Potter is my next fav book :eek
I have been reading potter this last week from book one to book 4, I am currently on book 4 The goblet of fire and I must say that I have been converted. The Books are a lot better than I thought they would be. After reading past the first book I can no longer believe that Rowling pilfered all her ideas. She may have started from inspiration from Tolkien but she has moved on and become a writer who I am happy to say is my second favourite.
Re: Potter is my next fav book :eek
I read them all along with Thain (I always steal his books, much to his annoyance ). I loved them. But Thain did mention, after reading the first two books, that these books reminded him a lot of the TLOR's. I found this a strange remark because not once during my time into Hogwarts did I even think of ME.
Am I the only one that thinks that Harry Potter has not been based of TLOTR, but more on a stereotyping of all things magic and mystical, and is it not arrogant of Tolkien fans to believe that Tolkien has influenced all modern fantasy?
Maiden du Mystique
Posts: 65
(2/14/04 6:08 am) Reply
Re: Potter is my next fav book :eek
It's not an idea that all fantasy is automatically derived from Tolkien - of course not. Well, not in most cases anyway - that would be a rather weak arguement.
However, Rowling has used rather more than a basic example given by Tolkien, and some of the ideas seem straight off extracted from TLotR and various other fantasy. e.g. Grima Wormtongue = Wormtail. Sauron is sometimes referred to as The One Who Shall Not Be Named - sound familiar?
I do like the books (even if the films give whole new meaning to awful), and some of the characters are incredible - Harry himself and Sirius Black, for example - especially Sirius - but I think they were rather too overhyped; I'm not altogether sure why they got so much poplarity (after a slight delay) where so many fantasy books which are written just as well haven't/didn't.
(Anyone else guess the ending of The Order of the Phoenix before they started? )
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread.
Through shadow, through the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadows, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall...
...fade.
Harry Potter
I, personally, always liked Harry Potter. I began reading them when they first came out, and as I grew older and more mature, it appears that they did as well. I read them all for a second (and third *blushes*) time, and it was amazing to note the change even in voice as the children matured. I started reading them when Harry was about a year older than I was. Now, counting all of the skipped years, I am a year older than Harry Potter was (almost two years). If you look at the general tone of the stories, it appears as though J.K. Rowlings wisely predicted that many of us would grow up with the stories, and custom fit them to suit our maturity. The increasing darkness and evil that emerges is just enough for my age group. Now we're at the point where we know full-out war with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is coming, and we're prepared for anyone (preferably Harry) to die.
My favorite characters, personally, have always been Snape, Sirius Black, Lupin, and Lucius Malfoy. What that says about me, I don't know, but...Harry and his friends always annoyed me. Fred is also cool...cooler than George even, if you look at the comments they are given.
And, sadly, I was outright told the ending of The Order of the Phoenix by my mother after she read the review. She came up to me and said, "Did you hear Sirius dies?" I nearly hit her, actually.
Does anyone else also have the feeling that Sirius is going to come back somehow? I mean they won't leave it at that, knowing her. It would depress too many loyal Sirius fans. And I have a feeling that Snape is going to play a major, major part in the finale, either saving Harry, facing Lucius Malfoy, or even facing the Dark Lord himself. And I'm not completely convinced that it is Harry and not Neville who is the "One" (hearkening back to Neo).
You have to admit that J.K. Rowlings is an amazing writer, though. I noticed it the last time I reread the series. The language is rather simple, but so accurately used that it just makes the story that much better.
Well, I've rambled on enough...one more thing: I'm sorry, but Gary Oldman is not Sirius Black. David Thewlis isn't much of a Lupin in my opinion either, but, then again, the movies are quite feeble in comparison to the books (the lack of acting skills from the children contributes greatly).
