Posted on 08/01/2007 6:59:32 AM PDT by ParsifalCA
I am warning those who have not finished the series . . . and there must be still a few of them by now. . . that there are spoilers ahead. I have just finished the last book . . . having spent an enjoyable evening with it thanks to Sam’s Club and an indulgent wife.
I am done with Harry Potter and enjoying the literary aftertaste the way one enjoys a fine meal almost as much after it is done as when it is being consumed . . . though it is a bit sad that the series is finished.
And it is really finished . . .
Will one be able to re-read the books with pleasure?
I think the answer is only a tentative “yes.” If one knows the “puzzles” and “the secrets” of the book, it will not take away the charm of the characters or the fun of a good Quidditch match, but the first read will always be the best.
The strength of these books is in the plot and the second read, when everything is known, will be satisfying for finding all the clues to what happens . . . but I am hard pressed to know if I will want to re-read them a third or fourth time.
A really great book is as good on the fourth read . . . and some children’s books (Little White Horse) are better.
I deeply enjoyed the last book and thought the ending satisfying. For those who found them quite Christian, they will find much in this last book to give strength to their idea.
(Excerpt) Read more at exilestreet.com ...
“Let me take a stab at that one. Maybe because bookstores are in the business to, uh, stay with me here, sell more books. Are you familiar with the term ‘impulse buy’?”
But according to folk here, there no connection.
HP glorifies occultism.
Actually it doesn't. It makes it look like hard work, usually to accomplish little that can't be done more easily with the flip of a switch.
Occultism is an abomination in God’s eyes
Unless, of course it's one of God's own who is making water flow from a stone, turning the Nile to blood, foretelling the future, etc...
Harry Potter books do not glorify occultism. I have the advantage of having read the books where as you keep regurgitating what someone has told you or someone says in the internet (who didn’t read them either).
But let me ask you this: Several people have brought up “I Dream Of Jeannie”. Did that television show glorify occultism? Jeannie practiced magic. Did the Wizard of Oz? After all Glenda was A GOOD witch!
Well, they were actually LOT’s guests, after they visited Abraham, they moved on to Lot.
Maybe because B&N is stupid, or maybe you just made it up. I went to the midnight party at Border when the 7th book came out. There was only one section of the bookstore that was completely empty, the new age section. Potter fans were gather all over the place, in the kids section, in the sci-fi section, in the literature section, in the music section. There was only one place you could walk without risking stepping on some one, the new age/ occult section, the Potter fans were apparently repulsed by that section, didn’t even want to sit on the floor reading other non-related books there.
Yes, because it accurately reflects life.
__________
So, as long as a book accurately reflects life (reality?), and contains bad stuff, it’s OK? But doesn’t your previous example (you know, the underage crack addicted male prostitutes) also accurately reflect the experience of some?
Right. I second guessed myself after I posted that.
Made me look, though...
See? Harry Potter is evangelical. It's making us look up Scripture.
:dashes away quickly before lightenting strikes:
Huh? I read the early books and have seen each of the movies once (and usually it was the only movie I watched all year — I’m not big on movie-watching, because I’m too busy “following politics” and doing other important stuff). The later books were just too long, but I would have read them if I’d had time, and will probably get to them eventually (like when I’m retired). I plan to see the future movies.
You HEATHEN!!! :p
Well said! I was actually pretty shocked, as the books progressed, how closely they seemed to mirror what's happening in the world today, with our own sniveling politicians and the threat of Islamofascism.
Order of the Phoenix should be read by every grade school child, IMO, simply because it reflects so accurately what happens when you give liberals power in a time of danger. They become self-serving, head-in-the-sand petty fascist dictators.
But apart from social commentary, the books are just entertaining, and darn funny!
“And you’re obsessed with them because...”
You would need to show from my posting history that I am obsessed with either topic. I doubt you will be able to do that.
“Really you need to get your facts straight.”
Your the first one to come up with that.
It mans that you either need to pay more attention or pay attention less selectively. I've read all seven books, setting aside Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals temporarily to read the last one.
Your ""observation" is silly on its face, just based on the number of columnists, professional political observers, who have plumbed the book for liberal or conservative principles, or even for cryptic parallels to the Iraq war.
But according to folk here, there no connection.
______________
At the Barnes and Noble I shop at, Playboy magazine is in the same rack as Guitar Player. Are you suggesting that there is a connection between the 2?
{I only look at the pictures in Guitar Player and only read the articles in Playboy, or something like that)
People say this about all kinds of things. Video games cause kids to become violent, heavy metal causes kids to commit suicide or get involved in the occult or sex, rap music causes drug abuse or mistreatment of women, etc. These things are a much more immediate danger to kids than the occult. Personal responsibility is always necessary. You say "can" create a desire for the real thing, but I doubt whether it's as widespread a problem as the other things I mentioned. What, do we get rid of all movies, video games, rock music, etc?
The Bible accurately reflects the reality that God hates the abominations under discussion and His judgment eventually falls on the practitioners of them.
“But doesn’t your previous example (you know, the underage crack addicted male prostitutes) also accurately reflect the experience of some?”
Not if it glorifies it in some sort of an adolescent adventure series - like Harry Potter.
Well here you are spewing forth about the “evils” of Harry Potter and you keep mentioning teenage male prostitutes. Looks pretty obsessive to me.
Facts are facts and the fact is you’re wrong. There is no connection between HP and real world occult, and only liars and dupes think there, decide which one you are, or better yet bet neither and realize you’re wrong and walk away from an argument that only makes you look stupid.
Does The Wizard of OZ with the character of Glenda the GOOD witch glorify occultism?
I’m curious how you feel about Lord of the Rings. Or Chronicles of Narnia. Or Hans Christian Anderson.
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