Harry Potter discussion
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what is it about harry potter that got us addicted?
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So I read the first three books which are nice and short and an easy read.
Then when I started reading book 4 -- it got FABULOUS and I couldn't stop. Since then, I have read them all several times, ADORE all of the movies.
J.K. Rowling is a genius with her attention to detail and careful characterization of all of the players. Her writing is timeless, spans all age-groups, and imaginative!!
SIGH!!


Well, my church pastor countered that by doing a whole positive sermon on the books and encouraging the children and adults of our church to read the books because it gave the children a positive role model who had to choose the path to follow and fighting evil -- Harry Potter. So, after the pastor's sermon and the fact that I'm not a fan of Focus, I decided that I wanted to read the books and see what all the hub bub was about. I fell inlove with Harry and his friends.
I love how Harry fights for what he believes in and defends his friends. I think the characters are awesome and are easy to relate to. No matter how old you are, I think the angst of the teen years and puberty are things we all can relate to. If I had kids, I would want them to read these books too, they would learn about friendship, loyalty, standing by what you believe in, doing the right thing (even if it might seem like the right thing isn't the right thing at the time), bravery, facing adversity, belief in oneself, empowerment and love. I guess that's why I love JK and all of her characters.
I think I also kind of related to Hermione the first year at Hogwarts. I was always the new kid at school and never really fit in with any of the cliques, so the way I made my mark was by my brains. There were classes I excelled at and I usually messed up the curve (I apologize to any of my classmates who might be reading this), but my books, my studies and my life as a military brat set me apart (I thought) and being good at history and English and foreign language, were what got me through cause my teachers were the ones who took notice and complimented me and encouraged me. I also spent a few lunch periods in the girls lavatory in tears because of something that was said.
I think everyone can find something they can relate to in these books, and that's what is so amazing about them.

i also saw the movie first than the books but i love the books better. i have 4 kids and none of them would read the books (all books, nothing in particular) so when they see the movie they just ask me this and that and i add scenes in the books that are not in the movie to get them interested enough to read the book, alas, to no avail....


I also agree with Ashley about being part of the trio's journey. I definitely think once you meet the Trio and go through that first experience with them (getting the Sorcerer's Stone), then you have to know what the future holds for them. It's a great ride and I think I just had to continue forward, otherwise curiosity would have driven me bonkers.






Having said that, I got hooked after the third page of the first book ;) I just knew right then and there that I'd be a big fan.
i watched most of the movies before i even started reading the books. i think half blood prince had just come out and i was preganant and my mom got them all for me to read just so i would have something to do... now i just wish there were more of them.



They were just enjoyable. Go back and reread the series and then think about how much the characters have grown.
Surprising, eh?


Yeah, I mean, he's not flawless.

After that I flew through book 1 and everything else in all the books just added to the excitement!