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"Dannen le/A ú-erin le regi/Rang ail le iestannen/Lû ail le tegin na hen./Gwannach o innen/ului/Ú lû erui, ului."-- "Not Now, Not Ever", "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
Re: Harry Potter
[quote]Snape is going to play a major, major part in the finale,[/quote]
I agree. My main hope is that Snape and Harry come to realize that they both have a lot in common and become friends first.
Sirius Black is not my favourite character. I thought he was too sad to respect, but I do hope they bring him back, at least for Harry's sake.
Anyway I'm looking forward to the next book, and movie. I wonder if they will continue along the lines of the books and steadily make the movies more mature and darker?
Harry Potter and the R-Rated Movie
They may fall out of the *gasp* PG-rating if they stick strictly to the books. I do hope they decide that ut is worthwhile to do the movies well, though. They apparently have to high-tail it with the movies though, as Daniel Radcliffe is apparently looking less like Harry Potter as he grows older (oops!).
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"Dannen le/A ú-erin le regi/Rang ail le iestannen/Lû ail le tegin na hen./Gwannach o innen/ului/Ú lû erui, ului."-- "Not Now, Not Ever", "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
Sirius Black
I was unbelievably upset by the characterization of Sirius in the 5th book. He acted like an angsty, whining 13 year old, as opposed to the brave, noble man that he was originally made out to be. I think it was a cheap shot to kill him, because he was such a good guy to begin with.
I'm just fascinated by all the characters JK has chosen not to develop fully. Snape, for example. She has given him a little bit of background (i.e. the abusive father, the feud w/James) but why did he go to the dark side? Why did he return? All these things I want to know!
A darkness lies behind us and we have turned our backs upon it, and we do not desire to return thither even in thought. Westwards our hearts have been turned, and we believe that there we shall find Light.
Re: Sirius Black I just read in the paper that in the making of the 3rd movie for H P, that in one scene you can hear a boy in the background doing a …
A darkness lies behind us and we have turned our backs upon it, and we do not desire to return thither even in thought. Westwards our hearts have been turned, and we believe that there we shall find Light.
[quote]Snape, for example. She has given him a little bit of background (i.e. the abusive father, the feud w/James) but why did he go to the dark side? Why did he return? All these things I want to know! [/quote]
Thats why Snape is so interesting. All the other characters are well described and discussed and thus we know a lot about them, but when it comes to Snape, we wait with baited breath for those little tid-bits that are slowly revealed. I do hope we lean more soon.
True...
OK, but in the meantime, I'm obsessed with her less-described characters. I have lost patience with Harry's incessant whining, so my focus has shifted to people like Sirius, Snape, and Lupin.
A darkness lies behind us and we have turned our backs upon it, and we do not desire to return thither even in thought. Westwards our hearts have been turned, and we believe that there we shall find Light.
Re: True...
I have to agree. Not only did I lose interest in Harry during parts of the last two books (I was more interested in the other characters), I found Sirius to be very annoying.
Do you think they will have to find a new Harry for any future film prospects, or will they keep with the current one, even tho he is getting on in age?
Re: True...
Ok, since I'm alive again I want to post more, and this just happened to catch my eye, since I love the HP books so much.
But Sis, how in the world did you find Sirius annoying?!
He's the best character ever created...well...he's up there.
But Harry...dear God! Do you think the kid can complain anymore? Geeze Oh Man! He is so annoying. All he does is complain about the small things, and he doesn't realize how good he actually has it. He has Male PMS!!
I don't know...they may have to find a new actor...but I don't think they will be able to much better then Daniel Radcliffe.
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Those who yeild are not always weak.
Maiden du Mystique
Posts: 71
(3/18/04 7:04 am) Reply
Re: ~*~ORDER OF THE PHOENIX SPOILER~*~
Just in case anyone hasn't read The Order of the Phoenix...
