It is not the end of the world that people should read books like this. I'm not going to go that far. But something about the deep fanaticism for these books bothers me. Just more evidence of humanity's misplaced priorities at best, and an attraction for the supernatural (but not the supernatural one and only God) more likely.
I started to read the Prisoner of Azkaban and about four pages in I was so creeped out by the dark and foreboding fatalistic ... atmosphere... that I quit. My hubby Cyrano has read many of them however and I also agree they are cleverly written. Cyrano? care to add your wisdom?
That explains a lot. It really does.
The setup of Prisoner of Azkaban is very dark and foreboding, because it needs to be. Harry Potter needs to be kept in terror that Sirius Black, the man who went to prison for betraying his parents to Voldemort, has escaped to find Harry. It's supposed to be dark and foreboding, so that when you find out that Sirius Black is indeed HP's godfather and is looking to protect him FROM Voldemort (and that he was imprisoned unjustly), you are surprised. It starts out dark, but there's a flash of light at the end.
But something about the deep fanaticism for these books bothers me.
A lot if it has to do with the fact that there hasn't been a decent epic story written in a long time, so when there is an epic story with a great sense of humor, it resonates with people. The fascination I have for the books, at least, is that I haven't read a good story like them since LOTR.
My take on Harry Potter — I can’t make it through an entire book or an entire movie.
I love fantasy/sci fi. I watch and rewatch the LOTR. Herbert, Heinlein, Clarke, Lawhead, .... loved all of it. Grew up with it.
But I can’t wade through Harry the P. It’s corny. It’s “Wendy the Good Little Witch” and “Caspar the Friendly Ghost” without the animation.
Sorry, but it isn’t interesting. Religious? — Hardly.