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wildflowerz76's review against another edition
4.0
This was on my Wishlist for ages and I finally got it this past Christmas. I read a bit of it before I put it aside for other things. I was feeling a bit of HP nostalgia, so I picked it back up. I enjoyed most of it. The alchemy bit bored me to tears, but the rest I liked. I enjoyed reading direct ways that other books influenced the HP stories and saw it in most ways. I'd heard that Rowling especially was influenced by The Little White Horse quite a few times and I've read it. Twice actually. I didn't see anything but superficial resemblances either time then and I still didn't get most of it even now.
lamusadelils's review against another edition
4.0
Aunque he leido otros libros del tipo (como [b:The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles|7942674|The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy Hogwarts for Muggles|Gregory Bassham|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275673035s/7942674.jpg|11383649] y [b:The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived|124978|The Psychology of Harry Potter An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived|Neil Mulholland|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328837351s/124978.jpg|120363]), siempre me dejan con la sensación de que alguien está usando a Potter de pretexto para hablar de psicología/filosofía/whatnot. Incluso si te gustan esos temas, pocas veces logran conectarlos al libro de forma coherente y natural.
En este caso la experiencia fue diferente. No soy una gran entusiasta del análisis literario meticuloso y esperaba encontrarme con algo muy similar a los libros que ya mencioné, pero aunque es el mismo tipo de libro, el autor tiene una forma agradable y graciosa de presentar los temas y hablar de otros autores, libros, elementos literarios sin que parezca que estas tomando clase con esa aburrida maestra de secundaria que odiabas.
Si bien muchas de las conclusiones son obvias (no hay que ser un genio para saber que hay sátira política en Harry Potter, por ejemplo), estan expuestas de forma bien pensada y organizada. Lo mejor del asunto es que en este caso, desmenuzar el libro y los cómos y porqués de Rowling, no le quita mérito alguno. Comprender un poco mas a fondo un libro permite seguir amandolo/odiandolo a placer.
Un libro muy recomendable para quien quiera profundizar un poco en los factores que hacen de Potter una serie tan popular y tan amado por millones. Obviamente gusta mas si uno esta familiarizado con las referencias literarias mencionadas (Dickens, Jane Eyre, Drácula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyl y Mr. Hyde, Jane Austen, Los viajes de Gulliver, la tradición de historias de escuelas públicas inglesas, etc.
En este caso la experiencia fue diferente. No soy una gran entusiasta del análisis literario meticuloso y esperaba encontrarme con algo muy similar a los libros que ya mencioné, pero aunque es el mismo tipo de libro, el autor tiene una forma agradable y graciosa de presentar los temas y hablar de otros autores, libros, elementos literarios sin que parezca que estas tomando clase con esa aburrida maestra de secundaria que odiabas.
Si bien muchas de las conclusiones son obvias (no hay que ser un genio para saber que hay sátira política en Harry Potter, por ejemplo), estan expuestas de forma bien pensada y organizada. Lo mejor del asunto es que en este caso, desmenuzar el libro y los cómos y porqués de Rowling, no le quita mérito alguno. Comprender un poco mas a fondo un libro permite seguir amandolo/odiandolo a placer.
Un libro muy recomendable para quien quiera profundizar un poco en los factores que hacen de Potter una serie tan popular y tan amado por millones. Obviamente gusta mas si uno esta familiarizado con las referencias literarias mencionadas (Dickens, Jane Eyre, Drácula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyl y Mr. Hyde, Jane Austen, Los viajes de Gulliver, la tradición de historias de escuelas públicas inglesas, etc.
mselizabeth87's review against another edition
3.0
Some arguments were very interested and well argued, others seemed like a stretch. However, the last half generally made up for the mediocrity of the middle portion. Granger could also use a good editor.
kathrynth's review against another edition
1.0
I was so very interested in reading this book. Harry Potter is by no means perfect, but I've always found them to be solid stories worth reading again and again.
But this book was, in my opinion, quite terrible.
First, the author forces his points in a way reminiscent of bad high school literary analysis. Granger has a point to make and, by golly, he's going to make it. He cherrypicks examples and ignores anything that might contradict his point. He forces things into his way of thinking. I kid you not, at one point he's discussing characters whose names come from or mean "red" and he gives Fred as an example because if you remove the letter F you get "red." I'm sorry, but no. That is stretching.
Beyond that, Granger likes to tell readers what they did, do, or would think about something. I found this patronizing, especially since at times his statements are a bit insulting: you didn't see this, dear reader. Also, he refers to Rowling as Ms. Rowling throughout, but other authors don't receive that same treatment, which, in my analysis, makes it seem as if he doesn't consider her a real author. His words show otherwise, but I found this an inappropriate stylistic decision.
There's more I could say, but I don't want to waste any more time on this book.
