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Post by onlyaworkingtitle on Jun 7, 2011 17:54:33 GMT -5
We are the non-Potterheads: those who read some (or all) of the Harry Potter series and didn't enjoy it!
So, my non-Potterhead friends: What brings you here? What is your least favorite part of the books? Were you once a fan but changed your mind? What made you realize the sun doesn't shine out of J.K. Rowling's ass? Thoughts on being what feels like the only person of our generation with this opinion?
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Post by embonpoint on Jun 7, 2011 18:04:24 GMT -5
Um, am I allowed to be here even though I kind of enjoy the series but hate it at the same time? I re-read them all last summer and when I was reading, I was like 'OH MY GOD, THIS IS SO GREAT. I LOVE HARRY POTTER SOOOOOO MUCH', but at the same time, there are some (what I feel are) MASSIVE problems with the series/story and it frustrates me that people don't let me explain why I hate the things I do. I sort of love the series, but I have no desire to read the books again and I feel a little like I've 'grown-out' of them since re-reading them.
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Post by devilishlybookish on Jun 7, 2011 18:06:35 GMT -5
I hope you'll excuse a fan peeking her head in, especially since I agree with some of your sentiment. I read the books as a child and loved them, but I still don't see the hype. It's a successful YA series like any other, not the be-all-end-all of children's literature by any means. Aside from being my annual summer read (one of many, of course) when I was growing up, rereading it hasn't proved to be anything special for me.
Gee, I hope they don't revoke my membership card for this one. xD
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Post by Fuck Yeah Dion on Jun 7, 2011 18:24:52 GMT -5
I feel like a troll, but fuck it. haha.
I don't have a huge problem with the Potter series. I mean, it has about as much merit as any other YA fantasy series. My issue is with how the fanbase behaves. I have a professor who opens up every course with the question "What is literature," and every semester, someone claims that Twilight isn't literature, but that Harry Potter is. Admittedly, Twilight isn't a greatly written series, but neither is Harry Potter. It's that whole this-book-is-a-great-book-because-I-like-it thing that I really can't stand.
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Post by Dodger Thirteen on Jun 7, 2011 18:28:26 GMT -5
It's that whole this-book-is-a-great-book-because-I-like-it thing that I really can't stand. Quoted for truth. I disagree with the idea that Harry Potter isn't literature because there are many layers to it and that, to me, is important in establishing what literature is. I won't continue, though, as this is a thread for non-Potterheads. We can always move that idea to another thread. |
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Post by Marina on Jun 7, 2011 18:35:55 GMT -5
Harry Potter books only became popular because of the movies. Now, just like with any cash cow, it's trying to get as much money out of the fans as possible. I mean, they have a theme-park!
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Post by Dodger Thirteen on Jun 7, 2011 18:38:41 GMT -5
Harry Potter books only became popular because of the movies. Now, just like with any cash cow, it's trying to get as much money out of the fans as possible. I mean, they have a theme-park! Erm? No...they were popular before the movies came out. That's why they made the movies.... They became more popular post-films, like any book that is adapted into that form, because more people became aware of them. |
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Post by Marina on Jun 7, 2011 18:42:24 GMT -5
Harry Potter books only became popular because of the movies. Now, just like with any cash cow, it's trying to get as much money out of the fans as possible. I mean, they have a theme-park! Erm? No...they were popular before the movies came out. That's why they made the movies.... They became more popular post-films, like any book that is adapted into that form, because more people became aware of them. Really? Because most people I know only watched the films, or read the books after the movies started coming out. Some people don't even bother reading the books because of the movies, and they still claim to be fans. So here's my question, can you be a "real" fan even if you haven't read the books? |
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Post by onlyaworkingtitle on Jun 7, 2011 18:47:03 GMT -5
It's that whole this-book-is-a-great-book-because-I-like-it thing that I really can't stand. Quoted for truth. I disagree with the idea that Harry Potter isn't literature because there are many layers to it and that, to me, is important in establishing what literature is. I won't continue, though, as this is a thread for non-Potterheads. We can always move that idea to another thread. START A THREAD FOR THE WHAT-IS-LITERATURE DEBATE. DO IT. (Or, y'know, I will. I'm not too picky.) Anywho, I agree with the general sentiment that the main issue with the series is the way its fans revere it. But, to go more into why I, personally, don't revere it: - The writing just isn't very memorable. The language isn't notably beautiful, the imagery isn't profound, the vocabulary and sentence structure aren't diverse. Over all, not enough to hold my attention. - The plots were predictable -- all of them -- and by the end of the first chapter it was fairly clear where the rest of the book would go. I wouldn't have a problem with this if there were more surprising sub-plots, but no! Only more of the same. - None of the characters were at all interesting, or, for lack of a more specific word, "edgy." The only one I really wanted to know more about was Sirius, who up and died in book 5 -- which is why I gave up on the series. Add all this to the fact that I can't escape the series -- friends have the habit of quoting the books/movies/musical at me, people have been known to bitch me out for stating my opinions (no more harshly than I did above, if not less so), and every time I check my tumblr dashboard, there's something to do with the franchise (usually from teachingliteracy, whom I cannot bring myself to unfollow because everything of substance that she posts [that is to say, the things that aren't just images of people reading or of pretty libraries] are terribly interesting) -- and you find the full sum of my irritation. (Goodness, that parenthetical was longer than intended. Sorry, folks.) |
