The Harry Potter Society ***SPOILERS***

[smeagol444]

Greetings! This is a Society for anyone who gets banana peels thrown at them for being a harry fan. You have been accepted into hogwarts school of witch craft and wizardry so grab a butterbeer and enjoy.

[Celebthôl]

*grabs a barrel of banana peels and tips it over the Smelly Rotter fan*

:p

[smeagol444]

Oh I suppose The Simpsons page, the sports page, the spongebob page and ALL THE OTHER PAGES CAN GO ON to THEIR OWN SITES TOO HUH?? So-rry did you know it's not a federal law to like harry and lotr?; THeir are plenty of fans on here so get over iT

[Celebthôl]

alright calm down people, we all hate (well most of us hate) Harry Potter, but we have to deal with it as this is a free post bored so theres nuthin we can do unless WebMaster enforces to law that no HP stuff is allowed on here...

[Jesse]

I'll join!

[Beleg]

alright calm down people, we all hate (well most of us hate) Harry Potter, but we have to deal with it as this is a free post bored so theres nuthin we can do unless WebMaster enforces to law that no HP stuff is allowed on here...

It is usually assosiated with LOTR fans that most of them hate/despise/loathe HP, which IMO is a totally wrong concept. Both of these series are totally different from eachother and are great books in themselves. These competation or hatred IMO was created by the back to back release of the movies, as it is not often we see too Big-cost fantasy movies released so close.

And I would like to join this society.


Ne one Interested in HP fanfiction here?with fans of harry potter. With people who actually want to hear about it.

What has compelled you to say that people on LOTR based Fora's don't want to hear about HP?

[Celebthôl]

The majority dont, there have been multiple polls on the subject and it always comes out the same, the majority hate HP...icluding me, but we all have to put up with it, its a free forum, so rant away, we wont stop you :)

[Jesse]

Who gives a **** about what most of the people here think? They shouldn't dictate whether or not it is okay for a Lord of the Rings fan to like Harry Potter....:rolleyes:

[Celebthôl]

yeah i think that as implied by what i said

[FoolOfATook]

As a LOTR fan who greatly enjoys Rowlings' work, and a member of both the Simpsons Society and the Guild of Sports, I see no problem whatsoever with this guild.

Frankly, I don't understand the animosity I see from some LOTR fans against Harry Potter- this isn't a competition for best mainstream fantasy work. Both LOTR and HP have their negatives, and both have positives that more than overwhelm any negatives in the work. If you don't like Harry Potter, which is more than your perogative, just ignore this guild. Why be hostile to its very existance?

[smeagol444]

Thankyou to all of the harry fans who came in here to post positive messages, but franky i can't understand why the rest of you bothered to post rude and ignorant ones. We don't really care what your opinion of Harry Potter is, because we already know you have the slight concept in mind that you are better than us. And if you want to know why i hang around on here, lifeling, probably because (as made quite obvious to the rest of us who actually have a logical thinking ability) I'm actually a huge fan of tolkeins work also. This is called being "open minded". You ought to write it down. There are in fact plenty of people who "want to hear it" which i hope you've figured out by now. Foolofatook is right, it's not some big competition. And listen here, as you stated to me, why not go tell someone who actually wants to hear your consistent whining, because a thread for hp fans is probably not going to consist of people wanting to hear about it. So go away now please, and we'll enjoy ourselves. Thanks.

[Idril]

I'll join - I really enjoyed the HP books and look forward to the others.

quoted by Beleg
These competation or hatred IMO was created by the back to back release of the movies, as it is not often we see too Big-cost fantasy movies released so close.
I totally agree with this and have said so previoulsy in another post. I also wonder how much is due to wanting to appear 'intellectually superior' and following the pack. Maybe others are just embarrassed to admit they like Rowling's work on a Tolkien (The Master) Forum.

FoaT says it really:If you don't like Harry Potter, which is more than your perogative, just ignore this guild. Why be hostile to its very existance?

So smeagol444, what's your plan:)

[Beleg]

Hey Idril, have you ever tried to read any HP fanfiction?? ;)

[Idril]

No - ahhh, what exactly is 'fanfiction'?

[Beleg]

Fanfiction are stories and novels written by "fans" involving the characters and events from the novels. Mostly they are based around some action, some Romance (Pairings like Harry/Hermione:(, Harry/Ginny :) ) and some cliche. And not all of them are childish. Some of them are brilliantly executed, brilliantly written, (sometimes from adult point of views, the ratings might vary (some are NC-17 too). People write fanfictions on LOTR too. So if you are willing to read one or two, i can give you some very exciting fanfictions.

[Idril]

Yes - this sounds good:) Send on!

[Beleg]

Here are a few Links,Paradigm of Uncertainity (http://www.schnoogle.com/authorLinks/Lori/The_Paradigm_Of_Uncertainty/)

Dracenea Draco (http://www.schnoogle.com/authors/al/DD01.html)

Harry Potter and Phychic Serpant (http://www.schnoogle.com/restrictedsection/fic.php?fic=sch:/authors/barb/PS01.html)

[smeagol444]

Yay! All the smelly people have left our humble society! Who else can positively not wait for Harry Potter and The Order Of the Phoenix!

[Celebthôl]

teehee, i havent left, im going to keep watch over this to make sure no more rough housing goes on ;) but i still hate Happy Potter no end :(

[spirit]

i Will join...if you dont mind.

i like the harry ptter books but the movies are not axactly BRILLIANT!!

Cant wait for HP and the order of the pheonix

[Jesse]

I don't think there will be a problem with you joining! :)

[Samwise_hero]

Hey can i join! I love HP! BUT nothing could ever replace the spot Tolkien's writings have in my heart.
Oh and i can't wait until HP and the Order Of Phoenix comes out. i'm practically counting the days!!!

[spirit]

so how mand days are there lefy to wait, Samwise_hero? i would try to count myself but i dont have enought fingers on my hand! Lol!

[smeagol444]

Everyone is most welcome to join. Just come right in and start chattin, i don't care. Except for celebthol. and lifeling. Sorry guys but i really don't see the point. And Celebthol when was there"rough housing". If you hate Harry Potter then you may find this thread somewhat unentertaining. Precisely.

[spirit]

what do ya all prefer?
the movies or the books?
Me? i prefer the books

[Samwise_hero]

1.) there are 38 days till the next blimmin' AWESOME book comes out
2.) i prefer the books to the movies coz they explain a lot more. and they put you in more suspense. you get to use your imagination and that's a major up point! Considering my imagination needs all the exercise it can get or i'd be insane right now!

[smeagol444]

Yeah I prefer the books. They have more depth and they're so witty. I think they did an ab fab job on the movies, but a few minor things could have been done better. the books just have more things in them to make it more intresting, which they couldn't fit into the movie. Evrything flows smoother in the books. And they are just better.

[Beleg]

Books are the best,
ignore all the rest!

[spirit]

Originally posted by Beleg_strongbow
Books are the best,
ignore all the rest!

yea. Nice rhyme thingy! lol

I dont really likke the movies! The 1st one was ****, 2nd one was a little better!

[Celebthôl]

I would refure you to the third post, buts its gone, that was the rough housing, but oh well, at least i dont have to stay here :D toodle-ooo

[reem]

haha!! Harry Potter!! do you have any idea how engrossed i was and how ecsatic and fancifull i bacame after reading the first and second books? one would think that HP, being and children's book, would not appeal so muhc to the adult mind (i like to consider myself as an adult). but for the next few month after reading the four hp books i was just totally blown away! before i went to sleep all i could think about was the books!i BREATHED harry potter! it was that amazing!
..alas, i can't say the same for the movies. man did they SUCK!! the first one was unbelievably stupid and boring. they took out everything and twisted it into the deformed 'thing' it is now:(:(:Mad: the second movie wasn't so bad...partly because they king of stuck to the original thing, but mostly because iw as expecting it to suck just as much as the first one.
i can't wait for the fifth book, but i think that most fans are really blowing things out of proportions. there was an article a few days ago in the newspaper about the fifth book and how people in the UK were going raving mad and how much tight security was needed and stuff. (i'm not so sure of the place, but i think it was the UK...or the US, but i think it was the UK). i mean, for goodness sake, we are, afterall, rational living creature! why act so insane!! but neevr mind thta.
now to coment about the previous posts in this thread.
first of all, as much as i adore harry potter, i don't think that such a hostile attitude should be communicated with the non-hp fans. i never got the impression that they were stuck up or thought themselves superior in any way, they just didn't like HP, just like how most people don't like Dickens or Pullman or anything else. and if i was to compare hp with Lotr then i would have to admit that lotr was a bit superior in it's plot construction and character build and everything else, but i don't compare them becauser the enjoyment i get from each is unique.
second of all, EVERY ONE STOP BAD MOUTHING CELEBTHOL!! it's totally uncalled for.
thirdly...who the hell is 'lifeling'??!:confused:
ok, i think i said enough for one post. but let us discuss someting about what is to come in the fifth book. i read that Rowling wrote a few words as hints...let me go get them, wait a sec.....


the clues are: 'Ron, broom, sacked, house-elf, new, teacher, dies, sorry.'
so what do you think??
reem

[spirit]

(i think that he is gone! yay! i mean what a shame!):D

[Idril]

Did I miss some happening thing here?:confused:

Reem, "the clues are: 'Ron, broom, sacked, house-elf, new, teacher, dies, sorry." that's kinda vague and covers 4th book - come to think of it, it could apply to all the books so far - well maybe not the house-elf bit.

