Are the HP books just pulp fantasy fiction, or is it more than that?
I haven’t read any of them, but I may some day. I saw three of the movies, but I’m really asking about the books.
- james p
Tags: Fantasy Fiction, Hp Books, Movies, Pulp Fantasy, Pulp Fiction
May 24th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
oh it’s much much more.
it’s a whole new world.
it’ll change your life.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
The books are WAY better than the movies.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:15 am
the books are so much more amazing than the movies. when i was reading them i felt like i was in a different world.. whenever i was upset or down i would pick up a book and start reading and i couldnt stop.. they really made me happy and i was soo sad when they stopped being written
May 31st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
more than that it is a mix of real in a fantasy world. =]
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:17 am
Some people might say yes, but in my mind, JK Rowling has planned this far too much for Harry Potter to be merely pulp fantasy fiction. Granted, she has taken ideas from fantasy, but they have become her own ideas since she uses them in such ingenious ways. It’s all your opinion (the movies, by the way, are terrible and can’t do justice to the books).
June 5th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
The books are definitely much more than pulp fiction, and much better written. The books deal with most of the major themes in literature and the world that is created is as comprehensive and nearly as complex as Middle Earth and more accessible because the wizards have to deal with the “real” world as well.
The university nearest to me, and I’m sure it’s not the only one, is offering a literature class just on Harry Potter.
Eight year olds and 80 year old at my library are fascinated by the books.
Cindy
Reference Librarian
June 5th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
The books evolve as the series progresses. It starts out kind’ve light and kiddish and it becomes dark and complicated in the final books.
I definitely see room for more emotional development had the saga continued. Its a pretty rich world and I think the series only scratched the surface of what Rowling’s world it had to offer.
Definitely give it a read through if you have the time.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:22 am
I think there’s more.
Short answer - the characterization is wonderful. Some of the characters who start out a little flat develop as the series does. Several of the characters are so well-turned that they seem like people I know, like I can imagine what they would do in a given situation.
There’s foreshadowing within each novel, and it’s fun to try to pull the real stuff from the red herrings. There’s also foreshadowing from the beginning of the series that plays out in the last couple of books.
The imagery is powerful. The atmosphere at Hogwarts and in Diagon Alley is palpable, and consistent. I think this is why so many fans take issue with one or more of the movies: the directors have not made the image as true as it is to the readers.
The themes, which are discussed on here frequently, are interwoven and mature, and insightful.
I’ll stop now, since I said “short answer.”