Harry Potter No.5 (no spoilers)

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-06-21 08:46am

Well, there is a tiny spoiler for those of you who have been avoiding all material on the subject for the past year, and hence don't know that someone unknown dies.

However, this isnt about the book, this is about the hype surrounding it, I was reading the Guardian who did a speed review of the book by dividing into 120 page segments and getting a team on the case. But it also reported on the sale of the book.

It said that people were getting the book and instantly looking towards the end to find out who the person was that suffered the event described in the small text was. It said that people had flown over from the states to get the book before their mates, and generally made a point of complaining about the way in which the book was released, without advance review copies.

This got me thinking, I think most of us would agree that the Potter series is overcommercialised and overhyped, but what started it all? I mean, on their own, without the media coverage, the books would not be where they are today. But why are they so big, I mean, I've read better children's books, I've read better fantasy kids sci-fi books, and have the books reached the stage when they perpetuating their own media overhyping as it were, with the release being at midnight on Friday, and no prior copies for reviewers etc? And is the adult community succumbing to this overhyping, the article I read described a 36 year old woman holding a 'trembling hand to her head' when she found out about who *cough* *splutter* *cough*? Is this a reaction to the book itself, or a reaction to the propaganda fest and media hype?

Also, for those who are interested, the Guardian speed review was favourable, with no complaints, although that may have something to do with it being done in a couple of hours...

Oh, and while we're thinking about this sort of stuff, an interview with an 11 year old anti-potterist -

The girl said that JK Rowling talks as an adult to a child, and she found it patronising, yet at the same time, made references to Gollum and Dobbie in the second book. I found this rather hypocritical, as Tolkien's writing style in the Hobbit did lean towards the traditional childrens storyteller in places, as an adult to the child. I always pinned the children's popularity of the books down to the fact that it adopted a more conversational tone rather than a 'tucked in at night story' tone. Thoughts?

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-06-21 08:55am

I just don't think the book deserved a fucking Hugo.

Yogi · Post by **Yogi** » 2003-06-21 11:23am

I was under the impression that the first few books were published with absolutely no media coverage, but quickly became famous,

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-06-21 11:28am

No, you're right, they were, but I can't figure out why they suddenly sprung out from all the other childrens books out there, nor why they appealed to adults more than some others, or why they recieve more media attention than other books, eg Terry Pratchett, read by many audiences, but its been a long time since I saw his name mentioned in anything other than a passing honour.

I mean, I've read them and now they've started getting darker and more sinister, enjoy reading them, but they are in no way a substitute for adult books, just something to borrow from my sister (although, admittedly, I'm mainly reading them to see where the plot goes rather than any devotion to the book or the character). Maybe it is because they are made of the basic elements of all of the genre stories coupled with their easy reading that makes them so popular, almost in the same manner as Star Wars borrowed its heritage without apology.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2003-06-21 12:00pm

Trying to guess market trends, is like predicting the lottery. For some reason Ms Rowling, has managed to actually write a book that appeals to just about 90% of kids. They want to read her books, and that is a comendable fact in of its self.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-06-21 04:15pm

With all the hype, some people forget that Rowling has written a damn good story. A lot of kids' literature being published these days are thinly disguised sermons, and--hold on for the big surprise here--kids would rather watch Nickelodeon than read a book that sounds like their moms. So when a book comes out that actually remembers what good children's stories should be like--even if it's not the best children's story ever, which I don't think anyone but the fanatics are cliaming--it's going to be a success very quickly.

Post by **Zaia** » 2003-06-21 04:41pm

Mmmmm, I'm on page 59 right now.

Admiral Johnason · Post by **Admiral Johnason** » 2003-06-21 04:50pm

This thread needs to be in OSF.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-06-21 04:51pm

You reckon? I felt it didnt merit going in OSF because it was looking at the wider issue rather than the book, I had intended it more as a literary discussion and a bit of analysis rather than a science fiction discussion...

