I don't think they are presented as the holy grail of literature - all but the most ardent HP fans will admit they're not the best written books in the world - but I think it's the excitement of being in the middle of an incomplete series. The fact that you have an incomplete story and have to wait a couple of years for the next installment. That gives plenty of time for fans to speculate and lots of online forums to spring up so that people can discuss the books. And a lot of people have grown up with these books. Despite the fact that I think the books do have flaws, she writes a damn good story. A book doesn't have to be original to be good, it's the way in which the author tells the story that makes it good or not. If the author can make the reader care about the characters and what happens to them, they're well on the way to writing a good book. That's what's happened with HP - a lot of people really care for the characters and are desperate to know what happens next. It might not be to everybody's taste, but she understands teenagers very well and the characters are, generally, well written. I can't think of any other book that I've wanted to read in one sitting. Like lots of people, I kept this weekend free so that I could buy the book and then spend the whole day reading. She's got to have done something right for so many of us to want to do that. Certainly hype and the movie franchise helps, but remember that the books initially became popular by word of mouth, not due to any marketing exercise. I just find them charming and the whole world they are set in fascinating. Not the best books I've ever read, but amongst the most enjoyable.Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom
I... don't get it.
I've been reading the book at work (shhhh) and I don't understand. It's a decent, not very original children's book as far as I can tell. I mean... the general plot, the genre, etc have all been done before and imho done better, and the prose isn't fantastic.
I can see why people read it and it is very readable, I'm not saying that they are bad, but could someone explain to me why this series of books is presented like the holy grail of literature? I have to be missing something. We sold more than 500 copies this weekend, almost none to children, so what is going on!
I don't mean to insult the books-- but they don't seem like they'd be outselling everything, ever.
I have lots of niggles about book 7, but in overall I liked it and was satisfied with the way things were tied up.