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At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Guitarzan on July 21, 2007, 02:00:53 PM

Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Guitarzan on July 21, 2007, 02:00:53 PM
I just finished the final Harry Potter book!  Got it at midnight and finished at 8:30.  It's a good read I recommend to anyone.  So what did y'all think?
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 21, 2007, 02:38:33 PM
Not quite that hardcore but i did pick it up from asda for a fiver a few hours ago - not rushing too much though


NO SPOILERS PLEASE!!!
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: ailean on July 21, 2007, 02:55:33 PM
Yeah me and my wife have been following the series. It arrived this morning, she's got first read though :)
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: indysmith on July 21, 2007, 04:06:28 PM
hehe check this out; http://www.potterpuppetpals.com/
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 21, 2007, 04:08:43 PM
Quote from: indysmith
hehe check this out; http://www.potterpuppetpals.com/


That was 100% awful.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Transcend on July 21, 2007, 04:08:59 PM
and im cheap so i downloaded it off mininova.org
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: indysmith on July 21, 2007, 04:25:52 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Quote from: indysmith
hehe check this out; http://www.potterpuppetpals.com/


That was 100% awful.

LOL which did yu watch?
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: jt on July 21, 2007, 06:10:15 PM
Quote from: indysmith
hehe check this out; http://www.potterpuppetpals.com/


 :D

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

That was great !

 :D  8)
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 21, 2007, 07:04:05 PM
Too skint to buy the book ATM,

it's going to have to wait a couple of weeks :(
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: ailean on July 21, 2007, 11:11:20 PM
Sorry to hear that Kilby, you could always borrow a copy for now, I'm sure there will be a few that have been read by the end of the weekend!
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 22, 2007, 01:11:39 AM
Quote from: ailean
Sorry to hear that Kilby, you could always borrow a copy for now, I'm sure there will be a few that have been read by the end of the weekend!


Somebody with the same mode of thinking as me :)

If I was in london I would borrow my landladys copy, as she didn't understand the other books but she still buys them

I like the tagline, it's very close to one a great Robyn Hitchc--k lyric.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: plastercaster on July 22, 2007, 09:25:43 AM
Finished at 11:40 last night, with a break to see the order of the pheonix in between.
Thought the ending was a bit off, personally.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: 38thBeatle on July 22, 2007, 11:07:40 AM
Mrs 38th is an avid reader of the books. I have never gotten around to it and I am  always reading something.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 22, 2007, 11:53:33 AM
I finished at about 2.30 last night - had to get it out the way because i was being pestered by the mrs. . .   in fact thats why it wasnt finished sooner!!!

Pretty much predicted most of it really, from the mention of horcruxes in the 6th book it was fairly obvious what the last one was going to be!!!

And snapes story . .  fairly pathetic!!!!

I just feel sorry for all  the little kids reading it when they got two chaptesr into the book and to the first death!!!

My god!!! How sad is this, a 27 year old bloke on a mostly male guitar forum blabbering on about Harry bloody Potter!!!!!!"!!!  I shouild really et back to talking about star wars, far more age and gender appropriate
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: ailean on July 22, 2007, 11:56:15 AM
Don't worry WezV you're not the only one!
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: badgermark on July 22, 2007, 07:58:39 PM
In the words of Jesse 'the Body' Ventura from Predator:

Blain: Bunch of slack-jawed faggots around here.


Next adult I see reading Harry Potter on a bus is getting smacked with my copy of War and Peace. Or possibly Catch-22, any adult fiction i can get my hands on.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 22, 2007, 08:39:12 PM
Quote from: badgermark

Next adult I see reading Harry Potter on a bus is getting smacked with my copy of War and Peace. Or possibly Catch-22, any adult fiction i can get my hands on.


go with war and peace - it will do a lot more damage!!!
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 22, 2007, 08:48:42 PM
Quote from: WezV
Quote from: badgermark

Next adult I see reading Harry Potter on a bus is getting smacked with my copy of War and Peace. Or possibly Catch-22, any adult fiction i can get my hands on.


go with war and peace - it will do a lot more damage!!!


+1000

Amazing book that btw...
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Philly Q on July 23, 2007, 12:32:28 AM
Quote from: badgermark
Next adult I see reading Harry Potter on a bus is getting smacked with my copy of War and Peace. Or possibly Catch-22, any adult fiction i can get my hands on.