So what are the theories then?

[Samwise_hero]

Originally posted by reem
haha!! Harry Potter!! do you have any idea how engrossed i was and how ecsatic and fancifull i bacame after reading the first and second books? one would think that HP, being and children's book, would not appeal so muhc to the adult mind (i like to consider myself as an adult). but for the next few month after reading the four hp books i was just totally blown away! before i went to sleep all i could think about was the books!i BREATHED harry potter! it was that amazing!

I totally agree with this. after the first book i dived for the 2nd but when i finished that i had to wait a whole 3 weeks so i caould read the next one. my friend was supposed to be lending it to me but she didn't so i just went and bought it. now i've read all four twice in the last 2 months. (i just had holidays and i needed something to do). so.....the thing that got me onto HP was the second movie but the books are still better.
my friend took me up to the city uni and they showed it there on a projector BIG SCREEN! It was just like the movies! Lol!
anyways i have nothing against people who don't like HP but they really shouldn't bag it out. it's just plain not nice.

[spirit]

I thought it was only a rumour that someone was going to die in the 5th book! it was ment to be one of the importantish characters! (not HP, dhh)

[reem]

maybe Dumbledore dies....or maybe not. personally i'm really tired of thinking and assuming. i just want the real thing and be done with it. it was a real mistake to read an unfinished series. i hate the waiting process. do you have any idea how many times i reread the four books just to remember everything for when the fifth book comes?? FIVE TIMES!...not that i'm complaining, but it kind of get annoying when false rumers keep telling you thta it's commming ut next month, or the month after that and you just keep rereading and rereading....it's just really annoying.
but atelast this book will be a good long one. it'll make ammends i supose....i better!!
reem

[Samwise_hero]

I've been told as well that one of J K Rowling's favourite characters die. i dont' want it to happen cos i like all the characters. i guess we'll find out in 34 days!

[spirit]

Its not Harry!
Can be Ron either! He is the funniest one!

I think it might be Hagrid or ever Sirrus!
i have a feeling it might be Hagird! Probably wrong!!

[Beleg]

Hagrid and Sirius are both Important Characters, so it's not very probable that they'l die so soon.
i hate the waiting process. do you have any idea how many times i reread the four books just to remember everything for when the fifth book comes?? FIVE TIMES!...

Lol....who said you couldn't read fanfiction? They are probably better then the real thing...:rolleyes:

[reem]

yah, but if the fanfiction IS better then the real thing would feel like a disappointment, so if was for to read any, i'd do it after the real book.
...wouldn't it be great if Snape died!! now THAT is one character i wouldn't mind getting rid of! but now that i think of it, it might be Sirus that dies...or maybe a memeber of Ron's family...or maybe that girl harry has a crush on...what's her name?
reem

[Beleg]

yah, but if the fanfiction IS better then the real thing would feel like a disappointment, so if was for to read any, i'd do it after the real book.

Who says? Thousands of people read them, and not one says that after reading them.

The girl's name is Cho Chang and it wouldn't be fair that she'd also be eliminated after the recent death of his boy-friend.

[Jesse]

I hope Colin Creevy dies. He is so dang annoying in the video game, movies, and in the books....:rolleyes:

[Samwise_hero]

I know the main characters can't die like Harry, Ron and Heromine because that would just be odd.
I really don't want Sirius or Remus to die coz they're my favourites and i don't really want Snape to die either. he may be a real blaaa but i really don't want him to die. Harry just wouldn't have the same old tormented Potions lessons without him. =)

[spirit]

Originally posted by Jesse
I hope Colin Creevy dies. He is so dang annoying in the video game, movies, and in the books....:rolleyes:

i totally agree with you dudette! and if she doesnt kill him i will! (i haven't really got a plan yet but i am starting to plot and i have a german lesson nexy to think about it! muahaaa haaa haaa). i hace a feeling it might be sirrus!

[Samwise_hero]

He is rather irritating isn't he? But do you really think it would be him. I doubt it but i guess we won't find out for another 29 days. That's for those of us who go out and buy the book on its release date in Australia. I'm depending on the library and putting one on hold when it comes in coz i've been told that the books gonna cost like $50 when it first comes out. And i'm not willing to pay that much for a book unless it's Lord of the Rings.

[Wolfshead]

I like Harry Potter. It's not my life or anything silly like that, but I like it. They're good stories, a bit on the childish side, but still very good. So, yeah.

I didn't like the first film, I found it boring. I think it was because it stuck to the story too much - nothing unexpected happened. However, the second was quite good - Kenneth Branagh (Lockhart) was superb, he was so funny :D

I'm looking forward to it being released - I predict I will have it finished in a couple of days. Or maybe I'll take my time this year...
Originally posted by reem
or maybe that girl harry has a crush on...what's her name? Didn't you say you'd read the books 5 times? I haven't read GoF since it was released and I could remember that... I did read it 3 times in a row, however :rolleyes:
Originally posted by Jesse
I hope Colin Creevy dies. He is so dang annoying in the video game, movies, and in the books....:rolleyes: Anyone seen the additional scene on the CoS DVD with him? Now, that was funny :D "Everyone just thought I was mental", "Fancy that" :D I think it could well be Creevy who dies. Dumbledore will, eventually, to save Harry's life. But we shall wait and see. Remember, in the last one, Rowling said someone close to Harry would die - it ended up being Cedric, we weren't exactly familiar with him at the time of release.

And those 5 word clues - I came up with an interesting theory a while ago *goes back to his email archives to look it up*
Originally posted by Craig on HPotter (http://www.topica.com/lists/hpotter)
I'll go first. Ok, Ron joins the quidditch team after finding a magic broom. He suddenly becomes very good at quidditch and The Order Of The Phoenix, a famous elite quidditch group, invite Ron along with a friend, Harry. Ok, so, somebody gets sacked. Let's go for Hagrid here because he accidentally burned down most of the Forbidden Forest (I couldn't think of anything sensible for that). And someone has to die. I'm tempted to say Dumbledore, I think he will die to save Harry's life at some stage. Yes, Dumbledore dies trying to save Harry's life, after Voldemort's latest plot is unveiled. Voldemort was actually head of The Order Of The Phoenix, who were really actually a group of people very deep in the occult.

So, that is Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix unveiled to you all at last, exclusively on HPotter. No need to buy the book now... If it ever comes out.

Oh, and Voldemort actually put the broom were Ron could find it, for his plan to kill Harry. So therefore, maybe it's Ron that gets sacked from the Quidditch team after Snape realises the broom was actually made using the black arts?
That would certainly be interesting if it were true...
And another one that was posted
Harry Potter and the Order of the Dysfunctional Phoenix's
By NICK BROWN

CHAPTERS 1-20

Ron Weasley, on his first day of being a 5th year, found a closet with a broom in it. He took the broom from the closet and found that it had magical powers (the power to go as fast as lightning!) One day, when he was riding it, after lunch, he accidentally hit Snape with the broom! It was unfortunate because Snape was then unconscious. Knowing that he would be in big trouble, Ron left Snape with the broom and went back to his dormitory.

Hours later....

Snape was found with the broom, it was the broom with feathers from a group of Phoenix's called the Order of the Phoenix: it was worth a million galleons. As a result, Snape was sacked for almost destroying this irreplaceable item.

The next day...

Snape found out who hit him: it was Harry Potter! He went to Harry's bed and stabbed Potter. Harry dies. After the year ends, Ron cries because it was really him who got Snape sacked.

THE END (OF A CORNY STORY)
Yeah...

[EllethBronwe]

I love Harry Potter. Give people a break with all of this LotR fans can't be HP fans. I love the books and I can't wait to read the fifth. So I'll join.

[Samwise_hero]

I'm not dissing HP but i found a couple of mistakes in the books.
1. In the first book nearly headless Nick says he hasn't eaten for nearly 400 years yet in the 2nd book he has his 500th death day
2. In the first and third books it says that Harry's a pure blood yet in the 2nd and 4th books it says that he's not.
I'm confused.

[Wolfshead]

The first one, Samwise_hero, we can assume he lost track of time :rolleyes: The second, I don't know, I don't remember it coming up.

A couple of things I have noticed, though, is that for Nick's 500th Death Day to have been when it was (he died 31st October 1492), The Chamber Of Secrets had to be set in 1992 :)

And the number of people in the school doesn't add up - there are contradictions throughout the books :D

[Samwise_hero]

I guess no ones perfect when it comes to the final copy. And plans never turn out the way you expect them to either so who really cares if there's a couple of mistakes. I think i was just being a bit picky. Bad habit. Sorry! =)

[smeagol444]

Long time no see everyone! Very interesting theories. I've decided not to try and guess what will happen, i'd rather not know as to build suspense. however it's nice hearing other people's. I've noticed that about the school numbers too, sometimes the number of students adds up to around a mere 200 students, other times alot more. But anyhoo it's not in anyway life threatening so i guess i'll get over it. I can not wait for june 21st, but i just realised i'll be on a hockey trip when it's released much to my utter remorse, so i guess i'll be somewhat figetty on the hockey field.

[Jesse]

I personally think Harry Potter is Satanic & Evil. That's just my opinion. However, there are good qualities about the series:


Friendship, bravery, courage, loyalty, being true to yourself, etc.

