Missing from 'Harry Potter" – a real moral struggle,

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 07.25.2007 | By Jenny Sawyer

[ECM]

I’ve read the first book and part of the second—she’s a hack.

[Resolute Conservative]

By that argument the Simpson are great tv, is that the model you want for your kids?

[Politicalmom]

Thread Dementors!!

All together, now.

Wands up!!

EXPECTO PATRONUM!!

[goodwithagun]

I have read all of the books except for the last. My mother bought it for me for my birthday and I will get it this weekend when I visit her. I loved all of the books, and consider them a Godsend. As a publik screwl teechur, it is difficult to get kids to read. These books have opened up the world of reading to so many children of the video game generation. Not only are the books entertaining, there are many moral and even Christian issues dealt with by the characters. These issues will not jump out at the reader, the reader must look into the issues. I strongly suggest that you read them for yourself instead of relying on another’s opinion.

[wolfinator]

“Without inner conflict, the hero’s tale was hollow.”

I don’t buy it. Where’s the “inner conflict” in, oh say, “Atlas Shrugged”? And I’m not sure Frodo experienced much inner conflict other than that caused by the evil properties of the ring.

The greatest conflict in Potter is the one involving the effort to try to persuade people that evil exists, cannot be ignored or wished away, and must be fought.

Sounds to me like the author of this article is just trying to be “the smartest guy in the room.”

[Resolute Conservative]

We have taste and standards maybe...

[Revolting cat!]

I’m certain that all those accusing you of providing “expert opinion” have read all the book reviews which indeed confirm that the author is a talentless hack, who can’t write an English sentence without a cliche or a dead metaphor in it. And of course, 325 million horsepoop eating flies can’t be wrong!

[null and void]

This judgement comming from a murderous cult mouth piece, founded by a charlatan fraud is not worth spit.

I saw no reference to islam.

[discostu]

At least you bothered. To each their own. I don’t think she’s the best writer on the planet, though she definitely does get better with the craft every book, but I like the story and she at least has good pacing. There are three things I want in a writer: a good story, pacing that allows the reading to be entertainment, and good prose. JKR has 1 and 2 down, and like Meatloaf said two out of three ain’t bad.

[FortWorthPatriot]

Saw your profile page - your baby looks like a very young Hermione!

[Hoodlum91]

And no knowledge.

[null and void]

I’ve read the first book and part of the second—she’s a hack.

FWIW, the writing quality improves thoughout the series. Her first book is a bit lame, but there are darn few authors for whom that isn't true.

[goodwithagun]

I explain this to my students all the time. All you need to do is find a genre that appeals to you. Apparently, Harry Potter does not. Just because you don’t like the books doesn’t mean that they are crap. It simply means that you don’t like them.

[lovecraft]

By creating a series of books that have millions of young people reading instead of killing zombies in some virtual world,

Hey watch that, I and many others are simply preparing for the day when the dead walk...mark my words young man, that day is coming and YOU BETTER BE PREPARED!!!

When some stiff is trying to eat your brains out, I'll be in my bunker eating pork n' beans....and then will see who will be laughing.

[hsalaw]

I grew up in the 50s where all we did was read because we didn’t have the joys of TV and the internet. I’ve read classics and I’ve read cr*p, and I don’t need anyone to tell me what I should like. I enjoyed the books, and I enjoyed the movies (but less so, because books are always more fun than the movies made from them), and I fully expect to enjoy the last book and remaining movies.

[Resolute Conservative]

“many moral and even Christian issues dealt with by the characters”

Good trick since I was under the impression that Rowlings has made no statement to being a Christian and has tacitly denied it knowing that a admission would kill book sales. Regardless it is frown upon by churches for its message.

[Corin Stormhands]

I’ve read the first book and part of the second—she’s a hack.

Oh Yeah?

She can afford it.

;-)

[billbears]

When I was the age of these kids reading Potter, I was reading the first of Asimov's Foundation trilogy. There was a story behind it but it had less to do with morality as the author is speaking of. I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with these Potter books (other than the reading level is sub-first grade at best and says something about our culture's education system). And while the books aren't up to par, the movies are excellent escapism for a Sunday afternoon.

Not every book for a kid has to be a morality tale. Yes, Chronicles and Lord of the Rings before they're teenagers but other than that, with some boundaries, kids should be able to read anything and everything out there. Well other than Wuthering Heights which is a torture tool to be used only when they've done something extremely bad

[ClearCase_guy]

Successful storytelling rests on a few basic principles. One of them is this: A story is about someone who changes, who grows through a moral struggle. What is Harry's struggle? Exactly.

Okay. I'll mark "Harry Potter" down as "unsuccessful storytelling".

Shall the hundreds of millions of copies of the book be recalled? And shall we yank the Billion dollars out of JK Rowling's bank account? That woman has failed miserably to tell a successful story!!!

[goodwithagun]

The greatest conflict in Potter is the one involving the effort to try to persuade people that evil exists, cannot be ignored or wished away, and must be fought.

Excellent point. We can apply that to the WOT. I could integrate that into my Brit. Lit. class!