Crime And Punishment might be more appropriate.

I've never read any of the Harry Potters and don't particularly want to.  Even if I did want to, I probably never will, because (I'm sorry to say) I'm a literary snob of sorts - I will not be seen reading "those" books which even people who don't normally read have read.  So no Harry Potter, no Captain bloody Corelli and no DaVinci Code.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: badgermark on July 23, 2007, 09:03:13 AM
Crime and Punishment was a good read, went through a russian classics phase recently, read C&P and the Idiot after War and Peace.

Seriously, Harry Potter is a children's book.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: nfe on July 24, 2007, 12:42:52 AM
Quote from: badgermark
Seriously, Harry Potter is a children's book.


And?
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: futuregun on July 24, 2007, 12:58:24 AM
ha finished it th day.was good, satisfyin endin to th series.whats all this tomfollery about it being a childrens book....an th negative conotations that seem to be goin along with that?
tis a good entertainin fun read.will make a great movie too.

though you should check out the trilogy called " his dark materials" those books ALTHOUGH MEANT FOR YOUNGER READERS(or rather that they are able to easily be followed) are still v.good. an sort of stay within th same vibe of th potter series.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 24, 2007, 03:51:41 AM
Quote from: futuregun
ha finished it th day.was good, satisfyin endin to th series.whats all this tomfollery about it being a childrens book....an th negative conotations that seem to be goin along with that?
tis a good entertainin fun read.will make a great movie too.

though you should check out the trilogy called " his dark materials" those books ALTHOUGH MEANT FOR YOUNGER READERS(or rather that they are able to easily be followed) are still v.good. an sort of stay within th same vibe of th potter series.


Phillip Pullman's books are infinitely better than the Harry Potter books, although am not so sure of the movie which is being made...
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 24, 2007, 08:59:50 AM
the last book of the dark materials trilogy is excellent - well worth reading.  It makes me happy to know that children are being given books to read that challenge them to think about complex philosophical issues.  I know the film will disapoint me but i will go any see it anyway!

With harry potter i suppose if we compare it to films its the same as being able to enjoy very complex and arty subtitled films one night then watch star wars the next!!!   Lifes all about the variety!
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: ToneMonkey on July 24, 2007, 09:01:28 AM
I didn't drink on Friday (well maybe a couple after work), so that I could give my wife a lift to Borders at midnight.  We got their about 11.15 and got out at about 1am.

She started reading it in the car with a torch and then stayed up until 3 in the morning reading it.  Next day she got up at about 11am and finished the book at 8pm.

Still, I bought a guitar book while I was there and now I must be about twice as good on the axe as I was on Friday, so not a complete loss of the weekend.  (Obviously I was cr@p before).

Anyone want to know who dies.................only joking
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Philly Q on July 24, 2007, 09:19:06 AM
Quote from: ToneMonkey
Still, I bought a guitar book while I was there and now I must be about twice as good on the axe as I was on Friday, so not a complete loss of the weekend.  (Obviously I was cr@p before).

I think I need that book!  Which one is it?
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: badgermark on July 24, 2007, 10:01:10 AM
I read the Dark Materials books when I was a young teen, tried again recently but was bored after the first chapter. Think it's a bit too simply written for my tastes these days.

Saw a trailer for the movie though, looks pretty decent. Though the polar bears look cr@ppy.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: deg0ey on July 24, 2007, 10:55:32 AM
Quote from: ToneMonkey
She started reading it in the car with a torch and then stayed up until 3 in the morning reading it.  Next day she got up at about 11am and finished the book at 8pm.


One of the girls I work with went to a 'Harry Potter Party' at waterstones. Apparently her and her friend won the harry potter quiz (loser). They then sold her the book at midnight, and she went home and read for the next 9 hours until she finished it - now that's dedication :lol:
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: ToneMonkey on July 24, 2007, 11:03:18 AM
Quote from: Philly Q
Quote from: ToneMonkey
Still, I bought a guitar book while I was there and now I must be about twice as good on the axe as I was on Friday, so not a complete loss of the weekend.  (Obviously I was cr@p before).

