Over the month of July, I have noticed that the world has pretty much succumbed to “Potter-mania.” The fifth movie – “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is now showing in the theaters, and the long awaited final installment in the book series – “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was released just a minute past midnight a few days ago.
Now it seems like all of my friends are engrossed in reading the book, and everyone is talking about it…no less than eleven different blogs on Harry Potter have made the Top Posts list over at WordPress over the past week.
So what do I think of all this insanity over the boy wizard of Hogwart’s?
Truthfully, I don’t understand it.
Just what is the big mass appeal about Harry anyway?
Okay, so they are fun, interesting, well-written books that delve into children’s fantasies. They’ve encouraged the younger generation to take an interest in reading. They’ve stirred up an interest in Witchcraft and sparked a major debate regarding the evils of such amongst the fundies. They’ve made J.K. Rowling a millionaire, and left the rest of us jealous as hell, wondering why the heck we couldn’t write books like that.
The other day a friend of mine asked me what I thought of the final book and the end to the Harry Potter saga. I assume she figured that I was one of those who stood in line for hours waiting for the clock to strike and the mad rush to begin to become one of the first proud owners of this very special publication.
It’s a legitimate question. After all, I’ve been a genuine, bona-fide, card-carrying practitioner of Witchcraft for the past 25+ years.
Confession time.
Yours truly has yet to even READ a single copy of Harry Potter…let alone own the book.
Perhaps it is because of that above-mentioned status that I haven’t gotten all excited about the books. When they first came out, I just shrugged my shoulders and sighed. Yet another author perpetuating that stereotypical portrayal of a witch, complete with black cape, coned hat, and broomstick. It’s not like it hasn’t been done before – just look at Hansel and Gretel or the Wizard of Oz. Even Master William got in on the act with his three witches of Macbeth gathered around the cauldron, muttering their double, double, toils and troubles.
Now, in case you’re worried that I’ve been living in a cave for the past couple of years, let me assure you that I haven’t been completely immune to the Harry Potter craze. I have seen the first four movies in the film series, and probably will watch the fifth – most likely after it comes out on DVD. Of course, everyone says that the books are much better – as is usually the case when literature meets Hollywood.
I’m not saying the books are bad…I’m sure they are quite well written. I have plenty of literary friends to attest to that fact. Some of them are even Witches themselves. But I have just never joined in the enthusiasm of reading the tomes of Ms. Rowling.
Maybe one of these days I’ll change my mind. Maybe curiosity will get the best of me and I’ll want to delve deeper into the psyches of Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore and Voldemort. Maybe I will want to learn more about those horuxes.
Or maybe I’ll just want brush up on the rules for playing Quidditch.
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From your VERY first comment to me, ever, I am assuming that Mists of Avalon is one of very very few books that actually address paganism in all its glory. Therefore, what other fictional books would compare to it? I am curious.
Thanks!
Interesting question, Oscar.
I began to type up a response here, but it got a bit lengthy, and prompted me to consider writing some posts that focus on the portrayal of Witches and/or Paganism in works of fiction.
Be looking for such to come soon!
I own the first Harry Potter book, but haven’t read it. I bought it for my youngest son when it first came out. He read it, shrugged, and that was that. He was 12 years old at the time and an avid reader (reading at an adult level since 2nd grade). We have similar tastes in books and I figured if he wasn’t all that impressed, why bother?
I’ve been rethinking that attitude lately. I might just hop on the Harry Potter bandwagon and at least read the first book, if for no other reason than to find out what all the hoopla is about.
Well, you know, some people get hooked on daytime soap operas….I’m not one of them! But I am a fan of the Harry Potter books.
Quite honestly, the first three books had been released before I even took an interest. I think I only started to read the books because of the first movie, and wanting to compare the two – but (like many others have said to me) once I started reading, I was “hooked”.
But I’m not so over-crazed about it that I had to get book #7 at 12:01 am on July 21st. I’ll pick up my copy this Friday (payday).
The books are very well-written, quite creative, and entertaining, so they make for a good (and easy) read.
As you say, the books delve into children’s fantasies…but for adults, perhaps it allows their “inner child” some “play time” too, which we all need.
Right now, at this particular moment, my mind is so cluttered with several different issues that things feel pretty chaotic and I’m getting stressed. I would love nothing more than to be able to stick my nose in the latest Harry Potter book, calm my mind, and get *lost* in fantasy land for awhile!
You sound like me, pre-Potter. Couldn’t figure out what the fuss was about, first from my eight-year-old brother, and then my mother. Then I started reading and was a goner.
So that’s when I see people asking “what’s the fuss,” it’s just too evident — Potter virgin.
The only sad thing is that Potter perpetuates the witch-broom-evil thing. But at least there’s a lot of imaginative reinvention too – quidditch and Hogwarts and all.
And then there’s that whole human nature through fiction question — I’ve seen Wiccan, Christian, and Islamic books pontificating on how you can find tenets of faith within the stories.
And, no, as much as I love them, the movies never quite do the books justice.
