Why Do You Read the HP Books?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 142732

Ibchawz wrote:
<snip>
> I would like to start by stating that I am not a literary expert.  
> Other than the required high school classes and required college 
> courses in composition and literature while obtaining my 
engineering 
> degree, I have no formal training to be classified as a literary 
> expert. 

Alla:

Heee! I have no formal training to  be classified as literary expert 
either, except receiving quite in depth education on literature (even 
if a lot of this literature was very... ideologically oriented) while 
in middle school and high school ( for seven years, three or four 
times a week with very good teachers) and of course reading, reading, 
reading had been my favorite hobby all my life. Right, now when we 
are done with classifications, off to your questions.

 
Ibchawz: 
> The first issue I would like to address is JKR's writing ability 
and 
> style. I have seen comments regarding the contrived nature of some 
of 
> the plot elements used.  I have also seen comments that JKR 
> sacrifices character development to move the plot along.  At the 
> other end of the spectrum, I have read that some feel that the plot 
> follows the standard fantasy / hero's quest storyline too closely 
and 
> that she should be more original.  My question is:  If you feel 
these 
> books are so poorly written from a character, plot, and storyline 
> development perspective, why do you read them?

Alla:

Well, my answer to that would be simple enough, I suppose. I would 
agree with you IF the person find NOTHING at all to enjoy in HP books 
and  his/her overall opinion about the books is only negative, then 
indeed I AM surprised as to why such person continues to read the 
books.

BUT if person is critical of certain aspects of plot development, 
character development, while enjoying the other aspects, then I see 
nothing strange or unacceptable of being critical of the books.

In fact, I think it is a very great testament to JKR that fans care 
about her books so much that they would think that something is not 
written up to her usual standards.

Take myself, for example - I enjoy the books immensely, but I enjoy 
OOP significantly less than all other books for many reasons I stated 
in my posts. Does it mean that I am less a fan than someone who 
enjoys every word in  the books unconditionally? I don't think so. I 
care about characters a great deal, but I don't think that it should 
stop me from being critical sometimes. :-)



Ibchawz: 
> I have seen criticism of Harry Potter's character and moral fiber.  
> Comments I have seen include him being arrogant, lazy, rebellious, 
> amoral, immoral, plagiaristic, disrespectful, incompetent, etc.  If 
> Harry, as the main character, is really this bad a person, why do 
you 
> read the books?


Alla:

Hmmm, again I partially agree with you. I mean, I DO understand that 
fans read because they care about characters other than Harry. And if 
let's say one cares about I don't know, Draco, but could take or 
leave Harry's character, that I can understand.

BUT what I don't quite understand if someone not just indifferent to 
Harry, but hates his character, then I am not sure how one can get 
complete aesthetical enjoyment out of the books, because with every 
next book the story narrows down to being Harry's story and for the 
most part Harry's story only (IMO of course) and all other characters 
are pretty much supporting players and their character development 
only goes as much as it needed for Harry's story.  If you hate Harry 
and IMO narrator's voice never fails to convey the sympathy for him, 
even when Harry does stupid things, I am again not sure whether you 
are not missing some important themes in the story

Just my opinion of course,

Alla.