I think I need that book!  Which one is it?


http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Guitar-Handbook-Ralph-Denyer/dp/033032750X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-4623755-6235936?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185271214&sr=8-1

But keep in mind that I was particularly cr@p before hand  :wink:
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Philly Q on July 24, 2007, 12:51:32 PM
Ah, I already have that book (a very old copy I've had about 20 years, in fact, with Andy Summers' Hamer guitar on the front)!  :lol:

It's very good for theory stuff, I remember, but I didn't learn nearly as much as you did.  And there I was thinking you'd found a magic book that would make me a better player overnight.  Damn and blast!  I guess I'm a lost cause...  :cry:
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: ToneMonkey on July 24, 2007, 02:51:20 PM
It's mainly the theory stuff that I needed.  I could arse about, but I didn't know what I was doing.  I've been reading up on chord progressions and the such like and now I actually understand what I'm doing.

Pentatonic's once I've got the chords sorted.

Anyway, this seems like another thread that I've hijacked so I'll try to pull it back to Harry Potter........................

......................Anyone want to know who dies?  Because I already know  :lol:
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Philly Q on July 24, 2007, 03:30:40 PM
Quote from: ToneMonkey
......................Anyone want to know who dies?  Because I already know  :lol:

Yeah, me too.  Although not having read the books, it didn't have that much significance for me!   :P
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: deg0ey on July 24, 2007, 06:36:07 PM
Quote from: ToneMonkey
Anyone want to know who dies?  Because I already know  :lol:


You say 'already' like it's really soon :P

Most of the people that would be REALLY annoyed by finding out have probably finished the book already...Also, I predicted all of the major deaths, go me 8)
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: plastercaster on July 24, 2007, 06:52:33 PM
Quote from: Philly Q
I probably never will, because (I'm sorry to say) I'm a literary snob of sorts - I will not be seen reading "those" books which even people who don't normally read have read.  So no Harry Potter, no Captain bloody Corelli and no DaVinci Code.

It's not "even people who don't normally read", it's only people who don't normally read. Heavy on the plot twists, light on character building and the result is a book for people who don't like reading, but something the literary elite despise.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Philly Q on July 24, 2007, 07:21:13 PM
Quote from: plastercaster
It's not "even people who don't normally read", it's only people who don't normally read.  Heavy on the plot twists, light on character building and the result is a book for people who don't like reading.

I like that phrase!  I always say something similar about those sh!tty 90s "ironic" horror films like Scream, Urban Legend, Final Destination and I Know What You Did Last Summer - horror movies for people who don't like horror movies.

To be fair to the Potter books, I don't think the kids who read them fall into the "people who don't like reading" category, they're genuinely enthusiastic and it seems to have encouraged many of them to get more into reading generally, which is a very good thing IMO.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on July 24, 2007, 08:01:54 PM
It's actually really nice to see kids eager for the release of a book.

Makes a change from a games console.
I think the hype has been way overdone though- just like on the Apple iPhone (and I am an apple fan - just one who is sick of the marketing overkill that has been in place this year)
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 25, 2007, 01:02:05 PM
My kids love the Potter books (and I end up reading them eventually), along with the Lemony Snickett series. My sons dyslexia has caused me to read a hell of a lot of books to him that other kids would read themselves.

Anything that gets kids thinking is a good thing, though I don't understand the adult fasination with the HP series. Without having kids I simply wouldn't have bothered, but it has helped me pass a lot of otherwise dull hours.

As for Phillip Pullman & the Dark Materials trilogy, well theres so much real church history (and dislike for religion) that I wouldn't count it as a 'kids' book, though the 1st book is a real slog (in my opinion)

My own reading at the minute though is the Derren Brown book, and The God Delusion (Richard Dawkins)

TBH the only popular fiction I dislike is Dan Brown and the pseudo quality literature like Captain Correllis Mandolin (and other Richard & Judy sh1te)

Recent fiction has been
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stepenson http://www.amazon.co.uk/System-World-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0099463369 an excellent romp around 17th & 18th century world.

