| I
don't know why I wanted to read this book; between my eleven
year old brother and the mass media, I had been surrounded by
Harry Potter hype to the point of nausea. I expected it to be
simplistic and juvenile, not to mention overrated. However, I
picked up the book and finished it in a single sitting. I was
so amazed! As a fantasy authour myself, I am extremely
critical about the books I read. Harry Potter was not the best
book I have ever read, nor the best fantasy book, nor even the
best book for children. Black table lamps, However, it blew me
away and kept me hooked. Hilariously funny, yet a thrilling
page-turner, Harry Potter has something for everyone who has
ever been a kid. J.K.
Rowling has an enormous talent for creating charcters the
reader can connect to - who hasn't known a bossy, know-it-all,
yet good-hearted girl like Hermione? Everyone has had a
teacher that they were sure detested them, like Professor
Snape. Many of the characters in Harry's world are archetypal,
which sometimes makes a story seem cliched black lamps, but in
this case gives it a sense of familiarity. Albus Dumbledore is
similar to Tolkein's Gandalf or Obi-Wan Kenobi. Dudley,
Harry's repulsive cousin (who is the most LOATHABLE character
in the book), is a fat, spoiled meany straight out of a Roald
Dahl novel. Voldemort, a.k.a. "You-Know-Who," becomes
mysterious and dreaded enough to invoke real chills in
readers, unlike many villains these days. My personal
favourite is Draco Malfoy, the nasty creep who dabbles in dark
magic. I can just picture this kid and his cronies (the
Slytherins) looking just like those Goth kids in high school
(of which I was one...maybe that's why I can identify with
him.)
This book is definitely good
for young children, but it is pretty dark at times. All the
better! Personally, I am fascinated with witchcraft, the
occult, and the so called "Dark Arts," and the scene of one
character (no spoilers!) drinking the silvery blood of a
unicorn like a vampire sent chills of delight up my spine.
However, the MESSAGE of Harry Potter is POSITIVE! side table
black lamps. It teaches friendship, bravery, the importance of
learning, cooperation, and many other good moral values. I am
so thankful that, in a Pokémon-infested society, millions of
kids and adults are being enthralled by (oh my gosh!)fantasy
books. Moreover, I am glad that this incredible new trend has
not only entertainment value, but literary and moral value as
well. |
