Harry Potter
Get hold of all the books about Harry Potter - by J.K. Rowling
Spotlight Review on Amazon:
Why you--as an adult--should read the Harry Potter Series
(Reviewer: Covington "Bookworm, Writer, Average-jane")
You remember those times as a kid when you picked up a book that was truly magical? Those were the days of "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Chronicles of Narnia", where you could be swept away in an amazing world and desperatly desired to become part of that universe. The Harry Potter books are kind of like that. You, as an adult, should read them. Here's why:
1. They're fun. They're pretty easy reads that you can pick up and get lost in. They're a great escape from daily life and from "heavy" literature. They get better as the series progresses.
2. They have imagination. Has anyone else noticed that books written for adults are severely lacking in this department lately? These books are rich with imagry, have a well-designed plot, and more than their share of imagination.
3. They're mature. Moral lessons are thinly disguised at points, and the first chapter of each book is redundant, but these books are written in mature, adult-friendly prose. You don't feel like you're being preached to, or that you're being hit over the head with the "learn this" stick.
4. They're good. Yes, I've heard the rumors that Harry Potter is BAD because of its connections with "witchcraft"--in fact, my co-worker is one of those people in the "Harry Potter is turning our kids into evil satan-worshippers" camp. Truth be told, there is no religious agenda in these novels, but adults will be pleased that Harry Potter extoles the traditional "Christian" virtues and is truly GOOD. Once I convinced my co-worker to just read the books, she found them quite enjoyable.
5. They're better than their movies. Of course, most books are better than the movies, but these are really much funnier in print than on the big screen. If you feel great about the movies, you'll love the books. If you are indifferent to the movies--read the books. If you didn't like the movies, try the books.
6. It's okay to read what's popular. Sometimes public acclaim is misplaced, but with this series, there's truly a reason why they're so popular. I am a self-admitted literature snob--only Eastern European Existentialism for me thanks--but it's okay to read what you love, try new things, and love what you read. If you are ashamed of being an adult with a "kids" book, just slip a "War and Peace" jacket over the cover or something. Better yet, don't be ashamed, because these aren't strictly "kids" books.
7. Your kids are reading them. You want to know what your kids are being exposed to right? You'd like to gain insight into your pre-teen's mind? There's nothing better than having multiple members of a family reading a book together, or having read the same book concurrently. It strengthens the parent-child bond, and it gives you something to talk about at the dinner table besides the ever-hated question "how was school today".
8. If anything, read them because I refuse to believe that the magic of childhood never dissappears from an adult's life--even if it's hidden below the toils of everyday life. That spirit should be nurtured, the imagination should always remain fertile, and we all need a little magic in our lives.
Suggested by Kate
Spotlight Review on Amazon:
Why you--as an adult--should read the Harry Potter Series
(Reviewer: Covington "Bookworm, Writer, Average-jane")
You remember those times as a kid when you picked up a book that was truly magical? Those were the days of "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Chronicles of Narnia", where you could be swept away in an amazing world and desperatly desired to become part of that universe. The Harry Potter books are kind of like that. You, as an adult, should read them. Here's why:
1. They're fun. They're pretty easy reads that you can pick up and get lost in. They're a great escape from daily life and from "heavy" literature. They get better as the series progresses.
2. They have imagination. Has anyone else noticed that books written for adults are severely lacking in this department lately? These books are rich with imagry, have a well-designed plot, and more than their share of imagination.
3. They're mature. Moral lessons are thinly disguised at points, and the first chapter of each book is redundant, but these books are written in mature, adult-friendly prose. You don't feel like you're being preached to, or that you're being hit over the head with the "learn this" stick.
4. They're good. Yes, I've heard the rumors that Harry Potter is BAD because of its connections with "witchcraft"--in fact, my co-worker is one of those people in the "Harry Potter is turning our kids into evil satan-worshippers" camp. Truth be told, there is no religious agenda in these novels, but adults will be pleased that Harry Potter extoles the traditional "Christian" virtues and is truly GOOD. Once I convinced my co-worker to just read the books, she found them quite enjoyable.
5. They're better than their movies. Of course, most books are better than the movies, but these are really much funnier in print than on the big screen. If you feel great about the movies, you'll love the books. If you are indifferent to the movies--read the books. If you didn't like the movies, try the books.
6. It's okay to read what's popular. Sometimes public acclaim is misplaced, but with this series, there's truly a reason why they're so popular. I am a self-admitted literature snob--only Eastern European Existentialism for me thanks--but it's okay to read what you love, try new things, and love what you read. If you are ashamed of being an adult with a "kids" book, just slip a "War and Peace" jacket over the cover or something. Better yet, don't be ashamed, because these aren't strictly "kids" books.
7. Your kids are reading them. You want to know what your kids are being exposed to right? You'd like to gain insight into your pre-teen's mind? There's nothing better than having multiple members of a family reading a book together, or having read the same book concurrently. It strengthens the parent-child bond, and it gives you something to talk about at the dinner table besides the ever-hated question "how was school today".
8. If anything, read them because I refuse to believe that the magic of childhood never dissappears from an adult's life--even if it's hidden below the toils of everyday life. That spirit should be nurtured, the imagination should always remain fertile, and we all need a little magic in our lives.
Suggested by Kate
Posted by author at 7:07 PM
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