Harry Potter and the Last Glop from the Gravy Train

6 comments on “Harry Potter and the Last Glop from the Gravy Train”

1. Berlynn says:
   December 21st, 2006 at 2:52 pm

   Oh, bah, humbug! It gets kids reading and that’s important work.

2. Damian Kelleher says:
   December 23rd, 2006 at 2:56 am

   I’ve always been of the belief that it is important get kids reading something good.

   Too often, kids just seem to read HP and not much else. What’s the point, if that’s all they read? It’s virtually the same as not reading at all.

3. Susan says:
   December 23rd, 2006 at 2:56 pm

   Not at all. HP is full of traditional archetypes, references to Greek and Norse mythology, good old ENglish satir and the vocabulary is challenging. There’s no reason to sneer at it; it’s not just not reading, it’s better reading than a lot of other kidslit out there!

4. Susan says:
   December 23rd, 2006 at 2:58 pm

   Sorry — my post got a little screwed up. I can’t see what’s happening at the far right margin! I meant English social satire, in the Dickensian tradition.

5. Damian Kelleher says:
   December 24th, 2006 at 1:48 am

   That’s true. I suppose I was a little hasty.

   And yet, I don’t think we can argue that kids most often read nothing other than Harry Potter. Which IS a shame.

6. Martin says:
   December 27th, 2006 at 2:13 pm

   They are very traditionally written, but is this a good thing? I was always put off such books when I was a child, as they felt snobbish. I never liked the whole English Public School atmosphere, and like it less as I have grown older and see what to use people put those attitudes. I do not like the Harry Potter blockbuster effect on bookselling, as it favours mass selling, which is what those who lionise the books tend to profit from. I don’t care if kids are encouraged to read imaginative books (I do not actually think HP is particularly imaginative, merely derivative of public school snobbery, a big part of its appeal), as those who feel they have to, will, as I did. The other millions are just part of a phenomenon. The writing is of a quality to support that phenomenon, and to provide a basis for a group activity – hey, we’ve all read the same book, like we’re all in the same club. But that isn’t the society that I feel a part of, and that is the function of such a movement – to create social adhesiveness. Anyone can, through these easy and non-threatening books, feel a part of those curious people who read for pleasure, not profit, and who we respect for that, though we don’t understand why. And then, that section of society can be colonised by big business – because it can’t be denied that it cares and understands that sector now – hey, it loves a book, so that must apply to all books! Corporate confidence is restored, and it’s good for the kids, too, so it’s socially useful. At least Len Deighton novels produced good films….

Discuss