Note to everyone who keeps writing about the new Harry Potter movie: I finally looked up the title of the book it's based on, so I know what the hell you're all talking about when you refer to it as OOTP.
I've yet to read a single Potter book.
Yes, I know, you're all certain that I'm going to hell because of it.
See, I did the same thing: got about halfway through the first and stopped. I've also seen all the movies, though, so at least I can make pop culture references about Mr. Potter. I don't want to be a total loser ;)
Oh, if you only knew all the reasons I'm doing to hell... there are so many!
What I'll probably end up doing is the same thing that I did with Stephen King's Dark Tower books, which is to wait until the last book in the series is just about to come out, and then read all the previous ones in a week or two... you know, hit the ground running and not stop until I'm done.
I found it a bit laborious to get into the first Potter book, too -- lots of exposition, description of the world, etc.; once I made it past Harry's life at his Aunt & Uncle's house and into the plot and puzzle aspects of Rowling's story... I'm hooked.
My interest in the films has more to do with the casting -- what a great assembly of British film talent. As our hellbound host recently observed, Alan Rickman can do anything and I'll watch it. For necessary reasons, the films stray from and rearrange key plot elements in the books; they're a visual treat, but I don't find them as good story-wise.
Well, see, I also have this snooty problem, wherein if something is outrageously popular with the rest of the world, I tend to want to stay away from it. I don't generally want to feel like I'm part of the crowd, which I'm sure isn't a healthy attitude or anything, but there you go.
But hey, maybe that's just it: get past the first half of the first book, and maybe I'll enjoy reading them.
I was mostly oblivious to HP and the associated mania until the 4th book was released. We picked up 1 - 4 at a warehouse store (smirking to ourselves that we got the 4th book on the day of release without standing in line at a bookstore at midnight). I didn't read any of them until about a year later; that turned out to be a good thing, as the biggest gap between volumes occurred between 4 and 5.
I was commuting to downtown Chicago at the time and carried them with me on the train, during lunch, during breaks... as I said, the puzzle aspects, her clever use of language (both prose and etymology), the careful selection of people and place names. It's not so much that these are the best books ever (my fave remains Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game), but they are a tremendous amount of fun and I'm enjoying the effort of deciphering the end game.
Also, you begin to realize that Rickman wasn't just clever casting on face value, but that he truly exudes the character he portrays -- there wasn't anyone else better suited for the role.
(Alan as God's Voice; that meant Alanis didn't need to say anything. Brilliant.)
You aren't going to hell because you haven't read them, I'm sure Satan has a laundry list of reasons he'll be waiting for you once you kick off. I'll still go to your funeral though ;)
You know what a fabulous book is? In Cold Blood. Truman Capote. I just finished it. Again.
Well, LJ found it offensive to have Trent Reznor licking his microphone, but it was NOT offensive to lick an ice cream cone. This is boomstick's answer to that.
I'm sure you'll deal.
I noticed something odd. You have me listed as a friend, and yet you don't show up on my list as "friending" me. Weird, eh?
I wouldn't send you to hell for it. I wouldn't send you to hell for having read them either, but they're pretty fluffy books -- I don't see why anybody should suffer enmity for having skipped them over.
I read the first (three? four?) over a few days in retaliation for having spent six months reading Gravity's Rainbow. I haven't been able to bring myself to read a single other one since.
I've been slacking on the reading lately, though I've been going through a patch where I've been reading all of the books that I apparently should have read back in high school, such as Slaughterhouse Five and Lord of the Flies (I have no idea how I didn't read those sooner, but somehow it just happened that way).
There are actually a whole bunch of "classics" that I've never read. I should probably do a catch-up too. I think to some degree I actively avoid anything really established, which is probably causing me to deprive myself of lots of great reads. On the other hand, it does force me to search around and find more unusual things. :)
I have that same problem, which leads me to avoid most things that are considered "popular" as well. I just have to be a rebel.
Like you, though, it does lead me to discovering a lot of other things on my own, and thank God for the internet on that one, or it'd be a lot more difficult to pull off.
Let me suggest that you not read the books. To be honest, I like to listen to them on tape - the guy that reads them is fabulous and makes them twice as entertaining.
Reading the books, I'm more conscious of JKR's sometimes awkward sentence structure and wordy style. My hand starts itching to take out my red pen and start marking it up.
king_cool_paul
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I guess I'll get to them eventually. I've seen all the movies though.
Well, other than I like you and all.
Dork.
;)
Imo, books over films, and I think the audio book versions are well worth consideration whenever (if ever) the interest strikes.
What I'll probably end up doing is the same thing that I did with Stephen King's Dark Tower books, which is to wait until the last book in the series is just about to come out, and then read all the previous ones in a week or two... you know, hit the ground running and not stop until I'm done.
Real jedis don't wait twenty years for a sequel.
My interest in the films has more to do with the casting -- what a great assembly of British film talent. As our hellbound host recently observed, Alan Rickman can do anything and I'll watch it. For necessary reasons, the films stray from and rearrange key plot elements in the books; they're a visual treat, but I don't find them as good story-wise.
But hey, maybe that's just it: get past the first half of the first book, and maybe I'll enjoy reading them.
And yes, Alan Rickman is God.
I was commuting to downtown Chicago at the time and carried them with me on the train, during lunch, during breaks... as I said, the puzzle aspects, her clever use of language (both prose and etymology), the careful selection of people and place names. It's not so much that these are the best books ever (my fave remains Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game), but they are a tremendous amount of fun and I'm enjoying the effort of deciphering the end game.
Also, you begin to realize that Rickman wasn't just clever casting on face value, but that he truly exudes the character he portrays -- there wasn't anyone else better suited for the role.
(Alan as God's Voice; that meant Alanis didn't need to say anything. Brilliant.)
Now I'm going to have to order one, and remind myself why I loved Turtle so much...
Yay reading!
You know what a fabulous book is? In Cold Blood. Truman Capote. I just finished it. Again.
And I don't know why, but that icon of yours creeps me out.
Seriously.
I'm sure you'll deal.
I noticed something odd. You have me listed as a friend, and yet you don't show up on my list as "friending" me. Weird, eh?
And you know, it is possible to be *too* crotchety and anti-pop culture. Go watch American Idol or something :)
C'mon, I watch The Office. Doesn't that give me any props or anything?
I read the first (three? four?) over a few days in retaliation for having spent six months reading Gravity's Rainbow. I haven't been able to bring myself to read a single other one since.
I'm so behind the times ;)
Like you, though, it does lead me to discovering a lot of other things on my own, and thank God for the internet on that one, or it'd be a lot more difficult to pull off.
Reading the books, I'm more conscious of JKR's sometimes awkward sentence structure and wordy style. My hand starts itching to take out my red pen and start marking it up.