The Illumantis Trilogy (again), no wonder my mind is a little damaged

The Wheel of Time series (11 books), not my usual reading, and was bought by weight rather than quality, but easily digestable on 15 hour bus journeys

Hmmm time to re read the Historical Illumantis Trilogy (again)
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Philly Q on July 25, 2007, 02:31:26 PM
Quote from: Kilby
The Wheel of Time series (11 books), not my usual reading, and was bought by weight rather than quality, but easily digestable on 15 hour bus journeys

I'm up to book 6, but I keep waiting for Waterstones to have them on "3 for 2" offers and they never do.

Back on the "kids' books that work for adults" theme, I've enjoyed the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson.  I started buying them not because I'm a fan of James Bond or The Fast Show (or even The Higsons), but because I really like Higson's adult novels.  Unfortunately he hasn't written one for quite some time.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 27, 2007, 04:21:32 PM
Quote from: Philly Q

I'm up to book 6, but I keep waiting for Waterstones to have them on "3 for 2" offers and they never do.

Back on the "kids' books that work for adults" theme, I've enjoyed the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson.


For the WoT series try "Books etc" do the buy 1 get one half price all the time (the sole advantage of working in Canary Wharf), I hope the bugger dosn't die before finishing the last one (selfish I know but after spending so long reading the things)

I was going to mention the Bond books (but I forgot), theyre quite dark (and a good job too). I thought the third one came out this year (rummages around amazon and comes up with January 07)

The Artimis Fowl series are good fun but have a slightly dark edge.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 27, 2007, 04:26:07 PM
Quote from: Kilby

The Artimis Fowl series are good fun but have a slightly dark edge.


What's dark about Fairies? xD
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: _tom_ on July 27, 2007, 04:26:39 PM
Well I've only just started reading "The Half Blood Prince", its pretty good. I hadnt read the previous book but I saw the film for Order of the Phoenix so I got the general idea..
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 27, 2007, 04:29:29 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Quote from: Kilby

The Artimis Fowl series are good fun but have a slightly dark edge.


What's dark about Fairies? xD


Something to do with his father, Artimis and his bodyguard being more than slightly psychotic (certainly in the 1st couple.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 27, 2007, 04:33:29 PM
Quote from: Kilby
Quote from: noodleplugerine
Quote from: Kilby

The Artimis Fowl series are good fun but have a slightly dark edge.


What's dark about Fairies? xD


Something to do with his father, Artimis and his bodyguard being more than slightly psychotic (certainly in the 1st couple.


They're hardly psychotic - They're just very villainish - Very superhero villain style DR Evil :p
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 27, 2007, 04:56:30 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine


They're hardly psychotic - They're just very villainish - Very superhero villain style DR Evil :p


Heh, it's not the grander schemes I'm referring to but the use other people are put to.

Having seen early draughts of the 1st 2 books, I can assure that there was a lot of menace used and the Sig that Butler carries was not just for show and wounding others.

Unfortunatly it did become a little too cute and cuddly.

Psychotic yeah, possibly the wrong phrase, sociopath is probably closer for Artemis (but then thats being used to to describe jerks that cheat on their girlfriends these days)

Return to the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales and you will find what is simply implied (in todays kids fiction) said right out in the open. Check out the original story of Bluebeard

Just cos it's implied dosn't mean it's not there (hence me reading way too many HP Lovecraft storys in my late teens) and to an extent it goes in much deeper.

A Brian Lumley vampyre story or an HP Lovecraft story, the 1st one shocks but the 2nd one lurks till you are sleeping  :twisted:
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: sambo on July 27, 2007, 05:00:44 PM
Rob- you can wade through the wheel of time quite happily but find the Dark Materials book(s) a slog?! whats wrong with you man!!!!?

the WoT is like a big mental swamp of words... not because its complicated or anything... its just looooooooooooong-winded.... even the Lord of the Rings book(s) are easier to keep reading.

ive got the first 5 or something of WoT... really do WANT to read them because they seem good i just dont have the drive...

can you just summarise the entire story for me please?  :lol:
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: samoth2 on July 27, 2007, 05:27:22 PM
Quote from: plastercaster
Quote from: Philly Q
I probably never will, because (I'm sorry to say) I'm a literary snob of sorts - I will not be seen reading "those" books which even people who don't normally read have read.  So no Harry Potter, no Captain bloody Corelli and no DaVinci Code.

