Harry Potter: Attack of the Clones
What do you get when you take an orphaned protagonist, who’s taken under the wing of a member of a large organization, only to have the member reveal to the orphan that his father was the member of the exact same organization? As such, the orphan is put in the same position as his father as he trains to become a member.
What do you get when you take an orphaned protagonist, who’s taken under the wing of a member of a large organization, only to have the member reveal to the orphan that his father was the member of the exact same organization? As such, the orphan is put in the same position as his father as he trains to become a member.
What’s this have to do with anything? It’s the basic plot for both Harry Potter and Star Wars; two detestable franchises from two different generations. What’s worse than two geeks going at it with fake light sabers? I don’t know. Maybe two more geeks twirling a wand about and screaming odd words at the top of their lungs pretending they can do magic.
The story-line between the Harry Potter books and George Lucas’ Star Wars are so similar it makes me wonder if perhaps Mrs. Rowling didn’t have Lucas on speed dial, so she could make sure her dialog was as cut and dry as possible, written in a slovenly manner that reuses the same formulas for story-telling over and over, and the same useless side stories that don’t have anything to do with the rest of the book.
Mrs. Rowling’s poor writing really shines through in her supposed close to the series, where many die-hard fans are upset by her story-telling. My question to them is why haven’t they been upset all along? She’s used the same cut and dry techniques, giving characters wooden dialog, bumbling about in a half attempt to tell a story and sum it up nicely… only to have written around 300 pages of nonsense before the whole book is over.
But it’s just a children’s book! Of course it is. That’s exactly it. A children’s book. The fact that so many adults have read the stories and acclaimed them as the best that the fantasy genre has to offer really sickens me. Especially when drivel disguised as a children’s book soars high, while great works of fantasy, such as those written by Neil Gaiman, Terry Goodkind, and even Anne McCaffrey, pass under the radar of the same adults.
What about the movies?! What about them? They do well enough for the thinly veiled attempt they are to hide Rowling’s flaws. The actor who plays Harry is going to have to try extra hard to keep that beard in check the longer the series goes on. Seriously. Children’s books? Then leave them to the children. Stop going on and on about it because it’s the first book you choose to read. Honestly. It’s not that great.
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There really are things worth getting angry about – poverty, injustice, soy lattes. Harry Potter isn’t one of them. Relax. Take a valium.
This is about the tenth article I’ve read complaining about J.K Rowling’s writing style. It’s popular. So what?
This is old news. There are countless number of photos already of the similarities between the two. Many people detest Rowling;s style, but thats not the point. It proves to show that the imagination and story behind a story is more important than the vocabulary for kids.If you are looking for something to complain about rowling because of how much money she made, just download her books instead of buying them.
It has nothing to do with money. It has nothing to do with popularity. It has to do with adults who acclaim this series as the greatest thing on the shelves, while ignoring something that is just as great. The books are written with basic plot lines meant for a kid to understand. If you don’t want to think about what you’re reading, maybe it’s time to start critically acclaiming Dr. Seuss.
As one of the said adults who like the mythos in general, Rowling’s writing is absolutely atrocious. The -only- worthwhile thing about the entire franchise -is- the premise, and children -are- able to look past repugnant writing and storytelling in order to see the greater picture.
Take Snape as a prime example. The way Rowling wrote him, he was a completely reprehensible, one-dimensional character. She only stated adding depth to him after the popularity of the movie and Alan Rickman breathing life into the character. At the time, she even admitted that she couldn’t figure out why people though Snape was an interesting character because she -knew- in her heart how bad she was at creating interesting, fascinating characters.
I’m digressing, however. The main point is this: Saqqara’s article is pretty much dead on. Any adult who goes around touting how great the Harry Potter’s books are is clearly an insane twit because there’s nothing even remotely great about them beyond the premise — and that’s something the reader has to take and run with, as opposed to having the writing and storytelling taking you along for the ride.
Harry Potter is an infinitely fascinating phenomenon for that very reason.