But this book was, in my opinion, quite terrible.
First, the author forces his points in a way reminiscent of bad high school literary analysis. Granger has a point to make and, by golly, he's going to make it. He cherrypicks examples and ignores anything that might contradict his point. He forces things into his way of thinking. I kid you not, at one point he's discussing characters whose names come from or mean "red" and he gives Fred as an example because if you remove the letter F you get "red." I'm sorry, but no. That is stretching.
Beyond that, Granger likes to tell readers what they did, do, or would think about something. I found this patronizing, especially since at times his statements are a bit insulting: you didn't see this, dear reader. Also, he refers to Rowling as Ms. Rowling throughout, but other authors don't receive that same treatment, which, in my analysis, makes it seem as if he doesn't consider her a real author. His words show otherwise, but I found this an inappropriate stylistic decision.
There's more I could say, but I don't want to waste any more time on this book.
elysareadsitall's review against another edition
4.0
Most of the articles are fantastic. It gave me a lot of things to think about while I reread the Potter books, and it also provided a lot of new reading material. The points are thoroughly explained, which is great for the most part, but a couple places could've used some cutting. There were places where I lost the thread of what he was trying to say, because he digressed so much. But I would much rather have too much information than too little. It's a great book.
mbayne's review against another edition
4.0
This book definitely digs into material that I hadn't thought of before. If you think Harry Potter is only a surface level story, I would suggest this, because they levels of interpretation and symbolism that it discusses is pretty interesting. My only complaint has to do with the pacing.
rlaferney's review against another edition
3.0
John Granger examines the great books and authors that shaped the Harry Potter series in this literary analysis of Potter mania. It is a well researched, and well informed look, particularly at the genres and literary techniques J.K. Rowling has utilized to create the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Granger focuses on four levels of meaning within Rowlings text (the surface meaning, the moral meaning, the allegorical meaning, and the anagogical meaning) while examining how Rowling combines the best of the hero's journey, mystery, schoolboy fiction, Gothic fiction, postmodern morality, and Christian fantasy to cast her spell. This made for a fascinating read and really adds more to rereading the series.
crankylibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting for Potter fans. J. K. Rowling's debt to classic literature and mythology is well known; less familiar to many readers are her homages to British children's authors like E. Nesbit and Enid Blyton. Granger (John, not Hermione) also finds connections to gothic horror, Jane Austen's social commentary, Swiftian satire, and medieval allegory. If this all seems a bit much for a simple children's fantasy, consider that Granger cites Rowling herself in support of his assertions.
quoththeravenclaw's review against another edition
5.0
If you are a Harry Potter fan and also an English major, read this. You will be amazed.
anthroxagorus's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so, I don't have near enough knowledge to argue and engage with this book as far as what it proposes. I wanted to read it because I've been following the Mugglenet Academia podcast since it began and the academia + HP is hella cool.
But I will say the last section definitely gets trippy, a bit sketch, but definitely interesting. Is the Hogwarts Professor right that the series is full of literary alchemy? No, really, someone tell me. As to the circle talk, this much he covers in Mugglenet Academia and in another book. That, I'm thoroughly sold on.
John Granger, if you ever read this, please teach me more about alchemy. Please.
Anyways, let me back up. The book is an overview of the themes and, consequently writers and books within that theme, that inspire the Harry Potter books. Some influences were directly stated by JKR, some are conjecture. The book can be read as an exploration of literary analysis, a "how-to maybe get rich writing YA novels," or as a recommended reading guide.
His section covering Tolkien and Lewis was respectfully short and I begrudgingly like that. The similarities are there, but JKR wants nothing to do with them now. Granger points out the inconsistency, and then leaves it to the reader.
I found it entertaining and approachable. I'd get more out of it if I read more classic lit, but I don't feel like I was left confused. Sometime, I'd like to reread it, to get my HP fix.
But I will say the last section definitely gets trippy, a bit sketch, but definitely interesting. Is the Hogwarts Professor right that the series is full of literary alchemy? No, really, someone tell me. As to the circle talk, this much he covers in Mugglenet Academia and in another book. That, I'm thoroughly sold on.
John Granger, if you ever read this, please teach me more about alchemy. Please.
Anyways, let me back up. The book is an overview of the themes and, consequently writers and books within that theme, that inspire the Harry Potter books. Some influences were directly stated by JKR, some are conjecture. The book can be read as an exploration of literary analysis, a "how-to maybe get rich writing YA novels," or as a recommended reading guide.
His section covering Tolkien and Lewis was respectfully short and I begrudgingly like that. The similarities are there, but JKR wants nothing to do with them now. Granger points out the inconsistency, and then leaves it to the reader.
I found it entertaining and approachable. I'd get more out of it if I read more classic lit, but I don't feel like I was left confused. Sometime, I'd like to reread it, to get my HP fix.