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Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 03:35 pm: | 
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Okay, okay...the new Harry Potter book has hit the stands. What do you think about all the hype and are you a reader of the books? Also...have you seen the first two movies? If so, what did you think?
As for me...I've read the first two and yep, I enjoyed them and didn't even look at them as BABs...ROFL. I was so busy with things, I forgot to preorder my copy of the new book, but I plan to get one before the week is over with...and hope to one day own the whole collection.
-Tee |
NeeCee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 03:46 pm: |
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I love the hype. I love it that a book sells 5 million copies within a day or two. I am happy that so many people are excited about reading the same book. (I've never read those books before). I have never seen the HP movies. I just wonder how long this book will secure the no. 1 spot on bestseller lists.
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ABM
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 04:06 pm: |
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About 10 years ago, Harry Potter's author JK Rowlings was a single mother living on welfare in a impoverished section of Great Britain.
Now Rowlings is miraculously richer than THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND. People pre-order her books by the 100,000's and stand in lines for hours at a time, in good and inclimate weather (like they would to score tickets for a superstar rock band), the very day they are available for sale, and both Harry Potter Movies are among the top 10 - 15 grossing movies of all time.
And the Potter books offer rather exciting, positive fantasies about magic, mysticism and witchcraft. Am I the only 1 who can't help wondering that there "something" going on here? |
Crystal
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 04:09 pm: |
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I love the hype too. Nice to see something in the news other than murder and mayhem. Ralphs grocery store had them on sale for $18. The one near my house is rather small and didn't get them so we went a little further Saturday @ 6pm and got the last one they had. My son was up past 2 Sunday a.m. reading it and finished it yesterday afternoon. I haven't ready any yet but I'm about to start. I've seen the first movie a couple of times and really enjoy it. Fell asleep on the 2nd one. |
NeeCee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 04:10 pm: |
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On BN.com, today there are 1,456 posted reviews, although I'm not sure they are true reviews but maybe advance gibberish from fans. |
Chris
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 04:12 pm: |
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I tried reading a Harry Potter Book (I don't know which one of those atrocities it was) and got about twenty five pages before I threw it down in disgust.
I have not seen the movies because the sight of the four eyed, pasty faced little twerp makes me physiclly ill.
I am glad for the author, who apparently was on welfare and was picked out of the slush pile (though she was apparently hornswoggled out of the merchanising rights by the wonderful book company--so much for clean wholesome family comapny)and is now worth about 400 million. If only I could come up with something like that to fleece all the suckers for their dough. |
Cynique
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 05:32 pm: |
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Wal-Mart had copies of the latest Harry Potter book priced at $17.95, and they were just languishing there on the shelves. I couldn't believe it until I looked around and observed the fellow-shoppers who I was blending in with; a bunch of po-assed niggas and Mexicans all milling around, replenishing our polyester summer wear. (I know, I know, shame on me) And I also know I add insult to injury when I confess that I've strayed from the fold because I just completed last week's #1 best-seller, "The DaVinci Code", a intriguing, suspensful, intelligent mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed!. Before that, like you, Crystal, I got half way through EJD's "The Other Woman" but my interest petered out. (no pun intended.) I found of all that mind-blowing sex his female characters engage in and which he assumes he is accurately describing, to be more amusing than titillating. EJD writes well, but his story-lines are kinda played out. |
Snake Girl
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 05:50 pm: |
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I agree, Chris. The Harry Potter books don't enchant me at all.
As for EJDickey books--I would never waste my money on those. I do like trash novels--but they have to be "good trash".
There are quite a few "good" books out by White authors right now, Cynique. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be enjoying them. I recently enjoyed Alice Seebold's memoirs (I also loved LOVELY BONES)...and the Hilary Clinton book is quick, easy and passable. I like Hilary.
Pearl Cleage's book "Deals With the Devil" is on my lap right now. I'm a huge fan of hers.
I had to take my oldest son to the library today and also got Chinua Achebe's "Hopes and Impediments" and Gerald Early's "Lure and Loathing: Essays on Race, Identity and Assimilation". Gerald Early (Washington University) is one of my favorite AA authors of all time.
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Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 12:17 am: |
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The obvious question, Chris, is would you have a problem with a young person taking on the challenge of reading a long, intelligently written book that appeals to the fantasy of juvenile minds and exposes them to an alternate level of awareness or, like comic books, are the Harry Potter tomes you express a dislike for, a no-no that you think kids should be avoiding in favor of wading through works like "War and Peace"?
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Chris Hayden
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 12:28 pm: |
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Cynique:
Oooh! so formal. Loosen up, homie! This is me, C-dog here.
No, I would not forbid children to read anything because that will naturally make the little monsters want to do it.
They will read Harry Potter and Comic books on their own. I do not have to urge them to do it.
I should urge them to read good stuff (I think I would back off War and Peace, for fear of damaging them) as I should urge them not to eat candy and fast food and to eat fresh fruits and vegetables instead.
They may not do it--I can't make them. But, as an adult, it is my job to urge them to do what I think is good for them rather than what I think they like. I think they will appreciate it, thouhg it will probably not be until later when they are grizzled old misanthropes themselves. |
Thumper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 06:20 pm: |
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Hello All,
I just finished reading all 5 of the Harry Potter books. I ain't shame to say that I'm hooked! Are the books worth the hype? No. It's not as if Rawlings is writing on the same par as Shakespeare or Toni Morrison. But, the books have a definite appeal. The books are solid, tightly written. The characters have depth. Harry and his friends has issues. There's something for the imagination to latch on to. Take away the witchcraft (which oddly enough Rawlings don't get too deep into) and you're left with a young boy trying to find his place in the world. That's where I connected with ol' Harry on. Besides, I've always been interested in magic and stuff, so the Harry Potter books are basically up my alley.
I can't explain why people have gone ga ga over the books though. I would dare say that the books are a way for people to become connected with each other. In the same vein folks went crazy with Oprah's book club. We have the same thing, except the Harry Potter books are on a grand global scale. If people could embrace decency and humanity in the same manner in which they have embraced these books, the world would be in a better place.
I will say that if I was a parent, I would be very leery in allowing my young child to read the Harry Potter books. Because with each installment the books are becoming more mature, darker and violent. Which is how it should be. Harry is growing up. His problems are going to become more complex. And Rawlings is remaining true to her characters and her main plot. I would expect no less from any author that has a lick of sense in his head. Little kids I would not let read these books. How can an 6,7, or 8 year old identify with the concerns of a 15 year old boy? They can't and why would you want them to. But if my child was a pre-teen or teenager, hey, I would have no problem with him reading the book.
That said, I can't wait to read the last two Harry Potter books.
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Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 03:52 pm: |
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Whew Thumper...glad to hear you enjoyed them! And I do agree with your assessment of the series..."a young boy trying to find his place in the world."
I still haven't gotten a copy of the latest yet and just realized the previous two are in storage. ROFL, so I'm out of luck until we move unless I buy another copy. The B&N near my house had one copy left, but it was dinged on the flap, so I refused to buy it. <grin>
-Tee |
Crystal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:50 am: |
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I'm just starting the 5th book. I really enjoyed the 4th one and hope they make it into a movie too. It'd have to be 3 or 4 hours long to do it justice though - so much goes on in that one. I've had some interesting discussions with folks on the bus when they notice me reading it. It's making the rounds in the hood!
I like it because it has some of the same themes that are in adult books: jelousy, greed, politics, love makes you do foolish thingsness and plain ole meanness, but is still a fantasy story that allows room for the imagination. |
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