I have a question, why do you care so much? There are more pressing issues in the world besides why adults like harry potter? I mean, i guess some of them like to get out of their own terrible lives and just read the book. It makes them feel better about themselves. Her writing style isn’t the greatest, I agree with you there, but for hundreds of years, even today, people are still fascinated with magic. That’s another reason why it’s such a big seller with everyone. Yes, we know magic is not real but the book and movies kind of bring that to life. That ‘what if’ thing that everyone always hangs on to. Even adults.
If you just want to complain about something complain about something that matters, like, how the iraq women are treated? Did you know that if you do someting unholy there you can get killed but people throwing stones at you? Or how Congress is trying to pass a law for a 50 cent tax per every gallon of gas? Or the upcomming presidential election. J.K. Rowling should be the least of your problems. Who cares, she got lucky. People like the story, it doesn’t matter it’s all over, why complain about it.
Pardon. Please point to the sentences in the above text where I said, “I’m complaining about this because people like magic.” Yeah. I don’t see it either.
As for complaining about something that matters… who are you to tell me what matters? What matters to some may not matter to others. You think I walk around daily going, “Man. Those Iraqi women. They sure are treated poorly. I should write about it!” Not really. Did you know that getting killed by people throwing stones at you… is called…. stoning? Dun dun dun. It’s been around since biblical times. It’s not new. As for the gas issue, you should be happy! What is that 50 cent tax is to help those women in Iraq who are bleeding and suffering so you can drive around in your car and complain about Congress passing another gas tax! Imagine that. I will agree with you on one point. She got lucky. And sadly… it’s not over.
Alexa wrote: “I have a question, why do you care so much? There are more pressing issues in the world besides why adults like harry potter?”
What, you mean like pressing issues such as people posting their opinion about someone having an opinion about people who read Harry Potter? Yes, I agree! That’s significantly more important and I’m so glad you took the time out of your heroics in saving the world from all its misery to post your comment. Thank you!
Harry potter rocks!! this is not true! do u even read the books!?!?!?
Ever heard of the “Save the Vowels” movement? Type your damn words out.
Why are you so obsessed over such a simple thing? Rowling is a great writer and its not upto you to decide whether or not people should read her books.
I can neither agree nor disagree with the writer’s review of Rowling’s writing style because frankly, I’m not an expert in such things. My two-cents worth, though, is that Harry Potter is supposed to be a children’s book (now THAT i could write a whole argumentative article on)and plots do tend to repeat themselves. Anyhow, it was an exciting story – like a roller coaster is an exciting ride, even if if you’ve ridden one somewhere else before. Not very substantial, but exciting.
That said, this IS a book review site, so let’s not be wondering if we find here people complaining about Harry Potter instead of world peace and climate change
Come on, chill. Rowling caught a brass ring with her first book, then captured six more as she travelled her journey. I’m a novelist, and if my first book caught a brass ring, I would duplicate it for as long as possible. When criticized, I would most likely do what Rowling is doing: cry all the way to the bank.
Bad writing has always been with us–Steinbeck was not the greatest craftsman among us, for just one example–but they, writers who have done it, did something a lot of us talk about but have never done, and that is write a novel or complete a long project that they have dreamed about forever. Good, bad or indifferent, after one has written 100,000 words or more, one feels a fantastic accomplishment. If it’s published, you’ve won the world. Rowling is no different. She created Harry Potter and friends, got lucky and is riding the wave. (I know, I’m mixing metaphors, but I DON’T CARE.) I’ve created a book of 117,000 words, and right now it is not published, but I feel like Rowling: I did it, I did it, I did it.
Be happy that a fellow writer has been successful.
Who among you knows what a truly ‘great’ writer is?…..or was? Compare Hemmingway with James Joyce and you have a perfect contrast. Ernest wrote simply and effectively….perhaps the most influential writer of his time. He knew the focus of any novel must come from one’s own experience. Joyce is a writer who strings words together in such an obscure way that most who have read (or tried to read) his work wind up scratching their heads.
The most simplistic novels have garnered the most popularity; Tom Swift, Hardy Boys, and those who fall within the category of ‘fantasy and science fiction’. We all want to escape our hum drum existences and get lost in the art of the story spinner.