Flights of Fantasy discussion

For the Harry Potter series digression to continue. :)

I love Harry Potter and I almost missed out on it. I only read it because my younger cousin was and I was curious. And after the 3rd book I was just as hooked as she was. Maybe more. Its the only series I have read with my family. I even got my mom to read it and she *hates* fantasy - she almost quit it when the 'cat talked'. And we all read the last book at the same time - after rushing to Target in the morning to pick it up. Good memories that I'll never forget.

You all are really, really, really making me want to read them again. I haven't since the last book came out. I'm actually a little afraid some of the magic will be gone a 2nd time. But I want to too...

My experience was similar, Nienna. I didn't pay any attention to it until book four was out, and the entire country was talking about it so much that it was hard to ignore. I didn't read much children's fiction at the time (I read waaaay more now that I'm older and entirely unconcerned with taking myself seriously ;)) and when I gave in and picked it up, I nearly put down the first book because I thought the writing style was babyish.

And then the story made it to Hogwarts, and I fell in love. When I was a kid I read a LOT of the traditional British boarding school stories and Rowling perfectly captured what was so great about them -- the initial isolation followed by finding a place to belong and people to belong to -- but with magic. Made me feel like a child again, in a good way.

I was at the midnight openings for books five, six and seven.

Hubby and I became curious about the series right after the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. We bought the first 2 in paperback, bought the 3rd one in Hardcover, went back and bought the first 2 in Hardcover and preordered the rest of the series as soon as they were available.

The day Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released, my husband reread Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from beginning to end while waiting for the delivery truck! :)

I remember, it was the time when the second movie got released, and there was lots of buzz surrounding this book. I used to save my pocket money (as I was a schoolkid then) and bought the first three books. I lived in that world for the next 3 years, dreaming right in middle of classes, during breaks, and every other time that I was awake(literally). Those were my first fantasy lit. Since then I have read so many others and but still I enjoy HP whenever I reread it. Everytime I cry when I read the last chapters of Order of Phoenix and Half-blood Prince. These books are special to me, being the very first fantasy I read and being my companion during the darkest period of my life.

I was also a late HP reader... I had avoided the series until after the 5th book was out, when a friend was reading it with such absorption that I was intrigued and borrowed them. I was immediately hooked, and addicted, and I've never looked back.

The wait for book 6 was torturous, and it was so odd to finally have read book 6 after having read 1-5 as one massive chunk so many times. But I loved it. And I continue to love it more and more each time I read it. :D

I hadn't even heard of the books. Shocking, I know! My brother came across the first in a bookstore. He had never heard of it, but thought it looked good and that my son, Sean, who was 10 at the time would like it. Needless to say, Sean LOVED it, of course and made me read them. The rest, shall we say, is history! I was hooked!!!! The sad part of that story....we have never been able to get my brother to read them....and doubly sad......Sean hasn't read past the 4th book. :(

My last book was actually bought at Downtown Disney! We were on vacation and I just couldn't wait 2 days till we came home! And as much as I loved the books, I couldn't get over how many people were carrying their books around the park the next day....on line in the rain, reading over lunch! Very devoted fans, I guess.

I remember our 6th grade teacher started reading Book I to us when it first came out, but then stuff came up and she couldn't finish it...so I got my hands on a copy and got my mind blown. So imaginative, especially Book III! That one is still hands down, my favorite. I also really like Book II. Which HP book is your favorite one?

Book IV - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I loved the whole concept of the competition, the clues, the magic, even the cheats!

Interestingly enough, book V - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my least favorite of the series, due to Harry's incredibly bratty attitude, among other things. It was a very dark book all the way around.

Nyssa, I agree with you on book V. It's my least favorite, too. I still love it, though, but still. For me it's my intense dislike of Umbridge, Fudge and even Percy!

Kathy wrote: "Nyssa, I agree with you on book V. It's my least favorite, too. I still love it, though, but still. For me it's my intense dislike of Umbridge, Fudge and even Percy!"

Umbridge is part of "the darkness" to which I'm refering. What a nasty piece of work!!



I actually did not watch the movie version, so this is not how I pictured her at all. In fact, I distinctly remember thinking she was green - don't remember why though.

Probably since she was always compared to a toad! Lol

Kathy wrote: "Probably since she was always compared to a toad! Lol"

LOL! That might have done it!

