Ha! Fooled you. Just thought that I'd capitalise on the media frenzy around the release of the new book.
EDIT:
Sorry for the jokey intro, but what do you guys think about all this media frenzy? I reckon even all the fans will be disappointed when the last book comes out as Ms Rowling will have a tough job to make a finale that isn't an anticlimax.
btw, I probably walked past Ms Rowling many times when I was at Univeristy as she sat in Nicholson's coffee shop in Edinburgh writing the first HP.
Sorry, didn't make this clear and so was beaten to a pulp by our friendly neighbourhood moderator, c.leks. :'(
read the rules about bandwith wasting.
C.
i hate all this harry potter crap, and jk rowling is an idiot, besides she stole the first few stories off some american bloke, she just changed the names...
Once again BOYD, you show us the depth of your worldly wisdom.
My sister finished that damn dictionary in a day and a half.
Unbelievable.
Who is Hermione? Should we be sad for his dead? ??? :'(
Hermione is a girl! I kind of like the books, my whole family hates them but hey, I'm the black sheep of the family...
I got addicted to the books last year in January.
I got Nae addicted to them, even though before she read them she detested Harry Potter.
Now she loves it.
However, we're both going 'Bah! THe next book is too damn hyped! Who cares! Hope it's a piece of shit!"
We'll both buy a copy when all the brew-ha-ha has died down, but for christsake it's just a book.
It's not like it's the Kama Sutra or anything.
As an experiment, I checked, and found I could download it within a few hours of it's release, plus I didn't want my sister blowing $30.
She did it anyway. bleh.
Quote from: DGMacphee on Tue 24/06/2003 06:19:22
It's not like it's the Kama Sutra or anything.
For some people it could be. :P You never know what people might do wearing cloaks and carrying a wand. It could be... unsuitable for children!
...
Pre-Edit: I mean, uh, Necromancy. Thats it, Necromancy. I'm just going to shut up now...
No laughing matter, this book supports the dark arts and is evil, EVIL. or so televion has lead me to belive, now, im of to bag me a necromanceer, or is that necrofiliac?
Frankly, I hope it doesn't interfere with her ability to write. I want the sixology to be completed. I dig the books.
I hope this doesn't mean that writers are going to become the "new rockstars/supermodels/whatever". There are some ugly fuckers amonst them, and I don't want to see posters of them everywhere.
Quote from: Malevolent Dragon on Tue 24/06/2003 08:35:34
Quote from: DGMacphee on Tue 24/06/2003 06:19:22
It's not like it's the Kama Sutra or anything.
For some people it could be. :P You never know what people might do wearing cloaks and carrying a wand.
I think this says it all:
(http://invis.free.anonymizer.com/http://worth1000.cachenetworks.com/entries/44000/44161Ch32_w.jpg)
Quote from: Las Naranjas on Tue 24/06/2003 07:59:04
As an experiment, I checked, and found I could download it within a few hours of it's release, plus I didn't want my sister blowing $30.
She did it anyway. bleh.
My weekend was swallowed by the book. Isn't that dorky enough without reading it on a computer screen??
QuoteOMG! Hermione is dead...
Okay, that's really funny. When we rented the first Harry Potter movie, my dad fell asleep part way through and missed the end. We told him that "Hermony" died. Ever since then, everytime my sister or I watch a Harry Potter movie or read a Harry Potter book, he asks if "Hermony" has died yet.
The answer is always yes.
Anyway, I got the book on Saturday with a special order, but wasn't allowed to start reading until I finished my exams (2:00 yesterday) and then I finished the book by midnight.
I can never understand why shock deaths are always announced beforehand, removing the major part of the shock.
and increasing a major amount of sales..
I was just watching tech tv and they mentioned the book has made a new record, they put 8 and 1/2 million copies out, and 5 million were sold the first day.
I read the first two a couple of years ago. They're basically just fluff, its good to read between some more serious works, it's kind of like a vacation from reading, because you really don't have to think. Personally, though, it'll never be as good as Redwall.
The movies were fun, but loooong...and if you really want to save money, don't go to the books stores the next time the next book comes out. Go to a grocery store, or a walmart/target, because they sell them for cheaper, and you probably have a better chance of actually getting a book. I know this because we sold them for 20, and someone said they saw one for 18 at another store. There was no long line, and you don't have to pay more that it's worth (well, you do, you just don't have to pay as much).
-MillsJROSS
It's pure fluff, but it's children's books written for children, which doesn't occur very often.
Publishers follow the following thesis "Parents don't buy books for their kids. The money is in School and Public libraries. Now if we get on one of those Children's Reading Shortlists and earn the right to stick a little gold sticker on our books, every library in the country will be obliged to buy it".
