Harry Potter: 3 More Things I Learned

ExileStreet ^ | 8/1/07 | John Mark Reynolds

[ParsifalCA]

I am warning those who have not finished the series . . . and there must be still a few of them by now. . . that there are spoilers ahead. I have just finished the last book . . . having spent an enjoyable evening with it thanks to Sam’s Club and an indulgent wife.

I am done with Harry Potter and enjoying the literary aftertaste the way one enjoys a fine meal almost as much after it is done as when it is being consumed . . . though it is a bit sad that the series is finished.

And it is really finished . . .

Will one be able to re-read the books with pleasure?

I think the answer is only a tentative “yes.” If one knows the “puzzles” and “the secrets” of the book, it will not take away the charm of the characters or the fun of a good Quidditch match, but the first read will always be the best.

The strength of these books is in the plot and the second read, when everything is known, will be satisfying for finding all the clues to what happens . . . but I am hard pressed to know if I will want to re-read them a third or fourth time.

A really great book is as good on the fourth read . . . and some children’s books (Little White Horse) are better.

I deeply enjoyed the last book and thought the ending satisfying. For those who found them quite Christian, they will find much in this last book to give strength to their idea.

[CDHart]

Our county library has a lot of audio books. My daughter listens to them on her daily commute.

Carolyn

[Corin Stormhands]

Whew! If we can get the War of Northern Aggression folks over here, this thread will go 1000+ and end up in the Smokey Backroom.

"Malfoy" is a Yankee name...

[js1138]

Twelve reasons not to see Harry Potter Movies

Do you apply these same standards to LOTR, Narnia, Wizard of Oz?

[js1138]

It appears you've had the same sort of experience with dentists that I have ...

At times like this I always ask myself, "What would Tom Lehrer say?"

[Tax-chick]

French for “Bad Faith.” I do enjoy the puns.

Can we find some connection to Ron Paul? That’ll really stir things up!

[I still care]

You are right. He tells Tom to “regret”, but you know, that is very close to telling him to “repent”.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“Do YOU agree with it? If so, why did you see all the movies?”

I can assure you, it was not for entertainment purposes. I want to understand what is being fed to this generation of children.

[Tax-chick]

I can’t imagine.

I wasn’t the dentist’s fault that I need my eyeteeth pulled, but still ...

(Where’s that firewhiskey?)

[TexasAg1996]

Can we find some connection to Ron Paul?

He's like Thicknesse, the imperiused new Minister of Magic obeying and helping the enemy?

[PetroniusMaximus]

Either the HP points are valid or they are not.

[SuziQ]

Our public library has downloadable digital books. I've not checked how many are available, but they do have some. You can either burn them to a CD or put them on your MP3 player.

I, too, enjoy audio books on long trips. We try to do a lot of driving at night, and I'm the designated driver then, so listening to books does keep me much more alert than music.

John Cleese was outstanding reading "The Screwtape Letters". We listened to "The Two Towers" on audiotape several years ago on one of our trips, but I can't remember who read it.

[The Blitherer]

Hermione, whose parents were dentists.

Brilliant!

Very Rowling-esque humor, might I add.

[TalonDJ]

Whew! If we can get the War of Northern Aggression folks over here, this thread will go 1000+ and end up in the Smokey Backroom.

Oh yeah? That is nothing, let me explain how Harry Potter disproves evolution but support illegal immigration...

[js1138]

Do you apply these same standards to LOTR, Narnia, Wizard of Oz?

[TalonDJ]

I can assure you, it was not for entertainment purposes. I want to understand what is being fed to this generation of children.

Oh, so it did not effect you but Ignatz is not capable of raising kids to be as virtuous as you?

[TexasAg1996]

Oh yeah? That is nothing, let me explain how Harry Potter disproves evolution but support illegal immigration...

Wizards can apparate, so there's no sense in having any kind of borders, thus wizard immigration is OK. I'm stuck on the evolution bit...

[Lil'freeper]

That is nothing, let me explain how Harry Potter disproves evolution but support illegal immigration...

Did you see his American Idol tryout?

[SuziQ]

Hans Christian Anderson. - Useful, in that children are taught that there are real dangers in the world and that evil is evil but they tend to be overly moralistic - in a simplistic way.

Hmmm. Some of the HCA stories have witches in them, don't they? Otherwise, they kinda sounds like the Harry Potter stories.

[Xenalyte]

I’ve seen all the movies.

And as we all know, movies are perfect copies of the books they're taken from, so that's just as good.

[The Blitherer]

I think Scrimgeour is more of a Lincoln type - blow off the Constitution for the Bigger Purpose. Not to start a fight or anything ... it's definitely admirable, in a way, and certainly not an indicator of personal evil or weakness.

Uh oh! Careful with that! :-)

Actually, I really don't know enough about Lincoln (other than what I was taught in grade school) to really comment on that. Isn't that sad?

I think my next book should be a Lincoln biography.