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Harry and the greater good (or evil)
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From: Angela Reynolds <angelar>
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 14:42:35 -0700
I must agree that when reading Harry P, I do not get the sense that there is a "greater" good or evil in the books. Of course, that doesn't matter to me, because the books are so much fun to read that I just don't care. I was not astounded by Goblet of Fire, but I sure did enjoy reading the whole hefty thing! Having whet my appetite for Wizards, I turned to an old favorite, A Wizard of Earthsea. Now when Ged makes a mistake, I truly feel as though humanity is in danger. LeGuin creates a world that has an inner connection, one that, even though we know it is not our world, it certainly could be
(and perhaps on some level IS). Rowling's world is lighter, more entertaining, and fun. I submit that Rowling is a talented writer, capable of creating a fantasy place that grabs and keeps attention. But if Harry goofs up, I do not feel threatened--I care for the characters in the HP world, but those do not reach over into mine. With Ged, however, I'm rooting for him the whole time, for I fear that if he does not succeed, we are in trouble. The HP books are just not the same KIND of books as LeGuin (and perhaps Tolkien). Rowling has given us a world to visit. LeGuin has given us secrets to guide us through our own lives.
Angela J. Reynolds Youth Services Librarian Washington County Cooperative Library Services 111 NE Lincoln St. MS 58A Hillsboro, OR 97124036 503F694 fax: 503a5f01 angelar at wccls.lib.or.us
"But he recommended the books which charmed her leisure hours, he encouraged her taste, and corrected her judgment; he made reading useful by talking to her of what she read, and heightened its attraction by judicious praise." Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Received on Wed 06 Sep 2000 04:42:35 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 14:42:35 -0700
I must agree that when reading Harry P, I do not get the sense that there is a "greater" good or evil in the books. Of course, that doesn't matter to me, because the books are so much fun to read that I just don't care. I was not astounded by Goblet of Fire, but I sure did enjoy reading the whole hefty thing! Having whet my appetite for Wizards, I turned to an old favorite, A Wizard of Earthsea. Now when Ged makes a mistake, I truly feel as though humanity is in danger. LeGuin creates a world that has an inner connection, one that, even though we know it is not our world, it certainly could be
(and perhaps on some level IS). Rowling's world is lighter, more entertaining, and fun. I submit that Rowling is a talented writer, capable of creating a fantasy place that grabs and keeps attention. But if Harry goofs up, I do not feel threatened--I care for the characters in the HP world, but those do not reach over into mine. With Ged, however, I'm rooting for him the whole time, for I fear that if he does not succeed, we are in trouble. The HP books are just not the same KIND of books as LeGuin (and perhaps Tolkien). Rowling has given us a world to visit. LeGuin has given us secrets to guide us through our own lives.
Angela J. Reynolds Youth Services Librarian Washington County Cooperative Library Services 111 NE Lincoln St. MS 58A Hillsboro, OR 97124036 503F694 fax: 503a5f01 angelar at wccls.lib.or.us
"But he recommended the books which charmed her leisure hours, he encouraged her taste, and corrected her judgment; he made reading useful by talking to her of what she read, and heightened its attraction by judicious praise." Mansfield Park, Jane Austen
Received on Wed 06 Sep 2000 04:42:35 PM CDT
