I wonder why they are concentrating on the Harry Potter books anyway? Apart from their obvious popularity. I mean, there are hundreds of fantasy books written for children every year, not least of which are Fairy Tales, which have, interestingly enough, been around forever! Why now is magic in a story considered evil?
Banning books (or anything) just seems to make people more determined to consume something! They are salaciously hungry to see what it was about the thing that was considered so nasty! My thoughts are they’ll be sadly disappointed to see that in this case they’re tales just like in any other (very entertaining) kid’s book.
“Vyvyan! Where did you get that Howitzer?” “…I found it.”
Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune had a ltter to the editor that was very similar to the OP, but worse (and without the disclaimer about not banning the book). The writer obviously had not read it and was attacking the magic, etc.
Frankly, after hearing the segment on NPR this morning about the Potter books turning boys 7 to 9 onto reading, about how they are turning from the Potter books to longer, more complex novels by Orson Scott Card (well, at least the one kid they interviewed), I’m willing to believe Harry Potter is the Second Coming rather than the Anti-Christ.
“But may I ask, at heart, are you an optimist or a pessimist? Those seem to be the only fashionable religions left to us nowadays.”
–Oscar Wilde
I suppose they are on the Potter books because they are popular. And there IS a book called the necronomicon. My former boyfriend bought it in a bookstore(on Coventry,pl).I opened it,but I didn’t want to read it. The Second Coming??Thats not til future book,Harry Potter,teenager!
Mac’s Backs, next door to Tommy’s? I know it well! (Tommy’s, BTW, has THE best vegetarian menu in NE Ohio, bar none. And they serve plenty of carnivore food, too.)
Anyway, the “Necronomicon” you find at bookstores is someone’s idea to make a lot of money by fooling people who think stuff they read in Lovecraft stories really exists.
“I love God! He’s so deliciously evil!” - Stewie Griffin, Family Guy
Long time lurker, first time poster who has to mention this.
There is the Necronomicon as written of by H.P. Lovecraft and then there’s the Necronomicon (multiple versions actually) that are sold on bookshelves. The Necronomicon that people talk about is the one H.P. Lovecraft invented for his stories. Despite what some people claim there was no Necronomicon before he made it up. Later on several people got the idea that writing their own and publishing it would be a quick way to make a buck.
So, The Necronomicon doesn’t exist, but people have hijacked the name in order to make a Necronomicon.
That was Tracer. Nice guy, and I often agree with him. Not this time, though! Being torn limb from limb by invisible demons in broad daylight would ruin my entire day!
Orangecakes: your son is 6.5 (years I assume) and not reading “quite yet”?!? Please get him to start reading! I’ll send you him old Dr Seuss books if you like.
I’ll be there
Where I’ll teach what I’ve been taught
And I’ve been taught…
Please don’t interpret this as a personal flame. But I must raise a red flag that was inspired by your first line:
To all newbies: I’d rather not see this type of line in these GD threads. I doubt that I’m the only one who enjoys coming here because it bears so little resemblance to talk radio.
As much as I wish to avoid appearing pompous, overbearing, and usurping of the prerogatives of the moderator, I couldn’t resist getting that off my chest.
“Unauthorized Thread! You are entering Cuban airspace! Reverse course immediately, or be prepared to be escorted to a landing at our airbase, followed by immediate detention and confiscation of your craft!”
Yes,he is in the process of learning to read. He started first grade in Sept. I read To him all the time,he has 30 books. He’s spelling sentences now,on his own! He wrote no smoking and stuck it in an elevator. Can’t resist: he spells just as good as heatherlee! (i love ya,heath)
I haven’t read the Harry Potter books (my kids are waaaaay too young yet), but I’ve got to put my opinion in here.
I will monitor my kids’ reading material, as my parents monitored mine. That’s in my job specs as “parent.” I have no trouble with this. The thought of someone else telling my kids what they can and cannot read, though, pisses me off to no end.
From what I understand, kids who don’t like to read are snapping this book up, and right quick. What’s the problem here? Let 'em read it. PLEASE!
Huh. My mom got me this book and I said, “Hey, Harry Potter! I saw this on” and she said “Yeah, it’s getting really popular.” I thought to myself “popular with 7 and 8 year olds, I heard.” Shrug, I may be 18 but I’m desperate for reading material.
So far as I can this book is not evil. Far from it! It draws very clear distinctions between good and evil, with its own devil figure (You-Know-Who, AKA Voldemorte: BTW, I’d like an etymology on that name, I can see death, but not the first part). Anyway, the only thing I can see that would really get anyone’s backs up is that Harry seems posited as a Messiah figure and, of course, the use of magic.
As for the magic, I’m 260 pages into the 300 page book, and it’s only showed up as a background force Harry’s not too concerned with (except for the riding of brooms).
As for the Messiah figure. Well, his very nature seems to have defeated the devil figure, back when he was an infant.
Otherwise, he’s a kid determined to get back at jerks and fight the devil. What’s so bad about that?
Sorry, Surgoshan, but it would not be fair to you to provide you with anything resembling a clue as to the origin of Voldemort’s name. You will find out why I say this when you read a subsequent book. (As I’m sure you’re going to do ;))
Ah, what the hell. It’s only going to be a red herring anyway. Also, it’s a WAG. Vol+de could be pronounced in some ME dialect as Fol+de, and translated as full of; hence, Voldemort could mean “full of death”. It could also mean “Fool of Death” (a member at the court for the King of Death?). The whole thing is complicated by the fact that, as a writer of fantasy, J.K. Rowling is not constrained by the rules that tend to bind actual etymologists and philologists.
In other words, try not to lose any sleep over it. Understanding will come to you in time, always provided that you continue to read the books.
One thing that always jumps to my mind when I hear people go off on Harry as being satanistic in some way – he has to take “Defense Against the Dark Arts” as one of his required subjects! The “magic” is strictly of the “white” variety – the wizards don’t use any technology (ie they don’t own or use cars). Anyway, it’s just a background to the larger story. ok, this was rambling.
(i love ya,heath)