[HPforGrownups] Re: They are children's books (Was: the heart of it all)

[Sue Porter]

No: HPFGUIDX 81877




>>Golly: >
>The first book was perfectly suited for children 8-11 (depending on
>reading skill).  I read books for that age group all the time and
>enjoy many of them. HP is hardly unsual in any respect.  It is
>delightful and skillfully achieved. OOTP was probably written for 13-
>15 year olds.
>
>Rowling's recent offering certainly does not have the emotional or
>literary sophistication of Orwell or Kafka or even Atwood, which
>would probably be beyond the reading abilities of many (but not all)
>of that age group.
>
>Plus OOTP combines serious political dystopia themes with the
>everyday lives of children.  A common tac for children's novelists
>with a political bent. Rowling is not the first to bring in issues
>like prejudice and bad adult administration.
>
>Many children's writers write stories that are just as challanging
>and just as dark, if not more so. (Though one is certainly free to
>think Rowling does it better.)
>
>If you don't think so, then you aren't reading the same children's
>books I do.  If all that you see are those books you haven't read
>since you were 11 and Mary Kate and Ashley books or Goosebumps, then
>you don't see the range of children's literature out there.
>
>It is a thriving and vibrant genre. It is a real talent to write for
>children and teenagers specifically.  Sometimes a good story will
>enthrall all.
>
>But to paraphrase Neil Gaiman - Rowling isn't revolutionizing the
>genre. Perhaps she is changing the way people look at the genre.  But
>apparently not, since many adults still refuse to admit they are
>reading children's novel.
>
>Too bad you're embarrassed to like a children's/Young Adult book, but
>I'm not.  Nor am I embarrassed to like the others that I do.
>
Sue P:

I totally agree Golly, there are some briliant young adult books about these 
days and I think JKR has headed into that genre. You are right when you say 
that each book is set to Harry's age - really how can it be anything else? 
Can you imagine reading about a 15 year old in the language meant for an 11 
yr old? It would make the characters and situations totally unreal, 
unbelievable and boring. No one wouldbe able to identify with Harry. He 
would become a two dimensional character because he wouldnt be able to 
exhibit the 'real' traits of a teenager  if viewed through a child's eyes.

I personally read everything I can get my hands on of my kids books, and 
they read a lot. One of the most stunning series of books set for teenagers 
I have read was John Marsdens Tomorrow When the War Began series. Story 
about war, youth, danger, death, bravery, survival etc. Quite a dark series, 
and not a happy ending, but perhaps war never has a happy ending. Thats why 
I can see JKR not giving us a happy ending with Harry being the ultimate 
victor. I can see Voldie carking it, but I also can see Harry needing to die 
to enable that to happen.

Another poster, I think it was Remnant talked about the HP books being an 
epic rather than a mystery, and I totally agree, but where he sees the end 
of the books with ultimate battle of good over evil being won and Harry 
being the victor, and only the how of achieving this a mystery, I also see 
that it may not be as straightforward as this, and it scares me.

Must be the mother in me - the nurturing side of me, but I worry for Harry. 
I want him safe. He's clueless enough as it is without him becoming 
ineffectual as well. And the mother in me screams that unless he comes out 
of this alive it's all a bit pointless and all for nothing. A part of me 
would mourn the fact that nothing that he did made a difference, that he may 
as well have died as a baby, what was it all for, what a waste! And again 
that mother in me cannot see that his death can be written in an uplifting 
way. His death could never be justified by saying that what he did was for 
the good of the WW. To save thousands of lives at the cost of one just 
doesn't cut it with mum.

And no, I am never embarassed at reading HP in public, ever. Some peope have 
seen me reading the series over and over again. Now they just ask 'Which one 
this time?' when they see me.

Sue

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