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[iamgerg]

Finally got around to reading Harry Potter, I'm on the 4th book. Anyone want to tell me why this thing is so big? I mean it is only with this book that I can actually see the third dimension to some of these characters

Comments

[dawnkiller]

I think it's a combination of the worldbuilding and being accessible, basically. For kids especially it taps that escapism/chosen one/secret heir trifecta, and as for why it interests adults -- I think it's in part because they're unused to seeing any fantasy with rock-solid worldbuilding. It's out there, but it's not mainstream, so this opens a new dimension for people who aren't regular fantasy readers.

Although her writing is not the best, I will say Rowling does do foreshadowing and subtle characterization better than first thought -- for instance, she's pretty good about presenting the difference between personal reality (Harry and his unwarrantedly low, or high, opinion of certain people) and objective reality (those same people being presented in less than black and white terms). The saddest thing about the series, IMO, is that the POV is largely focused on Harry, when a broader approach would be more interesting.

If nothing else, though, definitely read the "flashback" scenes regarding Voldemort in The Half-Blood Prince. It's totally worth it for the scene of Voldemort in his early years, fresh out of school and basically having to be a giggolo as one of the rungs on the ladder of Dark Lordship.