A perspective on OOP

Sun Sep 14 03:57:11 UTC 2003

No: HPFGUIDX 80736

 Wanda wrote:

linlou:

  I'm really sorry, Wanda, that the series has lost its' magic for 
you. Isn't it amazing that we can feel that level of betrayal on 
behalf of fictional characters? I sympathize with you as I have felt 
that betrayal from several movies and television shows in the past.( 
I have a strong tendancy to become WAY too attached to fictional 
characters no matter what the medium.) However, I am in camp with 
those that love OOP, which is simply a difference of opinion- no 
more, no less. Read on for why I feel this way.

 Yoda :

< I loved OOP. I think that the dark tone was very appropriate. When 
I was trying to contemplate what might happen after reading GOF, I 
remember thinking that the next  book would be darker and Harry 
would  probably be changed significantly by the the events in GOF, 
and I hoped  that JKR would be up to the task of writing it that 
way. I'm in the same mind as people who feel that the first two 
books are in no way on the same level with the later books.  To be 
fair they are better than a lot of other books, but it's kind of 
like re-reading Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Interview with the 
Vampire is the book you have to get through to get to the good 
stuff. >

linlou:

 I agree that the tone of OOP was appropriate, even, dare I say, 
expected (by me, myself and I anyway). I never even thought about 
whether JKR would be up to the task though. It simply never occured 
to me to question it. I don't, however, feel that the early books of 
the series are inferior to the latter, but that they are, instead, 
rather a different kind of book that do the job they were meant to 
do- entertain the audience more than ably, introduce the world and 
its' characters and create the suspension of disbelief that is 
necessary to the reader at the same time (not an easy feat in and of 
itself me-thinks). 

 msbeadsley wrote:

< IMO, a better written book would have communicated every bit of 
what Harry 
 was going through and left it Harry's without making it mine (which 
I'd 
 have resisted going in except that the first four books built up 
such a 
 great level of trust in me that I failed to mount defenses).>

  And Yoda replied:

 < I think that the best books are the ones that suck you in and 
cause you to live the events along with the characters. Harry went  
through a very tramatic experience and then came back to find that 
the  general public did not believe him.  He has had his sense of 
security  taken from him after being spirited away from Hogwarts and 
betrayed by  someone he trusted (fake Moody).  So it makes sense 
that if we are to appreciate what he is going through our sense of 
security will be removed too.>

And then in a later post msbeadsly added:

<All in all, I feel somewhat as if OoP was a mostly unpleasant, 
large 
 expository *lump* which had good bits, mostly concerning 
characters, 
 labeled "insert comic relief here" or "insert ray of hope there.">

linlou:

As I said above, I sympathize with the disappointment in OOP as I 
have some experiance with the sentiment. Msbeadsle, if I am reading 
your post correctly, in addition to not liking the tone of the book, 
you found the flow of it disjointed? It sounds like you found the 
insertions of "comic relief" and "rays of hope" to seem artificially 
placed. I respect that, but am afraid we will have to agree to 
disagree on this aspect of OOP.  I thought the book flowed well. In 
fact, my first read took me nine hours. (straight through except for 
the ride home and bathroom breaks-first four chapters in a 
restaurant next to the bookstore) I tried to go to bed but I 
couldn't put it down.

I said above that the first books in the series were different 
kinds of books than the latter installments that we have so far. I 
promised to explain that statement so here we go. 

First of all, I have read all the arguments in the last couple of 
days both from those who liked OOP and those who didn't. In some of 
the posts, the point was made that as Harry developed more and 
understood the world around him in a darker light, so must the 
temper of the books change in order to grow with him. In short, it 
would be unrealistic for the books to be all moonlight and roses. I 
understand that was not even what the disappointed readers were 
looking for per se but it seems that many felt the change to swift 
and sudden. IMO, it was neither swift nor sudden, but progressed 
naturally beginning all the way back with Prof. McGonagall refusing 
to listen about the stone being in danger in SS/PS. It is 
intermitant during the next two books but the stage is set for the 
disillusionment that really starts to take hold in the hospital 
scene at the end of POA. The reason that, (agian IMO) the shift in 
OOP seemed so sudden is because that theme was really not explored 
in GOF, so when it resurfaced in OOP as an overriding concern for 
Harry and co. the anger spawned by it seemed to come out of nowhere 
when in fact it had been simmering on Harry's back burner since the 
end of his first year.

But I'm getting off track. I was talking about the books being 
different types wasn't I? Sorry about that.

I'm a major book worm. In my school days, I was the kind of kid 
who's mother had to yell at her to put the book down and do her 
algebra homework. When my high school english teacher assigned the 
first chapter of a book we were going to analyze, I usually had the 
entire thing read by the next morning. My husband once picked on me 
because I was totally absorbed in the VCR instructions when I 
already knew how to work the thing. If it's written down, I'll read 
it. However, reading and enjoying can two different things 
(admitedly with me that is rarely the case) and what I enjoy reading 
depends on what I need from the book at the time. If I am looking 
for a romp to amuse me I will read a certain type of book. If I am 
looking for a trap door through the floor of reality I read another 
type. The beginning books of the Harry Potter series are variations, 
depending on the chapter, of fulfillment of these two possible needs 
of an audience. As such, they seem to be aimed at a certain target. 
I do have, however, a third category. This is the category that GOF 
begins to fall into and OOP is entirely in- reading to gain insight 
into ourselves and the world around us. I agree with Yoda in that I 
don't want to understand what Harry is feeling. I want more 
than that. I want to feel it right along with him. When I am able to 
do that, I can explore my own reactions and hopefully understand 
myself and my worldview better as a result.

Basically, I guess my point is an old one. We bring our own 
experiences and needs to every book we read. That's the beauty of  
reading. In movies and television the perspective is chosen for us.
With a book, the story is written as it is, but the reader guides 
the experience. Personally, I seem to have an innate talent to 
adjust my needs as a reader to the type of book I'm reading, and 
that's my good fortune. To those who need the book to fit their 
need, I understand the disillusionment caused by OOP. I hope my 
thoughts might help you see the book in a new light should you ever 
decide to give it another try.

 Oh yes, I almost forgot to add one thing. Yes I AM still having fun.

-linlou