[SPAM] [the_old_crowd] More random jottings - on a theme

[Barry Arrowsmith]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Amanda Geist" <editor at ...> wrote:
>
> For God's sake, Kneasy. You're really getting down to the bottom of the
> barrel, finding things to complain about. Sometimes I think you comment for
> the joy of seeing your witticisms in type, rather than any substantive
> comment.
> 
>  

I can find a lot more to complain about, and without witticisms.
A week ago IMO it rated 6 out of 10.
After a re-read it's down to 5.


Substantive?
Where is there anything substantive in this book?
It felt padded yet at the same time it felt that the author wanted to
get it over and done with asap. An odd combination.

It's slight, trite and contrived.
Not necessarily damning faults in a book aimed at the younger 
market - so long as dialogue, technique and plot can take up the slack. 
The technical aspects have never been her strength and the way dialogue
ends up on the page can very samey - too much he said, she said, she
shrieked and so on. Everything depended on clever plotting and 
characterisation. But this time the plot fell apart like a badly made 
meat-loaf and the characterisations offered nothing new.

You may think this unduly harsh, even totally wrong, that's up to you.

The posting figures for this site aren't a good guide to fan enthusiasm,
the membership is small and most also post elsewhere anyway. Even so,
compare with the first week after HBP. Then -750; now it'll be about 250.
So try TOL: then about 2,000 in 4 days; now about 1,000 - and that with
an increase in membership.

These are indications that the majority of fans found it a cracking read?
I don't think so.

> 
> For my part, I found this book, and the whole series, totally satisfying
> without any arousal involved, on my part or the characters'. I even believe
> that one can have a long-lasting, geninue relationship without once
> considering anything physical. So if this lack dismays you, so sorry. Go
> read fanfic, they more than make up for it.
> 
> 

Arousal? Who the hell is on about arousal? 
HP is supposed to be about a magical realm inside/alongside the real 
world, and the travails of an adolescent who's part of both, or have I got
it wrong?

So tell me, just what do you think adolescence is?
What are the trials, tribulations, concerns, lessons, uncertainties and 
misunderstandings of adolescence? No, they shouldn't take centre stage, 
but one would expect at least some realistic reference to the feelings and
problems that many in the main readship target group are probably 
struggling with on a daily basis.

I  agree with Amanda ex-Slytherin. Pullman was much, much better and
deserves be more appreciated than JKR.  

> 
> I don't think anyone would argue that Lord of the Rings dealt in adult
> themes, either, and it also had no overt sex. One wonders what your comments
> would be, on that sequence, if it were Tolkien's next book that we were all
> hanging on, rather than Rowling's.
> 
> 

Tolkien?
It wasn't set in this world, no characters were growing into adulthood, and
he didn't like women much anyway. 

Meantime I'll salvage what minor pleasures I can from the wreckage.

Kneasy