It's not "even people who don't normally read", it's only people who don't normally read. Heavy on the plot twists, light on character building and the result is a book for people who don't like reading, but something the literary elite despise.


I don't agree that only people who don't normally read can enjoy Harry Potter, The DaVinci Code etc. I've read both and enjoyed them just as much as the more "serious" books.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: sambo on July 27, 2007, 05:30:43 PM
i think i would tend to agree with philly and plastercaster on this, at least when it comes to Harry Potter anyway.

although i don't like the films either so maybe its just the entire Harry Potter world i'm not fond of, but either way i much prefer a 'serious' book...

maybe im just not a fan of Rowling's writing.  not sure.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: samoth2 on July 27, 2007, 05:38:04 PM
I don't really think you can compare Harry Potter to serious books since Harry Potter is mainly written for the younger readers, while a serious book fx. Pillars of The Earth isn't the easiest book to read. They are written for two entirely different groups of readers.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: sambo on July 27, 2007, 05:43:21 PM
true you're right with the first part.

but there are plenty of books aimed at young people (i.e. the Pullman series as previously mentioned, William Nicholson, Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan e.t.c.) which i feel are just much more interesting.

overall i guess its like Harry Potter feels just like as you said- a book written with children in mind, whereas others like the few i mentioned, seem to me to be books that are accessbile to children as opposed to 'for' children.

(or at least that what it feels like to me).

not a bad thing at all, just the way it comes across.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 27, 2007, 05:59:19 PM
its funny, i dont destinguish between whether a book is 'serious' or not - i just bloody read what takes my fancy.   Some days it might be harry potter or terry pratchett, some days it might be Micheal Moore or Mark Thomas.  some day it might be Micheal Cunningham or Huruki Murakami Some days it might be Nietzsche or Ronald Dhahl.

Curently most of the books i seem to be reading are either about food  (Anthony Bourdain or Jeffrey Stiengarten) or , quite obviously, guitars (too many to list).

i am also enjoying graphic novels like 'v for vendetta' and 'the watchmen'

Same with films, i prefer stuff like Parkl chan-Wook's vengence trilogy but can just as easily enjoy a nice bit of chessy fluff!!!


there is no such thing as a 'serious' book - at least i havnt seen that catagory in any of the book shops i have been to.

I went to a training session with work the other week and had my boss reading us the gruffalo.  We had to do some deep analysis of it because obviously we are trying to teach kids to be independant thinking that can give us deeper answers.  Anyway, there were some suggestions made about the meaning of the book that i dont think any kid would come up with or notice.  My point - even the most childish of books usually work on many levels and can appeal to more than one age group - but probably in different ways
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: samoth2 on July 27, 2007, 06:02:04 PM
Sambo

I haven't read any books by the authors you mentioned so I can't agree/disagree but you are probably right that many of them are more interesting than the HP series.

Sometimes I just prefer a nice easy read book.

And WezV I know 'serious' wasn't the best thing to call them but I just couldn't think of another word  :oops:
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: noodleplugerine on July 27, 2007, 06:08:59 PM
Quote from: WezV
its funny, i dont destinguish between whether a book is 'serious' or not - i just bloody read what takes my fancy.   Some days it might be harry potter or terry pratchett, some days it might be Micheal Moore or Mark Thomas.  some day it might be Micheal Cunningham or Huruki Murakami Some days it might be Nietzsche or Ronald Dhahl.

Curently most of the books i seem to be reading are either about food  (Anthony Bourdain or Jeffrey Stiengarten) or , quite obviously, guitars (too many to list).

i am also enjoying graphic novels like 'v for vendetta' and 'the watchmen'


Terry Pratchett books are simply phenomenal - Although I wouldn't say most children, or atleast younger children would have as easy a time reading them.

Wez - Naming Alan Moore stories is unfair - Nobody can compete with that :p


There are some superb Children's Books which are infinitely better than Harry Potter - The Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix comes to mind - As does The Tales of the Otori Trilogy written by Lian Hearn.

Also - For those who are into the whole Sci-fi thing - ANYTHING written by Dan Abnett is phenomenal - I'm not really into the whole Warhammer thing, but the lore and world they've made is phenomenal - And Dan Abnett is probably one of the greatest Authors I have _EVER_ read.

