You Imagine discussion

Seriously, what makes Harry Potter so great? Feel free to pick it apart so everyone can learn what works and what doesn't.

Brainstorm away...

honestly, i dont know what makes the books so great, but i still loved 'em!

IMHO what makes them so great is the flawed characters. Harry is just lucky, he's certainly not the most powerful or smartest or anything like that. He's a little boy who is being singled out by a cruel, powerful adult and I'm betting a lot of kids feel persecuted by and powerless in the face of adults.

I think that what makes them so great is that they tap into the universal consciousness of children and young adults. What child hasn't had the feeling that they are an outsider? Different from others? How many haven't felt powerless and wished that they had a magic wand or could cast spells? In addition, people love to root for the underdog.

The series also celebrates the type of friendships we all wish we had: true and loyal friends of all ages.

The thing that I personally like best about the Harry Potter books is that Harry is indeed flawed and is not your average protagonist. If he were a Dungeons & Dragons character, his alignment would be "chaotic good": someone who wants to do good, but doesn't see anything wrong in doing something bad to achieve that end.

I agree with Snowfoot. They are just amazing.

One thing that makes the Harry Potter books so great, in my mind, is that the events take place in the context of school. That holds meaning for everyone. It is a universally powerful topic.

Kids spend a huge part of their lives within the walls of school, deal with student drama, and the drama that teachers often impose on them. Not to mention preparing to go back to school, move up grades, or go home for the summer.

And ditto to everything Michele and Cayr Ariel wrote. Well said!

I agree, Karey... The HP books are part of the great tradition of British children's books that take place in a boarding school, and what a school it is! Hogwarts is one of the main characters, really, a magnificent building with secret rooms and strange corridors, talking and moving paintings and great history. The characters are enjoyable, I adore the owls and talking animals and animagi... and of course the magic! I have a HP group in another forum (care2), have had it for... hmmm... three years, I guess. It's called The Three and a Half Broomsticks. :)

I learned which school inspired the Harry Potter books when my husband and I were in Edinburgh two months ago. It's called Fettes (pronounced Fetties).

Edinburgh itself is called the world's most haunted city, and there are bus billboards all over that announce tours to haunted areas of the city.

So, in a way, when writers are told to write what they know, that's exactly what J.K. Rowling did. She pulled in the mystery and magic of Edinburgh in a boarding school, which, to the outside world has been incredibly fascinating.

So, part of what makes the Harry Potter books great as well, is that Rowling wrote something she knew about, which gives the stories believability and depth that goes far below the surface of the story.

P.S. Cissy, what is Care2?

That's very true, Karey. :) I've not visited Edinburgh (yet) but I have a few friends who have, one's even lived there for a year. It'd be great to go to Scotland one day.

Care2... sadly the site's on a maintenance break this weekend, till 8 am California time on Monday. It's going greener!! (they're replacing all the servers in order to reduce their carbon footprint).

http://www.care2.com/

It's about green living, human rights, animal welfare, nature, health, interest groups, making friends, free clicks etc. I also have a lit group there, called The Secret Library (started that about three years ago as well).