A hype deserved (Harry Potter Paperback Box Set: Four Volumes - J. K. Rowling)

Name: ex-machina

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Product:	Harry Potter Paperback Box Set: Four Volumes - J. K. Rowling
Date:	26/08/02 (222 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Incredible Universe, Brilliant Storytelling, Clever Execution

Disadvantages: Newer Books seem to incorporate marketable components, Rowling's writing style isn't great

Very often, hyped products don't deserve their status. Pokemon is an example. Clearly created for the merchandise, with the less profitable side-lines as a cause to justify the trading cards etc.

I thought Harry Potter would be the same. I'm pleased to say I'm very much mistaken. JK Rowling has crafted a universe of such infinate imagination that it literraly comes alive in front of you.

When Harry is stuck in a potions lesson, or out on the Quidditch field, you feel you are there too, and a clear plan of the environment can be made in your mind. Not from detailed illustrations, but from the vaguest of details. When a book can be sparse with detail, and still show me a crystal-clear picture, I know it's a book worth keeping. Harry Potter is one such book, or rather series.

I won't bore you with the details of the story, you'll find it much more entertaining first-hand. Rowling isn't the world's greatest author, and as the series progressed up to the forth book, I could pick up a hint of commercialism coming through, but it is not her methods that are on test.

The story has all the elements for a highly entertaining read. After the first book, and especially after the second, you'll be looking on new characters with a curious eye. And re-examining the new actions of the older characters. Always trying to work out what's going on. Always failing miserally.

It is Rowling's incredible attention to detail, and imagination that makes the Harry series so devastatingly entertaining, not her style of writing, which at times doesn't seem grammar checked, and at others is just plain basic. This is a childrens book however, so it is fair to question wether this is due to Rowling's skill with the English language, or because of the age she's pitching the book to.

I still disagree wholeheartedly with the marketing hype that surrounds the Potter series, but the books them
selves are worthy of my putting up with it.

As for Rowling's characterisation of women, SHUT THE HELL UP! I am so fed up of hearing group after group of "out" classes moan and moan about this and that. No-one seems to have taken into account that this series is written by a woman in the first place. No-one seems to take into account that the view of women in the other major fantasy that's popular at the moment because of movie adaptations, Lord of the Rings, is as sex objects only. They just praise the fine story-telling of Tolkien, as they should in this case for Rowling.

Professors McGonagall & Hooch, Hermione, Ginny, etc are exaples of women in these books that add to the magic. I always looked forward to Hermione's parts in the book, as she personified me when I was at school to a tee. Except for the female thing, of course. McGongall is the deputy of the school. She is in a position of Authority greater even than the central protagonist. Madame Hooch teaches flying, again she is an authority figure. Ginny is, in my mind, where all the problems come from. But when one examines the other first years and how they are portrayed in Chamber of Secrets, you will see that they are just the same. Ginny may be crutial to that particular story, but Colin Creevy was as much of an annoyance to Harry all the way through the book.

It is insulting to Rowling's intelligence to critisize her charcterisation of women. Next thing, gay men will be complaining that they are not adequately portrayed in the series. I appologise if the last sentence caused offense, but if it did, I would be causing myself offense. The fact of the matter is that, "out" groups are never portrayed adequately. Freedom of expression, however, is just that. Free. Women have as much right to characterise women in their novels as they do men, as they wish. There are no guidelines to writing characters. If there were, you would see a bookshop full o
f the same book written by different people.

I'd urge anyone with or without children to take a look at these books. They are wonderful after all. They are not Lord of the Rings, but they will keep you entertained for as long as it takes to read them. In fact, they were so entertaining to me that I read all four in four days. I am eagerly anticipating the fifth.

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