So you all are not totally decieved...I hope...:o

[Samwise_hero]

Well the stuff in HP isn't real of course and it is a little on the Satanic side because it's withcraft and all but ...i dunno....umm....well i guess there really is no excuse to read it apart from the fact that it's amusing and the characters captivate you with their personalities. and it does show things like loyalty etc. so...

[Wolfshead]

Originally posted by Jesse
I personally think Harry Potter is Satanic & Evil. That's just my opinion. I really hope you are joking. If not, I pity you, really, I do.

[smeagol444]

jesse, i respect and value your opinion. i was just wondering what the hype is about it being evil and such--- i know it's witchcraft, but in harry potter only voldemort and deatheaters use magic with hostility. surely a mad man with a gun or chainsaw holding a massacre which really happens in real life is far more mentally damaging and evil than a series of books about some teenage wizards who cast spells on things. the fact is that these stories aren't real, and the books are promoted by stopping evil, not enforcing it. and children can't get nasty ideas from it, where as watch one episode of a tv show and you would. I swear i'm not having a stab at your opinion so PLEASE don't get offended. i'm just curious about your ideas on the matter. :)

[tookish-girl]

Well, as a long standing member of TTF i think I should say, of course it's okay to like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.
It's utterly ridiculous to say you can't. I personally don't think Harry Potter is as well written as Lord of the Rings but I don't think that Greenday is as musically good as the Beatles but I listen to both.

I think the films are okay too. I say, bring back Quirrel!

[reem]

Originally posted by smeagol444
jesse, i respect and value your opinion. i was just wondering what the hype is about it being evil and such--- i know it's witchcraft, but in harry potter only voldemort and deatheaters use magic with hostility. surely a mad man with a gun or chainsaw holding a massacre which really happens in real life is far more mentally damaging and evil than a series of books about some teenage wizards who cast spells on things. the fact is that these stories aren't real, and the books are promoted by stopping evil, not enforcing it. and children can't get nasty ideas from it, where as watch one episode of a tv show and you would. I swear i'm not having a stab at your opinion so PLEASE don't get offended. i'm just curious about your ideas on the matter. :)

that may be true. a man with a chainsaw hacking people to little bits and pieces would seem to be the more satanic of the two, but i suppose the other is more subtle, if you believe that witchcraft is wrong (and i personally do, but i never think about it deeply).
when you start promoting stories 'for' witchcraft, no matter how friendly and peaceful it might be, you're still introducing to children (especially if it's a children's book like HP) the idea that witchcraft or 'magic' is a nice and apparently fun thing. i personally don't believe in withccraft and all that mumbo jumbo, if you'll excuse the term, but alot of people believe in it and claim to pratice it. having the idea of witchcraft being a 'fun' thing fixed in your mind probably makes you more open to it in the future.
don't get me wrong, i adore the HP series and i wouldn't have them changed for the world. but i still have to admit that what jesse said kind of had a point in it, but not to that extreme, perhaps. and i honestly don't think that Rowling wrote it with the 'satanic' motives.
but it's still an interesting view to think about. personally, if I wanted to write a story, i would not use the medium of witchcraft. i would use healthier means to achieving a goal or whatever my story is about...but then again, i can't talk 'cause i never wrote anything really worth reading...my marks can vouch for that:(
reem

[smeagol444]

Very well said...but i still dont fully agree in every aspect. The characters are not little satan worshippers~they celebrate christmas, easter and the rest. i don't think it's really witchcraft- when i think of witchcraft it's all that scary stuff that's based on evil and use sacrifices and such. but this isn't that, it's just childish magic. magic! which is wonderful, make believe, and just a mere escape from reality. It's all based on fairy's and elves and wizards! but that's just my opinion .does anyone agree or am i being ignorant..?

[tookish-girl]

Errrrrrr, this may seem a silly question, but if people are against withcraft and magic, why are they on a forum about Tolkien? Gandalf would be a magician as would Saruman and the elves, if it's against your beliefs why is Tolkien magic exempt and yet Harry Potter is Satanic?

[smeagol444]

Precisely! I was going to say such a thing but was anxious someone would throw rocks at me.

[Samwise_hero]

Originally posted by tookish-girl
Errrrrrr, this may seem a silly question, but if people are against withcraft and magic, why are they on a forum about Tolkien? Gandalf would be a magician as would Saruman and the elves, if it's against your beliefs why is Tolkien magic exempt and yet Harry Potter is Satanic?

Gandalf wasn't a magician, he was a wizard and if you look at the meanings behind the books, you'd understand better. You can think of the elves as higher people in a way. Like Jesus' diciples. Jesus gave them power to heal others. just a thought
the use of witchcraft in HP is a lot more demeaning to mine and Jesse's beliefs because it is portrayed so clearly. In lord of the rings it's more about the trials and trouble of the journey to destroy evil. like the evil we're all trying to destroy these days.
So.....yeah...that's all i think...for now anyway

[Wolfshead]

Eh? Gandalf was described as a magician in The Hobbit if I'm not too mistaken. And the people in HP (Dumbledore and the male population) are wizards. So, flawed logic there.

Sure, you can read into the meanings of the books. I can, and I see good stories. You can see a lot of other things, but none of it would matter if the story was rubbish. A large part of what people see in them is rubbish as well.

Some people get offended by Harry Potter. Fair enough, it's your loss, but I pity you for being so narrow minded, to be quite honest. HP is a story for kids, not some subliminal message telling them to go and turn people into frogs.

[reem]

i hope youdo know that tolkien never intended LOTR to be mistaken for any kind of a religious allegory. he says that it's not in one of his letters, i think in the Sill. at the beggining,but i haven't got the book to qoute out of.
anyway, if you want offfending, i would suggest you read Phillip Pulman's trilogy: "Northern Lights", "the Amber Spyglass, and "The Subtle Knife".
After reading those, HP is as innocent and unofending as a blank page.
but if you do feel it is offending then the last place you should go complaining about it is on a HPfan thread!!:);)
anyhow, i can see a little bit of what you mean, but remember it's the intentions of the writer that counts more than your interpretations. if Rowling didn't mean anything by it then it doesn't.
have you ever read "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde??
well, there is one hell of a corruptive narative if i've ever seen one!! and more than Pullman's petty trilogy! so that's saying something!
but leave HP alone and stop making a big story out of it.
reem

[Wolfshead]

Originally posted by reem
anyway, if you want offfending, i would suggest you read Phillip Pulman's trilogy: "Northern Lights", "the Amber Spyglass, and "The Subtle Knife".
After reading those, HP is as innocent and unofending as a blank page. Haha, yes. His Dark Materials is enough to make a religious fanatic have a fit :D Great story though and the religious points actually make sense and are reasonable, if you are prepared to accept them.

[reem]

:) well i can't describe myself as a religious fanatic, but i do raw the lines somewhere...and pullman just pretty much trampled over them!!!
i's usually an open person...or i try to be, but i have to say that what he suggested was rather...well it was just plain stupid. i'm sorry t say it but it is!! anyway, i saw this interview with him on BBC sometime back and he said that the story was just written to spite the Church, or something of the sort. so i think that it was really petty of him to write something ike that just to ruffle some people the wrong way. if you want to write something it might as well be worth it, like stating your own convictions (no matter how ridiculous people might say they are) or to make a point.
though i have to admit that he's a very good writer, if only he only left out the whole 'phony religion' thing.
reem

[spirit]

HEY ONLY A FEW MORE DAYS LEFT!!!!! YAY! (for the book to come out i mean)

[Wolfshead]

Reem, regardless what his religious stand may or may not be, you can't deny it was an excellent trilogy.

Indeed, spirit, it comes out on Saturday - mine should arrive in the mail then from Amazon. Can anyone guess what I'll be doing this weekend? ;)

[reem]

Originally posted by CraigSmith
Reem, regardless what his religious stand may or may not be, you can't deny it was an excellent trilogy.



yes, Pullman is a very able writer. and i really enjoyed his trilogy up to when he began all that stuff about God. then it was all indignant rantings and so on:p i was too annoyed with him to really enjoy the ending. but i don't mind rading anything else by him as long as the material in question steers clear of religion.
reem

[Wolfshead]

I don't mind the religious stuff, I actually found it very interesting, and at the time, quite challenging. More thought required than I would normally put into a book.

[reem]

i wouldn't call it intellectually chanllenging because (according what the writer himself sid) he wrote what ever he wrong to anger the Church! so it's not like he was putting forward his beleiefs or anything. he was just putting forward anything that would bother the people he set out to bother! you get my meaning?
i don't know. it just didn't strike me as that kind of a book. but i did enjoy it. if anything, the man has one heck of an imagination~!!
and i liked the characters. they were really well built. and the plot was ...well sort of ok. twisted in the sort of way i don't like, but it wasn't so bad. if i didn't beleiev in God i would have really liked it...though my brother in law found it really amazing. oh well, it's just different mentalitties at work.
reem

[Wolfshead]

I find it hard to believe Pullman would say he just wanted to annoy the church. Do you have source for that quote?

I have no strong opinions about God - if he's there, he's there, I'm sure he won't mind me just going about my business. My attitude it remarkably similar to that of the witches in Discworld :D

[Samwise_hero]

Hey shouldn't we be discussing 'Harry Potter' not how people wish to dis peoples faith and beliefs. Just thought i might put you back on track considering you seem to be lost in the wrong topic!

