Harry Potter -- Yay or Nay?
 

I personally am pretty fond of the books, although I don't think they're anything special. There's better fantasy novels for the young adult crowd. I still an't quite figure out why this series got so big.

In any case, I don't understand the backlash the series has gotten. They aren't BAD books by any means.

Nay. I never got into the whole Potter craze. I saw the second movie, and it was "meh"

Big fucking Yay! i dunno why but i love the books. I used to think they were stupid and made fun of my girlfriend for reading them but she got me the first three and told me to read them and i really like it now. I really dont know what it is about the series but i think its great. It brings me back to when i was a kid and how cool i think it would have been to get away from the "real" world and go do some magic. Sounds lame but oh well.

nay, never read 'em and only saw part of the movie.

not really into the kiddie magic stuff...

Burned through the first book in 2 hours I think - not deplorable but not that impressive in my not so humble opinion.
Never have read any more of the books or sat through the movie(s?)

Would much rather read the Wheel of Time series again or wait for the latest installments of the Gunslinger/Dark tower series (which I just recently saw will be released in the next year or two)

I am not a big fan of that type of book, preferring either non-fiction or science fiction, but this is a good series. The latest book could have been a little better, but it was still good.

I like the books alot. The movies don't really do them justice, but they are enjoyable to watch anyway. The second movie is also a bit worse than the first, IMHO.

Books are where its at though. Back before I got hooked, I would turn my nose up at the mention of Harry Potter. "Meh, a bunch of kids books, and snobby adults who are trying to look hip by reading them."

Then, another adult (a 50-something adult, in fact), whom I respected very much, reccommended the first book to me. From the moment I read the first chapter I realized what I an asshat I've been before - these books are the best thing since sliced bread! I've read the first four books in around two weeks. I was literally up for hours at a time, reading, when I would normally be sleeping. If this isn't addiction, I don't know what is.

For the fifth book, I made sure to moderate my reading. I intentionally forced myself to stop for the night every few chapters, so the book was finished in a week and not in a day.

I just recently finished book 5, loved the series! I can't wait for the next one, now. They're just lots of fun, and an easy read, to boot.

Holy SHIT new entries in the Dark Tower series are coming soon?!? How many years has it been? 5?

I really like the series, both the movies and the novels, but I think a big part of their success has been being in the right place at the right time. I'm crossing my fingers that the Potter-buzz might revitalize interest in older fantasy series like the Chronicles of Narnia- maybe we'll get a couple new movies out it.

Nefir, I did that exact same thing, I BLAZED through the first four, and when I got the fifth one, I made myself only read it for so long, to make it last longer. But I have finished it now, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always thought those books were for little kids too, but one time I was incredibly bored and there was nothing to do, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was lying there, and I decided to see what the buzz was all about. Mistake. I am now hooked on these books, and I already am anxiously awaiting the sixth one. It sucks so bad I'll probably have to wait like two years.

EDIT: Side note: The Chronicles of Narnia fucking OWNS.

And they're making the movies next door to my house! (kind of)

I don't personally think much of the movies and I agree that there are far better children's books out there. However, in the age of video games and 7000 TV channels, the whole Harry Potter phenomenon has encouraged millions of children (and adults) to start reading books and hopefully more than a few of them will continue. That can only be a good thing and something for which J. K. Rowling should be commended.

amen to that.
I had to read the first book for school for a project, and i was initially pretty miffed that a college level course was having me read a children's book. It was pretty nifty, and was the first book i read that wasn't a tech book in quite some time, and I enjoyeed it. I'm sure a lot of people rediscovered their interest in fantasy/fiction reading because of that series as well. That's enough reasoning right there to give the series a thumbs up.

I totally agree with you here. Anything that will help kids read is a good thing.

Scholastic keeps kids reading... that's the intention of their company to keep them reading. They have lots of books that many of you perhaps read in grade school.

One of the reasons that J.K. was initially turned down by publishers was because she was told that no child will ever read a book that long. I remember looking at War & Peace and thought to myself in HS, I'd never want to read a book that long. I've read all 4, and book 5 is on the list of to read.

So I commend her for her ablily to make reading cool, to give kids something to look forward to, and when they become adults, remember back to their childhood, that reading for fun is a great pastime.

Yay, I love the series. Each time a new one comes out, my wife and I spend weeks reading it out loud. I think one of the reasons that the series is so popular is that not only are the characters and the target audience growing up at roughly the same rate, but so is the subject matter.

Yay! They seem to be some kind of literary popcorn - very easy to eat and before you know it there's none left. I think I've read each of them in a single sitting (2nd and 3rd together in one go!). Not "great literature" but a really good story with entertaining characters - though less fond of "Angry Harry" in the most recent one...

