First, let me admit that I have not read--nor will I likely read--any Harry Potter book.
Second, probably the primary reason for this is a certain dislike of the overly popular.
Third, a more important reason is very well stated by Not Quite Art, Not Quite Living
What concerns me most about the Harry Potter series is not the attitude toward the supernatural is the attitude toward ethics. The Potter series is, I think, typical of its surrounding culture in its self-centered and ends-justify-means approach to morality. What is most dangerous around this harbour that so many children find attractive, are not the rocks that are obvious, like the acceptance of witchcraft, but the rocks below the surface.
***read the rest***
As I said, my primary reason is a dislike for the instantaneously popular. Call it a knee jerk response (or just a jerk response...:-). Frankly, I'm in graduate school and have very little time to spend on extra reading. I've been concentrating on classics. Maybe someday I'll give Potter a read. Unlikely, but ya never know...
ReplyDeleteFor the record, fiction is one of the most powerful ways to influence society, changing its beliefs and behaviors. There is no such thing as "just fiction".
Thanks for the comments.