Harry Potter; A.S. Byatt's recent critique

[gauchecritic]

Well said Harold. I would never have thought of that.

Well said.

Gauche

 

[champagne1982]

Dear Champ,
I wish writers wouldn't use those expressions, because I always have to stop and figure out if it means 'yes' or 'no.' Anyway, I agree with you. I'll bet you're really thrilled about that.
MG

If I blithely ignore your likes and dislikes as far as usage of the two terms goes I shall reassure you that I generally accompany mine with either an adamant shake of the head or an eager nod.

"Uh huh," MG responded, nodding her head, "That makes complete sense!"
"Come on! You're full of it!" Couture shook her mane of hair, "Uh uh!"

Carrie

My Scribbles

 

[MathGirl]

Originally posted by champagne1982 I shall reassure you that I generally accompany mine with either an adamant shake of the head or an eager nod.

I usually find those terms in the hardboiled detective novel where the writer keeps things terse. Doesn't give the reader a nod, just 'uh huh.'
MGg

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I think you've hit on THE reason for Haryy Potter's popularity -- it's a series written for children that connects with children's imaginations and encourages reading in a world where reading a book for fun is like wearing a neon sign that says, "GEEK!"

Whatever the literary merits of the series, it is the fact that it has increased literacy around the world by encouraging childrento read that makes it notable and worthwhile.

Bravo WH...

As a teacher, it makes my heart dance with joy to see my students diving into 900 page books, including an austic student who struggles to read, but NEEDED to read #4 and worked his way through it page by page. I read the first book aloud to my students this past spring because it was wone that they got VERY into hearing aloud even though each and every one of them had read it multiple times. AND I was able to get them to write and do other projects that I connected into the novel. I would create a statue to JKR for that.

Beyond that, I read the novels myself. I am a fantasy fan, so it's probably natural that I would find them interesting. I think that JKR has a good narrative skill, and that she's definitely following a formula (the empowered orphan thing) but that she's doing it well. I've reread the first book a few times, and as for the others maybe 2 or so times.

And if anyone wants to get rid of their books...send them to me! I can always use second or third copies of books for my classroom library.

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Whatever the literary merits of the series, it is the fact that it has increased literacy around the world by encouraging childrento read that makes it notable and worthwhile.

If it's not the act of reading that the kids learn to enjoy, but only reading this particular story, then I would question whether it's really done as much good as people suppose, at least in terms of improving literacy, etc. I have many friends who gave their kids the HP books, and their kids did read them -- and (many of them, anyway) haven't read any other books. (Some of them even "read" it in audio form, because it holds their attention more -- according to the kids.)

Not criticizing, really, just questioning the truth of that line of reasoning, since I hear it quite a bit. I agree it can't hurt for these kids -- who wouldn't be reading anything else, perhaps -- to at least have something fun and exciting to associate with reading. I just don't think it's going to have a measurable impact on world literacy, that's all.

On the other hand, if it gets one kid into reading in a genuine sense, if it opens that world to one child, then it's had a positive effect.

 

[jon.hayworth]

Sarah,

I can assure you reading Harry Potter got my grand-daughter reading - but now she reads books because she wants to.

I think the analogy would be that HP was the key that opened the door for her.

The desire to keep up with her friends and younger sister by reading Harry Potter, motivated her to develop her reading skills but now she uses those skills to read other things.

jon

 

[Weird Harold]

If it's not the act of reading that the kids learn to enjoy, but only reading this particular story, then I would question whether it's really done as much good as people suppose, at least in terms of improving literacy, etc. I have many friends who gave their kids the HP books, and their kids did read them -- and (many of them, anyway) haven't read any other books. (Some of them even "read" it in audio form, because it holds their attention more -- according to the kids.)

Not criticizing, really, just questioning the truth of that line of reasoning, since I hear it quite a bit.

From anecdotal evidence -- John's granddaughter, My nephew, MG5's students, and other tales of children discovering Reading on a wider basis -- I'd guess that at least 10% of kids go beyond Harry Potter into other children's fantasy or other genres. 10% of Harry potter's fan-base is a significant number of "new readers" that JKR has set on the road to real "literacy."

Harry Potter isn't a cure-all for illiteracy and the decline of reading for fun, but it HAS done a great deal for the cause of literacy. I'm sure that the impact hasn't been as great as some people would like us to believe, but it has been significantly more than some doubters will admit.

 

[jon.hayworth]

Another piece of educational information. I recalled a news item and checked it out on the BBCi site.

The French translation of the latest HP is not out until the autumn. A few English language copies were in the French book shops on day one. Within hours they had sold out and fresh supplies had to be flown in to satisfy the demand - it appears that French children are improving their foriegn language skills thanks to JK Rowling's creation and that is really a big thing.
If you want to read the story here is the url http://uk.news.yahoo.com/030630/80/e3j6o.html

As WH said it is not a cureall - but it is making inroads.

jon

 

[Alex756]

I sense somebody doing a study on this but ... several recent articles on CNN have quoted recent US test scores for 4th and 8th graders ... ie HP age. test scores in reading comprehention are way up but remained the same for 12th graders. Or at least within you know all the ranges and all. Maybe its a coincidence, maybe there is something to it. As much as -I- don't find them interesting, once a kid can tackle a 900 page book, reading another book isn't too challenging now is it

Of course I am equally sad that Reading Rainbow can't get funding

Just becasue it gets kids to read doesn't mean its a litterary classic or even that well written, its getting kids to read is a wonderful and amazing thing.

