Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

In end, Potter magic extends only so far: Decline still seen in adolescent reading
Boston Globe ^ | July 9, 2007 | David Mehegan

Posted on 07/10/2007 7:05:00 AM PDT by fgoodwin

Like circus elephants on parade, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels have lumbered past a dazzled young public for the last 10 years. Now the beloved fantasy series is ending with the release of the seventh volume, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," at midnight July 21.

Media coverage is in overdrive and millions of fans are arguing and obsessing over the fate of young Harry in his struggle with the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort. Others in the world of books and reading, meanwhile, are contemplating the end of the historic series. Besides wondering what, if anything, could take its place, they are reflecting on the impact the books have had on reading, bookselling, and publishing for the young.

For the young fans, it has been a long era of good feeling. But in real life, as in the books, not all is happy magic. A forthcoming national study finds that not even Harry Potter has stemmed a decline in adolescent reading. With the enormous number of books sold, mass-market retailing, and cutthroat price competition, Harry Potter is no money maker for many booksellers. And while Potter has sparked an explosion of middle-grade hardcover fiction, some think books for younger children have been neglected.

The adventures of the bespectacled English boy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have achieved sales far beyond any comparison with normal books. More than 325 million copies of Harry Potter books have been printed worldwide, in 66 languages. Scholastic Inc.'s first US printing of "Deathly Hallows" is an unprecedented 12 million copies, and Amazon.com has already received 1.6 million advance orders. The worldwide box office take for the four Harry Potter movies made so far is $3.5 billion; the fifth, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," opens Wednesday.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Education; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: harrypotter; hogwarts; jkrowling; muggles

1 posted on 07/10/2007 7:05:04 AM PDT by fgoodwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: fgoodwin

I gave up on the books/movies when she killed off Sirius Black and then Dumbledorf. It’s not like she’s Shakespeare writing Hamlet for crying out loud. It seems like she just doesn’t know what to do next and kills someone off. I enjoy watching the early movies just to see the sets and watch how cute these kids were before they turned into international super stars. I probably won’t see the new movie or read the new book.


2 posted on 07/10/2007 7:08:53 AM PDT by Mercat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fgoodwin

One of the things I respect about Rowling is that, while she could (as the saying goes) publish her laundry list, she has clearly worked hard to improve her craft. Book one was pretty dismal writing; my wife and I groaned and chuckled. By book five, she’s still repeating herself too much (how many times are we told that Umbridge is “toadlike”?), but she has greatly improved.

Book six was gripping, and some really deft, moving storytelling.

I for one am looking forward to book 7.


3 posted on 07/10/2007 7:11:41 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fgoodwin

There are some interesting points in this article, but I think it’s erroneous to generalize from the experience of the publishing industry to the actions of the reading public. The fact that, for example, fewer young children’s picture books are being published in recent years doesn’t mean that the libraries aren’t full of children’s picture books.

New books are nice and all - especially for authors and publishers! - but if there were never another new book for children published, there’s enough extant fiction and nonfiction to keep every literate person in books until the end of the world.


4 posted on 07/10/2007 7:16:47 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("A dependence on mass immigration is always a structural weakness and should be understood as such.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BibChr

I agree. Her grammar has always been quite good, but her composition skills were far short of her plotting and setting. It’s getting better.


5 posted on 07/10/2007 7:17:33 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("A dependence on mass immigration is always a structural weakness and should be understood as such.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick
If I'm reading 6 right, it really is some brilliant storytelling.

But she does need a more aggressive editor who's not afraid to use a thesaurus. She's too prone to reuse the same word again and again (see above), and sometimes in the same sentence (Harry leaned on the table, and spilled the coffee onto the table).

6 posted on 07/10/2007 7:26:22 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BibChr

I thought she really increased her writing sophistication in 5. The complexity of the plot alone was noteworthy. Could be she got a better editor.


7 posted on 07/10/2007 7:39:00 AM PDT by Lil'freeper (You do not have the plug-in required to view this tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: BibChr

“As Harry leaned on the table, coffee slopped over the saucer and onto the highly-polished surface.”

I agree ... she’s like Mona Charen with “tendentious.” Okay, I looked it up - now give me a new word!

“Half-Blood Prince” was a very well-done story. As you observed, the author has improved over time; maybe she could go back and do a rewrite on the earlier books. (Sell more copies!)


8 posted on 07/10/2007 7:39:58 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("A dependence on mass immigration is always a structural weakness and should be understood as such.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

There are different versions of HP, US and Brit.It’s not just the covers, it’s the text.

11 more days to go.


9 posted on 07/10/2007 9:35:59 AM PDT by voiceinthewind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: voiceinthewind

I know they change some words to reflect American vs. British usage.

Visit the Countdown thread and offer your predictions for the finale:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1857268/posts?page=395#395


10 posted on 07/10/2007 9:45:21 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("A dependence on mass immigration is always a structural weakness and should be understood as such.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

Experts fear today’s empty playgrounds
Stockton Record | July 09, 2007 | Jennifer Torres
Posted on 07/09/2007 3:08:15 PM EDT by fgoodwin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1863150/posts


11 posted on 07/10/2007 11:57:52 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Monday, July 10, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mercat
A forthcoming national study finds that not even Harry Potter has stemmed a decline in adolescent reading.

I'm nearly 40 and I can't stand to read any modern fiction: all modern fiction is By, For, or About middle-aged women!

Apparently, middle-aged women comprise the entire book market now.

12 posted on 07/10/2007 12:02:02 PM PDT by Cogadh na Sith (Banning Bread and Circuses is the New Bread and Circuses....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Cogadh na Sith

Well, there’s plenty of Clancy and Creighton plus stuff like Eragon and whatnot.


13 posted on 07/10/2007 4:39:52 PM PDT by onja ("The government of England is a limited mockery.") (France is a complete mockery.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Cogadh na Sith

You pretty much have to read Fantasy/Sci Fi nowadays, but even many of those books are becoming feminized. I tend to read older books and hunt for pre 1950s books at discount stores.


14 posted on 07/11/2007 4:06:21 AM PDT by neb52
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick
As you observed, the author has improved over time; maybe she could go back and do a rewrite on the earlier books. (Sell more copies!)

Funny you mention that because Rowling has actually said she wants to possibly redo much of Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix to make the story in both books "flow" better.

15 posted on 07/12/2007 6:15:19 PM PDT by RayChuang88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RayChuang88

It’s an idea with potential. She could fix the continuity glitches readers have noticed, too.


16 posted on 07/12/2007 7:12:58 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("A dependence on mass immigration is always a structural weakness and should be understood as such.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson