Latest Site Notices

EmmaRiddle · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2005, 04:46 PM

The Observer has featured an editorial by Robert McCrum in which he refers to Rowling's books as 'over-literal' with 'lazy dialogue'. He suggests that the novels could be used to sedate children.

Quote:

When all is said and done, JK Rowling is for children, their teachers and parents, the people who actually pay for the books.

Quote:

But try reading her aloud to an eight-year-old and you quickly discover that her prose is deadly - automatic writing, over-literal description and lazy dialogue. Perhaps The Half-Blood Prince will prove me wrong, but the series so far does not hold out much hope.

Quote:

So she does not, in my view, find a natural or automatic place on that shelf of British children's book writers that includes Lewis Carroll, Kenneth Grahame, E Nesbit, JM Barrie, Arthur Ransome, AA Milne, CS Lewis and, in our own time, Philip Pullman.

Quote:

Pull out my hair, put creepy crawlies under my pillow, hedgehogs in my duvet, but Harry Potter, unlike Alice, is only for children and their minders. The same goes for the movies.

At the end of the day, Harry Potter is a playground craze like scoubidou or Ninja Turtles (remember them?). And now I'm going to live in a faraway country for 10 years.

Source: The Observer

mione_girlgwp · 07-10-2005, 04:50 PM

WHAT? I know alot of grownups that read HP!!!! Ridikulous! And what does he mean lazy dialogue?

WOOT! First to post!

Aingil an Spéir · 07-10-2005, 04:50 PM

Oh. My. God.
He cannot be serious? I'm too shocked right now to say anything...
WHAT?!

Padie · 07-10-2005, 04:53 PM

That is NOT true!
Harry Potter hasn't got such thing as lazy dialogues!! I'm gonna kill that guy...
If what that guy said was true than why would HP have so many fans all around the world? From all countrys? From all religions? From all ages?? Even my 3-year-old bro likes it (at least he already knows how to identify the books, films, pics, fansites,... teached him well huh?)! I would like to hear his answer for that....

r+h4ever1 · 07-10-2005, 04:55 PM

Well everyone is entitled to their opinon, I guess. I think it's a shame that he feels that way. But what can you do?

Shannon

Fleurgreene · 07-10-2005, 04:58 PM

Its not true...i dont believe it...

maggie3990 · 07-10-2005, 04:59 PM

Quote:

At the end of the day, Harry Potter is a playground craze like scoubidou or Ninja Turtles (remember them?). And now I'm going to live in a faraway country for 10 years.

They still have Harry Potter in faraway countries. Its all over the world! That alone makes it more than "lazy dialogue" or a "playground craze." Adults and children love it.

07-10-2005, 04:59 PM

Quote:

But try reading her aloud to an eight-year-old and you quickly discover that her prose is deadly - automatic writing, over-literal description and lazy dialogue. Perhaps The Half-Blood Prince will prove me wrong, but the series so far does not hold out much hope.

You know what? I have spent these past years reading HP over and over again, meeting new people, making friends I would have never made before, sharing experiences, improving my English and God only knows how many more of those things.

This is becoming absolutely annoying though.

So I say, just forget about these people who are only jealous of someone as talented as JK, and in secret are only wanting an opportunity to act like Snape or Voldemort, or even a Dementor let's say, and get back to your HBP theories Harry Potter fans! HBP is coming for us no matter what, and nothing will stop our excitement to wish that Saturday were tomorrow.

**LittleMissChriss** · 07-10-2005, 05:00 PM

Well, he certainly risk to get a fair few people on his neck. No matter, he is entitled to his own opinion, but I dare say that there are quite a lot of people who disagree with him. I'm one of those. =D Harry Potter rocks my socks off.

GanymedeCraft17 · 07-10-2005, 05:03 PM

Perhaps he is saying this because now we all are talking about him? Bad publicity is still publicity...

Aingil an Spéir · 07-10-2005, 05:03 PM

Ok, I can talk now.
What aristocratic stuck up stuffy brown nosed snobby tweed wearing old fart!
You know, I might take his thoughts more seriously if he spelt Scooby Doo right...
Not only has JK inspired loads of kids not only to read but to write as well, it has just been prooved that the books have improved childrens literacy skills. Clearly he is of the opinion that in order to be a good writer you have to churn out a minefield of difficult grammar and old fashioned language a la Wuthering Heights (not that wuthering heights isn't good, but when have you ever seen an 11 year old reading it?).
I'm sorry but I can in no way shape or form concur with his sentiments. Ok, children read the book, it was originally intended for them, but then how can you explain the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of adults who read it? Why then has POA and GOF been placed on the syllabus for english classes in many schools around the UK? Jk's writing, in my honest opinion, is better than Dan Brown's (in terms of fluency, grammar, vocabulary and dialogue) not that I dislike Dan Brown, I've read all the books, but you have to admit, he's sticks to the same formula and his writing skills leave a lot to be desired, but that's neither here nor there.
Who is he anyway to slate JK like that? There is no way he could be an english professor or something. He sounds like a nosy old librarian to me, with nothing better to do with his time except insult one of the most celebrated authors of our time.
Forget moving to another country, he's going to have to move to another planet!

*Snivellus* · 07-10-2005, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Pull out my hair, put creepy crawlies under my pillow, hedgehogs in my duvet, but Harry Potter, unlike Alice, is only for children and their minders. The same goes for the movies.

Right...

I feel sorry for him - he'll be very unpopular!

**Lissydove** · 07-10-2005, 05:43 PM

He doesn't know what he's talking about. 'Nuf said.

