I don't like him much

[javalorum]

No: HPFGUIDX 119971


> Kneasy wrote: 
> > One of the many definitions of adulthood is being willing to 
> > accept responsibility for one's own actions. OK, he's not an 
> > adult yet, though some posters seem to think he should be 
> > regarded as such, even though he has never shown any sign of 
> > acting like an adult.
>  
> Potioncat:
> You are dead right here.  Molly is blasted for treating him like a 
> child. Yet hardly anyone thinks he's should be expected to 
> demonstrate maturity around Snape. Harry is a teenager and he acts 
> just like one!  (And the one he acts like lives in my house!)



Hi,

I guess I'm too old to remember my teenage years but not yet old 
enough to have teenage kids yet, so I do tend to see HP as someone of 
my equal. Maybe someone younger, close to a younger brother or 
something, but I don't really have motherly love or auntie's 
indulgence to treat him like my kid. It's possible that this whole 
attitude is wrong right from the start. But at least, I think that 
may still represent a portion of the readers since now I share 
Kneasy's point of view.

My definition of a successful book is the kind that can set up a 
situation (including characters), and through narration, make most 
readers feel for it and believe it. I'm not into wizards and magic, 
but I'm fascinated by the world HP books created. That's what I call a 
success. So, similarly, a good children/young adult book (and I did 
read a few ;P) is the kind that make you go, "oh yeah, that's what 
being a child/teenager's like, I almost forgot", or "gee, I never 
thought about it that way, maybe I should start treating kids better 
from now on", even if you are just a society-hardened adult who doesn't 
have kids.

To me, OotP is just not as successful in creating a believeable world 
with engaging characters as the previous books.

Thanks for your attention,
Java