It's that time again to grab a cup of coffee and join us for a live chat in our Coffee Break Moments Hour, tonight at 9PM ET.
Tonight we'll discussing the Harry Potter series!!!
The live chat will take place between 9-11PM ET. Grab your copies of Harry Potter books and discuss the following:
- What is your favorite book in the series? What was your least favorite?
- Which is better - the books or the movies?
- Who is your favorite character? Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who?
- What was your favorite magic spell in the books?
- Did you like the way the author ended the series? Is there room for more books?
- What do you think of the religious debates over Harry Potter?
- What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture?
Tonight, think of this chat article as "Hogwarts". Take your seats and have fun discussing the books! Can't make the chat? Leave your comments in the field below.
Gather will draw five participants from 9-11PM ET tonight to receive a Coffee-Mate coupon. Of these five, one will be selected to receive 300 Gather Points!
Tip: You'll need to continually REFRESH your browser to see new comments appear during the live chat.
UPDATE: This live chat discussion took place on 9/18/08. Your comments are still welcome though!
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Comments: 180
WAY TOO MUCH.
I'm glad that Potter-mania is finally dying down... though obviously it's still not all the way dead by any means.
There are many, many young adult series out there that are entertaining and interesting - let's move on from Potterland, please. This series has been commercialized to death. When the books first came out, I thought they were okay but not-that-special and couldn't understand all the hype that just kept growing and growing.
Harry Potter is more an example of good marketing and pop culture phenomena than good literature if you ask me.
My .02 cents,
--L
I read the first one and tried to read the second one on two or three occasions, but never got enough time to finish it! I always have several books going.
Which is better - the books or the movies?
Who is your favorite character? Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who?
I liked the first book and the film about the same. I like Ron, and I like Snape. Ron is just plain fun, and Snape has so many facets to his character. I have not yet finished the books so I can't share an opinion on that last question.
What was your favorite magic spell in the books?
Wengardium leviosa (sp?) -- the levitation one
Did you like the way the author ended the series? Is there room for more books?
What do you think of the religious debates over Harry Potter?
Haven't reached the end yet. I think there is always room for an author to further develop a story, but Rowling has said we won't see Harry growing to be an old wizard. I am a Christian and think the stories are terrific! Harry and his friends are good, fight evil, and have positive character traits. I think some people need to stop trying to find danger in innocent things and worry about the stuff out there that is really a bad influence on our kids and society.
What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture?
Quite a bit. The books have been wildly popular, and the films as well. Kids love to play at wielding spells and to dress up as Harry for Halloween. Adults too have fan clubs for Harry and his stories!
I don’t really have a favorite. I read The Prisoner of Azkaban first, and that was the one that got me hooked, so I could call that my favorite. Some of the themes that appealed to me were how easy it was to “rewrite history” and blame an innocent person for a tragedy, and how constant spreading of fear could prevent people from asking questions.
The books, obviously. Aren’t they always?
There are a lot of details that have to be left out of a movie, and they make up a lot of the rich texture of an imaginary world. The images in the movie make up for a little of that, but they don’t cover everything. A lot of the minor episodes and a backstories have to be left out. And of course, in the movies some actions scenes are magnified out of proportion (such as the never ending broomstick chase with Malfoy in the Chamber of Secrets.
• Who is your favorite character? Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who?
Again, I don’t really keep favorites, but I like Hermione with all of her know-it-all snottiness.
I wasn’t happy when Dumbledore died, but in the long run, I can see how it might have been necessary to allow Harry to develop fully and grow up. While he was alive, Dumbledore was always there to step in and solve everything should Harry fail, so he had to go. :-)
I was going to say Alohamora! for when I can’t find my keys, but then I realized Accio! could take care of that and the rest of the junk I can’t find.
• Did you like the way the author ended the series? Is there room for more books?
I think Rowling clearly said there was no room for more books, so there’s no point for me to think otherwise.
Favorite book: Half-Blood Prince, Least favorite: Chamber of Secrets
Which is better - the books or the movies?
Both are great in my opinion, but books usually tend to trump the movies. And this is no exception.
Who is your favorite character? Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who?
Favorite character is Snape, followed closely by Sirius. I was very disappointed by many characters being killed off. The one that bothered me the most was Sirius.
What was your favorite magic spell in the books?
All of them. haha
Did you like the way the author ended the series? Is there room for more books?
I liked the ending up 'til the epilogue. That just ruined it for me and I pretend I never read that part. There's always room for more if the author is creative enough.
What do you think of the religious debates over Harry Potter?
I think they're rather silly. It's fiction and there's no need to read any deeper into it unless you're bored and looking for some type of reason to get all fanatic about it.
What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture?
Quite a bit of influence. You can already see the "Harry Potter wannabe" books and movies being released each day almost. I think the entire influence is great if it's gotten kids and adults to read more than they would have otherwise. Plus it's a tale that parents and children can enjoy together and that can help keep a family close.
What was your least favorite? Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, though I haven't read Deadly Hallows yet.
They’re utterly ridiculous. The books are no different in their approach to magic than Tolkien’s or C.S. Lewis’s, but since Rowling didn’t advertise herself as a Christian, they must be satanic? Please.
• What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture?
There are lots of wizard-themed books and movies riding the wave.
I don't know if I necessarily have a favorite or least favorite book. All of them are well written, and I enjoyed reading them- they were entertaining to me.
I borrowed the first Harry Potter from a friend the same year the fourth book came out. I always thought it was more of kids book. I was pleasantly surprised and read the book in a day (I was laid off at the time). Soon after that I borrowed the next two and couldn't wait to get the fourth one.
