Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Post #7: An apology to J.K. Rowling and a response to Dr. Cole's posts on Harry Potter Book 1
First, I have to apologize to J.K. Rowling, not that she'll ever know that she deserves one from me. This is embarrassing, but I've been calling her Rawling in my blog, and since that isn't her name, I feel kind of bad about it... and as I said, rather embarrassed. You'd think after reading the whole thing I'd know how she spells her last name.... Oh well, life goes on.
In response to Dr. Cole's posts about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone...
I'm really excited to move on with the series, and I look forward to the bureaucratic and good/evil stuff that you mentioned. I won't be reading them for this class, but I'll definitely let you know what I think. I think that Book 1 was great, and watching Harry develop over the course of the series will certainly be interesting.
As for her technique, I suppose that the most interesting to me is her juxtaposition of muggles and the wizards. It's as though all of the muggles work as excellent foils against the "magic endearing people" in the novel. I also like the words and turns of phrase that she invents. Muggles is a great example, but there are plenty more. Finally, I find her naming of characters and locations (which often act as characters themselves) to be really amusing. I tend to find it difficult to follow characters when their names are kind of foreign to me (most of Shakespeare's work can be offered as good examples), but that's not the case with Harry Potter. The names are so funny and fitting (Hagrid and Dumbledore are great examples) to the characters that they remain easy to follow.
As for Laurie Halse Anderson's work, I don't remember thinking negatively of her endings. That must have been Anthony. I do remember thinking that her work was kind of formulaic, but I wasn't too critical of that. I'll have to reread Twisted or Wintergirls with the endings in mind so that I can take note of any similarities that I notice.
In response to Dr. Cole's posts about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone...
I'm really excited to move on with the series, and I look forward to the bureaucratic and good/evil stuff that you mentioned. I won't be reading them for this class, but I'll definitely let you know what I think. I think that Book 1 was great, and watching Harry develop over the course of the series will certainly be interesting.
As for her technique, I suppose that the most interesting to me is her juxtaposition of muggles and the wizards. It's as though all of the muggles work as excellent foils against the "magic endearing people" in the novel. I also like the words and turns of phrase that she invents. Muggles is a great example, but there are plenty more. Finally, I find her naming of characters and locations (which often act as characters themselves) to be really amusing. I tend to find it difficult to follow characters when their names are kind of foreign to me (most of Shakespeare's work can be offered as good examples), but that's not the case with Harry Potter. The names are so funny and fitting (Hagrid and Dumbledore are great examples) to the characters that they remain easy to follow.
As for Laurie Halse Anderson's work, I don't remember thinking negatively of her endings. That must have been Anthony. I do remember thinking that her work was kind of formulaic, but I wasn't too critical of that. I'll have to reread Twisted or Wintergirls with the endings in mind so that I can take note of any similarities that I notice.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Post #6: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone - Finished.
Why J.K.?!?!? WHHYYYY!?!?!?
The above is in reference to the fact that every single conflict in the book resolved in the last 8 pages. The last chapter seriously seemed like she took each conflict in the book and wrote a paragraph or two for resolution.
Now, don't get me wrong; the book was good. It was worth the time I put into it. It was highly entertaining, and the lessons/themes were clear and worthwhile. I suppose the fact that every single conflict resolved at the end isn't such a bad thing given the target audience (younger folks), but as an adult reader, it was a little... "in your face" I suppose. Too much resolution too fast, and entirely too perfect. I know I keep coming back to this resolution thing, but it really bothered me... maybe I'm weighing it too much, I don't know.
On the positive side, this is the type of book you can't put down. Rawling ends every chapter in such a way that the reader can't help but continue reading. She is definitely adept in keeping the reader on his/her toes. The twist at the end was great, too. I didn't expect it in the least, nor did the characters in the novel. Rawling also touches on imagination, loss of innocence, love, hate, revenge... the list is quite long. I loved the book (minus the complaints I've made), and I plan to read book 2 in the series, if not the series in its entirety. Like I said, I'm an adult and I really enjoyed the book, and I think that it offers a great deal to younger readers. Its highly accessible and entertaining, which makes it a great suggestion to reluctant readers.
The above is in reference to the fact that every single conflict in the book resolved in the last 8 pages. The last chapter seriously seemed like she took each conflict in the book and wrote a paragraph or two for resolution.
Now, don't get me wrong; the book was good. It was worth the time I put into it. It was highly entertaining, and the lessons/themes were clear and worthwhile. I suppose the fact that every single conflict resolved at the end isn't such a bad thing given the target audience (younger folks), but as an adult reader, it was a little... "in your face" I suppose. Too much resolution too fast, and entirely too perfect. I know I keep coming back to this resolution thing, but it really bothered me... maybe I'm weighing it too much, I don't know.
