Thoughts on Potter
I'm baffled.
She's worth 1.5 billion after only seven books, and during the first twenty-four hours after its release, this last book sold like fifty thousand copies every seven minutes. I've read Harry Potter, and I think its good - but not that good. What's going on here? Perhaps magic is real and she's found a way to use it to snare readers.
Don't get me wrong, there are admirable qualities to her writing: great characters, interesting concept, strong plot, etc. But I hardly think its the greatest series of books in all recorded history. I personally prefer Artemis Fowl which is in the same genre, geared towards the same market, and has as many, if not more, literary strengths. Yet you don't see the sum of western civilization biting their nails in anticipation over the next book or movie, or even collecting Artemis Fowl action figures with their happy meals.
Am I jealous? Absolutely. But please don't think I'm whining about my own lack of success. I'm just curious about what it is that has an entire planet eagerly focused on one series of seven books. I realize that she has the promotional power of the entire industry backing her work, but that alone cannot create a successful story. So what does, any thoughts?
I ask because I could use a little of that juju myself.
She's worth 1.5 billion after only seven books, and during the first twenty-four hours after its release, this last book sold like fifty thousand copies every seven minutes. I've read Harry Potter, and I think its good - but not that good. What's going on here? Perhaps magic is real and she's found a way to use it to snare readers.
Don't get me wrong, there are admirable qualities to her writing: great characters, interesting concept, strong plot, etc. But I hardly think its the greatest series of books in all recorded history. I personally prefer Artemis Fowl which is in the same genre, geared towards the same market, and has as many, if not more, literary strengths. Yet you don't see the sum of western civilization biting their nails in anticipation over the next book or movie, or even collecting Artemis Fowl action figures with their happy meals.
Am I jealous? Absolutely. But please don't think I'm whining about my own lack of success. I'm just curious about what it is that has an entire planet eagerly focused on one series of seven books. I realize that she has the promotional power of the entire industry backing her work, but that alone cannot create a successful story. So what does, any thoughts?
I ask because I could use a little of that juju myself.
posted by Big Plain V at 8:12 PM
3 Callers:
Trends... I enjoyed the books before the Order of the Phoenix. Nice books for young readers. No masterpiece, but easy to read and interesting enough to keep the reader amused. After that bulky waste of paper (Order of the Phoenix, that is) I wouldn't buy any more of her books. Still, and without having spent a cent more, all her books found their way to our home.
As I said in my last post, I have no wish to read Harry Potter. Doesn't appeal to me.
This is Vee...what made most adults want to read her books was the huge controversy over whether or not it was damaging to kids because of its "occult" content. The controversy didn't hurt her popularity one bit. Reading Potter became the newest cool thing to do.
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