[smeagol444]

Ok then let's talk about the book- which i won't be able to read, until two days after it's released, much to my disgust. I'm most conveniantly going on a hockey trip and won't be back in time to get to it before my older 16 yr old sister. I'm hatching a plan to steal it back while she sleeps...

[spirit]

nice plan s444...but will it work?

[smeagol444]

Heehee and I suppose you have another plan? It would be foolish to try when she's conscience, she's at her evil peak during the day. Perhaps you are right~ I wish i was as cunning as the folk in England who stole a whole truckload of them the other day. I saw it on the news this morning and found it very amusing. They now have something like 3000 copies of order of the phoenix. Ha! No fighting over one book for that lot. Pesky!

[reem]

Originally posted by CraigSmith
I find it hard to believe Pullman would say he just wanted to annoy the church. Do you have source for that quote?

I have no strong opinions about God - if he's there, he's there, I'm sure he won't mind me just going about my business. My attitude it remarkably similar to that of the witches in Discworld :D

i watched it last year on BBC. but i only came at the end of it.
Discworld!! Terry Pratchet, right?! it's amaaaaazing!!! i only finished reading 'Thief of Time' the other day and it was really WOW!! hehe! it was the first that i've ever read for Pratchet, but i was really impressed. i'd really not mind reading some more of his work. but i never read anything about his Discworld witches:) so i wouldn't know what you were talking about there:)

anyway, back to topic:
i am not prepared (as much as i am fond of HP series) to spend the outrageous fortune that's being charged here for the fifth book!!! if anything, i'm planning to wait till the price deflates a bit and then i'll get the durn thing. how horrible it is to want something so much but not be able to get it!! ...i'm starting to be of the opinion that it would have been much better if i was born ten years from now, because by then Rowling would have finished all of her books and the rage over them would have somewhat died down, so atleast i'd be able to read the whole lot at once and get them at normal human prices.
...but as it is...i'll just have to wait, won't it? be happy, 444!! for thou art able to sieze you pleasure in such a short span of time! boohoohoo:(
reem

[Idril]

Originally posted by reem
i am not prepared (as much as i am fond of HP series) to spend the outrageous fortune that's being charged here for the fifth book!!!

Well here in the UK the booksellers aren't going to make very much money on the 5th book as everyone's undercutting each other to get a share of the market. Amazon UK are selling it at 1/2 price £8.49 (US$13.60 or there abouts).

Is anyone going to be watching the webcast of Rowling reading extracts at the Albert Hall on the 26th? Here's the link if anyone's interested Live Event (http://www.msn.co.uk/liveevents/harrypotter/event/) .

[reem]

Originally posted by Idril
Well here in the UK the booksellers aren't going to make very much money on the 5th book as everyone's undercutting each other to get a share of the market. Amazon UK are selling it at 1/2 price £8.49 (US$13.60 or there abouts).


too bad i don't live in the UK then:(:(
reem

[Idril]

I'm really surprised Reem - that the cost is so high there - it's cut throat business here.

I'm wondering if I should send hubby out tonight to our local 24hr supermarket to get another copy:)

The poor postal workers are going to be struggling - each book weighs in at 1kg (2.2lbs) and that's without packaging! Royal mail have nearly 400,000 to deliver tomorrow.

Just over 6 hr to go:)

[reem]

i think it's about two days more over here...back it another mont or so for me:(:( (begins to grumble and complain)...unless some one i knows buys it before me that it, then i'll just turn on my charm and borrow it:) (looks suddenly happier at the prospect of an early apportunity)
reem

[Idril]

I'm sure, you'll be able to borrow a copy from a friend - especially inlight of the number of copies which are going to be about.

[Wolfshead]

I've got mine on order from the kind people at Amazon. It should arrive tomorrow morning. Which will be nice.

Anyone see the Rowling interview with Jeremy Paxman on BBC2 last night?

[Idril]

yep - why does Rowling always look soooo miserable?

[Wolfshead]

She's rich, she can afford to look any way she likes...

[BlackCaptain]

I'm not into Harry Potter or anything, but I'm dying to know, who do you guys think will die?!

I myself thing Hagred will... if that's even how you spell his name. Haha

[Wolfshead]

I reckon it will be Dumbledore, valiantly saving Harry's life in a fight against Voldemort. But we shall see, my copy arrived 10 minutes ago, so as soon as I finish up here I shall go and read it :D

[Idril]

hehe:) mine arrived an hour ago - and I'm having to read it aloud to the 2 kids!:( My voice is already starting to fade...........

[reem]

i hope Fudge dies...he's such and old idiot...and i only know one person who's avid enough to buy the book now, and she wouldn't part with it for the world before she's read the thing:( i always keep saying, there aren't enough book lovers around when you need them!...actually, there's never enough book lovers around period!!! i'm the last of my kind in this area!! ...it isn't nice being an endangered species:p!!
reem

[Athelas]

Love the Avatar too. Your kids are very lucky.

[Wolfshead]

I'm now on chapter 25, 400-odd pages in. I've reluctantly handed it over to my sister who wants a shot, but it's probably better for my health to have a break :rolleyes: And besides, Strange starts in 15 minutes...

Speaking of Fudge, judging is attitude so far (in book 5) I'd like to see him die. We need some rules here, to govern spoilers, though, to avoid people reading what they don't want to. Anyone got any ideas? And in the meantime, don't any dare to reveal facts about the book, I'll kill anyone that spoils the end for me :D Seriously.

[Idril]

Originally posted by Athelas
Re: Idril, you rock.
Love the Avatar too. Your kids are very lucky.

hehe, thanks:)

*in a whispery voice* We're on pg 340, chapter 18 (it takes so much longer when reading aloud!) and it's 10 pm here - so I've been reading aloud on and off for 12 hrs! :eek: eek! I think I'll stop there and put the kids to bed and then drink some lemon and honey :(

[BlackCaptain]

Jeez you guys can read fast... Yowzer!

[Idril]

Well I would have read loads faster if just reading it to myself, but it's my fault only getting 1 copy for the house:(, everyone wants to read it the same time.

Anyway - it 10am and round 2. My voice has recovered somewhat, but I'm not sure how long it will last:D and my tush also went kinda numb:(, must try to move a bit more today.....

I've not reached the death yet, but BELEG told me yesterday!!!!! Arghhhhhhh!:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Luthien Tunivel]

Can I join this guild? I absolutly LOVE the Harry Potter books. I love them so much, that when I went to pick up the fifth one, I dressed up in my Hogwarts cloak, Quidditch shirt, wich's hat, and put on all the Harry Potter pins I could find. I almost got on TV, but the news station's camera wasn't working right.

[Idril]

!!!YAY!!!

Whew! - another 12 hrs reading aloud today:( and we're finished!

right - now where's book 6?:D :D

P.S. - I'm sure you can join Luthien - we're not formal or anything here:)

[reem]

Originally posted by CraigSmith

Speaking of Fudge, judging is attitude so far (in book 5) I'd like to see him die. .

you could tell that he was going to be a real twit from the fourth book at the end. he's an unnecessary burden and i'd like to see --!! wait! (don't tell me ofcourse, but let me tell you anyway) doen Chen or what ever her name is die?! you know, the gril Harry's got a crush on!!...i hate waiting....i hate the books...i hate rowling...this is just no fair.......................life sucks when you're the last to know:(
reem

[spirit]

My book got comfiscated for " WHOLE days! that is 2x24 hours! that is such a long time! but i borrowed mt mated and am trying to read whenever i can! i am no where as far as you all! i am on Percy and Padfoot when ron recieved that stupid letter from Percy!

I CANT BELIEVE THAT ONE OF MY FAVEOURITE CHARACTER DIES!

[Ol'gaffer]

Ok, Just a thought. Before we get into the issue on who dies and what happens in this book, I would suggest that we place a Spoiler warning here so that the people who have only begun to read the book won't be angry with us.

I would love to talk about this book but first we should make the thread into a possible spoiler thread.

[spirit]

do that is some is going to give away something?
is that alrite OG?

[BlackCaptain]

Did anyone say yet who dies?

[spirit]

i know who dies!

okay! want me to write it in really small writing?

[Beleg]

Padfoot...expires.

[spirit]

oh! thx for telling them! i wanted to do the honeres! *goes and sulks in the corner!*

[reem]

HEY!!! I STILL DIDN"T READ THE BOOK!!THANKS ALOT:(:(:(:(:mad:
I'm not posting on this thread anymore:(:(:mad:
reem

[spirit]

heY! but you will be returning after you finished it rite reem? :eek:


Beleg_strongbow: THX ALOT!! *evil look!*

[reem]

(turns up her nose and pouts)
maybe...if i feel inclined to do so....
(takes a quick glance at spirit and smiles)
yah sure, i'm just being an idiot. but i thinki'll have to stay away till then, other wise i won't have to read the book anymore!! i'd know everything before ever laying eyes on it's cover!!
so cherio for know and be seeing you when i see you:) bye bye everyone:)
reem

[True_Twilight_]

Siruis Dies--------NO!!!!!!!!!!!! (though i knew already can't believe that death eater got the best of him)----took him down...
its all HARRY POTTERS FAULT IF HE LISTENED TO HIS GODfather he would know how to communicate to him besides the freakin elf.