The characters of Snape and Sirius Black intrigue me, especially the way Rowling developed their relationship a little more in the latest book - Sirius is such an excellent character, so full and vibrant, and the way he is cooped up and it is obviously having an adverse effect on him seems to reflect the side of him that comes out when he changes into the bearlike dog. Her description around James Potter, Sirius Black and Snape is brilliant as well - the 'Noble House of Black' is always gloomy and dark, and the shadows are reflected constantly in your perception of it, even though they are not mentioned as much as they could be - it's like a type of pathetic phallasy (sp?) almost, as it reflects Black's dark mind and mood. Also, when I mentioned those three together, I am obviously referring to the kind of flashbacks which Harry sees in Snape's office of them when they were in school. The way Rowling sees Sirius was so like the way I would have imagined him and is so unbelievably charismatic. For example, the description of Sirius, something about the way his dark hair flopped casually into his eyes and he flicked it away habitually - it's so deliciously charismatic. But when I heard that one of the characters was going to die in the fifth book, I guessed in one that it would be Sirius. He was like a big brother, a friend and a second father to Harry, and the way he suddenly started to develop, his possible potential starting to come across so quickly and he became so important to Harry...it was so cruel, but not so much of a surprise. It was something to shake Harry back to reality and a sort of bitter reminder of just what he was up against.
I wish she hadn't killed him off though...
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread.
Through shadow, through the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadows, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall...
...fade.
Quote:Sirius is such an excellent character, so full and vibrant, and the way he is cooped up and it is obviously having an adverse effect on him seems to reflect the side of him that comes out when he changes into the bearlike dog.
Well at first Sirius was a very good character, and I do agree with your assessment of him Mym, up to a point. However, his imprisonment (for want of a better word) was no excuse for his behaver. His habit of acting just like Harry just Highlighted how immature he had become during the last book. I couldn't respect this( said the person who goes silly over a Disney movie ), which is why I found myself not liking him anymore. I also did not like how he excused/ dismissed his behavior against Snape when and after they were in school. I don't like bullies.
Edited by: Sister Bigfoot at: 3/18/04 4:02 pm
Sirius
I was extremely disappointed with the portrayal of Sirius in the last book. I think that JK was trying to justify her killing him by making him as unlikable as humanly possible.
I think it was a cop out to kill him. He was so amazing in the third book - strong, brave, and tormented. Then he turned into a whiny child-man for no apparent reason!
A darkness lies behind us and we have turned our backs upon it, and we do not desire to return thither even in thought. Westwards our hearts have been turned, and we believe that there we shall find Light.
Maiden du Mystique
Posts: 78
(3/19/04 4:11 am) Reply
Re: Sirius
I think the way she introduced the bullying thing was a way of adding some more depth to the characters - it is another way in which Harry is going to have to grow up, to see that his father is not the perfect being that everyone saw him as but that is probably, in fact, someone that Harry would not have liked at school; someone he would have stood up against; someone more like Malfoy. This is a rather hard aspect for Harry to grasp and, along with Sirius's death, it is a way of darkness helping him to grow.
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread.
Through shadow, through the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadows, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall...
...fade.
Re: Sirius
No, the bullying was good. I was referring more to the constant whining.
A darkness lies behind us and we have turned our backs upon it, and we do not desire to return thither even in thought. Westwards our hearts have been turned, and we believe that there we shall find Light.
Maiden du Mystique
Posts: 79
(3/19/04 8:17 am) Reply
Re: Sirius
...fair point. A family trait maybe? Or...extended family trait. Or...something.
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread.
Through shadow, through the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadows, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall...
...fade.
The Books are a lot better than I thought they would be. After reading past the first book I can no longer believe that Rowling pilfered all her ideas. She may have started from inspiration from Tolkien but she has moved on and become a writer who I am happy to say is my second favourite. 
). I loved them. But Thain did mention, after reading the first two books, that these books reminded him a lot of the TLOR's. I found this a strange remark because not once during my time into Hogwarts did I even think of ME. 
I just read in the paper that in the making of the 3rd movie for H P, that in one scene you can hear a boy in the background doing a … 
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