I remember reading the first 3 when they came out and I pretty much stopped there. It's a pretty good series and all but I guess I just got tired of it.

The Harry Potter books are great. Great pieces of literature? Not really. They're fun and easy books that appeal to all ages of people.

It will be interesting, though, to see what J.K. Rowling does after she finishes book 7. She might not write anymore, but she might go on to write other fantasy (or another genre) books. That will be interesting to see.

I personally enjoy the books, but like so many others have said, they aren't anywhere near the best in the genre. Don't judge them by the movies though. I've read all of the books but have only seen the first movie and didn't like it.

YAY: I got into them by reading them to my son. I was pre -reading them before reading them out load and ended up just cruisin though the 2 books we had at the time (1 and 2). Then I bought all the others. I just finished book 5 and my son is reading it to himself.

I thought they were great. And I don't have a qualm w/ the movies either. They are directed at a younger audiance and not for the entire reader base.

The first 3 are great. Fantasy and all the stuff. Not that there is not better book than that on the market I agree with that. I think she is loosing herself in the last 2. There are well writen don't get me wrong but way too long (The "Grawp" Chapter in the last one??) and don't have the "magic" of the first 3. Order of the Phoenix miss the "Bang" effect that there was on the 3rd. Specialy the ending wich I think is so-so.

The movies are good, well done, and great casting. Chamber of Secret is way better than Philosopher Stones (The young actors are better, Dobby is very well made and Ron is just too funny).

Looking foward for the movie next summer

for those of you that did like this series...

I suggest Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy, starting with A Golden Compass (Northern Lights in UK,) The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass.

i have really enjoyed every one of them. Have not had a chance yet to pick up the latest, but am looking forward to it.

I read the first one and didn't find it particularly stellar..

Though i do feel the bridge between childish and mature books was definately breached with the Harry Potter series.

Yay, the movies turned me on the the whole harry potter thing, plus i think it would be cool to go to a school like that. :)

nay. I've never understood why harry potter is so successful, I saw the first movie and thought it was pretty shit, in all honesty.

Personally, I enjoy the Potter books....it's a very quick read and they're entertaining. I don't think I'll find the meaning of life in them, but there fun nonetheless.

I like the books and so far like the movies. Although I heard that Columbus isn't going to be directing any more of the films. Between that and the RL death of one of the main characters it will be interested to see how the next movie pans out.

I haven't read any of the books, but I did enjoy both of the films (surprisingly).

The books are amazing... I have become so addicted to them! I think I have read the first 4 at least 6 times and I read the 5th one twice already. The movies haven't been as good as they should but there is so much to focus on that its hard to make a feature length film.

On another note I hope that they make live action movies for the Chronicles of Narnia because those books rule!

YAY!

Plowed through the new book this weekend, after re-reading the first four.

LOVE the Potter books!

Possibly the greatest fantasy writing EVER!

I say yay I like harry potter. I think they got so big because the story line moves fast, there is always conspiracy and action. That and they are good quick reads!

I've read the books and enjoyed them. As was said before, they're nothing spectacular but they're entertaining. Also, anything that gets kids to read now is good, too many rugrats stare at the idiot-box all day long.

I've read all of them at least twice and I've actually managed to read Order of the Pheonix three times since I got it. Last week I re read the entire series and it made me nostalgic for the fantasy stuff I read in high school so I dusted of the Dragonlance Chronicles and I'm reading them for about the tenth time. As for the movies, Prisoner of Azkaban is being directed by Alfonso Cuarón who got all famous with Y tu mamá también. He's stated that this is the "puberty" movie. All the kids are 13 and things are changing for all of them. It's darker thematically than the first two so I think Columbus stepping aside for this one was a smart move. I've seen some pictures from the set and it looks amazing. Gary Oldman looks exactly the way I pictured Sirius Black.

I had forgotten all about them - it must be at least 10 years since I read one of those. Anyway Harry Potter is ok nothing special but a easy relaxing read.

But if you like Harry Potter books please give the Chronicles of Narnia a go, they are such a good read.

Gary Oldman is playing Sirrius Black? sweet! Do you have those pictures or links to them so we can see.

yeah, these books have made people read who wouldn't before I am always for people reading more!!!

something I got in my email...

From: Jayne Pynes
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--bestings
Refer: http://wordsmith.org/words/beestings.html

I just had to respond to your story about your daughter. Last November,
on her 7th birthday, our daughter asked if she would be allowed to go to
Hogwarts when she turned 11 if she got a letter. My immediate impulse
was to say it was make believe, but I mastered myself and told her that
if she got a letter, I'd go with her! Having kids has given me my magic
back--you are right. Thanks for such a lovely note.

And kudos to JK Rowling; our 7 year old just finished reading an 860
page book, and her vocabulary is that of a 6th grader because of it!
Hooray for reading and for words!