Book Classification-MOVIE vs. literature

[MmeBurgess at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 22330

Hi everyone!  Although I've only posted several other times, I've been a 
member for months now...I typically lurk.  But several things really caught 
my interest today in reading my digests and I wanted to surface for a few 
minutes and let you all know I'm out here.  As far as who "I" am, my name is 
Angela and I am a 24 yr. old French teacher at a small public HS in Georgia, 
in the US.  Please don't throw anything painful after you read this, although 
you're welcome to throw soft things like pillows, stuffed animals, I'll even 
survive a rotten tomato or two.

bbennett at joymail.com said:
"Also keep in mind that by the end of the series, H/H/R will be 17/18. Lead 
characters this old aren't featured in books classified as 'children's'(I'm 
not a children's literature specialist, and none of my librarian friends are 
picking up the phone right now. Young adult, maybe?)."
Then she added:
"A friend just called, a childrens' librarian, and I asked how she 
would classify the HP books. "Adult fiction," she said, without 
pause. I asked why she considers them adult fiction and not 
childrens'. She said:
*they are much too long to be childrens or young adult
*the writing is too complicated
*there are too many subplots"

While I agree with the fact that the books should be adult rather than 
children's lit, I don't think it has to do with the length, writing, or 
subplots.  I am ecstatic that children are reading these books and picking up 
the vocab, history, logical thinking processes, etc. while enjoying a good 
story.  I think that the only reason they should be adult lit is because by 
the end of the series, the tone is going to be considerably darker than in 
PS/SS.  When I was still a lowly bookseller at B&N (rather than my now 
much-elevated position of teacher =) ), I suggested to parents that they wait 
until their child was 8 before starting the series with them, although I know 
of at least one 5 year old who had had all the books read to him and 
understood it enough to participate in a discussion group.  Anyway, the other 
point I was going to make is that the age of the main characters rarely has 
anything to do with where a book is placed.  The "young adult" section is 
aimed at those readers who are 12 and above.  Some books (such as the 
Chronicles of Narnia) are cross-placed.

CMC said:
"Most people, if they read novels at all these days, read John Grisham-type 
junk.  Once upon a time, writers like Fitzgerald, Hemingway or Faulkner could 
write significant works of literature which were also popular successes. That 
is, you could discuss and make reference to their books in the popular arena, 
and have a high likelihood of being understood."

I agree with Caius here, but I also must say that we are a little biased in 
our opinions of the great HP series.  We love them.  We probably make 
references to them everyday.  HOWEVER, there are MANY people out there, 
especially people of an adult age, who have not read the books and on whom 
the references will be almost always lost.  For many adults, seeing a good 
movie is also a motivation to read the book on which the movie is based.  I 
agree that there will be many children who may now decide to simply wait to 
see the movie to catch up with all of their friends who have read the book 
rather than reading it themselves.  Chances are, though, that these children 
were less likely to read the books regardless of how much we want them to 
read it.

Anyway, sorry for rambling.  Just my 2 knuts worth.  Feel free to throw 
whatever you feel necessary.
Angela

Grownups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for 
children to be always and forever explaining things to them.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery


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