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Post by Dodger Thirteen on Jun 7, 2011 18:47:28 GMT -5
Erm? No...they were popular before the movies came out. That's why they made the movies.... They became more popular post-films, like any book that is adapted into that form, because more people became aware of them. Really? Because most people I know only watched the films, or read the books after the movies started coming out. Some people don't even bother reading the books because of the movies, and they still claim to be fans. So here's my question, can you be a "real" fan even if you haven't read the books? In my opinion? Not really, as to be a fan means to be a fan of the source material. You can be a fan of the Harry Potter movies, but you're not a Harry Potter fan (as "Harry Potter" includes all of his story, both movies and books). |
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Post by Dodger Thirteen on Jun 7, 2011 18:52:03 GMT -5
Add all this to the fact that I can't escape the series -- friends have the habit of quoting the books/movies/musical at me, people have been known to bitch me out for stating my opinions (no more harshly than I did above, if not less so), and every time I check my tumblr dashboard, there's something to do with the franchise (usually from teachingliteracy, whom I cannot bring myself to unfollow because everything of substance that she posts [that is to say, the things that aren't just images of people reading or of pretty libraries] are terribly interesting) -- and you find the full sum of my irritation. (Goodness, that parenthetical was longer than intended. Sorry, folks.) The fans piss me off, which is why I refuse to be a part of the "fandom." While I enjoy references, quotes, characterizations, if you're overly invested in a series, you're ruining it for everyone else. That's why, if I quote something, I normally don't state where it's from unless someone asks. Fans ruin fandoms. That's a universal truth, if there ever was one. |
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rayyychul
Armadillo
On ne voit bien qu'avec le c?ur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.
Posts: 159
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Post by rayyychul on Jun 7, 2011 18:56:10 GMT -5
Really? Because most people I know only watched the films, or read the books after the movies started coming out. Some people don't even bother reading the books because of the movies, and they still claim to be fans. So here's my question, can you be a "real" fan even if you haven't read the books? In my opinion? Not really, as to be a fan means to be a fan of the source material. You can be a fan of the Harry Potter movies, but you're not a Harry Potter fan (as "Harry Potter" includes all of his story, both movies and books). I'm very inclined to agree with you. I wouldn't call myself a Jane Austen fan because I like the film adaptations. I'd call myself a Jane Austen fan if I enjoyed her novels. Sure, you can enjoy the Harry Potter movies, but how can you say you are a Harry Potter fan when the movies barely touch the essence of the novels? |
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Post by embonpoint on Jun 7, 2011 18:58:42 GMT -5
The fans piss me off, which is why I refuse to be a part of the "fandom." While I enjoy references, quotes, characterizations, if you're overly invested in a series, you're ruining it for everyone else. That's why, if I quote something, I normally don't state where it's from unless someone asks. Fans ruin fandoms. That's a universal truth, if there ever was one. I could not agree more. Well, I think actually I would say that 'fandoms' ruin fans, because every fan of something is tarnished by the reputation of those who make up the 'fandom'. I consider the 'fandom' to be the people who get really, really protective and hostile over 'ships' and post constantly on tumblr about how it's the best thing ever etc. etc. Whereas, fans are just fans of the less-obsessive kind. The reason I put 'fandom' in quotes is because I don't consider them to be the real fan base, y'know? The 'fandom' seems to be some kind of elitist group of over-excited fans who like to take things too far and ruin the fun for everyone else. I quote all kinds of things all the time, but mainly to my sister because I know that she will get it; if I'm with other people, I rarely make references to things because they'll go straight over their heads (and will probably derail the conversation, too). |
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Post by Fuck Yeah Dion on Jun 7, 2011 19:55:33 GMT -5
Fans ruin fandoms. That's a universal truth, if there ever was one. This. |
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Post by serpentheart on Jun 7, 2011 23:23:47 GMT -5
When the first book came out I attempted to read it. It is the only book to make me fall asleep while reading, ever! When I went to school the next day I was all "what's with the chapter about frogs and the street being green?" and apparently that's not in it, I dreamed of a whole new chapter.
Of course, we then had to read it for class and I said I had already. The teacher let me skip ahead to the assignment set afterwards. I still got an A on it, and I never read it.
Think of that what you will. It didn't inspire me to continue reading though.
I have watched most of the movies but I felt like it was the same plot over and over again. It's always a teacher or what have you.
Someone once described the writing, plot and characters as being "beige" and I'd have to agree with that.
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