Monday, August 13, 2007
Montgomery on the Harry Potter Phenomenon
Unlike probably nearly every other reader in the Known Universe, I did not read the Harry Potter Series as they were published. Instead, I read the entire series through in order once Book 7, Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, became available. Prior to that time, I had seen the first movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” but had held off reading any of the books for some unknown unconscious reason.
I found the series immensely fascinating: in fact, I put aside all but the most necessary other reading while I raced through the seven installments in chronological order. Many times I found myself wondering how “regular” Potter fans coped with the time between books, waiting on the newest adventures to be published. I’m thankful I didn’t have to wait.
Yet I have a bone of contention or two to pick with the Harry Potter and the * {insert object here} Series. First of all, are these really books a parent would recommend to a child, ages 9-12, or middle-school range? I think not.
Although this series is heavily publicized as for young adults, and Scholastic Inc. is connected to it and to author J. K. Rowling’s upcoming new Fall U.S. tour, I don’t find this a children’s story whatsoever. Scholastic is very invested {in terms of educational tools} in the series and the author [see http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/home.asp].
Amazon.com bills the books as “Young Adult” age group [http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0439887453/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-9980485-9714216?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186684931&sr=1-2],
labeling the first six as “ages 9-12” [http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0439887453/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-9980485-9714216?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186684931&sr=1-2].
But after reading in quick consecutive order Books 5, 6, and 7 [Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, now a film; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows} I find I couldn’t recommend them to other than emotionally and psychologically mature readers. I actually wept through portions of all three of these books.
In Book 5 {Order of the Phoenix} I raged at the inherent fascism of the opposing regime; and in the newest, Book 7 {Deathly Hallows}, I was incensed and angered by the magical torments applied to adults and to minors {those under seventeen who are wizards and witches are considered minor children}. I found this brutal and unnecessary; much of the violence was penned gratuitously, especially so in the case of graphic violence perpetrated on young adults and on minors. Granted, many good novels contain slices of life as it is: grief, death, heartbreak; but I felt all of these were too much at the heart of the final three novels.
In conclusion, am I sorry I read the series? No, I’m glad I finally read through them, and very happy that I waited until I had all 7 in hand. Will I read them again? Not likely; but if I do so, it will be the first four. I don’t think I could take the emotional wrenching of Books 5, 6, and 7 again.
http://www.jlfoster.biz/files/Within_His_Castle_-_Issue_12.pdf
Thursday, August 09, 2007
At Sword Point: Montgomery Comments on Harry Potter
Don't miss tomorrow's issue of author J. L. Foster's newsletter, Within His Castle Issue 12. My column At Sword Point comments on the Harry Potter Series with some rather surprising conclusions.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Frost on LGBT Fiction
Frost's Freeze
Aug. 3 2oo7
LGBT Fiction:
Far-Out Alternative or Serious Mainstream?
Back in 2oo6, an entrenched venue in the romantic fiction field declared "manlove" off limits as a topic for its panels {and apparently, for reviewing as well}. Just this week, a writer I respect announced revision of a series hero's love interest, from gay to straight. The reason? "Gay isn't mainstream."
Reviewer Frost strongly disagrees, and I think the evidence backs up the alternative theory that LGBT fiction is indeed popular, and publishable. Not only are readers who happen to be Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgendered reading, writing, publishing, and purchasing fiction featuring alternative characters and situations. The increasing market among Straight readers for Gay erotic romance bears this out as well. When het authors are producing exciting and erotic works in the Gay fields, and Straight and LGBT readers are racing to buy, the question of publishability for Gay fiction doesn't seem to hold water.
Setting aside the concept of writing for publishability, then, let's take up the further point: why is a viable, important, vital avenue of fiction not considered mainstream? Granted, this is only one reviewer's opinion platform; but standing in the river of prediction I foresee a stronger-than-ever market for writing, publishing, marketing, and reviewing fiction in the LGBT field, whether penned by authors whose preference is alternative or Straight.
Reviewer Frost welcomes fiction submissions for review of the LGBT variety, and will provide an honest and heartfelt commentary. Let's make our own mainstream for LGBT fiction.
--Reviewer Frost
http://www.jlfoster.biz/frost
August 3, 2007--
Within His CastleJ. L. Foster AuthorIssue 11-August 3, 2007-page 46
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