Harry Potter as the Antichrist?

[Mavfin]

If you want to get into a discussion of fantasy world creation, read the first part of David Eddings' Rivan Codex. He explains that the Belgariad and the Malloreon (and the other pair-Tamuli and something) were based in medieval romance.

Hmm. Percival. Garion. Frodo/Bilbo. Rand al'Thor. Harry. Much the same. The hero that starts out not knowing anything.

Oh, they're great stories. I have girls 9,7, and 6. The two older have read all of the Harry books, and the 9-year-old has read the Harry books, the Belgariad/Malloreon, LOTR, and is working on Eye of the World. Gettings kids to pick up a book as naturally as turning on the TV, or a movie, or using the computer, is a good thing!

And, the day the latest HP book came out, my wife and I were home by ourselves, Grandma had the kids for a week, and we had two copies of Order of the Phoenix, and we sat together in companionable silence and read the book. Aren't we exciting people!?

As far as the religiion thing with books like this, most of the best books of the genre have been through this at some time or other. L. Frank Baum died penniless because the churches didn't like the Oz books.........

[Nicodemus Phaulkon]

And, the day the latest HP book came out, my wife and I were home by ourselves, Grandma had the kids for a week, and we had two copies of Order of the Phoenix, and we sat together in companionable silence and read the book. Aren't we exciting people!?

THAT would have resolved so many hard stares and glares around my house for the first week or so after the release on the 21st. Luckily, my wife was in the full-fledged horror that is "marking the kids' finals" and so I got first dibs on Harry 5 by default. Still, it was fair... I only took 3 days or so, then it was alllllll hers.

Fun to talk about, together. Now we're debating the success that Prisoner of Azkaban will have in November; new director, new Dumbledore et al.

Kid's books, certainly. But then, the ones that you develop a lifelong love for usually are, in my experience. My wife STILL rereads her tattered copies of Anne of Green Gables; I still have my original copy of the Hobbit. "The Naughtiest Girl in School" still sits on the shelf, alongside the Chronicles of Narnia. I feel that those children growing up now, with Harry, will feel similar; I hold myself lucky that I retain enough of my childhood appreciation for a good, simple story that I do as well, well into my 30s.

My wife finds it endearing, at least; that's worth something. ;)

*tips helm*

[pakman]

I too read the Hardy Boys, in fact, I still have their book somewhere in my personal library. I read the Chronicles of Narnina in 5th grade, Foundation Series by Asimov in 6th grade, The Hobbit and the LOTR series in 8th grade along with Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and Tortilla Flats are some of the most notable ones that I read, but I have always read. I hardly watched TV as a kid, my parents didn't allow it.

Maybe I just view them wrong, but I have no interest in them, oh well. To those that enjoy them, more power to you. It's just a taste thing.

[Occhidiangela]

That the protagonist starts out the book knowing nothing? (Just teasing here. :) )

Well, then, Robert Ludlum's books must be based on Medeival Romance, as his heroes typically don't know what the hell is going on from page one to page n-1. (where n = length of book.)

As to Baum, he is getting his revenge. I read a lot of the Oz books as a boy. Silly things. However, in one book there is this whole exposition on all of the pills of learning: a pill for geometry, a pill for history.

We aren't there yet, but the "better living through chemistry" folks have taken more than a page from Frank's books. How many new drugs are to cure a disease, and how many are to "enahnce your life."

Prozac anyone? Viagra? The list is long and distinguished, but let's stop right there, since I mentioned viagra . . .

[pakman]

You forgot Ritalin and all the kids that supposedly have "ADD." I remember I was on a week long camping trip with a kid that took Ritalin. He was acting weird, feeling sick, etc. We wondered what was wrong with him, then we realized that he had not brought his pills with him, this kid was going through withdrawl. It's sad.