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Harry Pottter
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From: Melody Allen <melodyan>
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 07:19:08 -0400
I would like to know if Harry Potter is enjoyed by the real fantasy lovers. It seems to me its strength is as a school story (which is part of the Dahl connection), and that some of the weaknesses are related to its being a fantasy. I've only read it once, but it seems to lack the depth and resonance of fantasies that draw on the classic themes and symolism of fantasy (you mention Arthurian legend). The Redwall books would be a fair comparison for popularity and action. I was trying to find meaning in the materials used for the various wands and I'm not sure it's there whereas in Wizard of Earthsea the material of the staff is meaningful. That book also presents a much more fully developed wizard's school and a powerful developing rivalry between two characters. Usually the depth of meaning based on symbolism and allusions is what makes a fantasy work for many age groups and readers of various degrees of background and literary sophistication. What surprises me with Harry Potter is that people refer to adults as "getting" the same thing from it as kids. Melody Allen Melodyan at lori.state.ri.us
---------From: Butrico Sent: Thursday, June 03, 1999 12:00 PM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: Re: Harry Pottter
Hi, I'm a new member of the listserve, a children's librarian in a public library on Long Island. Just a question, are there any other differences in the adult version or is the cover the only one?
I think another thing that ties adult and children's literature is the Fantasy genre. Harry Potter, Watership Down both fall in this category. I could be mistaken, because it seems as though Harry has been enjoyed across the board, but those that enjoy Fantasy may be more likely to pick up a book marketed toward a younger audience if it has elements that they enjoy, such as Authurian legend. There are so many authors and so many books, Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series, Lois Lowry's the Giver, Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game that I have shared with other Fantasy lovers as my self in both directions(The Give to adults and Ender's Game to young teens) with much thanks. Those who are not willing to look at children's books because they feel they're past it or are above it really truly miss out
Received on Fri 04 Jun 1999 06:19:08 AM CDT
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 07:19:08 -0400
I would like to know if Harry Potter is enjoyed by the real fantasy lovers. It seems to me its strength is as a school story (which is part of the Dahl connection), and that some of the weaknesses are related to its being a fantasy. I've only read it once, but it seems to lack the depth and resonance of fantasies that draw on the classic themes and symolism of fantasy (you mention Arthurian legend). The Redwall books would be a fair comparison for popularity and action. I was trying to find meaning in the materials used for the various wands and I'm not sure it's there whereas in Wizard of Earthsea the material of the staff is meaningful. That book also presents a much more fully developed wizard's school and a powerful developing rivalry between two characters. Usually the depth of meaning based on symbolism and allusions is what makes a fantasy work for many age groups and readers of various degrees of background and literary sophistication. What surprises me with Harry Potter is that people refer to adults as "getting" the same thing from it as kids. Melody Allen Melodyan at lori.state.ri.us
---------From: Butrico Sent: Thursday, June 03, 1999 12:00 PM To: Subscribers of ccbc-net Subject: Re: Harry Pottter
Hi, I'm a new member of the listserve, a children's librarian in a public library on Long Island. Just a question, are there any other differences in the adult version or is the cover the only one?
I think another thing that ties adult and children's literature is the Fantasy genre. Harry Potter, Watership Down both fall in this category. I could be mistaken, because it seems as though Harry has been enjoyed across the board, but those that enjoy Fantasy may be more likely to pick up a book marketed toward a younger audience if it has elements that they enjoy, such as Authurian legend. There are so many authors and so many books, Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series, Lois Lowry's the Giver, Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game that I have shared with other Fantasy lovers as my self in both directions(The Give to adults and Ender's Game to young teens) with much thanks. Those who are not willing to look at children's books because they feel they're past it or are above it really truly miss out
Received on Fri 04 Jun 1999 06:19:08 AM CDT