Dean_Thomas · 07-10-2005, 05:46 PM

Another attempt to attack the popularity of Harry Potter. If anything he's trying to bring attention to himself.

hoh4twins · 07-10-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

And now I'm going to live in a faraway country for 10 years.

Please do that. That person does hav an abnormal taste. It was only by JKR's style of writing that I've been inspired towrite, and been dragged into books...other than textbooks.

[the.time.turner] · 07-10-2005, 05:51 PM

It seems to me like this guy has been living under a rock. Does he not see how big HP fandom has become. Everyone reads it not just some little kid with nothing better to do. Wow....

tania*

HermyG_1300 · 07-10-2005, 05:56 PM

That's terrible!! I don't think it's lazy! It paints a perfect picture of what's going on! grr...

brown-eyed_girl · 07-10-2005, 05:58 PM

thats riddikulus!!!!!!!!!

milkshake342 · 07-10-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Pull out my hair, put creepy crawlies under my pillow, hedgehogs in my duvet, but Harry Potter, unlike Alice, is only for children and their minders. The same goes for the movies.

At the end of the day, Harry Potter is a playground craze like scoubidou or Ninja Turtles (remember them?). And now I'm going to live in a faraway country for 10 years.

Excuse me...??? Harry Potter is for children,Im 19 and Im going to read them forever.
How has J.k made so much money and is so popular if ther books ar something that comes out of my 9 month nieces nappy.
The Harry Potter books are brilliant.

-Helen

James_Padfoot · 07-10-2005, 06:02 PM

*bares fangs* Where'd he get his research from, the dustbin?

He is wrong, in my opinion, but let him think what he wants, its his lost.

Edit : Besides, if it was 'lazy writing' excerpts from the books wouldn't have been selected to go in the Oxford Dictionary.

Mistress Vondella · 07-10-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

At the end of the day, Harry Potter is a playground craze like scoubidou or Ninja Turtles (remember them?). And now I'm going to live in a faraway country for 10 years.

I thought it was Scooby Doo? (thats what the TV says anyway.......and the movies..........or is this something different?)

And yes, I remember Ninja Turtles, I loved them. I'll marry Donatello one of these days, mark my words! Seriously, if they weren't well loved, they wouldn't have had Real Life Movies. Turtles and Scooby are not gone, you just ignore them.

Quote:

When all is said and done, JK Rowling is for children, their teachers and parents, the people who actually pay for the books.

Yes, I am sure you have no parents and, therefore, do not classify yourself as someone's kid. But, since you are hardly an angel fallen to earth, or a divinity, I must assume that you did, in fact, have, at the very least, biological parents. You will always be seen as a child by those who reared you, no matter how prestigous you think you appear.

Quote:

automatic writing

What's that supposed to mean? I love it when my writing comes automatically, it means I'm on a roll and really into what's going on.

Quote:

over-literal description and lazy dialogue

um..........like Tolkien? I'm sorry Tolkien fans, but his stuff puts me to sleep. I really don't care about the shade of gree a blade of grass is (in other words, I think he gives too much information.)

So she does not, in my view, find a natural or automatic place on that shelf of British children's book writers that includes Lewis Carroll, Kenneth Grahame, E Nesbit, JM Barrie, Arthur Ransome, AA Milne, CS Lewis and, in our own time, Philip Pullman.

Um, I don't know who half those people are, probably cos I'm American. But I never read Alice (Carroll) as a child, but attempted as a teen, couldn't get into it and picked up CS Lewis when I was 12, same thing. Good stories, but they ran dry for me.
I've seen the name AA Milne, but probably somewhere on this site. Yeah, that's it.

(To the guy) I don't think you should be comparing JK to authors of other time periods. Yes, you have "of our own time" but that could be your generation, not mine. Honestly, where do you get off telling kids what is and isn't good? I don't even listen to movie critics, they're wrong 99% of the time. How does any adult think they are capable of telling an 8 year old "Oh, you wouldn't like this book, it's too 'automatic'" They'll look at you and think you're nuts. And if you tell them "the dialogue is dry" They'll wonder if it's supposed to be wet. Chill out, read for fun, enjoyment, to hear a story. And stop sleeping on a bed of nails if you're critquing children's books, go buy a race car bed. Yes, I see you said "for children and minders only" but seriously, are you that ready to give up on your own childhood? That content with adult stresses that you don't need a break every now and then? Go out, have fun. *gives you Bernstien Bears movie about fun*[/rant]

Quote:

Pull out my hair, put creepy crawlies under my pillow, hedgehogs in my duvet,

No...............I couldn't................okay, if you insist *does it all to you*

Mrs Felton · 07-10-2005, 06:19 PM

He's probably some snotty old loser that has nothing better to do than try and find somethig wrong with one of the most hyped up things ever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aingil an Spéir

You know, I might take his thoughts more seriously if he spelt Scooby Doo right...

Scoubidous are a kind of 'toy'. They're like different bits of coloured plastic strings and you make patterns and tuff out of them. Not very fun in the slightest. How can he even try to compare HP with Scoubidous, it's just offensive.

Laieesha · 07-10-2005, 06:25 PM

He said "scoubidou" haha lol what a dodo... Shows how much he knows about these so called "craze". Is he really a critic/journalist, or just some random guy they pulled from the street to write the article??

Quote:

But try reading her aloud to an eight-year-old

I DID read it aloud to an 8 yr old, well he was 7 at the time, but that's the reason I started reading the books. I read them aloud every night, and since then I was hooked.

I understand that he's entitled to his own opinion, but whatever, bite me critic freak! He's not the one making millions of dollars, so screw his opinion!