So am I the only person here who DOESN'T like Harry Potter?

[ghostsofgiants]

I know there has to be more like me out there somewhere.

[billyskank]

1. Can't say. Never read one.

[Left_Winger]

Same here

Likewise, I have never seen a Star Wars movie.

[susanna]

24. Raises hand...

me either (to both).

[Kerrytravelers]

2. Yes. You are.

Now shut up. We don't allow differing opinions here on the left. We're just one angry, shrub-hating mob out to destroy America and love all things that aren't from America... that includes Harry Potter.

Didn't you get the daily memo?


:sarcasm:

[ghostsofgiants]

7. Ahh, I see where my problem lies now...

I'm not American, so I guess I don't have that innate leftist desire to destroy America that American leftists have.

[Kerrytravelers]

15. Not American? Who the hell cares what you think!

:P

[amber dog democrat]

3. no

Frankly I see the HP books as harmless. I just think they are a waste of time however in as much as they annoy fundies, I guess they are OK.

But no, you are not the only one. There are at least 2 of us.

[LARED]

4. I have zero interest in Harry Potter

Have not read the books, seen the movies or even know what it is about outside of stuff I hear on commercials.

[Clintmax]

9. Same here, Lared.

Never read any of them, but people sure do make a lot of hoopla about them!

[mistertrickster]

5. It shows that no one ever got rich over estimating the mind of the public.

It's like Tolkien for slow learners. The Stephen King-ing of the fantasy genre.

I want to wave a magic wand and make it all go away, but alas pop culture rams him down my throat . . .

[emulatorloo]

6. can take it or leave it - and prefer to leave it

So don't feel lonely

[Jara sang]

8. I think the books are OK

I like fantasy although I guess this would be categorized as children's fantasy. I realize that it is children's fantasy, I might watch the occasional movie, but what I can't get is the cult following these books have created and the adults that are falling over themselves. It is understandable, I mean Huckleberry Finn is a children's book and it is also enjoyed by adults, but J.K. Rowling ain't no Mark Twain, that's for sure.

[Fenris]

10. No

[skygazer]

11. No, you're not the only one

My take on the whole thing -

I started reading them with every expectation of liking them. I love good children's literature and they had gotten a lot of attention and had a premise (child wizards attending a school of wizardry) that tickled me and seemed imaginitive and ripe for some good fun.

So it's not like I went into it with a pre-disposed chip on my shoulder. However, I was disappointed. I read the first book and thought it was just okay. I felt the characters weren't particularly well drawn, the writing itself rather pedestrian and the plot not really all that exciting. I thought it was just okay.

But I got the second one from the library figuring maybe it got better. I felt it got worse. I never even finished it, got bored stiff about halfway through.

Really, I see no comparison with the classics of children's lit, books like "The Phantom Tollbooth" or "Alice In Wonderland" or "The Wind in the Willows" or even the Winnie the Pooh books. I found the characters rather bland and though she had some cute and fanciful ideas, they were never really drawn vividly enough for me to get more than a glimpse of them.

They reminded me of the limitations I see in much of the fantasy genre - stories with some really neat ideas but marred by poor writing skills. I don't think they're worth making her the richest woman in England BUT I do appreciate the fact that they seem to encourage some children who didn't read much to read more. Hopefully they will now discover some of the really good literature that's out there.

[dajoki]

12. you are not alone

:toast:

[Webster Green]

13. Nope, the Pope hates it too.

Too much of that "woo-woo" supernatural stuff.

[ghostsofgiants]

14. The "woo-woo" supernatural stuff I am all for

The hype behind the Harry Potter phenomenon however, I'll never be able to understand. Ah well, it gets kids reading I guess, haha.

[mitchum]

16. I don't read children's books, so I have no opinion on it

[sundog]

17. completely indifferent

i saw the first movie... it was ok... that was enough

[SmokingJacket]

18. Who wants to read about a bunch of kids?

I mean, they're fine as kids' books. I read the first couple to my son, but they started getting too scary for him, so I told him he could read them on his own when he's older.

But I'd rather read about grownups, thanks.

[tyedyeto]

19. Never read any of the books or watched the movies

Just not my style, I guess.

[Lady Effingbroke]

20. I couldn't care less.

I don't give a shit about Lord Of The Rings, either.

[DemGirl7]

21. I can't get into them...

I've tried watching the movies, and I just can't get into them, I haven't tried the books yet, but I guess it would probably go the same way of the movies. This is really weird too, because usually I get into stuff like Harry Potter, plus all of my "geeky" friends who are also really into Star Wars and LOTR (which I adore) are really into Harry Potter too, and I feel a little left out when they are in their Harry Potter mode, because I'm not into. :shrug:

[HeatherG.]

26. The Harry Potter Movies

You would probably like the books better than the movies. I bought the first book years ago when I was down state on a shopping trip, and had nothing to read in the hotel. I wasn't expecting to like it so much. That night, I didn't want to stop reading it, even though I had to get up early. Normally, fiction has a hard time holding my interest. The last couple of her books have gotten too long for my taste, but I still finished them. If you ever did read the books it is important to read them in order. I thought the first two Harry Potter movies were somewhat dull. The third movie had a different director and was filmed beautifully.

[lumberingbear]

22. How Un-American !!!

Er...eh....I mean Un-British !!!

:hi:

[Pharlo]

23. Haven't read the books - not even interested.

Didn't care for Tolkien's Lord of the Ring Trilogy either. And I could pass on Star War's as well. Dune sucked. And, what the film industry did to Heinlein's 'Starship Troopers' should be illegal.

Which is surprising, because I enjoy reading Sci Fi / Fantasy fiction.

[LynneSin]

25. You could put me in the "Not really interested" group

I mean, I'm sure if I was 12 I'd be into it.

BTW, hopefully seeing "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" tomorrow!!

[samplegirl]

27. Im not into magical fiction

Boring!

[Blue_In_AK]

28. Who's Harry Potter?

:shrug:

[Placebo]

29. I've never read one of the books.

But a lot of people I know seem to like them. These are like . . . college kids. Weiiiiiiird.

I've seen parts of the movies when they're like on HBO, though.

[Floogeldy]

30. Indifference would probably be more appropriate.

Unless there is something in particular about Harry Potter that causes you discomfort, or pisses you off.

:smoke:

[ghostsofgiants]

31. Yeah, it's more of an indifference

But the constant hype is quite annoying.

[Floogeldy]

32. Good point.

:)

[tibbir]

33. Haven't read any, don't intend to.