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

[missfahrenheit.livejournal.com]

I love HP and Pratchett because they're so wonderfully escapist. Mind you, I also think they are well-written, if only because they're so wonderfully, amazingly absorbing. I've just re-read Feet of Clay and am absolutely amazed at how every single piece fits together. You can probably say the same for HP as a whole, because even though there are plot holes there's more clues and foreshadowing than you can shake a stick at.

I do love ASOUE, and for me I think it's Snicket's/Hander's writing style. The actual plots are paper-thin (barring the mystery of VFD!), but the way they're written is so quirky and wonderfully unusual that I keep going back to them :)