What is it about Harry Potter?
I should be thinking about the upcoming midterm exams. Instead, I've been wondering why I like the Harry Potter series so much, when the main theme is "love conquers all", which is an overused fairy tale cliché and not one I like seeing in literature.
Another main theme is that bullies can become or are, deep down, good people; it seems to be a pattern in the books. I hate bullies and I haven't forgiven the kids and teacher who bullied me in first year (high school). I don't care what kind of people they may have become; if I met them today, I would be too angry to be polite to them. I don't want to read stories that vindicate or redeem bullies. So why do I love the HP books?
Is it because JK Rowling's magical universe is so absorbing? Because the emotional reactions of the characters are so easy to relate to? Because Harry is such an easy character to relate to? He was actually the first fictional character I'd been able to identify with to any significant degree. Why that is, though, is a complete mystery.
By the way, has anyone read Rowling's new book, Casual Vacancy? What do you think of it? Spoil me.
Another main theme is that bullies can become or are, deep down, good people; it seems to be a pattern in the books. I hate bullies and I haven't forgiven the kids and teacher who bullied me in first year (high school). I don't care what kind of people they may have become; if I met them today, I would be too angry to be polite to them. I don't want to read stories that vindicate or redeem bullies. So why do I love the HP books?
Is it because JK Rowling's magical universe is so absorbing? Because the emotional reactions of the characters are so easy to relate to? Because Harry is such an easy character to relate to? He was actually the first fictional character I'd been able to identify with to any significant degree. Why that is, though, is a complete mystery.
By the way, has anyone read Rowling's new book, Casual Vacancy? What do you think of it? Spoil me.