I was thinking about HP. When you think about it, the whole fundie Satanism is a backhanded compliment. It implies that the books are good enough to keep kids reading them, despite (or because of) the evil wizardry present therein. So we have people who like HP, and people who think HP is dangerous and addictive. Does anyone think that HP is simply not well written?
It’s well written, especially considering that the intended audience is children. That throngs of adults read it too should be evidence that it’s very well written for the genre.
I haven’t read any of them, nor do I plan to. No reason other than I haven’t heard anything about them to make me want to read them. Not my preferred type of lit.
There’s plenty of people who have absolutely no interest in them. This, however, is not a wonderful heart-touching news story (or a crazy fundie one either), so you don’t hear anything about it.
I don’t think they’re well-written, and I don’t like them. I’ve read all four, because I thought if I was going to complain about the irritating pervasiveness of the Harry Potter phenomenon I should know what I’m complaining about.
I think the characters are weak, particularly Harry, who seems to spend his life doing very little, and having incredibly good luck at getting out of silly situations.
Another thing that bugs me about the series is the lack of justice in it. At Hogwarts, both the teachers and the students regularly abuse power and break rules. Certainly, Snape turned from the Dark powers etc. but that does not excuse his constant, bitter carping at Harry, and his general favoritism towards Slytherin students. Harry and his fellow students break rules, ignore work (and the work usually seems to be pointless), and generally act like idiots, and Harry at least is routinely commended for doing so-his behaviour is supposed to demonstrate ‘maturity’ and ‘independence’. I don’t understand that- Hogwarts is supposed to be one of the top schools for wizardry- why is it so badly run, and the students so disrespectful?
I don’t think it’s a terrible series, I just don’t think it’s very good, and for everyone who piles in to say, “it’s a kid’s series. What can you expect? You’re being mean!” I would like to point out that one of the main reasons it’s become so popular is because it is generally assumed to be more than just a kid’s series. Everything pro-HP that I’ve read has commented on its coherence and imagination, which make it suitable adult reading. I don’t think it is particularly well-written or imaginative.
I am a conservative Christian. I don’t think it promotes Satanism or witchcraft, but I do think it it encourages lying, holding grudges, disrespect towards learning, and desire for power.
Although I sometimes read children/young adults’ books (e.g. Jerry Spinelli’s Star Girl, which is fabulous), I’ve no interest or opinion on kid-wizards and old-fashioned boarding school stories. Every time I see the word “Hedwig”, I think of German transsexuals and then am disappointed.
(Um, I’m not sure why I’m taking your time to say I’m not interested in something.)
The whole Harry Potter thing is just weird. It’s like the Pokemon phenomenon only it has infected adults too. And things like that generally turn me off and typically for good reason.
It isn’t that I have a problem with it; I just have no interest in it.
As a teacher in a boarding school, Harry Potter has the same relationship to me as Ron Weasley’s wand does to a troll.
(It gets right up my nose!) :smack:
I can assure you that Snape would not last a week in a real school, and that Draco Malfoy would be expelled for bullying in his first term.
Having said that, anything that gets kids to read is basically good.
In particular I read Harry Potter aloud to a couple of kids aged 7 and 9, and they love it.
So it might not be a masterpiece, but I’m content.
I wish Jr and Sr high had been that easy for me! 
I enjoyed the first two, but it began petering out into the “Themed English Mystery” genre.
“One Corpse Too Many” was outstanding, but you can’t keep it up. The theme of Br. Caedfael just wore out. The only guy who kept it up was Rex Stout, but of course he isn’t English although he fits the genre.