LOL on the green toadie Umbridge! I agree on Book V... Welcome to adulthood, Harry, when you realize those you idolized are sometimes more messed up than you are. I look at it as a necessary evil to take the series one step closer toward the bittersweet Book VII.

Books 3 and 4 are my faves. I was also annoyed by the angst in book 5 on my first reading, but on subsequent readings it's my third favorite of the series.

The Prisoner of Azkaban was the book where the story started to really click with me. And its also my favorite of the movies. I love the entire back story of James & Lily throughout the series. I love Goblet of Fire too. And Half Blood Prince. The Deathly Hallows.

The first time I read it I didn't care for Chamber of Secrets. I like what *it* is but I didn't enjoy the book as much as others in the series. And Order of the Phoenix. Yes, I hated her more... a lot more.

I do agree that V's dark turn is definity necessary. It's very important in the overall story, thats for sure. My favorite book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

Kathy wrote: "I do agree that V's dark turn is definity necessary. It's very important in the overall story, thats for sure. My favorite book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!"

I completely agree that the direction of V is necessary for the way the story goes after that. I think my issue with the book is that it seems to be a very long book to achieve that particular goal. It is definitely my least favourite book in the series. Favourite is probably Prisoner of Azkaban as that's when I started to see the series as more than just a fun series of children's books and started to get more interested in the backstory. That one and Goblet of Fire.

My own story - I did come to the series until the fourth book was coming out. I'd never even heard of it until my dad, who had heard on the radio about the midnight parties and whatnot, called me and asked me if I knew what it was.

My curiosity piqued, I went to the store the next day and they had the first book. I loved it from the first page, and never looked back.

I don't think I was hooked on HP until after book 3. I really enjoyed the first two but I was hooked after Prisoner. While I didn't really like Order (meaning this is relative) on the first go it has become one of my favorites on subsequent re-reads. I'd probably agree with Colleens top 3. Though I freakin love Hallows.

Colleen wrote: "Books 3 and 4 are my faves. I was also annoyed by the angst in book 5 on my first reading, but on subsequent readings it's my third favorite of the series."

That's what happened to me with book 5 as well, except it ended up as my second favourite (behind book 4) in the end. I was extraordinarily critical of 5 when it released, but upon rereads it seems like I can't find the things that bothered me so much.

Uh oh. **And, I guess this link would be a spoiler if you haven't read the HP series.

http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/...

In a new interview conducted by Emma Watson, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling drops a bombshell: (view spoiler)[She regrets putting Ron and Hermione together: http://www.hypable.com/2014/02/01/jk-...

Personally, I always had issues with the Ron/Hermione pairing. I consider myself most like Hermione, and I'd never end up with someone like Ron - so for that reason, if nothing else, it never worked for me.

But I don't see Harry and Hermione together, either. I remember book 4 when Ron was being a prat and Harry hung out with Hermione and he kept thinking how much less fun Hermione was as a best friend... Sure, that was when they were 14, but still. I can actually sorta buy Harry and Ginny together.

Lastly, it's too cliché to have the hero and main girl pair up. (hide spoiler)]

Guess me and Chris saw the same thing. Heh.

Colleen wrote: "In a new interview conducted by Emma Watson, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling drops a bombshell: She regrets putting Ron and Hermione together: http://www.hypable.com/2014/02/01/jk-......"

I agree w/ your last statement.

Personally, I don't think it should have been either, but it was easier to keep all of them together this way.

Colleen wrote: "Guess me and Chris saw the same thing. Heh."

We both heard the sound of the internet blowing up.

I'm actually a fan of (view spoiler)[ Ron and Hermione being a couple and I suspected they would end up together from the second book. I wasn't ever really a fan of Harry and Ginny though. I don't know why. But it seemed like it was just a way for Harry (and Hermione too I guess) to become a Weasley. But whatever I didn't read Harry Potter for the 'romance' anyway. Although, if Rowling ever writes a series about the next generation I would love to see Ron and Hermione's daughter end up with Draco's son. ;) (hide spoiler)]

I have to agree in regards to the movies (view spoiler)[ the actors who played Ron and Hermione have no chemistry to speak of but Harry and Hermione do have very strong chemistry. I also think Harry respected Hermione and her opinions more in the movies than the books. In the books I always felt Harry didn't care for Hermione all that much and that he used her more than anything. Maybe I'll change my mind when I read it again. (hide spoiler)]

There's a part of me which actually is wondering if Rowling has been influenced a bit too much by the movies on this one. That's weird for me to think of, but Rowling was so involved with the movies and friendly with the actors, and (view spoiler)[ Dan and Emma did have a lot of chemistry, and the movie writers kept throwing romancy things into the movies that aren't in the books, like Harry and Hermione dancing in the tent and that awkward almost kiss thing...