ROWLING messed up on a lot of parts------for one she forgot to say what harry's score for OWLS or ANYONEs score at all or if he got his broomstick back (though he proablt did)

[smeagol444]

Isn't it wonderful! I have been waiting for this for 2 years! And i didn't miss out getting it straight away! my dad bought it for me and brought it to my hockey carnival. needless to say i was itching to read it and most reluctant to play hockey. I've been reading it at school, much to the disaproval of my teachers. one cranky old bag actually padlocked my precious book IN A CUBBOARD and kept it til the end of the day. i was certainly not amused. Surely reading can't harm a 13 yr old girl's education but apparently so. i really wanted to kick her. but people, I don't know if it was a good idea spilling all the endings and what not, the other day i was told by a girl in my class who dies and i was very cross! that's why we get the books people for suprises and twists! but never mind it's done now. PLease don't let out any other major pieces of information. i'm only about half way throught, because i intend on cherishing the book for as long as possible. if i finish it, i'll have to wait another 2 years for the next one! Oh isn't it exciting! :D

[Ol'gaffer]

Like the thread says. This thread includes spoilers so if you haven't finished the book you read these posts on your own risk.

Also, when discussing the conclusion of the book I think it would be wise for the general comfort of everyone that you back up your statements instead of leaving it without an explanation.

[spirit]

I am still reading the book (it was comfiscated but i got it back last night!)! some year 7 kids already blabed out the whole book on the bus! stupid annoying brats! :(

[Niniel]

I pre-ordered the book from my local bookstore, and when I came by to pick it up today they hadn't got any copies left! They hadn't receieved enough copies to give everyone who pre-ordered a copy:( So now I have to wait till next week when they get a second shipment of books... :( :(

[smeagol444]

hmm ol gaffer~ see i wasn't informed of the spoilers until i actually read them, which is just a minor complication now isn't it. it's not fair for ppl who'd like to read the endings themselves but can't take part in the the discussion without being told. i actually read the spoilers before i read the spoiler warning....it's just a suggestion..and seeing as i started the thread and all...but never mind....:rolleyes:

it drove reem away didn't it! oh well.

[spirit]

i have finally finished the book now! i was sort of dissapointed when she took fred and george because that means there will be less of them now! :( ! but it was really funny the way that she made the leave! Sirius...:eek: no!

[cardanas]

i was not upset at all when Sirius died
if Harry had bothered to see what the package was sirius would be alive
if sirius had listened to dumbledore and snape he wouldnt have died






i finished the book the day it came out
you are all very slow readers:D :p :cool:

[spirit]

Just blame everythinkg on Voldermort in the first place! hehe. i was really upset when he dies! i really liked his character! :( and stupid harry, if he had opened the package Sirrus wouldnt have dies! if sirius had listened to dumbledore and snape he wouldnt have died how would you feel being locked up all day inside at home with nothing but a syupid annoyin elf for company and you mom'z photo screaming her head off at u?:mad:

[Beleg]

HEY!!! I STILL DIDN"T READ THE BOOK!!THANKS ALOT
The thread has the clear warning sign of 'spoilers'.

I haven't read the book yet, but I know most of the main story. I really don't what the big deal about spoilers.

[cardanas]

Originally posted by spirit
how would you feel being locked up all day inside at home with nothing but a syupid annoyin elf for company and you mom'z photo screaming her head off at u?:mad:

he still should have listened to dumbledore and snape

[spirit]

he did for most of the time! But everyone crack at opne time! he was locked in Azkaban and not he felt trapped in his house! It was partiall his fault but a man cant be trapped inside one place! he would go mad!

[Aragorn12345]

I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!! CAN I JOIN THIS GUILD PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cried when Sirius died. Harry Potter and the OoTP was a great book!!! And its not Sirius's own fault that he died. He was a prisoner in his own mind. He had nooone to talk to except his dear old mum and that foul house elf. And hermione wanted to be nice to Kreacher!!! Honestly she has got to sort out her priorities!!! LOL. But perhaps if we were nice to the nasssssty litttle Kreacher creature than he wouldnt have done that.

[cardanas]

Originally posted by Aragorn12345
And its not Sirius's own fault that he died. He was a prisoner in his own mind. He had nooone to talk to except his dear old mum and that foul house elf. And hermione wanted to be nice to Kreacher!!! Honestly she has got to sort out her priorities!!! LOL.

if they had been nice to kreacher he might not have betrayed sirius

[Aragorn12345]

but Kreacher was foul from the start!!!

[Aragorn12345]

Well, Okay. You're right and I'm wrong. I guess we should have been nice to the stupid little...sorry. And well I'd be nasty to probably anyone who crossed my path if i were to be stuck in my house all the time.

[spirit]

Originally posted by Aragorn12345
And its not Sirius's own fault that he died. He was a prisoner in his own mind. He had nooone to talk to except his dear old mum and that foul house elf. Thankyou! At least someone agrees! but Kreacher was foul from the start!!! he turened foul from listening to the oders of Sirruses mom fron the portrain! Sirrus says that in the book...(i think):rolleyes:

[smeagol444]

I'd like to express my absolute hatred for Proffessor Umbridge. Does anyone else despise her as much as I do? She'd have to be the most infuriating character I've come across. Infact I think i loathe her more than voldemort! At least he has style. umbridge is just a fat mole. grrrr! I is getting worked up just thinking about her!

[spirit]

She actually makes Snape sound nice and Voldermort gently! God i foung it so funny when all the teachers turned against her when Dumbledore left and when Fred and George set up the swamp! Hee that ws the best! Shame there will be less of Fred and George in the next book!

[Aragorn12345]

Originally posted by smeagol444
I'd like to express my absolute hatred for Proffessor Umbridge. Does anyone else despise her as much as I do? She'd have to be the most infuriating character I've come across. Infact I think i loathe her more than voldemort! At least he has style. umbridge is just a fat mole. grrrr! I is getting worked up just thinking about her!
Totally Agree with you mate.:D

[spirit]

i wonder who will be playing her character in the movie?

[Niniel]

Yay, I finally got hold of the book! I haven't read much of it yet, only 100 pages or so, and so far it's very exciting.

[Wolfshead]

*Returns* I've been gone for a couple of weeks, largely due to Harry Potter and then getting Championship Manager 4 :D

I finished TOotP on the Sunday lunchtime - 26 hours after getting it! I was kicking myself afterwards, though. I couldn't put the book down, that was the problem - I wish I could have made it last a few days longer at least. That way I could have savoured it more. Cracking book, though, simply superb.

[Aragorn12345]

The lady at Waldenbooks told me not to read all at once, so I'd have summer reading, fat chance!!! I finished it Monday (I got it taken away for a whole Sunday cuz I read it instead of cleaning my room! LOL)
I just love Jo's (J.K. Rowling's) books. She really brings magic into my life!!!!!!!! Now I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!!!!! Thank You Joanne Kathleen Rowling!!!!!!!!

P.S. I think I could pass as Hermione's double, in the next movie!!!

[Lossengondiel]

I really liked the book and thought it was the best one so far, except that Sirius died...could have done without that. i really liked his character!!!!! But hey, notice my avvie, I get things across in my own way!

[smeagol444]

OHHH i'm nearly finsihed, but i have been trying to delay this because i really do not want to. I don't want to have to wait for another 2 years for the next one to be published! Woe is me my fellow harry friends! I'm very distressed. Stupid umbridge i hope the centuars eat her.

[Wolfshead]

You never know, perhaps the next one will be next year. After all, she's not pregnant or getting married this time, and she's said herself that it won't be as long a book. So, you never know.

[Niniel]

Yay, I finished it! It was very exciting, and certainly a very good book. Only Harry himself was a bit annoying; getting angry all the time. Maybe it's just puberty or Voldemort's bad influence but he started to get on my nerves. And the book was a bit too long, it could have done with 200 pages less. But I do feel sorry for the person who has to make a film out of it; there's so much info in it that the film would have to be at least 5 hours long or they should cut out 90 % of the book.

[Hawkblaze]

The wait for a duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore was definetly worth it. Wow, what a fantastic chapter.

Some threads left loose:

-No explanation yet about the "look of triumph" in book 4.
-We still don't know exactly what Snape is doing for the Order.
-In book 3, Dumbledore says to Harry "You will not regret saving Peter Pettigrew's life." Obviously, Wormtail hasn't repaid the favor yet.

[smeagol444]

I finished it last night. I should warn you that i am a somewhat emotional person and sirisus death was very traumatic for me. and than i finished the book~which as i've mentioned is very distressing, so i was even more upset. I wasn't annoyed at harry for being so angry, i felt really sorry for him. Especially after sirius had died and he went on a destroyong dumbledores posessions ramage. I think that was exceptionally well written. If my parents were dead, i lived with the dursley's, i had to fight the most evil wizard in the world every year, watch people die and then lose my closest friend or father figure i'd despise the world too.

[spirit]

-In book 3, Dumbledore says to Harry "You will not regret saving Peter Pettigrew's life." Obviously, Wormtail hasn't repaid the favor yet.

probably savehis life in the last book or something...:confused:

[Lossengondiel]

Originally posted by smeagol444
sirisus death was very traumatic for me.

