Crack in book form
Aug. 21st, 2007 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eveglassFor the last few days, I have been re-reading the Harry Potter books. The first time round, I think I got as far as book 4 or 5 before deciding to put them down and just wait until all 7 were out. When the 7th finally came out a few months ago, it was too close to Pennsic and I was too busy with classes to sit down and read them. But, Pennsic being finally over and me having a bit of time on my hands, I borrowed 1-5 from Ian's sister. Started Philospher's Stone on Sunday morning and finished it within about three and a half hours. Started Chamber of Secrets that evening and finished it by yesterday afternoon. Picked up Prisoner of Azkaban and am now about 2/3 of the way through that, and it will likely be finished by the end of the day.
It occurs to me that Harry Potter is crack in book form. Very quick to read, very hard to put down despite already knowing the ending, but not particularly... erm... mentally nutritious, shall we say. They're fun, fluffy books, absolutely. But there's just something disturbing about tearing through a book in a few hours and feeling the insatiable need for more, more, more.
That's not to say the Harry Potter books are bad; in fact, I'm quite enjoying them. On the other hand, I'm not sure they're worth the hype they've garnered. In most respects, the first few books are about on-par with many other childrens' books I've read. The one reason I think Rowling is really revolutionary in her writing is that she scales up the books with her readers. The first books are short, simple, and easy to read. The later books are darker, longer, and more complex. Though I have not done any sort of research, I can't think of any other author who has done this sort of scaling-up within the span of a single series. For this, and for almost no other reason, do I give Rowling credit.
Of course, I knew this already. One thing I'm noticing as I re-read is the number of puns and word-plays Rowling includes in the books. I will forever be ashamed that it's taken me this long to realize the play on "Diagon Alley." The book list in Philosopher's Stone was a lovely little play of words and meanings. It took me a few minutes to decypher the inscription over The Mirror of Erised (from Philosopher's Stone). Characters' names often have less-than-completely-hidden meanings. And so on. I didn't pick this up the first time I was reading through, or if I did, I forgot about it.
Otherwise, reading continues. Excuse me while I go polish off the end of book 3.
By the way, if anyone has copies of books 6 and 7 they can lend me for about a week, I'd appreciate it. Based on the rate I'm going, I'll need them by the weekend. Let me know if you're amenable.
It occurs to me that Harry Potter is crack in book form. Very quick to read, very hard to put down despite already knowing the ending, but not particularly... erm... mentally nutritious, shall we say. They're fun, fluffy books, absolutely. But there's just something disturbing about tearing through a book in a few hours and feeling the insatiable need for more, more, more.
That's not to say the Harry Potter books are bad; in fact, I'm quite enjoying them. On the other hand, I'm not sure they're worth the hype they've garnered. In most respects, the first few books are about on-par with many other childrens' books I've read. The one reason I think Rowling is really revolutionary in her writing is that she scales up the books with her readers. The first books are short, simple, and easy to read. The later books are darker, longer, and more complex. Though I have not done any sort of research, I can't think of any other author who has done this sort of scaling-up within the span of a single series. For this, and for almost no other reason, do I give Rowling credit.
Of course, I knew this already. One thing I'm noticing as I re-read is the number of puns and word-plays Rowling includes in the books. I will forever be ashamed that it's taken me this long to realize the play on "Diagon Alley." The book list in Philosopher's Stone was a lovely little play of words and meanings. It took me a few minutes to decypher the inscription over The Mirror of Erised (from Philosopher's Stone). Characters' names often have less-than-completely-hidden meanings. And so on. I didn't pick this up the first time I was reading through, or if I did, I forgot about it.
Otherwise, reading continues. Excuse me while I go polish off the end of book 3.
By the way, if anyone has copies of books 6 and 7 they can lend me for about a week, I'd appreciate it. Based on the rate I'm going, I'll need them by the weekend. Let me know if you're amenable.