However, it has little bearing on the richness of the text.

Alex756

But hey how serious can you take the opinion of a self-admitted trekkie

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Harry Potter made reading cool, once more. The fact that kids and teenagers leave their computer games to read books that contain over 700 pages, is all the proof one needs that Harry Potter books are great.

 

[The_old_man]

Just a minor footnote to WHs comment on geting children to read.

Our youngest, now fifty, was slightly dislexic(sp) and didn't like to wear his glasses. Aftre retreaving the glasses from several neighbors, I "Axcidently" left one of my 'Porno" books where he could find it. He found the rest, but he also read my copys of; Genkus Kahn, by Harold Lamb. I Married Adventure, by Osa Johnson. And several others that were NOT light weaghts.

WH has a very valid point. You have to get thier attention!





I appologise for the spelling on this post, I don't have a spelling checker on this browser.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Our youngest, now fifty, was slightly dislexic(sp) and didn't like to wear his glasses. Aftre retreaving the glasses from several neighbors, I "Axcidently" left one of my 'Porno" books where he could find it. He found the rest, but he also read my copys of; Genkus Kahn, by Harold Lamb. I Married Adventure, by Osa Johnson. And several others that were NOT light weaghts.

WH has a very valid point. You have to get thier attention!

Which AGAIN makes me think that Lit is a great website to visit for young aolescents!

 

[Guest]

Svenska, it was my inner teen-gurl that brought me to Lit., and I thank her everyday for you and other new delights in my life.

Perdita

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Harry Potter made reading cool, once more. The fact that kids and teenagers leave their computer games to read books that contain over 700 pages, is all the proof one needs that Harry Potter books are great.

Something else just occurred to me -- a different perspective.

When I've loved something in my life -- anything, a book or a movie or a song or a painting -- it's always been an intensely personal experience. And as much as I want the creator to find success and be rewarded, there's a part of me that doesn't want it to become popular. It's not that I want to keep it all to myself, like a great restaurant that no one else has yet discovered; it's that I don't want other people to see it and misunderstand, to love it for all the wrong reasons. I don't want to hear people reducing it to something it isn't, or robbing it of its beauty. It's not the detractors I fear, but the other fans.

So if I did love Harry Potter, I think it would bother me, at least a little, that so many other people like it -- so many people who are completely different from me, who couldn't possibly see it as I saw it. I would want to think that we were special, we who see and appreciate its beauty.

If you tell me you enjoyed The Godfather or Casablanca, I don't really know anything about you even though I enjoyed them, too. If you tell me you loved Kieslowski's Red... then I would pause; and I would think, Oh... I see who you are, then. Not completely, but a little -- you've identified yourself. We're closer because of our common response, in a way that doesn't happen when so many others have shared that response.

I don't even know what point I'm trying to make. I just started thinking about the kids and adults who love Harry Potter, and how I would feel if I were one of them. Strange.

 

[Guest]

openthighs_sarah

Sarah: that's truly lovely and I understand your thoughts very well. Beauty or truth in any form captures me so that its form and content takes a dwelling place in "me"; so much that I feel somewhat possessive and protective of it, similarly to what you describe above I think.

I hold some books in such favor that when I see them on the shelves in bookstores I have an immediate inclination to buy them again simply for the pleasure of "taking" them once more, the way a lover "takes" one's self. And it is why I can watch my favorite films as many times as I reread certain books or poems, or listen to special pieces of music. I do not abandon art so easily as I give up on certain people or other areas of life.

Thanks for your post, Perdita

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Perdita

When I'm in bookstores, I often pick up a book that I already own, too, and have to resist the impulse to buy it. Sometimes I hold the book and I remember where I first read it, who I was and how the world looked at the time... and I marvel at how so much life and adventure can be packed into such a small, ordinary-looking object.

And then I look at the bookshelves, and in my mind I say to the book, It's a shame that you're stuck here, lost in anonymity. No one can see you, no one can tell what's inside. They'll just walk past, and they'll have no idea... And even though I may feel protective, even though I may not want just anyone to pick up the book, I'll still think that there's always a chance a true friend will happen by -- someone who would love it as I loved it. So I'll rearrange the bookshelf just a bit, so it's not hidden quite so well. That makes me happy.

 

[Guest]

Repeat: We are not daft.

Sarah: I have a brother living in Vienna (Austria, not Texas) who told me about Viennese taking their dogs to lunch and cafes. I told him if I lived there I would take my books, on special leashes, and demand good seats for them.

"Sir: table for three, please. Come along Jane, Tatiana, Emma."

We are too amazingly alike re. books.

Perdita