Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[PaulDA]

Paul, don't you hate reading anyway?If you've even read them.

Where did you get that from?
I read all the time.
When I was 10, I started to read about 50-100 novels a year, Hardy Boys, dog stories, Conan, Lord Of The Rings, mysteries, Agatha Christie, etc, and I read today as much as I can.
Robert Ludlum, Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, Dennis L. McKiernan, many others.
I just don't care for Harry Potter.

[PaulDA]

Hardly a scam; sure, she's selling tons of books, but she's doing so honestly, and she does have a fair amount of talent.

If you want to get 'critical' ( ), she doesn't have anywhere near the talent that her sales indicate.
It's all hype, and parents are falling for it hook line and sinker.
I'm not going to pay $20 for ANY hard cover book for myself or for a 12 year old is going to read once.
It's really a waste of money. Of course, my daughter is free to buy books with her own monay, as she does with the Lemoney Snicket books, which I also consider a waste of monay at $11.95 for something you are going to read once.
There is the library, the used book shops in libraries, and flea markets.

[Josh]

she doesn't have aanywhere near the talent that her sales indicate.

So you've read the books?

[PaulDA]

she doesn't have aanywhere near the talent that her sales indicate.

So you've read the books?

No. I started the first one years ago.
I can tell after 10 pages if I'm going to like a book or author.
Besides, NO ONE has that much talent to warrant something being this popular.
It's almost like mass hypnosos and borders on idolotry.

[Josh]

You have every right to read ten pages of a book and declare that you aren't going to like it. You do not, however, have any right to read ten pages of a book and make any kind of judgement regarding the author's talent.

[PaulDA]

You have every right to read ten pages of a book and declare that you aren't going to like it. You do not, however, have any right to read ten pages of a book and make any kind of judgement regarding the author's talent.

I didn't say she had no talent.
I said NO ONE is that talented to warrant the popularity her books have generated.
As I said, it smacks of idolotry. I don't trust anything when it becomes that popular.

[dgp11776]

I didn't say she had no talent.
I said NO ONE is that talented to warrant the popularity her books have generated.
As I said, it smacks of idolotry. I don't trust anything when it becomes that popular.

I know I'm wasting my words here, but I hope you don't trust James Brown.  All those gold & platinum albums reek of idolatry.

[Vlad!]

[PaulDA]

I didn't say she had no talent.
I said NO ONE is that talented to warrant the popularity her books have generated.
As I said, it smacks of idolotry. I don't trust anything when it becomes that popular.

I know I'm wasting my words here, but I hope you don't trust James Brown.  All those gold & platinum albums reek of idolatry.

I have nothing against James Brown, Bruce Sprongsteen, 50 Cent or anyone else having gold records, or any author being popular and selling millions of books.
However, imo, this Harry Potter thing is TOO popular to be healthy.
It's not even the amount of books sold that creeps me out, it's the fanaticism I see about this character.
It's almost like people are liking it just because everyone else does and it's the thing to do.
Again, this is ALL my opinion.
I don't expect most people to agree with me.
There are very few things I agree with most people on, and I like it that way.

[RokrantheGreat]

I finished re-reading Order of the Phoenix the other day, borrowed Half-Blood Prince from Dv last night, and am now looking forward to reading it on my upcoming vacation to my grandparent's house (we leave Thursday). I really enjoyed Order of the Phoenix... I had forgotten almost everything, including the prophecy, so it was sort of like reading it for the first time... again.  =D  

[bethany]

[PaulDA]

Again, people are saying I said things that I didn't say.
I didn't say she is not talented. She may be among the most talented writers on the planet for all I know. I said NO ONE deserves that kind of following, where it becomes fanatical. The church may have a point here about avoiding witchcraft because SOMETHING is enthralling a hundred million people to go overboard about these books.
It goes way beyond popularity.....it's almost like a spell.
Now...discuss that if you dare.

[RokrantheGreat]

Again, people are saying I said things that I didn't say.
I didn't say she is not talented. She may be among the most talented writers on the planet for all I know. I said NO ONE deserves that kind of following, where it becomes fanatical. The church may have a point here about avoiding witchcraft because SOMETHING is enthralling a hundred million people to go overboard about these books.
It goes way beyond popularity.....it's almost like a spell.
Now...discuss that if you dare.

Not everyone who likes Harry goes "fanatical." They're not all crazed HP fans. The majority are those who like the books very much, and encourage others to read them. Just as the fans of any other series/author/book would do. They have read the books and enjoyed them, so they pass it on to others. Everything has its fanatics - and they get the most press. That doesn't mean that all these hundreds of millions of people are ALL fanatical about the series. It is very well written and very creative. They are excellent reads, definitely worth the money and time to purchase them.  

[starhawk]

As I said, it smacks of idolotry. I don't trust anything when it becomes that popular.

Just because other people may give in to idolatry doesn't mean you have to...

I thouroughly enjoy the HP books.  I think they're well written and a lot of fun.

[PaulDA]

Ok, ok.....I know when I'm beaten.
Maybe they are popular because they are well written and enjoyable.
I have no reason to believe any of you 'worship' the HP books.
You all seem to enjoy them immensely and are just passionate about that.
Maybe I'm like this because I've enver been one to 'go with the crowd'.

Now, don't EVER say I never give in.    

[RokrantheGreat]

Just wanted to say that I read HBD, and absolutely loved it. Now I just have to wait for the next one...    

[PaulDA]

I wrote this on the www.rsjames.com forum.
What do you think?

I'm not going to read five pages of posts so if I repeat something that someone else has said, so be it:
If Harry Potter is evil, then so is Lord Of The Rings, Narnia, Snow White, Cinderella, Fantasia (the Disney movie, not the singer  ), etc.
People cannot make excuses and say, "Well, Narnia also has magic but it is an allegory" or "Lord of the Rings has wizards but...".
Either ALL witchcraft is evil to watch or read, or it isn't.

My opinion: There is nothing wrong with Harry Potter. ANYTHING in life can influence weak people to copy it or to do evil. If we stopped doing everything because it may make someone stumble and cause evil, then we need to wrap ourselves up in a cocoon and never do anything.

I would respect people's opinions much more if they came out and said ANYTHING with witchcraft is evil, (not just HP), even though I would disagree.

[ThePurplePerson]

I would also contest the assertation that 10 pages into a HP book, you can tell whether or not you like it.  I had to read the first two before I was hooked-- the first half of the first book isn't all that exciting, it's setting up the story.  Please at least finish the first book, if not the first two before judging the series.

And HP sells because it's witty, well written, and at the very core-- a good, enjoyable story.

[phaith]

I would also contest the assertation that 10 pages into a HP book, you can tell whether or not you like it.  I had to read the first two before I was hooked-- the first half of the first book isn't all that exciting, it's setting up the story.  Please at least finish the first book, if not the first two before judging the series.

And HP sells because it's witty, well written, and at the very core-- a good, enjoyable story.

Agree. Of the first book I only read up to when Harry was getting the letters and I didn't find it too exciting (I'm strange I tend to read fiction that will be challenging and not as much entertaining...but then I guess the challenge *is* entertainment for me.)

My niece has read all the books that are out so far and she has the DVD's (which I gave her for Christmas) so I have seen all the movies with her several times. After seeing the movies I regret that I gave the books such hard judgement and intend to read them when I get some time (which I don't have alot of right now).

That being said, the genre is not for everyone, so it makes sence that some would not like it. I think that the hype around the books has been 'normal' actually...I've seen people freak out over books before (try being in a christian book store durring the Jabez hype...or the Y2K hype, or the Purpose driven life hype...none of these books is half as well written as Harry Potter)