Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows...

[Stegyre]

Make sure to NEVEr read "The wheel of time" by Robert Jordan. The only reason I'm still reading it is that I don't want to have wasted my time reading the first 6 (!) 1,000 pages books. I'm at book 10 now and nothing has happened.

Oh, that's a little harsh: RJ isn't so bad. (Though Martin beats him hands down. )

I started reading HP because Jack Chick said I will go to hell if I do . . . .

Post-a-Link! (to the Chick cite) That sounds like a real must-read!

Really, Chick pamphlets are something that should draw us all together: Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Catholics, Orthodox, Atheists, Wiccan, Democrats mischief: we can all compare what Jack has said about each of us and vote to see who is sentenced to the deepest level of hell.

(For shame! Who made me write that? Could it have been . . . satan? )

 

[Masquerouge]

I feel pretty much the same way. HP is nice, easy to get into and quite appealing, but it's not great in the same way that A Song of Ice and Fire or His Dark Materials are great. I thought Wheel of Time was quite decent, but I was never able to get further than book 6-7 or thereabouts, despite numerous attempts. It seemed the story sort of reached a standstill at that point.

No kidding. The grandmother of all Standstills. Oh, and just so you know, nothing much happens in the next 4 volumes either

Just keep on reading a song of Ice and Fire
And try Robbin Hobb!

My favourite, and only better that he be played by Alan Rickman

Yeah! His is a great performance.

 

[Quinzy]

well, what other books are basically modern versions of Paradise lost?

i know, he's a "young adult" writer, but talented greatfuly nonetheless.

 

[Ball Lightning]

well, what other books are basically modern versions of Paradise lost?

i know, he's a "young adult" writer, but talented greatfuly nonetheless.

What is paradise island?

David Eddings is the best author!

 

[crabapple]

Oh yeah. I agree completely. Snape is one of the best characters ever.

totally agreed and I dont understand the critics in this thread, i love harry potter, so sue me

 

[Ball Lightning]

totally agreed and I dont understand the critics in this thread, i love harry potter, so sue me

HP is just not indepth and more action, and some people prefer the in-deoth charaters. And snape is the best HP character.

 

[Masquerouge]

What is paradise island?

Paradise Lost, not Gilligan's island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_lost

David Eddings is the best author!

He's good, but his characters are way too archetypal. The Good Guy, the Bad Guy, the Mentor, the Lover (usually a princess, of course)... The Wheel of Time has this problem, too.
Now take a song of Ice and Fire. No characters are morally simple, no characters are "good" or "bad".

 

[JonnyB]

Ditto here...

Spoiler :

...Snape kills dumbledore!

.

Spoiler Jonny discusses CG's Spoiler :

I don't believe that. I'm convinced that Snape "killing" Dumbledore was part of a master plan by Dumbledore.

 

[Ball Lightning]

He's good, but his characters are way too archetypal. The Good Guy, the Bad Guy, the Mentor, the Lover (usually a princess, of course)... The Wheel of Time has this problem, too.
Now take a song of Ice and Fire. No characters are morally simple, no characters are "good" or "bad".

Yeah, him and RA Salvator are my fav authors. David Eddings does do that, but the story line is fantastic, which i can't say for the Wheel of Time

 

[Masquerouge]

Yeah, him and RA Salvator are my fav authors. David Eddings does do that, but the story line is fantastic, which i can't say for the Wheel of Time

True. And the story line of WoT could have been fantastic had not the author decided to muse over 4,000 pages about what kind of tea Egwene will drink while Rand whines and moans about his powers.

 

[-0blivion-]

Self Confessed Raymond E Feist addict. Been disappointed with the last two books however. The other 15+ books been re-read dozens of times however.

 

[Ball Lightning]

True. And the story line of WoT could have been fantastic had not the author decided to muse over 4,000 pages about what kind of tea Egwene will drink while Rand whines and moans about his powers.

I got to the 2nd book and it was boring as. Most books i start and finish, but this one was so... pointless.

 

[Ball Lightning]

Self Confessed Raymond E Feist addict. Been disappointed with the last two books however. The other 15+ books been re-read dozens of times however.

I've never been able to get his books apart from the Empire series, which was great. My fav character is Pug.

 

[Masquerouge]

I've never been able to get his books apart from the Empire series, which was great. My fav character is Pug.

Though I find his actual name, Pug, annoying. Other than that, pretty nifty series, yes.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

OK title. I'll read it, just because I have enjoyed the series to this point. It may not be a great literary work, but it is an enjoyable read.

 

[GinandTonic]

Spoiler Jonny discusses CG's Spoiler :

I don't believe that. I'm convinced that Snape "killing" Dumbledore was part of a master plan by Dumbledore.

Spoiler :

I am convinced its awfully bad manners of CivG not to put his spoiler in a spoiler.

There is more to it than meets the eye for sure. However it cannot be as simple as your point or the obvious suggestion. The key reason for the death is it is required by the narrative structure - the overarching narrative requires him to become the "hero" in the classic sense to bring the narrative to its conclusion, to have no father figure to fall back on, to stand alone and become a man.

Im still convinced there will be more than the simple fulfilling of his archetype. Rowling has been writing Harry's coming of age and Snapes treachery for too long to give them up too cheap.

Oh - and clearly Rowling isnt Pullman. There was a reason Pullman won serious adult literary prizes and Rowling didnt. Hell Pullman is more literary than the vast majority of adult writers. Rowling is just enjoyable trash, but it sure sorted one single mothers life out huh.

 

[JonnyB]

I know it's more complicated than the one sentence I wrote in the spoiler, but there are limits to how much I'm going to speculate in an Internet Forum. Especially since not everyone here may appreciate it.

 

[Ball Lightning]

I know it's more complicated than the one sentence I wrote in the spoiler, but there are limits to how much I'm going to speculate in an Internet Forum. Especially since not everyone here may appreciate it.

Why do you think that?

 

[JonnyB]

Because I don't care enough to spend the time and effort discussing what I think will happen in a book. (And if I'm wrong my predictions will be always be recorded here for posterity )

 

[Ball Lightning]

Because I don't care enough to spend the time and effort discussing what I think will happen in a book. (And if I'm wrong my predictions will be always be recorded here for posterity )

On her website you can find out whats NOT in it, but you can not find out whats in it. No pre-book releases .