April 27, 2003

Potter vs. Tolkien: My Input
Lilly

Oh, boy, here's a fun subject! I've never read Harry Potter, nor do I particularly care to. I have several friends who have read them though, and who tell me that they're "okay, but more for kids". This alone tells me that it should be put in an entirely differend arena from the LOTR. the Hobbit was for kids, but the LOTR is most definitely not so much. Also, Tolkien spent years upon years on his Middle Earth: to me Potter seems to be a quickly-written, quickly-read, well...gosh, now I can't even think of the word...kid's story will have to do. I appreciate depth in a story, and subtlety, and history. Harry Potter is more modern. I'm not condemming HP: heck, I haven't even read them, but I dislike them being compared to the LOTR. Or worse (infinitely, infinitely worse) when someone accuses the movies LOTR to be COPYCATS of Harry Potter!! This has happened, and I had three heart attacks and a coniption as a result. Whew. In my opinion, what I have heard, seen, and read of HP doesn't hold a candle to the LOTR. Am I too harsh or judjemental?