OT: Oz is not Hogwarts

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 8328

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Dave Hardenbrook <DaveH47 at m...> 
wrote:
> The following article is mainly a comparison of the Oz books
> to Narnia, but it also mentions JKR and Harry.
> 
> http://salon.com/books/feature/2000/12/28/baum/index.html
> 
> I've been a devotee of Oz since practically infancy, but I have to
> admit that the author has a point.  JKR's world, though darker and
> more dangerous, makes for better literature.  And at least Harry's
> friends are not in a rut like the unaging, unchanging Oz characters.
> Harry *will* someday grow up, get married, and be DADA teacher,
> and Hermione isn't condemmed to be a "little girl after all" 
forever.
> 
> 
> 
>                                                  -- Dave


Very interesting article, Dave, and not really off topic. I like Oz, 
and love the movie, but don't really think the books are that good.
The author makes the point that some don't take C.S. Lewis as 
seriously because of the strong Christian content. Who else has read 
Lewis' trilogy? -- Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous 
Strength -- my favorite is Perelandra...  Lewis really highlights the 
conflict between pagans and Christians, which I find quite 
interesting...He basically says that paganism is passion without 
morality, which of course is not exactly true. My personal opinion
(which is controversial) is that Lewis and Tolkien were both pagans 
at heart. 

Anyway, the Narnia Chronicles are wonderful. My three year old loves 
the books that are written (and gorgeously illustrated by Deborah 
Maze) for kids aged 4 - 6, and we are slowly reading the Lion, the 
Witch and the Wardrobe (original adult version) chapter by chapter.
I can't decide which book is my favorite -- it's not the Silver Chair 
or the Last Battle..that's as far as I have gotten.

Anyway, despite JKR's repeated assertions that she was NOT influenced 
by Tolkien, I think she has written a history of another world in the 
same way JRRT did.

Susan