Comments on: Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/ Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:12:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Alas - Hooked to Harry Potter! « System 13 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1293 Alas - Hooked to Harry Potter! « System 13 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:32:25 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1293 [...] it happened. It was tentative for a brief period of time, when I had only reread the first Potter book. Now, however, it’s done. I suppose one could say that the spell has [...] [...] it happened. It was tentative for a brief period of time, when I had only reread the first Potter book. Now, however, it’s done. I suppose one could say that the spell has [...]

]]> By: Josh http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1292 Josh Sat, 28 Jul 2007 20:46:23 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1292 Zeitlos: Better than Harry Potter! Hmph! :P We shall agree to disagree, and simply say that both series are great in their own way. ;) Zeitlos: Better than Harry Potter! Hmph! :P

We shall agree to disagree, and simply say that both series are great in their own way. ;)

]]> By: Zeitlos http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1291 Zeitlos Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:34:00 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1291 I've read the last book of the series last weekend, read it again throughout the week and started today with book no. 3. Just for fun. I'm really addicted to Harry since my librarian recommended him to me in...I guess it was 1998. I still remember how she wispered "I've got something for you" over the counter. You might want to stop reading here now, because I think: Harry Potter ist better than LOTR. The characters and the storyline are more complex, more realistic. You cannot guess how it ends from the very beginning, the good are not neccessarily good, while the bad ones are not always as bad as they seem. Harrys world is not black and white, but in shades of grey. I’ve read the last book of the series last weekend, read it again throughout the week and started today with book no. 3. Just for fun. I’m really addicted to Harry since my librarian recommended him to me in…I guess it was 1998. I still remember how she wispered “I’ve got something for you” over the counter.
You might want to stop reading here now, because I think: Harry Potter ist better than LOTR. The characters and the storyline are more complex, more realistic. You cannot guess how it ends from the very beginning, the good are not neccessarily good, while the bad ones are not always as bad as they seem. Harrys world is not black and white, but in shades of grey.

]]> By: Joshua J. Slone http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1290 Joshua J. Slone Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:40:23 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1290 If only Jed Clampett had penned fantasy fiction. If only Jed Clampett had penned fantasy fiction.

]]> By: Josh http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1289 Josh Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:01:24 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1289 Fig: Yeah, I know. My apologies for teasing you about them. :) I suppose I've seen the Potter light or some such. Also, in regards to Canada having the Philosopher's Stone... well, ahem.. /rude. Cas:Thanks for the information. To think that it grew to such a large size from word of mouth originally is pretty impressive. I take it you know Rowling's story, about being on welfare when she started writing the books to entertain her kids? Quite a change, going from welfare to billionaire... Fig: Yeah, I know. My apologies for teasing you about them. :) I suppose I’ve seen the Potter light or some such. Also, in regards to Canada having the Philosopher’s Stone… well, ahem.. /rude.

Cas:Thanks for the information. To think that it grew to such a large size from word of mouth originally is pretty impressive.

I take it you know Rowling’s story, about being on welfare when she started writing the books to entertain her kids? Quite a change, going from welfare to billionaire…

]]> By: Cas http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1288 Cas Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:02:13 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1288 Josh - as I said, the first time HP crossed my path was in 1999, three years after it was released. I hadn't heard any hype, though to be fair I might not have been looking in the right places (small west country towns are not renowned for having lavish advertising spread on them!). Judging from the source of my HP connection - my 21 year old brother - I would guess that for some reason the book caught the attention of student audiences around 1999. They had won children's book awards previously but... who knows? I'd have to go out on a limb and say word of mouth. By the time book four came out it was bigger thing, with attention in the press (I partly think) because of hype about the film they were just then starting to make. Also, a major UK children's show - Newsround - decided that Harry Potter was going to become <em>their</em> thing, with lots of specials and interviews designed to raise the hype. Josh – as I said, the first time HP crossed my path was in 1999, three years after it was released. I hadn’t heard any hype, though to be fair I might not have been looking in the right places (small west country towns are not renowned for having lavish advertising spread on them!).

Judging from the source of my HP connection – my 21 year old brother – I would guess that for some reason the book caught the attention of student audiences around 1999. They had won children’s book awards previously but… who knows?

I’d have to go out on a limb and say word of mouth. By the time book four came out it was bigger thing, with attention in the press (I partly think) because of hype about the film they were just then starting to make.

Also, a major UK children’s show – Newsround – decided that Harry Potter was going to become their thing, with lots of specials and interviews designed to raise the hype.

