Quote:
Originally Posted by Fremen
As a guy who loves to read just about every genre, and someone who has read Rowling's books, I don't think any author, and her in particular, are duty bound to show a list of their influences.
Frankly, I couldn't care less where the author learned to create tension between characters, or introduce a new species to the story readers, I just want an entertaining read. She produces.
I've read some of the mudslinging directed at her before, and most, if not all, is jealousy and sour grapes.
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I totally get this. They aren't duty bound to show anything, but you're going to get people drawing comparisons/parallels regardless. Because they're there. And sometimes they're obvious. Most dedicated readers and professional writers know that literature isn't created in a vacuum. I think the issue is that there is some indication that Rowling is resistant to this idea. There is a difference between "Yeah, I can't say I borrowed from that" and "I don't know what you're talking about; that was my idea." I don't know if I've seen any of the mudslinging, but there are people with legitimate concerns over her handling of these things. It's pretty lame to cover your tracks just to make it look like you're some kind of genius. I don't know anyone who'd be jealous of that, but I know many who'd be infuriated by it. It's frustrating.
Oh, and I suppose it would be relevant to quote my current signature:
In our day, the conventional element in literature is elaborately disguised by a law of copyright
pretending that every work of art is an invention distinctive enough to be patented.
—From "Mythical Phase: Symbol As Archetype," Anatomy of Criticism (1957), Northrop Frye
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jove
Yes, as long as the books listed in your post are an interesting read. I seem to have difficulty reading classic literature, but if it captures my attention then I will read it. I read 3 of the books listed, The Lord of The Rings, The Illiad and The Chronicles of Narnia.
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If you check out the synopses of the titles on the list, you will find that many of them are fairy recent works of children's literature in the same vein as Potter.
---------- Post added at 08:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:35 AM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
I now have to go back as an adult and re-read them to see just how they affect me now and how I understand and view them now as an adult.
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This is always such an interesting experience.
