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Posted by Jason O'Brien "Wouldn't you prefer something with depth, subtlety, irony and an ability to deal with the fact that the world is a complex and sometimes cruel place, rather than escape into childish fantasy? " Harry Potter has depth. If it didn't have depth, it wouldn't be four books and people wouldn't keep reading them. There are subplots in every book. Seven books total seems like a lot of depth. Subtlety? Yes, much. But you wouldn't get the subtlety if you haven't read the book. Irony? I suppose there's a fair amount of that. The whole story revolves around something very ironic: a nerdy, reserved kid who is world famous. The ability to deal with the fact that the world is a complex and sometimes cruel place? In every book, Harry Potter has to deal with the most evil man of them all. Someone who killed massive amounts of people. Someon who tortured people to their death. Death is a big part of these books. From animals to a student's death in book four. Harry's parents were killed, which is a recurring theme in all books. That very fact -- that death is so prominent in the books -- is the reason why some parents won't let their children read them. But I find it funny, and I say this in a good-natured way (as I have said everything here), that you can accuse a book of not having certain traits, when you have not read them yourself. That would be like saying you hate cheese, though you've never tasted it. Peace be with you,
on 14/12/2001, 4:07 am
Quoth the raven: 
Jason O'Brien
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