Topic: The Harry Potter Thread. Discuss it here

[Mashiro]

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Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
What I appreciate most about the HP books is that unlike other"children's literature" it doesn't sugar coat things.

Yeah I personally think it is a great disservice to the youthful generation of any era to dumb down and sugar coat things.

The popular pieces of work that transcend age barriers (even though targeted for younger audiences) are usually those that don't dumb down things for kids.

[Kairon]

However, another thing I love about HP is that it's very easy to read. Seriously... I think (*note: I am speaking purely from personal feeling, have little to no fact to back this up*) that there's a lot of supposed "children's fiction" out there that released a long time ago and are considered classics that simply... simply aren't accessible to the majority of today's readers. That doesn't make those works less worthy, but there's a definite case to be made for accessibilty as a good thing.

[Svevan]

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Originally posted by: vudu

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Originally posted by: Svevan
After church and lunch, I'll finish the last 250 pages.

Are you even allowed to read Harry Potter, what with all the heresy and whatnot?

There's no blatant heresy in Harry Potter. Also, as human beings, we are surrounded by and have within us heresy of all kinds - no person is perfect, and every person believes mistruths of some kind and acts upon those beliefs.

Those who accuse Harry Potter of being "devilish" or "witchcraft" are missing the point. The series is filled with mythological symbols, Christian and others. The story is about morality, about standing up for what is right, and rebelling when necessary. It is about the breakdown of racism and hatred. Despite what many people say about Christianity today, that's what Christ taught as well.

Some people get stuck on particulars without looking at the whole: witchcraft or not, the purpose of the books must be taken into consideration. And knowing that the books are about struggles, growing up, dealing with adults, hatred, and various social and political issues, and that all of this is tied to a spiritual core, should I think cause Christians to endorse the material, rather than denounce it. But oh well, it's a minor war. Most of the Christians I know love Harry Potter, or have no opinion since they haven't read the books.

In other less controversial news, I finally finished the damn thing. I loved it, of course, thought the end bits were a little anti-climactic, and some of the plot strands were actually not tied up, but oh well. I'll probably write a blog about the whole experience soon. In the meantime, I'm a bit upset on the whole that this was the last Harry Potter book. Having started the books in the year 2000, I really have been on a seven year journey (corny as that may sound) and I'll really miss the allure and mystery, the constant guessing, and all of it. I feel privileged to live in the time of Harry Potter, that is, to get to be in the midst of it and know that there were still more books coming. If I ever have children, I look forward to treating them to these books.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Svevan

Quote
Originally posted by: vudu

Quote
Originally posted by: Svevan
After church and lunch, I'll finish the last 250 pages.

Are you even allowed to read Harry Potter, what with all the heresy and whatnot?

There's no blatant heresy in Harry Potter. Also, as human beings, we are surrounded by and have within us heresy of all kinds - no person is perfect, and every person believes mistruths of some kind and acts upon those beliefs.

Those who accuse Harry Potter of being "devilish" or "witchcraft" are missing the point. The series is filled with mythological symbols, Christian and others. The story is about morality, about standing up for what is right, and rebelling when necessary. It is about the breakdown of racism and hatred. Despite what many people say about Christianity today, that's what Christ taught as well.

Some people get stuck on particulars without looking at the whole: witchcraft or not, the purpose of the books must be taken into consideration. And knowing that the books are about struggles, growing up, dealing with adults, hatred, and various social and political issues, and that all of this is tied to a spiritual core, should I think cause Christians to endorse the material, rather than denounce it. But oh well, it's a minor war. Most of the Christians I know love Harry Potter, or have no opinion since they haven't read the books.

In other less controversial news, I finally finished the damn thing. I loved it, of course, thought the end bits were a little anti-climactic, and some of the plot strands were actually not tied up, but oh well. I'll probably write a blog about the whole experience soon. In the meantime, I'm a bit upset on the whole that this was the last Harry Potter book. Having started the books in the year 2000, I really have been on a seven year journey (corny as that may sound) and I'll really miss the allure and mystery, the constant guessing, and all of it. I feel privileged to live in the time of Harry Potter, that is, to get to be in the midst of it and know that there were still more books coming. If I ever have children, I look forward to treating them to these books.

I have to say it, I agree with EVERYTHING you said there. In regards to the witchcraft thing (I really think I am going to touch on it in my blog at some point) Harry Potter's world is a fantasy world, the magic and laws that exist there are completely fiction. Heck in the books people that have powers, are born with them, it is no different, in my mind, of any other work of fiction where special gifts come from birth. One hypocrisy that I CANNOT stand is some of my fellow Christians who attack Harry Potter but defend C.S. Lewis or Tolkien, both of which use magic and sorcery in their books. It is a double standard, I do not think it is healthy. Like Evan said the Harry Potter books are rich in morality, love, sacrifice, and above all else teach valuable lessons to live an honorable life.

[Kairon]

I'm sorry GP, but after your post in the Are Games Art? thread, I don't know when you're being serious about Svevan or not.

[GoldenPhoenix]

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Originally posted by: Kairon
I'm sorry GP, but after your post in the Are Games Art? thread, I don't know when you're being serious about Svevan or not.

Well I am this time!

[Kairon]

But... this is the Hulkmania forum! This is the LAST place I'd expect people to be serious!

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
But... this is the Hulkmania forum! This is the LAST place I'd expect people to be serious!

Evan started it!

[ShyGuy]

Evan is always serious. It's his earnest nature.

edit: And, to see if we can get the thread locked or moved, where is the line drawn between Fantasy and the Occult?

[Kairon]

Maybe the muggles in Harry Potter world are completely secular?

[that Baby guy]

I worship Whomping Willows.  Does that make me a druid?

[MysticGohan]

Nah, it makes ya a Tauren! :p

[UncleBob]

Just got around to finishing my copy this morning.  Good book, but I could have done without the Epilogue.  It should have been titled "Fanwanking".

[Mysticspike]

hmph well im on page, what? 100 or something. yup it rules so far. at least it didn't take half the frickin book to get started like the 6th one.

[TrueNerd]

Quote
Originally posted by: UncleBob
Just got around to finishing my copy this morning.  Good book, but I could have done without the Epilogue.  It should have been titled "Fanwanking".

Spoiler section QFT. Happy future flashes blow. I would have preferred a touching, triumphant moment with Ron and Hermione. And a make-out session with Ginny. But I loved how Harry was simply better then everyone else. The solidification of that fact is the success of the entire Harry Potter epic. It wasn't just luck, it wasn't just greatness surrounding him, it was him being the best man for the job and doing said job. THAT was the climax for me.

[GoldenPhoenix]

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Originally posted by: TrueNerd

Quote
Originally posted by: UncleBob
Just got around to finishing my copy this morning.  Good book, but I could have done without the Epilogue.  It should have been titled "Fanwanking".

Spoiler section QFT. Happy future flashes blow. I would have preferred a touching, triumphant moment with Ron and Hermione. And a make-out session with Ginny. But I loved how Harry was simply better then everyone else. The solidification of that fact is the success of the entire Harry Potter epic. It wasn't just luck, it wasn't just greatness surrounding him, it was him being the best man for the job and doing said job. THAT was the climax for me.

I got the feeling that Rowling wrote the epilogue very early on and only made minor tweaks to it. I know she said that she had the final chapter done for a LONG time and my guess is that the epilogue was that, which could explain why it was so dry