For more adult books - I'd say that The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is one of the greatest books I have ever read - And The Three Muskateers also written by Dumas, while not as good as Monte Cristo was a great read too.

War And Peace is also phenomenal ofcourse.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 27, 2007, 06:23:10 PM
Quote from: noodleplugerine


For more adult books - ...


been hanging around the adult book stores have you :D

I praise the school library where i work quite often for having books like 'the wasp factory' and 'fear and loathing in las vegas'.  Its just as good for kids to read the odd book thats possibly a little 'above them' as it is for adults to read the odd book they might think is a little 'below them'!!! - just a shame not all the parents agree!!
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: sambo on July 27, 2007, 06:23:57 PM
wez- very true about the 'serious' thing, as samoth said- guess that isn't the correct term by any means (i used it to :oops:). although i dont think either of us were trying to use it as a genre of book as such; just as you say- there are cheesy fluff books, then much more deep books.

im confusing myself :? :oops:

i semi-agree with "My point - even the most childish of books usually work on many levels and can appeal to more than one age group - but probably in different ways".

thats true if the book is well written.... just like any song- rap, metal, folk, punk, - is great if its well-written.

Noodle- Garth Nix is one i forgot- also very good.


"There are some superb Children's Books which are infinitely better than Harry Potter"

that more or less somes up what i was trying to say.


and also- Samoth- +1 on sometimes just wanting an easy read... same with easy-listening...  :)
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 27, 2007, 06:33:41 PM
Quote from: sambo

"There are some superb Children's Books which are infinitely better than Harry Potter"

that more or less somes up what i was trying to say.


and also- Samoth- +1 on sometimes just wanting an easy read... same with easy-listening...  :)


Thats exactly what i was getting at.  You get talented writers in all kinds of books and sometimes its worth reading something you wouldnt do normally.

Problem is that you need to read Harry Potter before you know if its any good or not

I am a hypocrite because i absolutely refuse to read the da vinci code no matter how many people tell me i should or how good a page turner it is!!.  If i want crackpot theories of religious mysteries i will make my own up rather than read something written by that arrogant sod - - - -  but i aint ever going to tell anyone else that they really shouldnt be reading it and i am not going to call it rubbish without reading it first
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: sambo on July 27, 2007, 06:39:50 PM
Quote from: WezV

Thats exactly what i was getting at.  You get talented writers in all kinds of books and sometimes its worth reading something you wouldnt do normally.

Problem is that you need to read Harry Potter before you know if its any good or not

I am a hypocrite because i absolutely refuse to read the da vinci code no matter how many people tell me i should or how good a page turner it is!!.  If i want crackpot theories of religious mysteries i will make my own up rather than read something written by that arrogant sod - - - -  but i aint ever going to tell anyone else that they really shouldnt be reading it and i am not going to call it rubbish without reading it first


lol agreed, definitely.

i actually read the first 4 or so Harry Potters.... liking them... then got about half way through the fifth and started reading a load of other books aimed at the same market, and basically just thought....

"why the hell have i been reading harry potter?" lol.


EDIT: out of interest... i've heard a lot about the Da Vinci Code... but i've never been 100% sure of its intentions... is it meant to the guys actual beliefs to any degree at all? or hold any truth or is it meant to be 100% fictional?
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 27, 2007, 06:49:29 PM
I think i would have been more satisfied with Harry potter if JK Rowling had gone with the ending she was clearly setting up for poor old harry for such a long time.  She has a set of books that has so much to do with death but never actually tackles the subject head on, well except for possibly in the fifth book where harry has to do deal with a death of a friend that he is blamed for. and even then harry is more worried about the fact no-one will believe him or talk to him than he is about said friends death.


