[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Adult readers who are dismissive about Harry Potter

[Iggy McSnurd]

Iggy here:

I'm just going to reply to this thread as a whole, so I'm not really
going to bother to cut and paste for everything I'll end up addressing.
(Hope I don't offend or misquote anyone... I don't think I will,
though.)  Sorry that I took so long to reply... I just wanted to wait
until others had spoken first.

First off, I don't see anything wrong with reading books that are well
written, "children's literature" or not.  (And yes, I don't qualify the
HP books in any age category.)  Personally, one of my favorite books of
all time, "the Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster, is considered a
kid's book... and it is since it's written with kids in mind.  On the
other hand, you can get a new perspective every time you read it, and I
read it at least once every other year... if not more often.  I even
went so far as to recommend it to my last college class, which was about
learning to learn... (kinda hard to explain... but it's about optimizing
your ability to learn, really.) which is pretty much what PT is about...

Anyone with imagination and a true appreciation for writing can get
something out of any book they read... whether it be "War and Peace,"
the Harry Potter books, or as simple as Dr. Seuss.  At least, that's my
view on the issue.


Second, reading the HP books denotes solid intelligence level, rather
than a deficient one, IMHO.  My IQ level would get me into Mensa if I
took the time (and wanted to pay the dues.), and would be considered
even higher than it is if the tests weren't standardized to allow only
one correct answer.  (Let's face it... I think like my Coyote
namesake...  Intelligent, sometimes too clever for my own good, and
definitely "out of the box" and away from the mainstream.)

The discussions we have on these lists are (usually) intelligent,
analytical, creative, humorous, diverse, insightful, and articulate...
all are signs of a group of people who are very strong in the
intellectual arenas.


Third, it is my opinion that anyone who joins a reading group only to
get people to read the books that they are interested in, shouldn't be a
part of the group.  They don't understand what the purpose of such an
organization, nor do they have the social maturity to be willing to have
an open mind about books and thoughts outside of their usual experience.
As one person said (and I'm paraphrasing here): "They need to be mature
enough and do their homework like an adult, and without whining like a
little baby about it."  They would expect you to read their favorite
books and accept it gracefully, so they need to do the same.  (Besides,
you can always tell them that they should be glad you didn't pick
something like "War and Peace" by Tolstoy, or even worse, "Justine" by
deSade.  *grin*"

Also, you can remind them that you always understood the purpose of the
group to be in exposing the members to books they might not normally
read... or are you all only supposed to read "rotten romance novels" and
talk about how dreamy the brave pirate captain or roguish visiting
nobleman is?  (Is it a reading group?  Or a hen's sewing circle that
only discusses mainstream, self-defined "intellectual elite" culture and
books?  If it's the latter, then you were unfortunate enough to join up
with a group of poseurs...)


Lastly, for anyone who feels that they have the right to judge another's
hobby and tell them that they need to "get a life," needs to look a bit
more closely at themselves and see where they are lacking.  So long as a
hobby remains a healthy one (you know... no stalking Daniel Radcliffe or
wearing nothing but costumes and clothes from the WW and believing that
the only reason you can't do magic is because you're a Squib who was
given up for adoption... despite what your birth certificate says...),
then you have a life. 

Are you able to discuss common interests with people you know from the
lists?  Does being a fan of the HP books help you make friends?  Does
your hobby help to keep you out of trouble?  Do you still spend non-HP
based time with your friends and family?  If you can answer "yes" to all
of these questions, then you *have* a life.  You just also happen to
have a hobby that you are very enthusiastic about...


BTW: Tyler, I love your come back to your sister about the HP books.
*grin*  It sounds a lot like something I'd say to someone in that
situation.

Melanie... Going with Pippin's comment about the mothers being so proud
of their kid's brains because they question whether or not theirs are a
little on the "overripe" side (paraphrasing again here...)... It could
also be that, since they no longer have their children around to have
control over (especially on an intellectual achievement level), they
have sought out another group to try and have control over in the same
way.  People who talk about their kid's accomplishments in a social way
is one thing, those who brag about them in an effort to feel superior is
something else.  (And personally, I have little tolerance for that type
of behavior.  I will still be respectful... so long as they don't try to
roll their high horse right over me... but that type of behavior loses a
lot of respect from me.)

To K...  For the people who state that people who love the HP books and
see them as classics don't appreciate the "true" classics, just ignore
them and remember this:  What determines a classic book is not the
emphasis society places on it, but rather what emphasis *you* place on
it.  There are "Standard Classics" that are considered to be innovative
and well written literature, and then there are the "Personal Classics"
that you will always come back to and enjoy reading.  (For example, "the
Phantom Tollbooth" may not be one of the world's great literary
classics, but I love reading it.  On the other hand, I don't think I've
really ever enjoyed reading anything by Dickens, Hemmingway, or
Steinbeck... all of whom are considered to be authors of "classic
literary masterpieces."  IMHO, Dickens is just too wordy, Hemmingway
doesn't have a good sense of style, and Steinbeck is just too boring...
But as I said, that's IMHO.)

Besides, anyone who says that HP couldn't possibly be a classic or solid
piece of literary work needs to look at some of the other classics that
weren't appreciated until even years after the author's death... Edgar
Allen Poe is a great example of this... 



Well...  I think that's enough from me for now...

Iggy McSnurd