Rowling, J.K.
Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born July 31, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, England. She has a daughter from a failed marriage, lost her job, and was on the dole. But this single mother took the world by storm with her Harry Potter series—the story of a boy and his wizard kids in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The author, who started writing at 6, has Jane Austen as her favorite writer. She is the first dollar-billionaire writer and is richer than the Queen of England. Rowling has won international acclaim from her works, which have now been made into hit movies. Why did the books become run away best-sellers?
First, she has a friendly subject—occult / paranormal—a topic that has captivated readers since The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien), The Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum), Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll), and The Narnia Chronicles (C.S. Lewis).
Second, the books have wonderful plots and effective characters—loved and hated.
Third, her “humanization” of the witches and wizards who depart to school in a secret place at London’s King’s Cross Station (a real place), added plausibility to her story—something that other mystery writers haven’t tried.
Last, the use of surprise (what happens in the next series?) also helped to turn the books to mega hits.
Because of the love for Harry Potter, the following phrases are becoming common place: Muggle (a non magical person), Quidditch (a wizard ball game played on brooms), Seeker (the best Quidditch player), Nimbus Two Thousand / Firebolt (names of activity brooms), The Sorting Hat (a school house cap), Parselmouth (a wizard who talks with snakes), Every Flavor Beans (an all-inclusive).
She lives with her daughter and second husband in Edinburgh, Scotland
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Mystery books are hot
The latest sensations are mystery books. Suddenly, everyone wants to know about ET’s, witches, wizards, and so on. Many authors have been identified in this genre, and are smiling away to the bank. See how the Harry Potter series is selling; yet the public is asking for more.
The Man Booker Prize judges have even popularized this genre, also called magical realism, by awarding the coveted prize to any that wrote on it: Salman Rushdie (Midnight’s Children), Ben Okri (The Famished Road), Adorunthi Roy (The God of Small Things). So if you dream up The Second Coming of Julius Caesar with his dead warriors from Hades, all armed to launch a final war on the world’s super power, the book will sell out, before publication.
Controversial books are radioactive
If a work sparks debate, interest in the book will skyrocket. Why? Readers want to know what makes the work controversial. So it becomes a case of one man’s sugar and another man’s diabetes.
Controversial works are easy to write. Sometimes, only a sentence or two is enough to generate the debate that is needed to sell a book. Ask Salman Rushdie, author of Satanic Verses. But note that a controversial work need not be scandalous or defamatory. You also have to be careful not to offend, like writing The Gospel According to Satan.
Readers are looking for Doomsday Books
Yes, apocalyptic literature makes best-sellers any day. And disciples of Nostradamus are on hand to whet their appetite. Doomsday writers lined their pockets with cash, writing about the end of the world, at the dawn of the millennium. Yet, the world did not end. But that does not mean that interest in the final hour has waned, for once in a while people get jittery about the onslaught of a wandering, earth-bound comet.
So, if you have a fondness for figures and come out with the date for the final destiny of the world, and even provide escape for those who want to survive, you will be a celebrity overnight. After all, George Orwell did it with 1984, and the world waited in apprehension. That year has now been consigned to the dustbin of history.
Spiritual Books are echo Bibles
Many are now seeking spiritual help outside the Bible, and this is creating a new market for faith writers. Among them is Iyanla Vanzant who wrote Yesterday I Cried. These brands of writers are offering spiritual help to victims of child abuse, rape, broken marriages and the like. Since the list of such victims is growing, it is understandable why this genre has become a favorite for writers.
Science Fiction is the way to go
Long before the space shuttles, Spirit and Opportunity, went to Mars and words started filtering out about the first human exodus to the red planet, writers have dreamt better dreams about space, written books on it, and cashed fat checks. Wouldn’t you like to be one of them?
You probably know a couple of SF titles. But don’t be worried by the preponderance of such horrible titles. Why don’t you do a crazier one titled The War of the Sun and the Moon Eaters. For the story line, say that there is a fight-to-finish battle in outer space between these rival aliens—a war that was started over whether or not to eat our sun and moon as dessert. Did you cringe?
Thrillers are books for all seasons
The increase in crime and espionage in this world gave rise to thrillers, writers who write them, secret agents who study the books and readers who would die for such works.
It is no wonder that Dan Brown is writing best-sellers. Who would think that the Holy Grail—the last cup that Jesus drank from—and the ark of covenant could be hidden in an obscure church in the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland!
Incidentally, it is not difficult to imagine such plots. Think of a spy on his way through the guarded gates of heaven in an attempt to steal two precious documents from God: a list of people in the Book of Life and the date for the world’s destruction. You may title it The Last Spy. And wait for thunders, fires, meteorites, and hailstones from heaven. Don’t panic, thriller writer. Not yet Armageddon!
Fantasy titles are everyone’s delight
Who does not want to escape the Pandora’s box of this world—its wars, terrorism, hunger, disease, and death—at least on the pages of a book. Writers knew better and became household names writing fantasies. So, take your readers to a dream world—never mind that there had been many Happy Valleys and Fortunate Isles before you—and show them another Utopia. They know that it is nowhere—it has never existed—but readers cherish living in wonderland. Like Prester John’s. And you will be rewarded in book sales for making them believe they were Flying Dutchmen. Or women for that matter.
Parallel-world stories are shockingly explosive
Tell an irrational story that reverses historical facts and become a millionaire. Philip K. Dick did it with The Man in the High Castle, where he wrote that the Allies were the losers of the Second World War. Imagine Adolph Hitler winning the war and ruling the world! And Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America made it to the best-sellers’ list with fascism in America, of all places on mother earth!
If you can take the hits, why not write Blood Thirsty Jews about Israel slaughtering 12 million Germans during the Holocaust. (Someone wrote a denial of the Holocaust and got instant publicity.) Or write of Saddam Hussein overthrowing George Bush and colonizing America and title it Saddam the Messiah. Surely not a topic for lily-livered writers!
The choice is now yours.
So, what would you like to write about? A general interest, success or mystery book? Or do you prefer science fiction, thriller, or fantasy, or is your favorite controversial, doomsday or spiritual subjects? Or a combination of two or more of the above?
After you have made that decision, the next thing to do is to put your thought on paper. Yes, I am talking about the development of your best-seller. Now, where do you source the materials for your story?
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Anyways, I love Harry Potter because I had just switched schools in second grade and knew absolutely nobody and I was a shy child. And my mom read me half of the first book when I was learning to read so I wanted to know how the story ended. Then I got hooked and read the second and third books in second grade!

Haha I dont know how many times me and my sis have shouted 'Accio TV remote!'.
Hmm please dont judge me :)


Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with cancer. In the week after the diagnoses and as I was going through treatments, I turned towards the Harry Potter books once again. This time, as I read the books, I found myself transported away from the real world and into one in which I knew everything ultimately was going to be okay. I also started to realize the genius of Dumbledore's words (and J.K. Rowlings writing). Harry overcame death because he wasn't afraid of it. He faced it straight on and it was with the love of his family and friends that protected him during his final battle. They were the ones that gave him the strength he needed to not just to survive but to win and live happily ever after.
but i love his bravery in facing the unknown. he was fighting dudley in his own way (he has to stay out of trouble from his uncle & aunt as well if dudley tells on him) and he wasn't putting up with draco bullying anyone else.