Considering the relative scincerity of those who make such lists, the books that are published are a gaggle of titles such as "I have two daddies" and the like. Sure, no kids read them, but they're not written to be read by kids.
Then give kids pure entertaining fluff, it doesn't matter if it's well written or not, they'll read it. Kinda like the Indy films.
Quote from: Las Naranjas on Tue 24/06/2003 22:43:02
Kinda like the Indy films.
Ouch! ;)
No, but I've read the first book and yes, it was okay. I'm not a book worm so, I think I like a book if I'm able to finish it. But then while ago (long while, but who cares) I crabbed the fourth one, I think, in the series and read half of the first page. Then I closed to book and haven't tought it after. It just didn't inspire me at all. I was reading it because everyone else did and I understood that when reading the first page.
I haven't seen the movies, there's always been something "better" (theoretically how could I know) films to watch instead.
My point is, if I do have one, that world isn't black&white, one doesn't need to take stand in everything. It's easier just not care sometimes. :)
Ignore the hype. Read the books. They're good.
The first books started out somewhat fluffy, but I'm amazed at how it's progressed. Some might be interested to know that the latest book teaches kids not to trust the government and the media it controls ;D
The series' strong points, in my opinion: It's addictive, has great characters, is full of lots of imaginative little nuances, and doesn't take itself particularly seriously.
I think you guys took my saying it was fluff as a bad thing. No, I wasn't. I was saying it's fluff, as in fun anf entertaining, but not much more. I didn't think it needed to be anything more. It's like the movie the Princes Bride, pure fluff! And I love it. The books better, though (the edited one).
-MillsJROSS
I think there's only one Princess Bride book. It claims it's an abridge version of an old book, but it's actually original. It's a great book and movie, by the way.
One of my favorites....
Harry Potter Book-a-Minute
by DGMacphee
Harry has issues with his uncle and aunt.
Stuff happens.
Harry then goes to Hogwarts.
Ron does (or says) something stupid.
Hermonine does (or says) something obnoxious.
Harry, Ron, and Hermonie: Hmmm, something fishy is going on in Hogwarts.
They have Christmas and Harry receives something that will help him in the end.
They have a Quiditch game.
Ron does (or says) something stupid again.
Hermonine does (or says) something obnoxious again.
Harry fights the final baddie alone.
Dumbledore: This is why everything happened...
Harry goes home.
Repeat the above for sequels and more $$$!
Thats pretty much the way it goes too....
The problem with books as successful as that is that they don't tend to have big plot twists like that in sequels (with main characters dying and such). That way there's always room for a sequel, so they can get even more money from that.
I very much doubt that there will ever be a Harry Potter book that ends with something like,
Harry knew he didn't have much time. The manual never covered this. He knew that one of those wires would defuse the bomb, but he didn't know if he wanted to risk it. He took a quick glance at the the timer, and noticed that less then 15 seconds remained. A bead of sweat dripping down his face, he extended that wire-cutters and cut the green wire.
Then the bomb blew up and now they're all dead.
The end.
Trapazoid, it seems you are right. I was taken for a fool! He made it seem so real, that it was written by someone else. Which explains the end...he gives us chapters to the next book and explains that Steven King had usurped the rights to write the book, therefore Goldman doesn't even have to worry about ever finishing a second book.
-MillsJROSS
Just in case there was any doubt, and IMDB search reveals William Goldman wrote the book and wrote the film based on the book.
There was no mention of S. Morgenstern.
Although the book claims to be based on another, there are several elements and characters that are very "Goldman-esque" -- if you know much about about his previous work, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Not only that, how come I can't find the original 'S. Morgenstern' book for sale?
Also, how come most of S. Morgenstern's work was either adapted by Goldman or written with Goldman? (according to an amazon search)
S. Morgenstern seems like a pseudonym that Goldman uses -- it even sounds like the sort of name he'd use.
Although I like Goldman's work, I find the man to be a raving egomaniac most of the times.
I especially detested his article last year that practically damned Martin Scorsese and Gangs of New York -- basically, it said "Don't give Scorsese an Oscar for Gangs because it is a badly directed film!"
I found that so damn hypocritical, especially after Dreamcatcher was released -- that was a piece of shit and I thought Goldman could write so much better than that (like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or All The President's Men for example).
He's a self-righteous hypocrite is but he has written some great films.
once again concuring with Mills, fluff was meant to be entertaining without a need for mcuh beyong entertainment value. And hey, I liked the Indy films.
Aye, and Caddyshack too!
I could see myself ending up like Carl Spackler one day.
I always skip the Quidditch matches: too too too dull.