On the positive side, this is the type of book you can't put down. Rawling ends every chapter in such a way that the reader can't help but continue reading. She is definitely adept in keeping the reader on his/her toes. The twist at the end was great, too. I didn't expect it in the least, nor did the characters in the novel. Rawling also touches on imagination, loss of innocence, love, hate, revenge... the list is quite long. I loved the book (minus the complaints I've made), and I plan to read book 2 in the series, if not the series in its entirety. Like I said, I'm an adult and I really enjoyed the book, and I think that it offers a great deal to younger readers. Its highly accessible and entertaining, which makes it a great suggestion to reluctant readers.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Post #5: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
For 13 years now, I've been hearing about Harry Potter. I've never heard anyone that has actually read the books speak negatively of it; all it seems to get is praise. Until now, I've never had the chance to read it. Well... I've had the chance I suppose, but I've never actually picked it up off of the shelf. It just wasn't something I picked to read when I've had time to read for pleasure.
Being that we were given the assignment to read 10 books of the course of the semester, I chose Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as the book that will fulfill the Fantasy/Science Fiction portion of the assignment. I figured I'd give it a shot since there's so much said about it. To be honest, before I started it, I didn't think I'd like it as I've never been overly interested in the fantasy genre. Needless to say, I was wrong. I started reading the book last night, and before I went to sleep I was on page 180. Seriously, I can't put this thing down. It's a breeze to read, its very entertaining, and the characters are pretty well developed.
As a social commentary, the book is pretty interesting. The way that the author describes the "real world" and the people in it (muggles, they're called) seems to me to be a direct commentary on the way people lose sight of the magic that could be in their lives if they just looked around a little bit. It's certainly made me look around and appreciate the little "magical" things that're out there.
It's written for a younger audience, but I think that it works just as well as an adult novel. If nothing else, it brings an adult back to their youth, when magic really did exist.
Being that we were given the assignment to read 10 books of the course of the semester, I chose Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as the book that will fulfill the Fantasy/Science Fiction portion of the assignment. I figured I'd give it a shot since there's so much said about it. To be honest, before I started it, I didn't think I'd like it as I've never been overly interested in the fantasy genre. Needless to say, I was wrong. I started reading the book last night, and before I went to sleep I was on page 180. Seriously, I can't put this thing down. It's a breeze to read, its very entertaining, and the characters are pretty well developed.
As a social commentary, the book is pretty interesting. The way that the author describes the "real world" and the people in it (muggles, they're called) seems to me to be a direct commentary on the way people lose sight of the magic that could be in their lives if they just looked around a little bit. It's certainly made me look around and appreciate the little "magical" things that're out there.
It's written for a younger audience, but I think that it works just as well as an adult novel. If nothing else, it brings an adult back to their youth, when magic really did exist.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Post #4: TKaM - Finished.
I've finished To Kill a Mockingbird, and I have to say that it was a great read. I was reading it for a class, so it benefited me in that regard, but its great even as a pleasure read. As for the themes, they were great, too, though I'm not going to get into that tonight. I'll just say that if you haven't read the book, I suggest you do; both the themes and the story itself are excellent.
On my blog, Scout's role as narrator has been discussed to some degree. I've also discussed in ENED 450, the class for which it was read. In both places, Scout's being young has been an important topic. We've spoken of her innocence and and what that does for the novel. However, the fact that the narrator is Scout as an adult (or at least older than she is during the last scene of the novel) hasn't been brought up. We're listening to an account of a girl's childhood from an adult narrator. The entire process of her loss of innocence is put out on display from start to finish. We watch a child's innocence disappear piece by piece. At the end, she agrees to lie for an entirely good reason; nevertheless, her innocence is gone. I guess I've never read a loss of innocence story that I've found so compelling.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to read TKaM. I can definitely see myself using it in the classroom; it offers so, so, so much.
On my blog, Scout's role as narrator has been discussed to some degree. I've also discussed in ENED 450, the class for which it was read. In both places, Scout's being young has been an important topic. We've spoken of her innocence and and what that does for the novel. However, the fact that the narrator is Scout as an adult (or at least older than she is during the last scene of the novel) hasn't been brought up. We're listening to an account of a girl's childhood from an adult narrator. The entire process of her loss of innocence is put out on display from start to finish. We watch a child's innocence disappear piece by piece. At the end, she agrees to lie for an entirely good reason; nevertheless, her innocence is gone. I guess I've never read a loss of innocence story that I've found so compelling.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to read TKaM. I can definitely see myself using it in the classroom; it offers so, so, so much.
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