*Sigh* same here...

and as for Harry and saving Peter, yeah, it'll probably be something unexpected later in one of the books that no one suspected

[Aragorn12345]

maybe the whole little group (Moony, Padfoot, Prongs, Wormtail) will die out , i mean two are dead one's nice and alive, which makes him a target, and one's doing bad stuff for Voldie and will probably be torturerd to death. Darn I like Lupin, o well he's a target, i guess he'll get killed off next

[Lossengondiel]

I hope he doesn't get killed off...JKR has already messed with our emotions too much

[Beleg]

I got it yesterday and finished it in about 7 hours.

I have to say that Sirius died due to his own mistake.
And perhaps Harry's too, because when Dumbeldore was taking care of the other deatheaters and only Bella and Sirius were fighting, Harry could have done somthing, yet he just stood their and did nothing.


Well that's my personal prespective.

[spirit]

Originally posted by Lossengondiel
I hope he doesn't get killed off...JKR has already messed with our emotions too much if she kills him i will go and kill her....:( :( :( ! we dont want people to be feeling traumatic...lol

[Wolfshead]

Wouldn't this be funny - If the next book just appeared on the shelves one day, no hype, no nothing, just onto the shelves :D

[laurelindorenan]

Hehe. That would be cool...
Sorry, just barged in here. May I join? Harry Potter is good writing, whatever you may say.

5th book! What a yarn, eh? I have to say the death was a little abrupt. One minute, Sirius was just fighting it out, the next BAM he's dead. It was more of an 'oh.my.goodness. He just...died.' as opposed to 'Aaaaggrrrhhh! Boo hoo hoo I'm so upset!!!'
Maybe that's just me, but J.K. doesnt seem to dwell on the actual dying bit.

[spirit]

.K. doesnt seem to dwell on the actual dying bit. i know...and that is kinda annoying...she should have added more feeling too...

[Wolfshead]

Originally posted by laurelindorenan
He just...died.' as opposed to 'Aaaaggrrrhhh! Boo hoo hoo I'm so upset!!!'
Maybe that's just me, but J.K. doesnt seem to dwell on the actual dying bit. That's very true, I was just shocked rather than saddened.

Sure, you can join, anyone going to stop you? :D

[Lossengondiel]

Originally posted by spirit
if she kills him i will go and kill her....:( :( :( ! we dont want people to be feeling traumatic...lol

Such a nice person not wanting people to feel bad...yes we should all go and egg and toilet paper her house because we feel like it!

[cardanas]

Originally posted by CraigSmith
Wouldn't this be funny - If the next book just appeared on the shelves one day, no hype, no nothing, just onto the shelves :D

that would be heaven

[spirit]

has anyone else seen that new thread posted by craig smith about the 6th harry potter book? something like ' harry potter and the axes of evil'??

[Wolfshead]

Oh, me, I have! ;) Here's a link to it - Harry Potter And The Axis Of Evil (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12390)

And why can no one get the hang of just calling me 'Craig'? You would have thought it was quite simple...

[spirit]

yea thats the one CRAIG. lol, i dint know you wanted to be called that, an i see it on top of your avatar. sorry!

You should check that site out people! it is hilarious!

[Wolfshead]

I just read this on www.darkmark.com - it's a review of OotP by Stephen King

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stephen King Reviews Phoenix
[Phil | 07/08/03]

Potter Gold

Stephen King takes a shining to J.K. Rowling's delightfully dark Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Volume 5 of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series finds our hero and his
friends cramming for (and agonizing over) their end-of-term exams,
known at Hogwarts School as O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). Of
course, Harry has a few other things on his plate ?? the growing
menace of Voldemort, a.k.a. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and his serious
crush on the beautiful Cho Chang are only two of them ?? but here, in
the spirit of the exam motif, are some questions (and answers) of my
own. The first is the most important...and may, in the end, be only
one that matters in what is probably the most review-proof book to
come along since a little best-seller called the Bible.

1. Is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as good as the other
Harry Potter books?

No. This one is actually quite a bit better. The tone is darker, and
this has the unexpected ?? but very pleasing ?? effect of making
Rowling's wit and playful black humor shine all the brighter. Where
but in the world of Jo Rowling would one find deadly supernatural
beings and their frightening familiars existing side by side with
empty gloves that twiddle their thumbs impatiently, not to mention
enchanted interdepartmental memos that fly from floor to floor in the
Ministry of Magic as paper airplanes?

2. Are there spoilers in this review?

Spoilers from a novelist who thinks the best dust-jacket flap copy
ever written was "[Gore Vidal's] Duluth tears the lid off Dallas"?
Perish the thought! But even if there were spoilers, would it matter?
I'm betting that by the time this piece sees print, 90 percent of the
world's Potter maniacs will have finished the novel and will be
starting their letters to Ms. Rowling asking when volume 6 will be
ready.

3. You say this one's better than The Prisoner of Azkaban, better than
The Goblet of Fire, is there still room for improvement?

Heavens, yes. In terms of Ms. Rowling's imagination ?? which should be
insured by Lloyd's of London (or perhaps the Incubus Insurance
Company) for the 2 or 3 billion dollars it will ultimately be worth
over the span of her creative liftime, which should be long ?? she is
now at the absolute top of her game. As a writer, however, she is
often careless (characters never just put on their clothes; they
always get "dressed at top speed") and oddly, almost sweetly,
insecure. The part of speech that indicates insecurity ("Did you
really hear me? Do you really understand me?") is the adverb, and Ms.
Rowling seems to have never met one she didn't like, especially when
it comes to dialogue attribution. Harry's godfather, Sirius, speaks
"exasperatedly"; Mrs. Weasley (mother of Harry's best friend, Ron)
speaks "sharply"; Tonks (a clumsy which with punked-up, particolor
hair) speaks "earnestly." As for Harry himself, he speaks quietly,
automatically, nervously, slowly, and often ?? given his current case
of raving adolescence ?? ANGRILY.

These minor flaws in diction are endearing rather than annoying; they
are the logical side effect of a natural storyteller who is obviously
bursting with crazily vivid ideas and having the time of her life. Yet
Ms. Rowling could do better, and for the money, probably should. In
any case, there's no need for all those adverbs (he said firmly),
which pile up at the rate of 8 or 10 a page (over 870 pages, that
comes to almost a novella's length of -ly words). Because, really ??
we hear, we understand, we enjoy. If the sales figures show nothing
else, they show that. And if by the end of chapter 3 we don't know
that Harry Potter is one utterly, completely, and pervasively angry
young man, we haven't been paying attention.

4. There's been a lot of discussion ?? some of it pretty warm ?? about
whether or not kids, especially those under the age of 10, should be
reading these novels, which contain vivid scenes of grief, terror,
death, and even torture. What's your take on this?

My take on it is my mother's, actually. She used to say, "If they're
old enough to understand what they're reading and to enjoy what
they're understanding, leave 'em alone ?? it keeps 'em out from
underfoot." I also subscribe to her corollary: "If it gives 'em
nightmares, take it away."

The first couple of Potters were PGs. Azkaban and Goblet of Fire were
PG-13s, and Phoenix makes it under the PG-13 by the skin of its
teeth...or its fangs. Would I give these books to my own kids, were
they still 9, 7, and 5? Yes, and without hesitation. The suspense here
is never prurient; the scares are more than balanced off by the simple
decency of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. If teaching life lessons is one
of the jobs books do, then the Potter novels teach some fine ones
about how to behave under pressure. And Rowling never preaches. Harry
and his friends strike me as real children, not proto-Christian tin
gods out of a Sunday-school comic book. Hogwarts School is a long way
from Bob Jones University, which is one of the reasons right-wingers
decry the books.

A more interesting question is when did Ms. Rowling stop writing the
stories for chidren and start writing them for everyone, as Mark Twain
did when he moved from Tom Sawyer to Huckleberry Finn and Lews Carroll
did when he moved from Alice in Wonderland to Through the
Looking-Glass? I'm guessing it was a process ?? most subconscioius ??
that began with volume 3 (Azkaban) and hit warp speed in volume 4
(Goblet of Fire). By the time we finish The Order of the Phoenix, with
its extraordinary passages of fear and despair, the distinction
between "children's literature" and plain old "literature" has ceased
to exist. The latest Potter adventure could be The Cather in the Rye,
minus the dirty words and the drinking...or maybe just the dirty
words: Just what the hell is butterbeer, anyway?

5. What's the best thing about Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix?

This one's a slam dunk. A great fantasy novel can't exist without a
great villain, and while You-Know-Who (sure we do: Lord Voldemort) is
a little too far out in the supernatural ozone to qualify, the new
Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts does just fine in
this regard. The gently smiling Dolores Umbridge, with her girlish
voice, toadlike face, and clutching, stubby fingers, is the greatest
make-believe villain to come along since Hannibal Lecter. One needn't
be a child to remember The Really Scary Teacher, the one who terrified
us so badly that we dreaded the walk to school in the morning, and we
turn the pages partly in fervent hopes that she will get her
comeuppance...but also in growing fear of what she will get up to
next. For surely a teacher capable of banning Harry Potter from
playing Quidditch is capable of anything.

6. Last, but not least, how good are these books? How good are they,
really?

One can only guess...assuming, that is, one doesn't have access to
Dumbledore's wonderful Pensieve Glass. My own feeling is that they are
much better than Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, which is
their only contemporary competitor. Will kids (and adults as well)
still be wild about Harry 100 years from now, or 200? My best guess is
that he will indeed stand time's test and wind up on a shelf where
only the best are kept; I think Harry will take his place with Alice,
Huck, Frodo, and Dorothy, and this is one series not just for the
decade, but for the ages.

