be sucked in and read the da vinchi code, or potter, or lord of the rings.

Some would argue Lord of the Hens is in a different class to Harry Potter. I would tend to agree, even though I've not read either of them, and probably never will.

 

[Kenhead]

Seeing that the last book comes out this year, i have made the effort in reading them and have just finished the 3rd one. I'm not nearly as gripped with them as with with other books that i read but they are a decent enough stories

 

[Tooting Gull]

Rowling is a very talented author of childrens books. I don't see why that couldn't be enough for her and the publishers, it's something to be proud of.

Where the Potter phenomenon becomes tragic is the number of adults that opt out by reading them rather than something with more intellectual guts.

 

[Woodchip]

Having read 1-5 (but not read number 6 yet) I think they are OK, but don't really hook me as much as a good Kelley Armstrong, Stephen King, Toby Litt or James Herbert.

Also, I'd like to point out that my favourite book is probably To Killing a Mocking Bird, so don't see myself as an uneducated fool as some seem to think of anyone that's ever read a HP book. Some of the classics are classics for a reason (although Dickens books are hard going).

 

[Publius Ovidius]

I really enjoy harry Potter ( as does the rest of the family).

If you are wanting a rattling good read, then Rowling's style is very much that...if you are wanting something highbrow, then dont read it...simple as.


the testament to her writing is in schools, the teachers have noticed a vast increase in kids wanting to read books since the harry potter books have been released.

Again this is one of those questions that depends entirely on taste, like music.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

Where the Potter phenomenon becomes tragic is the number of adults that opt out by reading them rather than something with more intellectual guts.

what?

I work with people who are mostly graduates, who are mostly highly intelligent people who are tedchnically brilliant in their field, yet the favourite newspapare around? The Sun.

Perhaps people want a form of escapism from their daily lives that having to think about things they read!

 

[Hannibal smith]

Perhaps people want a form of escapism from their daily lives that having to think about things they read!

Quite. I tend to read in bed. Whilst Tolstoy and Doestoevski would probably have the desired effect of sending me to sleep its not something I want to engage in at that hour of the day after working all day.