Harry Potter: a great representation of our time?

[ellejir]

No: HPFGUIDX 77208

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wanda Sherratt" wrote:
> I have to disagree. There is no way JKR can remotely come close to 
> the power of writers like Tolkien and Austen, nor is she anywhere 
> near as literate as Lewis.  "Warm flat beer" is not too bad as a 
> description; I enjoy a lot of things about the HP books (the first 
4 
> especially), the tricky plotting, the red herrings, the clever 
> windup tying all the loose ends together, the energy, the humour.  
> But literary style would come somewhere near the bottom of the 
> list.  She's like Agatha Christie - a great read, but not a 
literary 
> master craftsman.

Me:
I have to disagree with you again.  Although I *adore* Jane Austen's 
writing (one of my all time favorites), I question the description of 
her writing style in terms of "power".  She is brilliantly witty, but 
her themes are intentionally commonplace, with self-realization and 
who-will-marry-whom being the most earth-shattering issues dealt with 
in most of her books.  And I must point out that even Jane Austen's 
work was not always uniformly brilliant (e.g. Northanger Abbey, IMO, 
and, yes, I do realize that it is meant to be a satire.)  
Tolkien is a very powerful writer (IMO), with sweeping themes and 
well-developed relationships between well-drawn characters. But his 
books are peppered with long, long, boring passages that describe the 
topography of Middle Earth in grueling detail (not uniformly 
brilliant writing, IMO, in other words.)  I think that Tolkien's 
writing has more resonance but less wit than JKR's.
I am currently reading the Narnia series to my son at bedtime, and I 
must say that "literary" though C.S. Lewis may be, he sure can write 
some awkward, rambling, run-on sentences.
The Agatha Christie comparison is not accurate, IMO.  The characters 
in those books are (for the most part) completely forgettable the 
moment that you put the book down.  I would not say that is the case 
with the HP series.

Wanda again (responding to whether or not the series will be popular 
50 years from now): 
> I think it depends on how well she finishes the series.  Another 
> volume like OotP would finish off a lot of the enthusiasm for HP.  
> But a good conclusion would probably establish it as a mid-
> level "classic".
> 

Me (again):
What exactly is a "mid-level" classic, in your opinion?  Perhaps the 
following:  Classic--univerally acknowledged fabulously written piece 
of literature that no one reads outside of a classroom assignment.  
(e.g. Dante's Inferno)  Mid-level classic--well written piece that 
people actually read for pleasure (e.g. LOTR)  Just kidding (for the 
most part!)

Elle (with apologies to all those who happily listen to the audiobook 
of Dante's Inferno on their way into work everyday)