[Jesse]

May I join this guild? Pretty please?

[Wolfshead]

Yeah, sure you can join. I'm slowly taking over here - soon no one will dispute my word... mwuhahaha :rolleyes: But, yeah, you can join.

[Lossengondiel]

At least no one has enough courage to defy you...maybe...

[spirit]

Originally posted by CraigSmith
Yeah, sure you can join. I'm slowly taking over here - soon no one will dispute my word... mwuhahaha :rolleyes: But, yeah, you can join. are you takin laughing lessons from gollum or voldermort?:p

[Jesse]

Spirit,
I wonder that too....

[Lossengondiel]

hey jesse I like your avvie!!

[The_Swordmaster]

Can I join this guild?

I have just finished OotP for the second time today. I thought it was an incredible book. One thing I must say is that this series of books have definatly blurred the lines of children's books and adult books.

[Jesse]

Thanks for the compliment on the avatar Lossengondiel! :) The_Swordsmaster, I don't see why you can't join us...

[spirit]

yea, that is one heck od an avatar. where did you find the image?

[Jesse]

I found it on Crossing The Line Undrawn. :)

[cardanas]

Originally posted by CraigSmith
Yeah, sure you can join. I'm slowly taking over here - soon no one will dispute my word... mwuhahaha :rolleyes: But, yeah, you can join.

you will never be in charge

[Wolfshead]

Originally posted by spirit
are you takin laughing lessons from gollum or voldermort?:p Well, I study all fictional bad guys nightly, so I am well versed in the art of almost taking over then shooting yourself in the foot...

And cardanas - what makes you so sure? :p

[smeagol444]

mr craig try and take over my humble society and you will feel the wrath of me! mmwahaha. just kidding by the way. anyone is welcome to join, just come in and start chatting- the more the merrier. what a thriving little guild! i'm quite proud. i just read that the 6th book is expected to be released in 2005 or early 2006. so i'm slowly slipping into depression again.

[Wolfshead]

Erk, I'm sorry Smeagol... *mutters to self* Must take over covertly now, rather like the third last episode of 24*

Makes no sense to most people! Mwuhahaha!

:rolleyes:

[Lossengondiel]

Does anyone have enough courage here to dominate CraigSmith???

[cardanas]

see craig
i told you that you would never take over:D :mad: :D

[Lossengondiel]

I shall stop you CraigSmith!! You will not rule here!!








heh heh :D

[smeagol444]

heehee heck i started the guild but it seems i've as much authority as a baboon. but oh well. ;)

[spirit]

yea, the second order of the pheonix (meaning us lot) will stop the eveil voldermort friend, aka craig! :D :p :D

[Lossengondiel]

Yes yes, down with the EvIl He-who-must-not-be-named friend!!! muwahahahaha...

[Wolfshead]

Just call me a Darkfriend, mwuhaha! (Notice the sneaky Wheel Of Time reference).

Now this is just getting silly...

[Lossengondiel]

Yes, Darkfriend is soooo silly!

[spirit]

aww shut it the both of you and stop spamming who evers thread! and get back to the ho & da OotP!!!

byw: has anyone read the book more then once...yet?

[smeagol444]

heehee aren't we a crazy bunch? Anyhoo, seeing as i've grown rather fond of you all, i'd like to officially celebrate my 100th post with you ! this is my 100th post, so yes i'm only a youngin but i think its quite an achievement! so hooray for smeags. :)

[Lossengondiel]

Yes yes quite a feat! Let's toilet paper your house heh heh

And to spirit well I wanted to read it again I just never got around to it...yet...

[cardanas]

Originally posted by spirit
aww shut it the both of you and stop spamming who evers thread! and get back to the ho & da OotP!!!

byw: has anyone read the book more then once...yet?

I READ IT TWICE IN THE FIRST WEEK

[Lossengondiel]

sounds like someone had a lot of spare time on their hands...

[The_Swordmaster]

I've already read it twice.

[Beleg]

Well I completed it in 8.5 hours, and have only read parts after that.

[Lossengondiel]

I'm trying to make myself read it again...but I can't find the time...

[cardanas]

i read it the day it came out then read again during the week

[Wolfshead]

I'll read it again eventually (I reread GoF 3 times in quick succession after it came out) but just now I have far too many other things to read - just finished book 6 of The Wheel Of Time, and debating whether to read Polgara The Sorceress by David Eddings or A Game Of Thrones by George R R Martin next. So yeah, I'll read it again, eventually, definately.

[Lossengondiel]

Ya I have a stack of books about a foot high to read before I can start harry Potter again!

[smeagol444]

Well i'm thinking of reading the whole series again. But i don't want to go reading them all cos then i won't have anything to occupy me while i wait for the sixth one. In tgof, at the end when harry's in dumbledores office, what was with dumbledore and his look of triumph? when harry told him that voldemort could touch him on page 604.

"..For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of somethng like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes. But next second, Harry was sure he had imagined it, for when Dumbedore had returned to his seat behind the desk, he looked as old and weary as Harry had ever seen him.."

They didn't have a follow up on that in ootp or did i miss it..? i'm a bit concerned about this bit and have been since i read it.:(

[Talierin]

I just got my hands on Aerin's copy of ootp today... will prolly stay up reading it all night :rolleyes: Mom doesn't want me reading them, so I sneak them from Aerin, heheheh *wicked grin* Hopefully Ootp will make sense, it's been a long time since I've read the two before it, and then only once :( Must...borrow...from...Aerin...sometime

[Lossengondiel]

Originally posted by smeagol444
Well i'm thinking of reading the whole series again. But i don't want to go reading them all cos then i won't have anything to occupy me while i wait for the sixth one.

Go ahead and read them again for goodness sakes. Then while you're waiting for the next book...read them again and again and again and again!!!

[smeagol444]

ok loss my trusted guidence counsellor. ;)
last night i went to a party and my friends gave me the silver one ring for my 14th birthday! its beautiful. my pet rat died this morning.:( i miss him.

[Lossengondiel]

Originally posted by smeagol444
ok loss my trusted guidence counsellor. ;)
my pet rat died this morning.:( i miss him.

Yes I am such a guidence counsellor, aren't I?

Originally posted by smeagol444
my pet rat died this morning.:( i miss him.

and very sorry about your rat :(

[smeagol444]

Thankyou Loss.:) he was a good little friend. rats are really good pets actually.

[Lossengondiel]

I just hope he wasn't like Scabbers ;) But yes, rats do make very good pets, and sorry again!

I actually did start reading ootp again. Hopefully in a couple of days I'll finish it!

[cardanas]

Originally posted by Lossengondiel
Go ahead and read them again for goodness sakes. Then while you're waiting for the next book...read them again and again and again and again!!!

thats just sad

[Lossengondiel]

What's just sad????:D

[Wolfshead]

I think cardanas has a point :p Read something else, there's any number of good authors out there

[Lossengondiel]

I don't see any harm in reading the Harry Potter books as much as one likes. But still, I DO read other books besides harry Potter, so don't think that because I gave that suggestion, it means that I do the same thing.

[smeagol444]

hmmm i think its rather harsh to say it's 'sad'. loss should feel free to read it as much as she wishes without being made out to be a sad lonely person. however i'm not inclined to read ootp for quite some time, having just read it. It's a waste i think. each to his own.:) or each to her own i should say really. well both. but i'm a she. so anyways.

[Lossengondiel]

Thank you very much smeagol for sticking up for me :D See, not all people who read books all the time are sad, lonely people!!

[smeagol444]

Your most welcome loss! :D i was jsut looking at pictures of the prisoner of azkabaan. they look very different, with the new director an all. they're wearing trendy clothes and such anf hermiones hair is just curly and fairly short. not sureif i'm comfortable with this or not....

[Lossengondiel]

Can you post the link with the pictures? I would like to see them!

[cardanas]

i ment reading the same book all the time is sad

i spend most my time reading and people make fun of me for it

anyway loss there are lots of books that are better than harry potter

[Lossengondiel]

I don't read HP all the time :D

And I bet there are plenty of good books out there, and HP just happens to be one of them. I like Ellis Peters books as well, and others from the library!

[smeagol444]

Originally posted by cardanas
i ment reading the same book all the time is sad

i spend most my time reading and people make fun of me for it

anyway loss there are lots of books that are better than harry potter

this may be so but it all comes down to personal opinion. harry potter and lord of the rings trilogy are my favourite series of books. so i consider them far better than any other.;)

ps loss i'll try and post the link but dont count on it i'm no good with technology and it probably won't work..i've also gotta track down where i saw them in the first place! :rolleyes: i'm 'opeless.

[smeagol444]

http://www.comingsoon.net/cgi-bin/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Fantasy/Harry_Potter/Harry_Potter_and_the_Prisoner_of_Azkaban

here is the link guys hope it works .......
smeags

[Lossengondiel]

Thanks Smeags, it's great!

[smeagol444]

No problem woohoo it works! I read on that site that cho chang won't be appaering in the movie until tgof, so i guess they are making it. i have no idea how they'll manage to without spoiling it though..they'll cut half it out !! :(

[Lossengondiel]

And what about sirius? :cool:

[smeagol444]

What nationality is everyone here? i'd be most intrigued to know.

[Lossengondiel]

American...too many specifics to name...

and btw I found out that gary Oldman (?) is going to play Sirius!