He's not really a likeable character - just like luke skywalker in that respect.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: sambo on July 27, 2007, 06:54:44 PM
i don't remember the bit about the friends death (might not have even read it at all), but yer i know what you're saying in general... she could have done so much more... more possibilities and opportunities to tackle other stuff like the death issue... which for me, would have made it much more interesting.

and +1 on the ending if you're suggesting what i'm guessing, as i don't really know the actual ending anyway. lol
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: 38thBeatle on July 27, 2007, 09:05:27 PM
The thing with books is that, like music, everyone has different tastes and comparing one author or genre over another is like comparing colours. They are either well or badly written. I was once a book snob even to the extent of refusing to read fiction of any kind. I haven't read any Harry otter books but not for any particular reason.I can't say I am attracted to them but I cannot comment upon them.Mrs 38th likes them and likes the movies and therefore I'd gladly go along to keep her company. I tend to pick up a book in a store almost at random and if the first page grips me then I might buy it.I do, however, spend a lot of time reading about historic events plus I have historical research to keep me busy, plus two bands and a full time job. What a waste of  time this post was but nevertheless I enjoyed writing it as I have just given blood and I am chilling (with my bitch).
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Philly Q on July 27, 2007, 09:14:08 PM
Quote from: 38thBeatle
What a waste of  time this post was but nevertheless I enjoyed writing it as I have just given blood and I am chilling (with my bitch).

Good man!   :D

Giving blood is great, you feel justified stuffing your face with all the food you want for a day or two.  Six sugars in that tea?  Yes please.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: sambo on July 27, 2007, 09:50:57 PM
Quote from: Philly Q
Quote from: 38thBeatle
What a waste of  time this post was but nevertheless I enjoyed writing it as I have just given blood and I am chilling (with my bitch).


classic!  :lol:

you are of course right though, wise beatle, with this excerpt in particular being spot on:

"The thing with books is that, like music, everyone has different tastes and comparing one author or genre over another is like comparing colours. They are either well or badly written"
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 27, 2007, 09:59:44 PM
Quote from: sambo
Rob- you can wade through the wheel of time quite happily but find the Dark Materials book(s) a slog?! whats wrong with you man!!!!?

the WoT is like a big mental swamp of words... not because its complicated or anything... its just looooooooooooong-winded.... even the Lord of the Rings book(s) are easier to keep reading.

ive got the first 5 or something of WoT... really do WANT to read them because they seem good i just dont have the drive...

can you just summarise the entire story for me please?  :lol:


What can I say I have language issues, I find LoTR impossible to read and I find the 1st half of the 1st dark materials book the same.

It may be a little to do with reading it to my son who constantly interrupted at the time (he insisted that I read it to him though)

I found ther WoT bool a little stilted, but I found it in a drawer in work and couldn't afford to buy anything at the time

Just wait till you get to book 9 ) it almost put me off the holy quest.
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: Kilby on July 27, 2007, 10:09:57 PM
Quote from: WezV

I am a hypocrite because i absolutely refuse to read the da vinci code no matter how many people tell me i should or how good a page turner it is!!.  If i want crackpot theories of religious mysteries i will make my own up rather than read something written by that arrogant sod - - - -  but i aint ever going to tell anyone else that they really shouldnt be reading it and i am not going to call it rubbish without reading it first


Seriously you won't miss much, Brown even moves some of the monuments around within rome wo make them fit the story.

Though his chapter construction (always end on a cliff hanger) is so cynical it's almost a work of art.

Christ he even got  the Illumantus conspiracy theorys wrong, and they are well documented.

In Deception Point (borrowed from somebody in work), he even gets confused as to what a firewall is (a major plot point), even feckin Andy McNab got that much right in one of his ghost written books

Anyway I like the Harry Potter books as thy enable me to disengage my brain for a few hours.

For serious fun )lots of sex violence and Rock *N Roll) without switching the brain off try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illuminatus!_Trilogy and also The Historical Illuminatus Chronicles

Also you learn the meaning of the number 23
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: WezV on July 27, 2007, 10:21:39 PM
38th is spot on as usual - everybody go an give blood and read the first page of a book with the cover that grabs you the most.  Although apparently you shouldnt judge books by their covers - terry pratchet proves that.

i will have to give up the blood giving soon because i am booked in for having my arm tattoed again in october - but i iwill read more random books to make up for it
Title: Who's into Harry Potter?
Post by: noodleplugerine on September 17, 2007, 05:07:55 PM
Quote from: Kilby

For the WoT series try "Books etc" do the buy 1 get one half price all the time (the sole advantage of working in Canary Wharf), I hope the bugger dosn't die before finishing the last one (selfish I know but after spending so long reading the things)


Spoke too soon =/