J.K.Rowling
- Thread starter Who's Wee Dug
- Start date
She was a master of publicity. Every step of her career from the very beginning was orchestrated like publicity stunts, from the "poor welfare mother" through the "big money auction" through the secrecy and the midnight releases. Even the website with random updates and little games, and the rumors. You could teach a college course on her publicity techniques.
From the description of the book I would imagine something like Joanne Harris (Chocolat, Five Quarters of the Orange), only not as French. Therefore it sounds pretty interesting, but one should never judge a book by its blurb 
Also, while I'm not a huge fan of J.K. Rowling on a personal level, I have to say that I thought the Harry Potter books were some good solid classics. They got a lot of people reading, for one thing. I felt that the story started out as a lovely sort of Enid Blyton for teenagers, but cooler and with magic. And then they grew, and Harry went through moody teenagerhood, and the ending was pretty satisfying, so really, what else could one want in a book?
I read the books as they came out and I reread them about once a year from start to finish, and for all the finicky little criticisms I might have, it's a pretty classic saviour story that speaks for friendship and trust and against hatred and disunity. I'm not going to take too much moral guidance from it, but it leaves me feeling good.
Also, while I'm not a huge fan of J.K. Rowling on a personal level, I have to say that I thought the Harry Potter books were some good solid classics. They got a lot of people reading, for one thing. I felt that the story started out as a lovely sort of Enid Blyton for teenagers, but cooler and with magic.
And then they grew, and Harry went through moody teenagerhood, and the ending was pretty satisfying, so really, what else could one want in a book?I read the books as they came out and I reread them about once a year from start to finish, and for all the finicky little criticisms I might have, it's a pretty classic saviour story that speaks for friendship and trust and against hatred and disunity. I'm not going to take too much moral guidance from it, but it leaves me feeling good.
I really enjoyed the HP books, especially the first two. I thought the story was great! I'll agree that later books could have been pared down a bit. So she's a millionaire? Good for her! She did it on her own. I'm not a rabid fan, but I don't think her writing was poor at all. Kept me turning the pages! Loved the movies too. None as much as the first, but so what?
Now, on the flip side I did try the first Twilight book and thought it was horrible. But, just because I didn't enjoy it doesn't mean that I'm going to ignore that millions of others do. So what?! I don't feel any need to start taking shots at the author.
Now, on the flip side I did try the first Twilight book and thought it was horrible. But, just because I didn't enjoy it doesn't mean that I'm going to ignore that millions of others do. So what?! I don't feel any need to start taking shots at the author.
To everyone who said that they didn't like the HP books, okay! We get it! It's your opinion, and you're entitled to it! There's still millions of people out there who like them. I didn't even know about the whole "poor mother living in poverty" thing. I liked the books for the BOOKS, not the author. I don't try to persuade other people to like them just because I do.
Sorry if I sounded rude. I didn't mean to.
Sorry if I sounded rude. I didn't mean to.
poohcarrot said:
Don't worry about sounding rude, Tris.
I loved all the Harry Potter books! :dance:
Given a choice between HP and LOTR, I'd plump for the former everytime. The same goes for the movies. :dance:
I loved all the Harry Potter books! :dance:
Given a choice between HP and LOTR, I'd plump for the former everytime. The same goes for the movies. :dance:
What poohcarrot said.
I was a rabid HP fan for years. Eventually I was severely disappointed by the repeated failure to use her own plot possibilities in favor of trite plotting. In retrospect, I realized that it was basically an extremely long first novel, and she was stuck with her original plot long after she might have improved it. I was also disappointed by her apparent inability to count or read a calendar, but that was also the fault of her editors, who let things like that slip through.
Terry's early Discworld books can be said to be picaresque, but at least he can count.
I was a rabid HP fan for years. Eventually I was severely disappointed by the repeated failure to use her own plot possibilities in favor of trite plotting. In retrospect, I realized that it was basically an extremely long first novel, and she was stuck with her original plot long after she might have improved it. I was also disappointed by her apparent inability to count or read a calendar, but that was also the fault of her editors, who let things like that slip through.
Terry's early Discworld books can be said to be picaresque, but at least he can count.
http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/2005/11 ... otter.html
It doesn't matter if you've never heard of the Percy Jackson books, read this anyway. I was going through the whole blog, starting in 2005, and I found this post.
It doesn't matter if you've never heard of the Percy Jackson books, read this anyway. I was going through the whole blog, starting in 2005, and I found this post.
Has anyone got The Casual Vacancy yet and if so, is it any good?
I enjoyed the Harry Potter books - although I've never been tempted to reread them. I'm not sure I'd buy this new book based on the Potter books, but if it gets good reviews and if I happen to find it in a charity shop somewhere along the line, I may give it a go.
I enjoyed the Harry Potter books - although I've never been tempted to reread them. I'm not sure I'd buy this new book based on the Potter books, but if it gets good reviews and if I happen to find it in a charity shop somewhere along the line, I may give it a go.
Tonyblack said:
Has anyone got The Casual Vacancy yet and if so, is it any good?
I enjoyed the Harry Potter books - although I've never been tempted to reread them. I'm not sure I'd buy this new book based on the Potter books, but if it gets good reviews and if I happen to find it in a charity shop somewhere along the line, I may give it a go.
I enjoyed the Harry Potter books - although I've never been tempted to reread them. I'm not sure I'd buy this new book based on the Potter books, but if it gets good reviews and if I happen to find it in a charity shop somewhere along the line, I may give it a go.