[Wolfshead]

I'm Scottish, myself, but then again, most people probably know that by now!

You can check out who's playing who in the film on www.imdb.com , I knew Gary Oldman was in it months ago.

[Lossengondiel]

Yeah but slow people like me don't know that kind of stuff so soon...we tend to take our time.

[smeagol444]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CraigSmith
[B]I'm Scottish, myself, but then again, most people probably know that by now![QUOTE]

My art teacher is scottish. he's old and absolutely halarious, and calls everyone maggots. i like scottish people.

[Lossengondiel]

That's cool cuz I gots a bit o' Scottish in me as well...

[Samwise_hero]

This isn't following the topic you're discussing but i just finished the Order of the Phoenix! I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE KILLED HIM!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!! I almost threw the book across the room. Grrrrr.......... i was sooooooo sad and ........... why did it have to be him???

[Wolfshead]

There are a lot of very funny Scottish people - myself and Billy Connolly included ;)

I love watching Groundskeeper Willie in The Simpsons, he's just so stereotypically Scottish :D I don't know any Scotsmen like that, but still, he's hilarious.

Now, back to the topic at hand... When Rowling killed him, I wasn't sad as such - more shocked than anything. It just happened so fast, or was that just me reading the book so fast? No, it would have had more effect if he'd died of wounds afterwards, drawing it out, y'know? Still, I'm sure I've said this before :rolleyes:

[Samwise_hero]

It was sudden wasn't it...i kept expecting him to come back (something like Harry thought) but he didn't. i think i'm over the shock now.....i think. Sooo.......now the long wait to see what happens next.....damn.

[Wolfshead]

The way in which he died would seem to leave him the possibility of him returning open. However, with JKR saying she cried when writing it, that would suggest he won't return. It's definately a shame, I liked Sirius.

[Samwise_hero]

Now Harry has no family at all! And sirius was my favourite character......ahhh....i've gotta stop reading such sad books.....it's getting depressing......if only Sirius could return.....if only....

[elvenprincess13]

I hated it when Sirius died! I really liked him.:((Sob) But after you read the book eight or nine times it's not so bad anymore. BTW anybody here read Order more than 10 times?

[Wolfshead]

10 times?!? I've read it once...

[Khôr’nagan]

Hate not what... Oh, right... this guild likes Harry Potter. I just got off the HP hater's guild and WOW, like... they are so full of it. I posted what the likes of them have never before seen, and never will again. I have no Idea what I'm talking about, now...

Well anyway, OotF was AWESOME!!! I just loved it. When Sirius died, however, I admit it... I cried, (one tear). He was my favoritest character of all, and he just died... IT'S NOT FAIR!!! But neither is life, so who am I to complain? Wait, that doesn't make sense... Well, whatever.

Anywho, uh, like... HARY POTTER ROCKS!!!

But, of course, not as much as LotR. And any who naysay that, well... NYEEAAH!! Please excuse me... I think I was too serious in the post I just wrote for the HP haters, and now there's nothing left but sillyness. :D But hey, what's a doorknob without a little sky? Wait... uh... hold on... Does that make sense to anyone? 'CAUSE IT SHOULDN"T! HAHAHAHA!!

[Wolfshead]

What? You mean there's a Harry Potter haters guild? Methinks I might have to go and read that :D But seriously, why would they do that? If I don't like something, I (usually) just leave it alone, why waste your time talking about something you don't like?

And aren't I just full of rhetorical questions this morning?

[Lossengondiel]

Yes Craig you are ;)

And as for elvenprincess13, I've only read it twice...but am planning to read it again soon!

[Khôr’nagan]

GOD, those HP Hater's are giving me a full-time job. Man, they just don't give up... one of them thinks I want to join (though I think he's being sarcastic). Though, I do think I made a great argument. And CraigSmith, good points- but I don't think they care. They sure as heck just don't care. They're ready to criticize just sbout anything and everything. God,. it makes me so MAD!!!

[Lossengondiel]

*sigh* me too...

[Wolfshead]

Yeah, they don't like HP, that's fine, I gave them an argument to counter their naive opinions, no one responded. I won, I leave them to drive themselves into the ground with negativity.

[smeagol444]

ohh ! haven't been on here for quite some time, but i was just reading that ridiculous guild..think they're witty don't they. HA! we'll show em. we should just rampage their stupid guild and show them up. We're all relatively intelligent people, i think we have a few points to prove. they most certainly asked for it. and craig an intriguing point you made.. why the hell do they care about something they hate? wouldn't it just be unenjoyable to discuss somethng they despise..? apparently not. fools. they are all ignorant fools. curse them!

[Lossengondiel]

Wow a little enthusiastic there, huh?

[smeagol444]

loss don't you feel somewhat hostile towards them? i certainly do and i think i made that quite clear.. heh heh. But they're shutting it down now cos of us, so i guess we were somewhat successful. i feel kinda bad.. i was only mad at the people who said they'd never even read the books that's just ridiculous.. the others can hate it if they want to at least they have reason to hate it. tsk......

[Lossengondiel]

Ya actually I suppose I do...bashing Harry for no apparent reason other than that they don't like them, as you said they didn't read the books at all...and it is good that we shut em down along with their pathetic whining...I can see the point of their club/guild only if they have decent reasons to back up their accusations (which they don't) so yea, I agree with you!

[Samwise_hero]

If they hate Harry Potter so much why do they talk about it so much. It's just not logical. Damn, there i go with my logic again. You would think though if you hated something so much wouldn't you try to avoid the subject at all costs?? Just curious.

[Lossengondiel]

You're absolutely right! For example...I don't like the story of how I fell in a river...so I don't talk about it...I don't go around telling anyone who will listen...


Wait a minute...didn't I just tell anyone who will listen?



...you get the picture...

[Samwise_hero]

I do get your point and it really defines mine. There's a lot of stuff that's happened to me and i don't talk about them and there's also a lot of things that i don't like and i'm not even gonna mention them! Lol!

[Lossengondiel]

Yes...unfortunately a lot more embarrasing stuff than falling in a river has happened to me...definitely something to keep quiet about!

[smeagol444]

ha! i'm sure we all have been in minor embarrassing situations. i was at a party on a farm the other night and i was climbing a tree with this boy, being the little bushman that i am, and the branch snapped and i fell out...

[Lossengondiel]

I fell off the treadmill in front of all the guys in my gym class...thankfully the guy I liked at the time wasn't there...but the guy who liked me was there...BuMmEr...

[smeagol444]

heehee yes it so happens i've been having a bit of a thing with this particular young lad that was up the tree with me. he found it halarious of course.. :rolleyes:

[Samwise_hero]

Yes typical male thing to do, laugh when someone is down.
Hmmm......i haven't done anything that bad lately. Prolly coz i've been a nerd and studying 12 hours a day. Or maybe i'm getting away from my clumsiness yeah! Anyways......

[Lossengondiel]

.......i am the most UNgraceful person on the face of the earth.......

[Samwise_hero]

Maybe or maybe not. I bet i could be close in the running. I try not to embarrass myself these days but it doesn't always work. However much i try to believe that i'm growing out of it. Ahh........being laughed at is what makes life more interesting. LoL!
My best friend reckons that i'm prolly the most ungraceful person on earth so we'll have to have a competition one day to see who falls on their faces more. Hmmmm........one day! .^-^.

[Talierin]

*randomly pops in* Aerin's the clumsiest person I know, at least when she's wearing heels :rolleyes: :D

We did this talent show thing at my church once, and we did a 20s song/dance in flappers, heels, the whole get-up.... the whole time before it was our turn she kept saying she was going to end up tripping on her heels or sometime. Well, she managed to get through our song without falling, but right as we were walking offstage through the side door she trips on the little stairs and falls flat on her face... it was so funny! She couldnt get up for like a minute cause she was laughing her head off and I ended up sitting on the floor from laughing too :D

[Samwise_hero]

I stand almost corrected,
When i was about 10 i was running away from my sister and the place that i was at had this plain glass door leading outside. You could barely see the door cos it was so clean and it didn't have any bars or anything running through it. Well as you prolly guess i was running and i didn't quite see the door. i smacked straight into it and knocked it off it tracks. meanwhile i was laying spreadeagle on the floor in a kind of daze. all anyone could do was laugh.

[Lossengondiel]

What a competition.......

[Arebeth]

I'll join.
Villains are as Evil on both sides. Still, I can't see why there are people to make competitions between everything and the rest of the worlds. JKR is a brilliant writer, wich doesn't mean more than that.And it's not everywhere a shame being a HPfan...

You don't know what it means to lose someone. Because we learn that only when we can love that someone more then ourselves.

I know he's alright but...

[Lossengondiel]

Brilliant...you're absolutely right...

[Arebeth]

Rumour: Snape and Lily (well, Harry's mother, of course) were lovers at a time.

What do you think?

[Wolfshead]

Rubbish :p

[Arebeth]

Originally posted by CraigSmith
Rubbish :p

I think you're right.
And why did Voldemort fell?
(I mean, real reasons, not "he hates muggles because of his father" or something like that) What happened to him?

[Arebeth]

Originally posted by CraigSmith
Rubbish :p

I think you're right.
And why did Voldemort fell?
(I mean, real reasons, not "he hates muggles because of his father" or something like that) What happened to him?

[Lossengondiel]

The thought of Snape and Lily as lovers will give me nightmares...