But I still don't see them together.

Honestly, I think the most realistic thing would be for them to end up with entirely other people, like Hermione could be with someone she meets at work and stuff. But one thing that I sort ofnjust go along for the ride with in YA books is the idea that people who are in love at 16 stay together in books. ;) (hide spoiler)]

Colleen - I had that exact thought!

(view spoiler)[ I liked Harry and Ginny together in the books just because she is such a strong female character. I love when a male character likes a female character for more than her looks or her boobs. I think Daniel and that actress had negative chemistry. It was painful to watch and I always fast forward their little siblings kiss whenever I watch the movie.

As for Rona and Hermione, I always loved that pairing. I don't like how they changed their big reveal in the movie though.

And it is laughable that the people they dated at 16 are the people they ended up with. I don't even talk to anybody I hung out with at 16, let alone be in no lasting relationship with them. (hide spoiler)]

Bonnie Wright played Ginny...

And I pretty much agree with you, Felina.

I just read this about the topic and thought it was interesting because it brings up a lot of things I forgot about between the books and the movies:
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/01/eras...

I do remember I liked book Ron more than movie Ron. And I liked movie Hermione more than book Hermione.

I agree that (view spoiler)[Dan and Bonnie have negative chemistry. I also think the movies underplayed Ginny too much. She's not in the books much, but she does more in them than the movies. On the other hand, since Bonnie doesn't seem that good an actor, maybe that's for the best. (hide spoiler)]

Colleen wrote: "I agree that [spoilers removed]"

Agreed. It's best they down played Bonnie. But I also think Daniel is a bit of a bad actor as well so....

True. He did get a bit better, though. I'm still curious to see him in Horns.


That article makes a good point about them minimalizing Ron in the movies. They really do give some of his best moments in the book to Hermione on film.

I do think the article underplayed some of his book-flaws, though, in its attempt to show how great he is. I mean, it doesn't mention (view spoiler)[ his bullshit in the 4th book, and abandoning them in Deathly Hallows.

And this part of the article is a bit misleading:

These rewrites not only depict Ron as an idiot coward—they also make him an outright jerk. When Professor Snape snaps at Hermione yet again for being an insufferable know-it-all, movie-Ron gives her a look and drawls, “He’s right, you know.” Wait, what?! Harry, why are you friends with this prick? Well, maybe because the Ron Weasley that J.K. Rowling put on paper was in that exact same situation, and immediately leapt to Hermione’s defense when she was being abused by a teacher—“You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don’t want to be told?”

Yes, at that particular part Ron stuck up for Hermione against Snape because Snape was being grossly unfair. (Shocking as that might seem.)

But there were plenty of other times when he did call Hermione an insufferable know-it-all, even after they were friends. Even the book, at that part, says it's a mark how much they hated Snape because they all called Hermione insufferable at least once a day, or something.

So if that part of the movie makes him a prick, then he's kinda a prick in parts of the book, too.

Like when he got jealous of Krum 2 years later and treated her like shit... (hide spoiler)]

Which isn't to say I hate Ron, I just like him least of the three. ;)


The movies messed up a lot of character things, really. (view spoiler)[ Dumbledore throwing Harry into the damn table in GoF? McGonagal standing down to Umbridge in OotP? Ginny seeming more timid than 'fierce and blazing'? Tonks having boring brown hair in Deathly Hallows? The twins upsetting an exam, when they have more consideration in the books... so on and so forth.

I know things have to be dropped and changed, but it always annoys me when they change character stuff. (hide spoiler)]

The more I think about it, the more I wish Rowling had just (view spoiler)[ left any romance between the three leads out of the story period. Their friendships are not made any stronger by adding romance to them. (hide spoiler)]

On the other hand at least she didn't (view spoiler)[ make it a love triangle between the three of them. (hide spoiler)]

Nienna wrote: "The more I think about it, the more I wish Rowling had just [spoilers removed]"

I'm thinking it was to give the audience a "HEA" feeling.

I don't want to think about it anymore. I don't want to pick the series a part. I loved it!! I especially loved that it was written to grow with the audience.