And regarding Oscar’s note about Mists of Avalon (a book, btw, that I was never too crazy about), I agree that books that talk about the pagan/wicca kind of witchcraft as opposed to the pointy-hat, supernatural kind of witchcraft can be tough to find.
But they’re out there. My favorite surprise was “War for the Oaks” by Emma Bull. Some of Neil Gaiman’s works were surprisingly pagan, though fantasy-based… “American Gods,” for example. One of my favorite authors, Orson Scott Card, joins in with “Magic Street,” which I didn’t like much, but I was pleased to see the pagan ideas, as weirdly protrayed as they were.
I’ve also recently discovered books by the small press, Spilled Candy (spilledcandy.com), which has a neat number of novels. One I read and liked once I got past the stylistic weaknesses was “The Dream of the Circle of Women,” by Dahti Blanchard.
While it is true that the HP books do present that *Hollywood stereotype* of witches wearing pointy hats, flying on brooms, gathering around bubbling cauldrons, and casting unrealistic spells – the stories are soooo far on the fantasy side, that I don’t think they are as harmful (to witches) as some other media have been.
Given the extent of the fantasy in these fiction novels, anyone who thinks the stories are anywhere close to being accurate (i.e., the people who become interested in Witchcraft because they’ve read Harry Potter, IMHO) has a screw loose and needs a better grip on reality.
…”And then there’s that whole human nature through fiction question — I’ve seen Wiccan, Christian, and Islamic books pontificating on how you can find tenets of faith within the stories.”…
This is interesting, CuriousWind.
Sort of related to that comment, it also intrigued me that many of the names of characters and things Rowling used in her HP stories were not arbitrarily chosen:
For one example, the name of Harry’s first broom, the “Nimbus 2000″…
Nimbus: (Latin, related to Nebula, nephele, properly vapour, cloud), in art and archaeology signifies a shining light implying great dignity. Closely related are the halo, glory, and aureole.
Hmmmmmm
I can appreciate Osh’s opinion on the books. I, too, watched the first four movies (only the last two at the the theater), before I picked up a book, and that was to read The Order of the Pheonix. After watching the movie a couple of weekends ago, I agree that the book is better, and am planning on starting at the beginning to read them all.
That said, the reason I never felt like reading them is that I am not a big fan of reading fiction. I usually spend my time learning something useful, history, self-help, religion, etc. However, it is a great excape, and J.K.’s imagination is vivid. As far as the magic goes, adults these days must do a terrible job of raising children with imaginations. I was well aware that the wicked witches in movies and cartoons were fiction, and that even Samantha wasn’t real (Bewitched). For anyone to not realize that it is not REAL, they are just totally in the dark.
I kind of think Osh might like the books, but who knows. I, like her, don’t understand the mania, BUT, I’m all for something that has this many people around the world reading. Especially children.
The mania does seem extreme, doesn’t it? But i still must admit that I am a HP fan. I saw the first book reviewed when it was big in the UK and relatively unknown in the US. I was impressed by the review and read it to see if it was something my daughter might like.
My daughter was not to that reading level herself yet, she was not quite 5, but we read together daily. I loved the book and so did she. We read all of the books together, even though she was quite capable of reading them on her own by the third one, until Phoenix.
realistic? no. Fun? Yes! There is a lot of good mythology (from all over the world) in the books and a fair bit of latin. I love that it has kids reading and people thinking.
aureole? *snickers* Couldn’t resist.
Still, very illuminating.
I like the idea of getting children to read. I read books one and two. I bought books three and four planning to read them. Never got around to it. I would think adults who read Harry Potter to learn about withcraft, as being not too bright. Just like I’d say to the Christians who fear for thier kids souls if they read the book. “Hey guys its a book.” I hope to read the whole series, so I will get the other books and put them aside til I have time to read them.
I’ve not read the books but I have seen the movies. I feel anything that gets kids to read is a good thing.
Since making a recent observation on my mentoring site that I was born just about nine months after the first flying saucer sighting here by Mt. Rainier, that I have always felt a bit “out of step” with my contemporaries, it is not surprising that though I have seen the first Harry Potter movie on the boob tube, and actually read one book from the library, it doesn’t seem to be my cup of herbal tea. But then, I don’t go to movies often, still waiting for them to turn the “Foundation” series into a movie!
btw, Rowling is a *billionaire*.
http://in.rediff.com/money/2004/feb/27jkr.htm
Honestly, the books are soooo much more than just fantasy. I am not much of a fantasy fiction reader/fan – though I do appreciate, even love, the better ones of that genre. I think that is why so many people, children and adults alike, are passionate about Harry Potter. Sure, the fantasy touches are cute and incredibly imaginative; it, however, is the heart of the story that compels me to read all of them. Such humor, such heart, such intelligence, such serious moral thinking. The author does not treat any of the characters with kid gloves. You say you care very much about ethics, well read Harry Potter and you will not be disappointed. The overarching themes throughout the series are these of love, death, and the meaning of courage. The movies are fun entertainment, but they are NOT the books, by any stretch of the imagination.