Hey DG, you forgot to say that a new DADA teacher is required each book in your HP-in-a-minute summary.
Have you noticed how the bad guys always plan their evil to occur at the end of the school year?
Have you noticed that there is always someone who you think is a good guy who turns out to be bad and someone who is a bad guy turns out to be good?
e.g.
Spoiler
Quirrel/Snape
Tom Riddle/Hagrid
can't remember now/Sirius Black
can't remmeber
Spoiler
But the use of the DADA teacher changes from book to book -- in fact, it's probably the only big change through the whole series.
:-[ i saw this thread and thought i won't look because the missus was reading the book and i thought i'd hold on to this "useful" info in post's title, in a,"I know something you don't know" capacity, thanks SSH! didn't i look a tit now! lmao :P
the wife watched both movies at the cinema and fell asleep both times, she does the same watching the DVD's, but she sez she likes them :-\ she rates the books, but felt the latest was longer than it needed to be, ive never read them, the films are ok but lack something, the ending if the first was kinda rushed, and a let down, a bit like starwars eps1, it felt like they'd ran out of money and give up! the casting is great
I like the books. They are about the only book i enjoy...
but for some reason, they always seem to get me into a really bad depression. I remember after reading the 3rd book i just lay on my bed for ages. :-\. I've forced myself to do something now that i've finished the 5th one, and i'm finding it quite hard.
I got the book the day it came out, and finished it that weekend. I actaully liked it, although for some reason this book didnt leave me with the good feeling i got from reading the other 4. Harry was a bit less-likeible in this book, but I suppose thats to add to the whole growing up bussiness, which is good for teh series I suppose.
That's the risk you take when you start giving a link character...character.
Have you all forgoten the princible of harry potter... He is EVIL , its teh devils work, all that whitchcraft, J.K.R has sold her sole to the devil, and look at all she as gained, millions of fans, even more money, and an eternity in hell. Is it realy worth it. Gone are the days of devil worship, where people realy cared what they were doing. If jesuse was here he would smite all that read the harry potter series. now i am over that, i realy got lost in the first 3 books, but he forth just got dull, its just teh harry potter book-a-minute thing over again.
I haven't read any of the Harry Pothead books OR seen either of the movies.
I do not feel any loss.
m0ds
*gasp* m0ds is a born again right wing devil-fearing Christian!!!!!
i thought i'd see if i could get a spoilers on the book so i didn't have to spend hours reading it ..... never mind,
lets all read terry prachett insted, anyone read johnny and the bomb?
8)
Terry pratchet is good
the disc world series is the funyest
i like the ones with the night watch
Thank heaven the subject title was a joke or I'd be really annoyed.
It took me a while to start Harry Potter. I started the first one about two years ago and never looked back. I succumbed to the hype and wasn't disappointed. True, at the core they're children's books, but they're filled with such creative little nuances, atmosphere and cool characters.
In fact, Harry Potter seems to be the new "Oz" of this century. In the early 1900s the Oz books were extremely popular and enjoyed by young and old alike. The author, L. Frank Baum, wanted to end the series after the fifth book but his fans wouldn't let him. :) He ended up writing 14 altogether before he died, and the public thirst for more Oz stories was so great that another author had to fill the demand. Ruth Thompson took up the reins and wrote 20 more. I think someone else took over after she died, too.
J.K.R says that the Harry Potter story will take place over seven books - one for each year at Hogwarts. I seriously doubt that the series will end with the seventh book.
Quote from: Dave Gilbert on Thu 03/07/2003 12:00:33
J.K.R says that the Harry Potter story will take place over seven books - one for each year at Hogwarts. I seriously doubt that the series will end with the seventh book.
If she truly means this, it may be that she has some scheme to ensure that there is no way for any book to follow on. For example, Harry finds out that the only way to defeat Voldemort permanently is if he casts some spell that rids the world of magic forever, and then all the wizards etc. have to get used to life as muggles. But even then, life as Muggles would be amusing trying to see them cope....s
But as anyone who has read/seen "Misery" will tell you, authors will always think of ways to bring back charatcers if there's enough pressure...
...or dough. I dont see an 8th book, but prehaps smaller HP books, (I dunno...fake hogwarts textbooks or something), or prehaps pull a garfield, and sell out, so we get harry potter evreything. wait...we already do, but I think you know what I mean.
I hope she doesnt do that. it would take away from the books. every time I see a HP lunchbox, I feel ill. she makes so much dough from the books, why plaster your creation on everything? stupid capitalism
I could imagine her writing books taking place in the same universe, but not centering around Harry Potter and Hogwarts. And maybe some non-wizard books, too.