However, if you take away the books, and look at the movies from a purely entertainment venue, the movies are very well done, and enjoyable. If you look at it away from the context of what is missing, what is different, etc, the movies are good.
But, you have to convince the book readers of that. ;) Most of the rabid book fans will see the movies, but only to pick them apart and gripe about them.
Me, I see the movies because I enjoy them, and like immersing myself in them.
Do I think there is room for more books? Heck yeah! There are so many arc's that could be followed- we could do books based on when the Marauders were in school, and how they fought Voldemort, how Peter came to betray his friends, how Lily and Severus interacted, etc.
Then, there could also be a lighter, more kid oriented set of chapter books based on the adventures of the next generation- Harry & Ginny's sons, Hermione & Ron's children, little Teddy Lupin, etc.
My favorite book was probably Prisoner of Azkaban. My least favorite was probably one of the last two.
2. Which is better - the books or the movies?
The books are almost always better in any series. I haven't even watched all the movies.
3. Who is your favorite character? Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who?
Sirius is probably my very favorite character, but there were several of them that I really liked. I really liked Lupin and Neville, too.
A lot of my favorite characters were killed.
4. What was your favorite magic spell in the books?
I don't really know that I have a favorite. There were several of them that were great.
5. Did you like the way the author ended the series? Is there room for more books?
I didn't like the epilogue that much, but otherwise it was fine. I don't think there will be any more books.
6. What do you think of the religious debates over Harry Potter?
I think that it was pretty crazy. My brother is one of those that's against them, even though he's never read them. I think that they need to at least read them before saying they are evil.
7. What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture?
It has had a HUGE influence. There are so many new things out now based on them!
These stories do not focus on Satan, or Satanic forces. It focuses on the traditional Good vs Evil story arc.
Harry Potter will be a book that reaches out to new generations all the time. The movies made it even more all encompassing and reaching.
I always had to laugh when people got so bothered over the witchcraft portrayed in the books. - I just want to yell "it's fiction people"
i honestly enjoyed them all.
Which is better - the books or the movies?
easy, the books are always better.
Who is your favorite character?
Fred and George Weasley
Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who?
FRED! i sat with my hand over my mouth for an hour and almost cried.
What was your favorite magic spell in the books?
i could have used the Occulus Reparum many times in my life.
Did you like the way the author ended the series?
i really didn't see any other way to end it without having harry die. which i know some people were hoping for.
Is there room for more books?
she left it open with their children 17 years later.
What do you think of the religious debates over Harry Potter?
anything can be turned into a religious debate and it would be every bit as ridiculous.
What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture?
i think we are going to see a lot more wizard costumes for the next several halloweens. but at least these books got many kids and just as many adults to pick up a book and read, and that is really the important thing.
Think, for example, of how Harry discovered (in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) that Sirius Black was his godfather? ... by overhearing gossip. While we find later that this is fact, we also discover many other things that were said about him were untrue. Harry learns the important lesson that we must not judge by rumour, but by fact ... which requires listening. Those who have dismissed the Potter series (while, at the same time, embracing the Tolkein Trilogy released at the same time ... full of wizards, warlocks, and demonic creatures in battle) have not, I fear, read it with a listening ear.
# Which is better - the books or the movies?- the books are ALWAYS better (not counting LOTR, the only exception to that rule)
# Who is your favorite character? Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who?- My fave character was Dumbledore. I've been reading fantasy for over 20 years, and his character was the quintissential (sp?) "wizard". I was a little surprised by his poor magical abilities though. I always liked Hagrid as well. And I can't recall feeling disappointment over any characters' deaths.
# What was your favorite magic spell in the books?- Any that Hermione did. Go girl!
# Did you like the way the author ended the series? Is there room for more books?- Of course, there will be more!
# What do you think of the religious debates over Harry Potter?- As with any debates where religion rears its ugly head, you are just left wondering how people can really think that way. Maybe if they took their noses out of the most well known "fantasy story" of all time (The Bible) and actually READ a Potter book (and of the others that cause the bible thumpers to get all up in arms) maybe they wouldn't actually feel that way. It would be wonderful if they would celebrate the world found in books rather than try to censor them.
# What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture?- I don't have kids so I really don't know about this one. I think Harry Potter has been a hero of sorts for the geeky kids who aren't very athletic. Just goes to show you don't have to be a big tough athlete or sports hero to be a happy kid.
I do wish you would give us more of a notice of these chats.
I too think they are misguided. There are just so many people out there who like to stir the pot and they saw a chance and took it.
The church that I belong too has no problems with it at all.
# Which is better - the books or the movies? I am probably the only person that is going to say the movies. The first movie on the big screen just captured my interest more.
# Who is your favorite character? Were you disappointed about the author killing off any of the characters? If so, who? My favorite character Dumbledore and miss several of the other ones that were killed like Sirius.
# What was your favorite magic spell in the books? no favorite
# Did you like the way the author ended the series? Is there room for more books? I think there is always room for more books. we could learn about future generations.
# What do you think of the religious debates over Harry Potter? I think people should read the book before making an opinion.
# What influence has Harry Potter had on pop-culture? I think Harry Potter helped to encourage young people to read. I use to teach reading and always encouraged the students to read.
I DID'NT READ THE BOOKS I JUST HAVE SOME OF THE MOVIES
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a book of children's stories by British author J. K. Rowling. It purports to be the storybook of the same name mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book of the Harry Potter serie
It was announced on July 31, 2008 that the book will be published for the general public on December 4, 2008
I agree, Crystal, she does indeed.