I can understand being a witch and viewing those books with trepidation and skepticism. Think of it as merely a vehicle for the ideas that matter most to all humans. J.K. Rowling is well versed in the classics and that is very evident on almost every page. It truly is quality writing.
The fact that it is immensely popular and highly hyped can be off-putting, until one realizes that the sheer number of people being united by a love of one thing may be meaningful. I think one owes one’s self to find out what it is that is uniting sooooo many people. It might give one an idea of how society, as a whole, views itself: it views itself as having hope for the future of humankind. That is my perspective. I do not care if it sounds “kooky!” 🙂
Be aware that as the books progress, so does the maturity of the characters. The first two or three may seem almost juvenile and innocent, but they get darker and darker, which makes sense as each book is for each year Harry spends at the school. Oh, by the way, I see strong parallels between the Harry Potter world and the deaf world. I get a kick out of that.
Greetings, everyone…
To Belle – Thanks for the great commentary! You do make a compelling argument for jumping on the HP bandwagon…you just might have convinced me to give the books a try!
To Sunflowerwoman – Like you, I also am not much of a fiction fan…for having a fairly large collection of books, I would say only around 10% of them are actually fiction, the rest are self-help, historical, pagan/spirituality related, cookbooks, natural healing, etc. etc. I think the last work of fiction I bought was The DaVinci Code, and that was a couple of years ago! Yes, I might like the books…I guess I’m still working on getting over my initial skepticism.
To SpiritWolf – I guess that’s my excuse…I don’t have any children to read the books with!
Thanks to everyone for your comments.
I’m not sure this has convinced me to fall in love with Harry, but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to meet him for a drink.
😉
I’ve always been a fan of HP, not a big fan.. but I still have read the books and yes I did go to the nearest bookstore at two am to get the last book.. that I haven’t even read yet because I wanted to reread them all before I read the last one ( and I’m currently on the fifth book) so it would flow more easier for me.. because I tend to forget things after awhile.. silly me!
I believe I was ten just turning eleven when the book came out and I read it first soo many times and fantasize what it would be like if I got a letter from Hogwarts.. ahh those were the good days when my imagination ran freely.
But the real reason I believe that I like the books so much, is because J.K. is such a good writer that its soo easy to get into the book and stay into it and the details are so amazing that I don’t even think of it as reading, but more like watching a full fledge movie in my head like no other.
…”I’m not sure this has convinced me to fall in love with Harry, but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to meet him for a drink.”…
Pumpkin juice? Or Butterbeer? 😉
(Anyone know just what exactly butterbeer is anyway?)
….”the details are so amazing that I don’t even think of it as reading, but more like watching a full fledge movie in my head like no other”…
That’s a great way to describe it Muirin! I’ve read other fiction novels on occasion and enjoyed them, but yes, while reading HP stories, it’s almost like I’m not reading and I’m wrapped up in this totally cool movie-show going on in my head.
“(Anyone know just what exactly butterbeer is anyway?)”
fermented buttermilk?????
Blech. 😦
According to my research, there appears to be various recipes for the making of butterbeer, but the one that I think would most appeal to me is:
a tall glass of cold root beer to which has been added a shot of butterscotch schnapps.
Wonder what the legal drinking age for wizards is supposed to be…
Mmmmm…that sounds good! Guess I’d go with butterbeer over pumpkin juice then. 🙂 Can I have some now???
Funny, I wondered the same thing about the wizards’ drinking age too…since they always seem to convene in a pub of some sort.
Kids are allowed in pubs in the U.K. – as a rule they serve real food too. They are more of a gathering place than a bar. That said, I do think Europeans, including the U.K., have a more healthy attitude about alcohol consumption than good ol’ U.S. I mean, you know how young people are about all things “forbidden.”
I always imagined butterbeer as having a butterscotch flavor. It did not exist before Harry Potter; those recipes you saw, I’ll bet you, came into existence as a result of the books. Heh.
I am afraid I came on too strongly in my last comment; I am working on not being pushy about something I love! I am glad you were not put off by it, though. By the way, I think I first read the books when I was 30 or something – and I had no such excuse as being a parent or an aunt.
I forget to mention some things I admire the most about those books are the suspense, the who-dunnits, the clues carefully laid out through out the books, and the is-he-bad-or-good question on one character (the Professor Snape character that is wonderfully, ambiguously played by Alan Rickman in the movies – I reckon he is one of the greatest actors alive) that is not answered until the last book. The author had already determined the story needed to be 7 books – before she had the foggiest idea they would sell so well. The first printing was a mere 25,000 for the first book! So it is not some nefarious marketing ploy. 🙂 I also admire that she requested that all the actors be British – thank goodness lots of great actors come from those islands! Way to stick up for “her people.”
What you say about pubs in the U.K. makes sense…thanks for clearing up the confusion. 🙂 I’ll bet you’re right Belle, that butterbeer did not exist pre-Harry Potter.
Then again, neither did Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans….but leave it to someone to actually come up with jelly beans in flavors of grass, dirt, booger, earwax, and vomit! YUCK!!! I’ll stick to regular ol’ Jelly Belly’s, thank you. 😉