Harry Potter and the "Big Read" - Part 2 (long)

[junediamanti]

No: HPFGUIDX 83119

I hastily posted something about this last night - then the teenager 
in my life took control of the computer before I could add the 
following.

To recap - the BBC in the UK have an ongoing poll and series of TV 
programmes called "The Big Read".  Earlier this year, people were 
asked to submit their favourite books and a top hundred list was 
compiled.

For the interest of this list, JKR books which made it to the top 
100 were:

Philosophers Stone/Sorcerers Stone
Chamber of Secrets
Prisoner of Azkaban
Goblet of Fire

On last night's broadcast, the top 21 books were announced with a 
call for viewers to vote their favourite of all time. Over the next 
few weeks well known  people will advocate their choices in a series 
of programmes.  

Goblet of Fire was the book which made it into the top 21.

Other fantasy books which made the cut were LOTR (surprise, 
surprise) and the His Dark Materials trilogy.  The rest were a fair 
old mix - with some that some will like and others that are 
surprising.

The reason behind this post is to talk a little about the 
programme.  It was largely a talking heads broadcast with various 
usual suspects from british literati.  Among these was Andrew Davies 
who is well known as a dramatist from classical literary sources- 
for example, he was behind the adaptation of Pride and Prejudice 
made a few years ago and very successful.  Andrew was utterly 
scathing in his evaluation of JKR.  He expressed dismay at any of 
her books being included in such a poll and made the statement that 
she could not write at all and that all her characters were stock - 
nothing more.  Various others joined in in a sneering and 
patronising way too.

Now, I have a number of quibbles about JKR's writing but I must say 
I found this attack (for that is the way I saw it) quite 
unnecessary.  The attitude to the other fantasy novels included was 
much as one would expect.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get to a computer after the programme 
in order to vent my spleen.  So I have just done it on the BBC 
website and I attach my post below.  


"Was anyone else downright insulted by Andrew Davies attitude on 
last nights television programme?  While not for a moment implying 
that anyone should be restrained from their opinions, I felt he went 
way too far in his comments about J K Rowlings writing.  

Sure, I have a number of quibbles about her style (for example, I'm 
not too fond of her use of adverbs in dialogue attribution), but for 
him to say she cannot write at all, was just way too much.  

The programme was about "reading" as opposed to highbrow literary 
punditry and his snobbish remarks were emotive and unnecessary.  I 
felt this was just the usual stance that the so-called literary 
community tends to take about the fantasy genre as a whole and not 
just Rowling's work.  

Essentially, the Potter books deserve to be on the list because they 
precisely fit the criteria for a good read - they are entertaining 
stories.  Perhaps not earth shatteringly profound, but so what?  I'm 
on the side of stories.  Davies also accused her of populating the 
books with "stock" characters.  What on earth did that mean?  
Stereotypical?  Well perhaps, though I believe that as the main 
point of view character, Harry, grows up we are being given a 
gradual shift to more complex motivation as he himself journeys into 
maturity.

I can only assume that to certain critics, a book is not worthy of 
notice unless it is boring and incomprehensible.  Additionally, the 
fantasy genre should not be sneered at:  it houses some of the 
greatest works ever written.  Dante and Milton both live there.  
Dickens rented occasional space in the fantasy genre as did many 
others.  Personally, I would rather read about the doings of young 
Potter and his friends, than about some discontended middle class 
housewife who spends an entire novel debating whether to have an 
extra-marital affair.  

And finally - no I didn't vote for the Goblet of Fire as my all time 
favourite!"*

This was the end of my post.  I just thought you might like to see 
it, and here what provoked it.  I do feel strongly that the series 
is about what ordinary people enjoy reading and should not be about 
being told what to read.  I would imagine that if the panel had cast 
THEIR votes it would have ended up being like one of those tiresome 
highbrow newspaper book of the year lists which feature pseudish 
stuff that no one has every heard of.


June

(I voted for LOTR;-) - Go fantasy genre!)