It got me out of a really long reading funk, allowed me to share a reading experience with my husband (who consumes books and always reads things first), reminded me that reading could be a lot of fun, and that MG books were not always just for the young but also for the young at heart.

I need to read the series again. I really do. But I have to buy all of the books again because I gave my original copies away. I'm thinking of ordering the newer box set that came out not too long ago.

But HP has special meaning for me. That's why I almost don't want to read them again. I do but I don't.

Nienna wrote: "I need to read the series again. I really do. But I have to buy all of the books again because I gave my original copies away. I'm thinking of ordering the newer box set that came out not too long ..."

I understand exactly what you mean!

My husband and I enjoyed it so much we have the whole series in Hardcover. I personally dislike hardcover books, I find them uncomfortable to read, but we wanted this set to last a long time.

I may go ahead and buy the ebook versions when I'm ready to read them again. I'm just not ready to yet.

Nicki wrote: "A thought occurred to me earlier after I finished talking to someone about JKR's recent comment.

I'm seeing a lot of reactions online (not talking about FoF, but outside of Goodreads) about the fa..."

Thats an interesting take. I would not have thought of it that way. The pairing doesn't surprise me, really. Its a good example of opposites attract.

Nicki wrote: "A thought occurred to me earlier after I finished talking to someone about JKR's recent comment.

I'm seeing a lot of reactions online (not talking about FoF, but outside of Goodreads) about the fa..."

I agree, Nicki! Though I am a big Ron fan the feminist in me cannot deny your logic.

I'm a big Ron fan, also! I really liked how it ended up! :)

Nicki - I saw the same thing going on and it was bugging me too. I even has to leave a comment on Facebook over it which I hardly ever do.

(view spoiler)[ The thought of Harry or Ron 'deserving' Hermione is ridiculous and insulting. And I even support Ron & Hermione being together. I began noticing hints of this on book 2 so it wasn't exactly a surprise. They always had something for each other, especially Hermione for Ron.

I have a problem with the Harry & Ginny side too saying that Harry marrying Ginny makes him a Weasley. Yeah. No. The Weasley's 'adopt' both Harry & Hermione before any romantic interests start to bloom. Family is stronger than that. Although... I suppose if Hermione tore out Ron's heart and crushed it momma Weasley would 'disown' her. ;)

(hide spoiler)]

As to Rowling's announcement, in general, I feel the following (Quotes taken from a discussion on the Deathly Hollow book page - What do you think of Jo's latest revelation):

Alan wrote: "To me, you let the book be. Once it's written, it's written."

^This

Benja wrote: "I think JK should stop treating her work like a Facebook status page."

and ^This

I don't know, I'm kind of the mind that (view spoiler)[they are all freaking kids. What, 18 years old? None of them would really end up together happily ever after. They date, break up, maybe stay friends, and end up with completely different people. That would have made a good epilogue... Them all at the train station with random people we don't even know. I always giggle when I read / see the ending. I know it's a happily ever after kids story, and I love it, believe me I do. But I'm way too jaded to buy that crap :P (hide spoiler)]

The part about the end that bugged me (keep in mind I only read it once years ago so if I'm wrong please forgive me) was (view spoiler)[ the whole Teddy thing. Lupin and Tonks made Harry Teddy's godfather (right?) and so (I assume) when Teddy's parents both die at the end of the book Teddy is an orphan and Harry is left with the huge responsibility of this baby. Now - I do imagine the Weasley's step in and raise the baby but Harry resumes at least partial responsibility because he acts as Teddy's 'father' in the epilogue. Harry was a child himself. Harry never got a childhood. He never got to be just young. I don't have a problem with the 'hea' ending but I want to think of Harry, Ron, & Hermione (and anyone else) having some fun after they win the war. They had to grow up way too fast.

As for the Rowling comments. I don't know. It is her creation. She is bound to have regrets. But I don't think she needs to share them. Not in this way. She should say (if anything needs to be said) she thought of pairing Harry with Hermione. But to call Ron & Hermione a mistake seems unfair. In my opinion. (hide spoiler)]

Welp... *sigh* It just needs to be said. JK Rowling is wrong on this one.

(view spoiler)[I don't really care much about Harry and Ginny as a couple, but I don't think that Harry and Hermione would have worked. From the very start there was nothing there but friendship. It's ALWAYS been different with Ron. For JKR to say that she regrets that... makes me kinda mad and I think I'm just going to ignore her on this one. She should not regret Ron's happiness. >_< (hide spoiler)]

That is all.