there have been many disputes over the harry potter books over the last few years. some churches have condemned them as being sacrilegious, some people are accusing them of condone witchcraft, etc.

i'm curious to see what the people of these forums think about this...

I've read all 5 Harry Potter books, and have seen nothing in them that's anti-religious or even particularly distressing. They are some fine stories that have encouraged millions of children to pick up a book & get transported into that place where books can take us. I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Harry - both in the books & at the theater.

They're completely innocent. I try to ignore the elements of society that think people are so weak-minded that they'll fall under the influence of a book. On the other hand, there's Willow and that damn Island of Confusion (or whatever it's called) book.

What Lionel said.

Dop

Great new ! Harry Potter and the Phenix order has just been released in France.
(Yes, I know it's great news only for the french, but we always believe we are the center of the world, don't we ?)

Following a very old conversation with ES347 about this - this delay is mostly due to translation. I have read that the translator has been working 12 hours a day, without interruption, for 3 month, to translate the book in french.

I've bought it yesterday.

Please, no spoilers in this thread !

The butler did it.

Damn you ! May you roast in hell with any member of the Clinton family - of your choice.

I have also read all 5 of the Harry Potter books (several times), and I wish they had been around when I was a child. Some of the books we had to read were as boring as bat shit, and an insult to our intelligence.

I don't feel there is anything to criticise about these books, but the religious zealots will always find something to whine about.

You first.

I just finished "persepolis", a graphic novel by an iranian author, Marjane Satrapi, who tells her childhood in post-revolution Iran. A very touching and funny book. Those who liked Maus or similar graphic novel will love it, and all those intersted in Middle east should read it. It has been translated into english.

http://www.randomhouse.com/pantheon/graphicnovels/persepolis.html

http://www.randomhouse.com/pantheon/graphicnovels/art/persepolis_cover.jpg

Finished Harry Potter yet?

No, not yet. First, my wife/partner/girlfriend (can someone tell me the PC word for this in America - unless it is not thinkable to live with someone out of marriage ?) has been reading it. And for various personal reasons I have lacked the time to read it. I'm only at chapter 11.

Originally posted by astrapol2
wife/partner/girlfriend (can someone tell me the PC word for this in America

"Significant Other" is a commonly used term.

"Significant Other" ? LOL ! That sounds nearly mystic.

"I have been contacted by the Significant Other".

OK - drop the PC. Could you suggest something a bit warmer ? "The Woman of my Life" is nice but a bit dramatic.

If you say this phrase with affection & a touch of humor, it can be well received: "... my next ex ..."

"my next ex ?"

She would either kill me or - more probably - laugh at me for this !

Introducing your "next ex", or "significant other" "my lover" is another option. "Life companion" is one as well.

My lover. I like this.

BTW I have finished reading Harry Potter and the order of trhe Phenix now.
Nice book, as usual - at least JK ROwlings manages to produce something valuable in spite of the massive pressure she must get from all the people and media ! But to be honest I am a little bit diappointed. The global plot has not really progressed - in fact it is nearly back to the situation at the end of book 4. Voldemort does not make a great job as a bad guy - ha has achieved nothing in one year !

Originally posted by astrapol2
First, my wife/partner/girlfriend (can someone tell me the PC word for this in America - unless it is not thinkable to live with someone out of marriage ?) has been reading it. All the women i know love to be referred to as my "main squeeze". Try it out, she may love it. :D Just trying for humor Astrapol, dont really do it.

i am addicted to these books, i think the fourth book is the best, the characters are more developed and are starting to grow up a bit more. in book five harry really started to annoy me he was just so mopey and angry all the time.

My main criticism to book 5 is that the plot does not really evolve. At the end of book 4 I expected a major change in the sorcerer's world, and in fact everything goes on as usual. Voldemort does not really look as a threat, he justs tries to get this prophecy which in fact does not bring anything new to the plot.

My guess is she is under tremendous pressure to churn out these books out, while the popularity is still big.

It took me quite a few years to actually sit down and read these books, it wasn't until my partner insisted (And I had a few months with no job), that I did eventually read them.

Partner is a good word for such a relationship. Myself and my significant other have been together for 6+ years and with no plans of ever getting married.

Originally posted by Pepper
Myself and my significant other have been together for 6+ years and with no plans of ever getting married.

This is, of course, none of my business, but why not? There seem to be many people in incredibly serious and long-lasting committed relationships that shy away from marriage, as if some ceremony would suddenly change everything.

Well a couple of reasons, we don't need the government to legitimize our relationship, second, marriage discrimination still against gays. (although I never expected it to be the issue it is today!)

What I find most distressing is the hyper consumption that the marriage industry promotes. In many cases, promoting consumption that is outside people's means.

We have always tossed the idea of having an unmarried party just to get appliances and stuff. Never a very serious idea though.

SPAM!

I think Voldemort was a bit wussy in the fifth book he was much scarier in the fourth. I can't wait till the sixth it'll be so good

I just wanted to share my opinon of the Harry Potter Craze. I persopnally do not see anything wrong with the books. And if there are parents and individuals worried about the implications that these books might make on society, they need to not read the books. If you are scared that your children will follow witchcraft after reading such book, then sit down and explain that these are made up stories. I just don't see the big deal if you are a good parent!!

I don't see anything wrong with the Harry Potter books personally. I have read all of them so far, and will probably read the future ones too. I heard that JK Rowlings is thinking about expanding the books beyond the original 7 planned, to include one where Harry is grown up. I guess we will just have to wait and see. :)

i think it will ruin the whole mentality of the book if it goes beyond hogwarts, i don't think will be as interesting -the main market for these books are children in school, when he leaves school they wont be able to relate and maybe wont understand such adult things

frank;ly I think that anything that gets kids to read, whether it's good or not, is a positive thing. and the Harry Potter ooks are good. I widsh the plot had progresed more in the fifth, but hopefully something good will happen in the sixth. it would have been reallynice if he had written them before they were published, and they just released them every few months. it's kind of annoying waiting for new books to come out in series.