With the end of Doctor Who and not much going on where my crafts are concerned I don't really have much to say on my blog just now. Or so I thought. I've decided to talk about one of the many things that is gripping the world right now. Harry Potter! Yes, I am excitedly looking forward to the release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book at midnight at the end of this week. I will even be dressing up (my excuse for that is it's for work).
Had anyone mentioned it to me a few weeks ago my response would have been very different. It was more of a nuisance than anything else. Harry Potter means even more work and lots of planning. Being surrounded by people who are excited about this it is hard not to get caught up (unless of course you generally dislike the books which I don't). So in the run up I have been reading the books again. The first three are a joy to read. Not because they are the best written children's books. Far from it since I did spot possibly the longest sentence in the world in the first one. Reading them takes me straight back to being a child again. Had I read them then I know I would have loved them more so. What child wouldn't love the idea of going to a school to learn the use of magic? The first three are also the best of the lot (so far anyway). The later ones seem to get bogged down in too much detail. School hadn't even started yet by page 100 of the fourth book and if I remember correctly book five was the same. Not to say I didn't still enjoy them though.
The films I have also enjoyed although I have been disappointed by the things they have missed out. The third book is my favourite and I was very much looking forward to the film release. It was a bit of a let down going to see it although I have since gotten over it. It's funny how much I dislike Harry in the films since he is the main character. I think that has more to do with the actor than the character though. I just never warmed to him. Unlike Emma Watson's Hermione and Rupert Grint's Ron. Of course I am planning on going to see "The Order of The Phoenix" and is supposed to be the best one yet. Reviews have been fairly positive so far.
Do these books deserve all the hype they have been getting? No not really. As I already said they aren't the best written children's books on the market. However, what they have done is gotten so many children out there to read. Surely it's worth it for that?
3 comments:
Hi Karen, Harry Mania is over here too, and continues to build as the week progresses to the release date of the book. I've toyed with the idea of going to the midnight release celebration at a children's bookstore here in town, but am not sure. I will be getting the book this weekend because I want to read it before stumbling across something, somewhere that'll give the major plot developements away. We're hoping to see the movie this weekend too.
My favourite children's books growing up were the Narnia series, and they will always be number one in my heart. I also loved E. Nesbit and Enid Blyton.
Cheers.
I only got as far as the first Harry P book and then no further. I've never really been a Barry Trotter fan to be honest. Also I don't rate J. K. Rowling's writing particularly highly. Mind you I am kind of basing that comment on just the one book so perhaps that's not entirely fair...I will concede that there is a certain art to what Ms Rowling does, and her millions of avid readers seem to be testament to the fact that she has that "something". As you say, in this technologically-obsessed age it's a good (if rare!) thing if kids want to pick up a book and read it!
My favourite authors as a child included Roald Dahl, E Nesbitt, Joan Aiken (I loved the Wolves of Willoughby Chase and the Arabel's Raven stories!)
What did you think, Karen, of the furore that broke out between Asda and Rowling's publishers, earlier in the week, concerning the pricing of the book?
Favourite children's novel, as I may have mentioned before, is "Marianne Dreams" by Catherine Storr.
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