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2003-06-21 04:53pm

Zaia wrote:Mmmmm, I'm on page 59 right now.

I'm halfway through and that's only because I stopped reading so I'll have samething left for tomorrow.

EDITed to fix typo
Bad typo! No dessert for you!

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2003-06-21 05:18pm

You'll get no soup either!

I think she is a good writer, though I don't read her books. I'm too much of a hard SF/ Space opera fan to go into children's fantasy.

I heard a while ago that these books were popular with the gay community because of the repressed character of Harry getting to be himself in Hogwarts.
What does GALE think of this?

Post by **Zaia** » 2003-06-21 10:37pm

Batman wrote:
Zaia wrote:Mmmmm, I'm on page 59 right now.
I'm halfway through and that's only because I stopped reading so I'll have samething left for tomorrow.

I finished all 730+ pages of book 4 in a little over a day, so I'm a little disappointed that I haven't had a chance to read more of it today. I had a busy day, plus I'm sick and keep falling asleep whenever I'm stationary, so it's actually sort of impressive I've gotten as far as I have.

I still feel like shit and should probably go to bed, but I want to read more first. So, we'll see how long I last here, guys....*slips back into J.K. Rowling's world*

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-06-22 04:04am

In the brief time I had the book before I turned it over to my girlfriend, I read the first couple chapters. It seems that Harry has entered his Angry Jerk stage of adolesence.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-06-22 04:30am

I say the best part is that the characters are ageing appropreatly....

now since they are going to be Sixteen in the "order of the Pheonix"....

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-06-22 04:32am

The Yosemite Bear wrote:I say the best part is that the characters are ageing appropreatly....

now since they are going to be Sixteen in the "order of the Pheonix"....

Heh, though I like the title they suggested on Conan O'Brien, since the characters are growing up, the title of the fifth book would be "Harry Potter and the Breasts of Hermione".

Darth Gojira · Post by **Darth Gojira** » 2003-06-22 07:33am

Gil Hamilton wrote:
The Yosemite Bear wrote:I say the best part is that the characters are ageing appropreatly....

now since they are going to be Sixteen in the "order of the Pheonix"....
Heh, though I like the title they suggested on Conan O'Brien, since the characters are growing up, the title of the fifth book would be "Harry Potter and the Breasts of Hermione".

WATCH as our hero is frustrated by the counter of his groping spell!

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-06-22 07:40am

Darth Gojira wrote:WATCH as our hero is frustrated by the counter of his groping spell!

LAUGH as our hero is humiliated as magical bra hooks foil his clumsy attempts to get the Full Monty!

CmdrSweevo · Post by **CmdrSweevo** » 2003-06-22 08:03am

This might be a daft question but... if I jump straight in at book five, am I going to be missing anything vital from the earlier books? I'm not planning on buying the books but I've wound up with a copy of the latest one and thought I'd give it a shot just to see what the fuss was about.

I've seen both the films, if that helps.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2003-06-22 04:03pm

CmdrSweevo wrote:This might be a daft question but... if I jump straight in at book five, am I going to be missing anything vital from the earlier books? I'm not planning on buying the books but I've wound up with a copy of the latest one and thought I'd give it a shot just to see what the fuss was about.

I've seen both the films, if that helps.

The movies cover enough ground to serve as replacement for the books background-wise (well, mostly), but since several of the key characters in book five are set up in three (one of them in particular), and I don't know if the stuff mentioned about them in book four is enough to make up for this, i would recommend reading it. Plus , IMHO the entire series is a darn good read.

Oh, and everybody expecting to have the protagonists have...amorous adventures will be sadly disappointed

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-06-22 09:50pm

CmdrSweevo wrote:This might be a daft question but... if I jump straight in at book five, am I going to be missing anything vital from the earlier books? I'm not planning on buying the books but I've wound up with a copy of the latest one and thought I'd give it a shot just to see what the fuss was about.

I've seen both the films, if that helps.

Book Five pretty much assumes you've read book 3 and 4 from the looks of it.