[Brahm_K]

ObsoleteResolve said:

.david
-I personally love the fact that Rowling's books sell so good. Remember: this means that more young people will continue reading, some of whom will probably stay in the fantasy genre, making it more of a concern for publishers. Aye, we'll get knock-offs in years to come, but we'll also possibly get some true talents from this.

Are you sure about this? This would be ideal, yet every single person I've met who's read Harry Potter without having read other fantasy (with the exception of one) still hold the fantasy genre to be garbage and would never read a fantasy book that is not Harry Potter. I really don't get it.

Quote

I am still waiting for Harry to kill a bunch of pacifists in a glorified manner.

Oh, its coming, along with 15 page long speeches about the evils of communism.

[caladanbrood]

I'm not entirely sure about this whole "Rowling makes kids read" jobbie. I think that Rowling has got kids reading Rowling. Not reading anything else really, just Rowling. Which helps her, sure, but it's not the sudden "get kids reading" thing than many seem to think.

[Dagger]

It is a good story. I think too many critics of this book are comparing it to adult or young-adult fantasy, which is not fair. Rowling is certainly not the reincarnation of Mervyn Peake but she's no hack either. Prose is clean, she keeps you turning pages, and the plot has evolved into something complicated enough to keep adults guessing all the twists and motivations. And as someone noted above, it gets kids hooked on fantasy. And some are definitely going to keep looking for their next fix.

[QuickTidal]

Okay, as far as what I said about benchmark.

What makes this series so successful. It's BLOODY fun to read! There are thousands of regular people who patiently salivate for them to come out, and for the movies to be made. This is the GENERAL populous here understand, not people who could get into Erikson right off. It's not complex...and it crosses the boundaries between kids and adults literature.

I personally listen to a Podcast from the Leaky Lounge that is listened to by almost everyone who goes there with access to it. Hundred and hundreds from around the world.

Why does it NEED to be explained? It just is, and the very fact that it is so popular makes it a success. Easy as that. It's good solid fantasy, but with a healthy vein of contemporary...and you know how JK writes? Without all the flowery extra description that makes Stephen Kings books sometimes tedious to read...amongst other authors.

[ObsoleteResolve]

Brahm: that's why I said some

Do I think all of them will stay reading in the genre? Nope, not a chance. Not even the majority. But a fresh influx has occured, however, and some of them will stay in the genre, of that I'm sure.

Mostly I'd say the people who still view fantasy as "garbage" are the adults who are fans of Rowling, and I don't count them in what I'm talking about. By that age, people have a stance on fantasy, and it's a pretty love-hate polarization. People either think it's meaningless fairy-tales, or it's good. The opinions are pretty solid.

Beyond that, an adult who's introduced to reading by Rowling... their reading level is quite obvious if that is on par for them

CaladanBrood: I know I've heard of more people getting into Pullman because of Rowlings, and, well, Paolini's Eragon- as much as I despise the book -was a best seller. So, no, it's not just Rowling

.david

[stone monkey]

The main reason HP books are so popular is because, in the main, people are stupid and easily led (especially children). People were told that this was the next big thing...And Lo! They fell for it.

The books are derivative ("Tom Brown's School Days" with magic, anyone?). The characters are one dimensional - no one ever changes who they are or comes to any kind of meaningful insight into themselves; they just get older. Rowling seems to assume that because she's writing for children the language has to remain as dull as possible. Plots are pointless - they could easily be boiled down to; minor characters die, Harry gets into a teensy bit of not-all-that-dangerous-actually trouble, Harry lives happily ever after (until the next one's done, then more of the same)

Possibly they get children reading, although a study done by the BBC (or the Guardian, I forget which) noted that the sales figures for children's books had remained pretty static and the big numbers of sales the HP books were making were actually hoovering up the sales of other children's authors.

[stone monkey]

No, she's bad because she writes and plots and characterises badly. Everything else is gravy...

[QuickTidal]

stone monkey said:

No, she's bad because she writes and plots and characterises badly. Everything else is gravy...

Yes, well that's the opinion of someone who I am sure also can't enjoy a movie because it is a "popcorn" movie with which to sit and have a good time. Lighten up slick....cripes.

[Brahm_K]

Although I do enjoy Harry Potter, I will agree that the plotting is generally quite bad. It gets at its worst in Goblet of Fire; Voldemort's secret evil plan is by far the most complicated secret evil plan I have ever heard of in my life. How its pulled off is completely contrived (as is necessary... There is no way anybody could ever pull off that plan realistically), and is basically just an excuse for Rowling to add dragons and underwater scenes in her book so kids will say: "Wow, that Harry's so cool. Isn't it amazing that he's three years younger than everyone else yet is still at their level in the tournament?" Ya, I call that bad plotting. But, like I said, they are still quite enjoyable childrens books, as long as you don't think too much.