In thinking that adults who are over excited by Harry Potter need to get a life?

[booge]

well?

Joking aside I have to agree with bigmouth, I have no problems with adults reading them, I still prefer the Susan Cooper books tho'.

thank you ranting [smug]

I'm not going to just read Harry Potter - I'm sure that I'll read other books in my life. YABU.

i love doctor who as well. the delightful david tennant may have something to do with that ( rarrr!) and i may well be in the dotage of my second childhood, but i enjoy them - i love sharing these things with my dcs - things i remember from my childhood. really couldn't give a flying one if anyone disapproves. it's only (slightly) creepy if its guys in their 30's w/o g/fs who live at home with mummy and daddy.

it's escapism from wage-slave and binging up my kids on my own. books are my backbone, my indulgence, my 'me-time'. I'll challenge anyone to tell me I'm wrong, and then not give a jot of their opinion anyway. ;)

Right on persephone - I respect your right to a 2nd childhood! lol

I am off to bed to read my v grown -up thriller where loads of people are getting murdered in a myriad horrible ways... maybe HP isn't so bad

Well, I think they are cracking stories, even if they are derivative and far from being great works of literature. Who cares? You can enjoy good stories and high art, you know. Absolutely agree that anything that gets kids reading (even Horrid Bloody Henry) has to be a good thing. That Lizard bloke sounds a weeny bit envious to me - if it's so bloody easy to write crappy fiction, sell a gazillion copies and be a multi-millionaire, why don't more people do it?

I have recently worried over this as everyone seems to be 'into' it. I find the films boring. I haven't read the books though and sadly never will as I can't watch a film, then read the book.

I read a Harry Potter book and it was okay, but really can't see what all the fuss is about - wouldn't read another. Don't understand why people go so nuts over it... keep thinking I'm missing something.

I've read two of the books. They weren't bad, but rhey weren't exactly rip-roaringly great either.

yes you are! we all have something we enjoy and if its harry potter books then so be it

I think the evidence that they encourage reluctant readers to move on and have a go at something else - preferably more challenging - is patchy at best.

I find it incredible that all the plots were planned in advance, including all the nuances. No adding of a plot line that doesn't quite fit in just to make the story flow better. I'm a real fan and yes, I probably do need to get a life!

It's important to take pleasure in the small things in life as well as the big ones.
YABU.

So incredible that it could almost not be true. Hmm.

UD

It makes a good story but I very much doubt it's true. I'm sure she knew the broad sweep of the series, but every nuance and sub-plot? Get away. I don't know a single writer who works like that.

It's like that story about her being an impoverished single mother writing in Edinburgh cafes - sounds good, but when you dig deep there is a little more to it.

YABU. I have a life but it's a pretty crap one at the moment so I'm looking forward to losing myself in Harry Potter for a few hours relief from stress. A good bit of escapist fantasy is exactly what I need right now. It gives a lot of people some much-needed pleasure - don't knock it!

YANBU. And can I raise again the issue of JRK's accidental plagiarism from lord of rings:
The Dark Lord (Sauron/Voldemort) has been defeated in the backstory. He is 'less than spirit' and can only return if he can get the Ring/Philosopher's stone. A short person (Harry/Frodo), aided by a wizard (Gandalf/Dumbledore) must prevent him. The short person's scar aches when the Dark Forces are near -- for example the Ring Wraiths/Dementors which take all happy thoughts from you.
Frodo/Harry and his pals encounter a willow tree which thrashes its roots about in an attempt to kill them.
They also encounter a treacherous double agent -- Wormtongue/Wormtail.
Anyone spot any more?

I haven't read a one but a good story is a good story ain't it?

Agree with earlier poster about sexiness of Daniel Radcliffe. It feels so very very wrong, tho, to fancy Harry Potter.

I'm definately over excited about Harry Potter...not keen to get a life where I am too busy with adulty things to be childlike. What a dull idea

PSC, Tolkien didn't invent wizards, double-agents, short people or defeated baddies returning to fight again. You can hardly say JKR plagiarised Tolkien just because both of them wrote books of the same genre. Tolkein's style is undoubtedly more sophisticated but, at the end of the day, they're both fantasy books so I can never understand how some people (not you necessarily!!) praise Tolkein as a literary genius yet dismiss JKR.

I would like to go and buy the book on Friday night but I'm 29 weeks pg and have been told that I'm being silly. I will go and buy it on Saturday instead. I went to get book six at midnight and, along with all the other people waiting outside Smiths, was subjected to a lot of abuse by drunken idiots yelling 'You sad gits, Potter's gay hur hur hur' etc. Which was fun.

So, yes you are being unreasonable telling people who enjoy the books to get a life, but at the same time I suspect all of us fans know we are being rather daft about it...

I think a lot of middle-aged men have been shuffling uncomfortably while waiting for Emma Watson to "become legal". Much as they did 5-6 years ago with Charlotte Church.