On anti-HP-hype

[conuly]

A lot of people on my friends list today have posted about how they don't want the new HP book when it comes out. Harry Potter is derivative, a rip-off. It's badly written. It's in serious need of a good editing job. It's overhyped!

Well, yeah. I know!

I have always liked literary fluff. I still have very fond memories of the Baby-Sitters Club books, and of the Sweet Valley Twins series. I will happily read cheesy sci-fi novels with plot holes big enough to drive trucks though. (I also watch Lifetime and Disney made-for-tv movies, which really should give an indication of my taste). Yes, I read and enjoy serious works as well, but I've always felt there was a little bit of fun in reading candy. Or mocking it, whatever.

Am I the only one who sees it that way? Don't take Harry Potter so seriously. Read it, laugh, and move on with your life. Or don't read it. But don't diss those of us who happen to like badly-written books and movies.

Comments

[innerbrat]

Y'know what? I can't stand the hype surrounding the Harry Potter series, and I'm a fan.

I'm not going to enter into a literary debate: I'm a scientist, not a literary critic, and when I like a series, I can't say for certain what I do and don't like about it.

But I'm prepared to agree with you on Fluff: Hells, I love Buffy, and that's much fluffier. A lot on the characters are two dimensional, but a good many (mostly the adults) are interesting and are revealing themselves to be much better developed than I gave them credit for.
Snape, for instance: the cliche would have him reveal himself to be good and noble after all, but he's still a petty, spiteful little man who's spent much too long in a teaching institution. There's reasons behind his behaviour.

Incidentally, I hate the LotR books. I've read them recently and I never intend to read them again. Them, I consider to be badly written, although I like the stories and I appreciate the pioneering aspect of them.
Originality does not a good story make.

[feathered.livejournal.com]

I agree on all counts. I like the HP books, I'm terribly fond of them because I met three of my favourite people through the old amazon harry potter forum, and I buy and read each new book the day it comes out. And I hate the hype. I'd complain about it in my own journal if I weren't so lazy.

I guess, like Uly said, the problem is everyone takes them so seriously. They are either GREAT books or BLOODY HORRIBLE books, but never just books.

(I don't like the LoTR books either, innerbrat. It's a closely-held secret of mine.. It's dangerous to say in public! I respect them, but I sure as hell wouldn't read them for fun.)

[innerbrat]

(I don't like the LoTR books either, innerbrat. It's a closely-held secret of mine.. It's dangerous to say in public! I respect them, but I sure as hell wouldn't read them for fun.)
Oh thank gods there's another one!
It's a shame, because I like the story and therefore like the films, but I wouldn't read the books again for fun. I only read them the first time because I was in the desert with only them for company.

I made the mistake of talking about LotR in a friends journal, and was laid into for daring to suggest the characterisation was shoddy...