Stephen King on Book 7

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 175123

I just loved the Stephen King review. I especially appreciated his 
critique of other reviews -- I certainly got tired of reading reviews 
that focused on who died, or how much money the book has made....or 
solely focused on unanswered questions or problems with consistency or 
continuity. I think there is a lot of room for discussion of problems 
with or critiques of the books. Like many other posters, I have been 
disheartened by personal criticisms of JKR -- I think she's a great 
woman, a great mother, a terrific author, and her books are dynamite. 
But of course with so many millions of people reading the books, there 
will be unhappy individuals who project their own anger and frustration 
in their lives on to her.

I loved his comment about how the books stopped being children's books -
 I have been a little frustrated by comments about how people are not 
used to certain things happening in children's literature.....since I 
believe that HP transcends the manichean concept of children's 
literature/adult literature, meaning that it can't be forced into 
either category and made to stay there. I'm constantly seeing adults 
reading the books on airplanes, etc.

Before I make any judgmments on whether children have started reading 
more due to Harry Potter, I'd have to take a careful look at the study 
that indicated that it has not. Was it a random sample? How big was the 
study? There is a lot of research that is very flawed. Does anyone have 
a link to the actual studies?

I find it hard to believe that a significant number of children have 
not been drawn to reading through Harry Potter. One of my friends told 
me about a summer camp where the counselor found children awake at 3 
a.m. with flashlights taking turns reading out loud from the Deathly 
Hallows.

Reading books is a pleasure and experience that with its depth and 
texture is very different from the internet or from movies. I feel 
profoundly sorry for any individual who hasn't experienced the joy of 
reading.

Susan McGee