No Contest: Tolkien runs rings around Potter

Weekend Journal (WSJ) ^ | 30 Nov 01 | Brian M. Carney

[Petronski]

Just when the menace of terrorism has darkened normal life and the guns of war have sounded, moviegoers on both sides of the Atlantic are turning out in huge numbers to see Harry Potter ride a broom across the silver screen and fight . . . evil.

[william clark]

You haven't learned, have you? Comparisons between Rowling and Tolkien are only allowed when trying to convince parents that they should be perfectly fine with their kids cozying up to the occult.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Till We Have Faces is my favorite fiction work by Lewis. Spellbinding in the use of emotion to convey a sense of loss and lacking.

[2Jedismom]

I read LOTR when I was in the 6th grade. So it really surprised my mother when they put me in low average reading! She had me tested and found out that I read at a "greater than 12th grade" level, whatever that means. Needless to say, she raised a stink and had me placed in advanced reading and I flourished.

My eldest (homeschooled) jedi seems to be following in my footsteps. He began reading shortly after he turned three. I am now reading The Fellowship of the Ring to him and he hangs on my every word. He's six years old.

[Alberta's Child]

I think it's amusing to see so many people criticize the writer who has sold more Children's books than anyone in history . . . doesn't her success prove something?

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is one of the best-selling albums of all time, yet nobody will ever convince me that he's a better vocal artist than Bing Crosby.

[Petronski]

You haven't learned, have you?

Sadly, [blushes, digs in gravel with toe], no, I haven't learned. :)

[Carry_Okie]

My seven year old couldn't put The Hobbit down. My nine year old is busy with Dickens and gets LOTR as a Christmas present, (shhh) which I don't doubt that she will devour. It's a matter of eductaion.

[HarryDunne]

Tolkien is doubtful of man's ability to resist the temptation of absolute power
I can't wait to see how this plays out on the screen. I'm curious to see how they portray Boromir's fall. It's a shame they won't have Tom Bombadil's immunity as a contrast.

[PJ-Comix]

I think LOTR could be even bigger that the Star Wars series. Actually I never could get too thrilled with Star Wars. LOTR looks more promising.

[62chrysler]

You don't have to compare HP to TLOTR to figure out that HP is not even good writing. More people bought THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY than any other novel written this century (recently passed up GONE WITH THE WIND). Deosn't mean it isn't tripe. Just that BRIDGES, along with HP, appeals to the lowest common denominator. Fill a book with enough schlock, and people, including children, will read anything.

[biblewonk]

My kids love D&D while being disgusted with Harry Potter.

[js1138]

It's a matter of eductaion.

I can't entirely disagree, but you haven't refuted my "one in one-thousand" claim.

You mention that at least one of your children is a girl. How about the other?

At that age I was only interested in non-fiction. I didn't read many stories until I discovered science fiction at age 12. As I mentioned in a previous post, straight narrative without ironic humor leaves me cold. I like the shared jokes between author and reader. My favorite science fiction is Arthur Clark's "Tales from the White Hart". I also like Mark Twain.

I have a pretty low tolerance threshold for both anti-literature bigots and literary snobs. Kids who grow up in a family that reads will choose books that interest them -- and different kinds of books at different ages.

[Huck]

Golly. I have never read a Tolkien book (I don't read much fiction--about 10%). I take it I am missing out on something good?

[62chrysler]

I am a big C.S. Lewis fan, in general, but I have never enjoyed his science fiction or children's books. One of the reasons that I didn't enjoy reading the Narnia Chronicles was that I was spoiled by Tolkien's far better writing, characterization, and epic richness. I read THE HOBBIT to my children when they were 9,7, and 5. They loved it so much that I move on with TLOTR, clearly not a children's book in the way THE HOBBIT was begun. The children wouldn't let me put it down. It took six months, but we finished it, and they loved it. It was my second time, and I enjoyed it more than the first (when I was 14). I am reading it now to my 4th and 5th children. Meanwhile, the 9,7, and 5 year-old are now 14, 12, and 10, and are delighted to stay in the room while I read. There is no book like it, and you will be surprised how well even relatively young children follow the narrative and grasp even the many profound insights.

[62chrysler]

NO, NO,NO!!!!!!!! My young children LOVED THE HOBBIT and LOTR. You underestimate your children.

[JenB]

Hey, I can think of a lot of times a Ring of Invisibilty would be better than a Vorpal Sword... even one that goes "snicker-snack".

[Eddeche]

I take it I am missing out on something good?

Something great.

[js1138]

I think LOTR could be even bigger that the Star Wars series.

I have to predict that Potter will be a bigger financial success that LOTR, not necessarily on merit, but because LOTR looks pretty violent. Potter is what I call a low intensity movie -- it neither gets nor deserves four stars, but people will watch it over and over because it is comforting.

Schlinder's List is my idea of a great movie, but I have no desire to ever see it a second time. There are images from it that play in my mind over and over, but I am not likely to spend any more money on it.

[MrConfettiMan]

ping

[Eddeche]

I have to predict that Potter will be a bigger financial success that LOTR, not necessarily on merit, but because LOTR looks pretty violent.

I don't think LOTR is TOO violent. They are running a big (and annoying) Burger King tie-in (goblets that light up w/ the characters faces on them)

[PJ-Comix]

I have to predict that Potter will be a bigger financial success that LOTR, not necessarily on merit, but because LOTR looks pretty violent.

Actually the violence should help it. One of my guilty pleasures is watching Dirty Harry wasting the Bad Guys or see Ahnold blasting away with automatic weapons. But I think LOTR will attract an audience for more reasons than mere violence. Plus it will attract a lot of folks such as me who have no intention of watching Harry Potter.