The charm of "Harry Potter"
[ B.O.Y.S.: Boys On Your Screen (The Message Board) ] Written by Sensitive Stephen am 18 Jan 2001 17:28:23:
As an answer to: Re: Touchdown for written by Moody Richard am 18 Jan 2001 06:25:45:
I've got to admit that I did not see the appeal of the Harry Potter concept when I saw the first book. This was long before it was a publishing "phenomenon." I read the jacket blurb and thought to myself, "Some British kid finds out he is a wizard and is invited to go to wizard school." Sounds really boring.
But then I heard that so many kids loved this book -- pretty much entirely from word-of-mouth, and not because of some slick ad campaign, which is how interest among kids is generated for most movies these days -- I figured I should give it a read.
Within a few chapters, I was really hooked. The writing is fresh and funny, the characters are appealing, and there is SO much imagination embedded in these books. They are written to be read easily by a schoolkid, but they are sophisticated enough to hold the interest of an adult.
In the first few books, Harry himself is the least multi-dimensional of all of the characters. He's really more of a foil against which the other characters can play. However, since he is the center of all the action, his character gets fleshed out -- flaws and all -- as the series progresses.
In the first book, Harry is just celebrating his 11th birthday -- or actually not celebrating it, since he lives in misery with his aunt and uncle, his parents having been killed in an "accident." The first book covers his discovery that he is actually from a "wizard" family, and that he has been enrolled to attend Hogwarts Academy for Wizards and Witches. The first book entails his first year at the school. Book two covers his second year, etc, with a total of seven volumes planned.
You probably won't need to look for the book in a used bookstore. The first two books are available in paperback, priced about 5.99, with virtually all stores offering discounts of 20-40%.
I've heard it said that this basic plotline was also done well by Ursula Le Guin in a book called, I think, "The Wizard of Earthsea," and there are other books and book series about kids who find out that they actually have magical powers. However, since kids everywhere are going nutter about Harry Potter, I want to know firsthand what they find so appealing.
Frankly, I think the movie will probably be a disappointment -- probably reasonably well made, but unable to capture the spirit and full charm of the books. That's okay, though, I'll probably go see it anyway. Maybe with a boy in tow! :o)
--Sensitive Stephen