]]> By: Fig http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1287 Fig Fri, 27 Jul 2007 04:08:25 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1287 Oh, and by the way, here in Canada we are intelligent enough to have the "Philosopher’s Stone." Oh, and by the way, here in Canada we are intelligent enough to have the “Philosopher’s Stone.”

]]> By: Fig http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1286 Fig Fri, 27 Jul 2007 04:05:37 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1286 /falls flat on face I go away for four days, and this is what happens when I'm gone! I had to read your entry more than once in order to fully believe what I had read. And you ... You ~mocked~ me for reading the Potter books!! I'm really and truly flabbergasted. /falls flat on face

I go away for four days, and this is what happens when I’m gone! I had to read your entry more than once in order to fully believe what I had read.

And you … You ~mocked~ me for reading the Potter books!!

I’m really and truly flabbergasted.

]]> By: Josh http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1285 Josh Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:20:22 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1285 Cas: That's a very good comparison, about The Hobbit and the Potter books. I love The Hobbit in its own right, but it's quite different from LOTR. It was clearly written for a young audience. I think I was able to drop a lot of my "adult criticisms" of the book, because I truly did it enjoy it; however, I think I'll like the series even more when, as you describe, Rowling shifts gears a little, making things darker as the cast grows older. But again, the first book is a great, fun little book, just as it is. I am curious, though, like Joshua, wondering what exactly kick started the Potter crazy. He and I got onto the band wagon after succumbing to mass hype; what caused that hype to begin with? You're in England where it was originally released. Can you shed any light on what went down over there? Was there a huge amount of advertising? Did it just spread via word of mouth? Cas: That’s a very good comparison, about The Hobbit and the Potter books. I love The Hobbit in its own right, but it’s quite different from LOTR. It was clearly written for a young audience. I think I was able to drop a lot of my “adult criticisms” of the book, because I truly did it enjoy it; however, I think I’ll like the series even more when, as you describe, Rowling shifts gears a little, making things darker as the cast grows older.

But again, the first book is a great, fun little book, just as it is.

I am curious, though, like Joshua, wondering what exactly kick started the Potter crazy. He and I got onto the band wagon after succumbing to mass hype; what caused that hype to begin with? You’re in England where it was originally released. Can you shed any light on what went down over there? Was there a huge amount of advertising? Did it just spread via word of mouth?

]]> By: Cas http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1284 Cas Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:21:00 +0000 http://system13.org/2007/07/26/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerors-stone/#comment-1284 Loved? Aww *blush* thank you :D And good review now I've read it! But what strikes me is that you seem to be skirting round the trap most other people who read/review Harry Potter books fall into: you read them as adult books. They're not. They're children's books and (the first few at least) were written with strictly that audience in mind. To take the LotR theme you've got going on, it's like comparing the Hobbit to LotR - both are great, but the Hobbit was written for children (though adults enjoy it too), and LotR was written for adults (though older kids enjoy it too). When I first got handed a copy of Philosopher's Stone in 1999 (for my 18th b'day, I was NOT impressed) I couldn't understand why my brother had got me a kids book! Then I devoured it in one sitting and the next day went down the bookstore to buy Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkabhan, which I devoured with similar speed. The books are just - as you said - <em>fun</em>. One and Two are the most childish but by Three... ooooh, bring on the dark scariness! Of all the books I think five (Goblet of Fire) is my least favourite - overly long and with far too much going on. But Deathly Hallows... I'm re-reading that now after speeding through it the first time in ten hours straight. Now I know what happens I can go back and savour every moment. Loved? Aww *blush* thank you :D

And good review now I’ve read it!

But what strikes me is that you seem to be skirting round the trap most other people who read/review Harry Potter books fall into: you read them as adult books. They’re not. They’re children’s books and (the first few at least) were written with strictly that audience in mind.

To take the LotR theme you’ve got going on, it’s like comparing the Hobbit to LotR – both are great, but the Hobbit was written for children (though adults enjoy it too), and LotR was written for adults (though older kids enjoy it too).

When I first got handed a copy of Philosopher’s Stone in 1999 (for my 18th b’day, I was NOT impressed) I couldn’t understand why my brother had got me a kids book! Then I devoured it in one sitting and the next day went down the bookstore to buy Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkabhan, which I devoured with similar speed. The books are just – as you said – fun. One and Two are the most childish but by Three… ooooh, bring on the dark scariness!

Of all the books I think five (Goblet of Fire) is my least favourite – overly long and with far too much going on. But Deathly Hallows… I’m re-reading that now after speeding through it the first time in ten hours straight. Now I know what happens I can go back and savour every moment.

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