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Post by DarkHoarse on Jul 2, 2003 9:34:01 GMT
It was only a matter of time before this thread became a literary debate!
As a follow-up point, I completely accept why people would think HP over-rated. However, I always wonder whether to some extent people inevitably find that they fall short of the staple books of their own childhood (which, for me and I guess a lot of others are Dahl, CS Lewis, brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen) simply because the impact of stories is much greater as a child. I've tried to imagine how I'd have felt if these stories had been around in the late 70s/early 80s, and I reckon they'd have stood up pretty well against the classics. But I don't think you can ever know for sure.
Certainly one of the criticisms against JKR that holds is that some of her characters are rather one-dimensional e.g. it's taken 5 books for any of the Dursleys to come across as even remotely sympathetic for even one or two lines. Then again, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spicer were pretty damn horrid as well. Which leads us to another point: how derivative her books are. Potentially a huge topic, but for my part I'd argue that all stories in this tradition are to a greater or lesser extent dervivative, and it takes a certain gift to take familiar elements and make them appear fresh to a new generation. I don't begrudge her a penny.
With the caveat that I hope these children do go on to read Catch-22, To Kill a Mockingbird and 1984 etc, etc.
(by the way I didn't mention Tolkein in that short and never-meant-to-be-exhaustive list, because I never read him; or rather I tried The Hobbit 4 times, didn't like it and never returned to him. Just me and my taste, please don't anyone try and convert me now...!
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Post by spike on Jul 2, 2003 11:44:40 GMT
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Post by DarkHoarse on Jul 2, 2003 12:07:00 GMT
What a terrifying link. I only browsed for a bit but I think I got (to quote CJ) "the general mise-en-scene" of what they were saying. At one stage someone invokes Hitler and his fondness for the occult, at the same time as saying that Harry Potter conditions the human race to accept the Antichrist when he arises. To anyone who hasn't read it: yes it's that bad.
Thankfully someone or something blessed me with a mind of my own.
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Post by DarkHoarse on Jul 10, 2003 14:04:07 GMT
The Last Party: Britpop, Blair and the Demise of English Rock by John Harris.
Strongly recommended to anyone with a love of the music of the Britpop era (very roughly, Animal Nitrate to The Drugs Don't Work, 1993-97) and/or a keen interest in music and popular culture. Especially good on the social and political context: a lot of the book explains what has gone before e.g. punk, 80s indie, the Smiths, Thatcher and Major, baggy, the (oh dear oh dear)shoegazers etc etc.
(You don't have to be over 21 to enjoy it, but it probably helps...)
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Post by wingmatt on Jul 20, 2003 23:18:31 GMT
just finished : "stupid white men" - michael moore ( you HAVE to read this
reading : "band of brothers" - stephen e ambrose (again)
next : " black hawk down " - mark bowden ( again )
not bought anything for a while so re-reading a lot
the above to be followed by a terry pratchett marathon
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Galileo
White House Intern
West Wing crackpot and woman!
Posts: 75
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Post by Galileo on Jul 21, 2003 8:39:37 GMT
Oh, I absolutely loved 'Band of brothers' from Stephen E. Ambrose. It's such a fine book! I immediately bought it after I saw the series (I've already watched them 4 times) and the book gives so much extra information. Those men from Easy-company had to survive in the most horrible circumstances. I especially love this quote: grandson: "Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?" grandpa: "No, but I served in a company of heroes." This quote gets to me every time I read it! If you haven't read the book yet ... READ IT!  |
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Post by cjjstl on Aug 5, 2003 16:09:13 GMT
Just read 'The Summons' by John Grisham - fantastic read.
Reading 'Number 10' by Sue Townshend, the woman who worte Adrian Mole.
Receintly bought 'Angelas Ashes,' 'The Hours' and 'Mrs Dalloway.'
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Post by Laura Lyman on Aug 9, 2003 20:00:13 GMT
Just started Mrs Dalloway but having trouble getting into it. It seems a bit slow and manic. For anyone who has read it does it improve, so i know whether to persevere.
The Hours is a fantastic film - haven't read the book but if the film was that good the book is probably better.
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Post by cjjstl on Aug 14, 2003 7:28:31 GMT
[quote author=Laura Lyman
The Hours is a fantastic film - haven't read the book but if the film was that good the book is probably better.[/quote]
The book is fantastic, loads better than the film. Liked the film, love the book!
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Post by spike on Aug 14, 2003 8:36:08 GMT
I've just bought Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (watched the programme about the Brontes and realised I haven't actually read anything by them).
I also recently bought a book called A Handbook for Visitors From Outer Space. Being a sci-fi fan there was no way I wasn't getting it.
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Post by Joey Lucas on Aug 14, 2003 10:29:24 GMT
Have just started Stupid White Men and have also got Band of Brothers to read next.
I really wanna read the new John Grisham book soon as well.
JL
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Post by Admin on Aug 14, 2003 11:38:03 GMT
I've just bought Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (watched the programme about the Brontes and realised I haven't actually read anything by them). I also recently bought a book called A Handbook for Visitors From Outer Space. Being a sci-fi fan there was no way I wasn't getting it. From the several that I have read, Wuthering Heights would be my favourite book from the Brontes. Jane Eyre, the other popular choice amongst readers, is, in my modern opinion, a bit wet, limp wristed, caught struggling inside a wet paper bag.... choose your own description for that one. It's a classic book, yes, but Wuthering Heights has menace.  |
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Post by Laura Lyman on Aug 14, 2003 19:54:38 GMT
Wuthering Heights is fantastic i read it for the first time at the beginning of the summer. I liked Jane Eyre as well but it is a bit slower and not quite as thought provoking. Agnes Gray by Anne Bronte is also really good probably better than Jane Eyre. Has anyone read First Counsel by Brad Metzler. It's excellent, set in the White House about the President's daughter and different people who work for the President. i strongly recommend for any west wing fans. |
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Post by DarkHoarse on Aug 16, 2003 14:01:59 GMT
Wuthering Heights, former holder of my "Best Novel I've Ever Read" award, seizing the coveted trophy from "1984" and only yielding to "Catch 22"! I almost envy you, Mr VP sir, for reading it for the very first time! The first half is just stupendous, the third quarter a tad dull and the final quarter is simply breathtaking. All that and (arguably) the best final sentence in a novel ever. And this bit:
"It was a strange way of killing, not by inches but by hair-breadths, to beguile me with the spectre of a hope through eighteen years."
If anyone's written a better sentence about obsession I am yet to read it.
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Post by DarkHoarse on Oct 28, 2003 14:40:20 GMT
Thought it was worth exhuming this thread in the light of the BBC's heavily-promoted "Big Read" event. What did people make of the Top 100? How about the Top 21 on which we are asked to vote? Any scandalous omissions/low placings (Animal Farm at number 46  )or high placings? Has anyone actually voted? Is it worth it when it's stunningly obvious that LOTR will win because it always does? Has it persuaded you to read any of the books? And is it just me that wants to kick the telly in when that stupid "female worm" in the promo ad says "Catch-22 is SO a bloke's book"?  |
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)or high placings? Has anyone actually voted? Is it worth it when it's stunningly obvious that LOTR will win because it always does? Has it persuaded you to read any of the books? And is it just me that wants to kick the telly in when that stupid "female worm" in the promo ad says "Catch-22 is SO a bloke's book"? 