Apr 23, 2003 12:32 PM
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(Updated Apr 23, 2003 12:32 PM)
I liked this book. Not a lot, but it was my favorite out of the whole series. People liken this book to Roald Dahl, but I don't really see it. I thought it was highly entertaining, but there were a lot of things that she left hanging. It was sloopily thought out. Like, how does Hermione buy her books when her parents are muggles? Just little details that don't work out for me. And I don't like how people are vaguely described. For Ron, it was pretty much red hair. If I didn't watch the movie before the book, I wouldn't have any sense of image of the character. I saw Rowlings on TV once and she says she wants to leave a lot to the reader's imagination, but some things I think she could've elaborated on. Or even, NEEDED to elaborate on.
The plot was interesting enough. I've read the four that she's put out, and I'm kind of afraid that she's stretching herself a bit thin. I liked the first book because it reminded me of the times when I was young and I could sit there and read a book without thinking that there's something hidden in it. Like, I don't have to really think about it.
It was very lighthearted. We get introduced to everyone, and I highly highly suggest watching the movie beforehand because the lack of detail work (her biggest flaw, as far as I'm concerned and I think that's a big concern when you think about all the things that a reader needs to put everything together). I mean, I'm not much concerned about the little hints that she leaves for the following books in her series, just the ones that are practical. Sparse.
I was surprised at the discrepencies between the book and the movie (it's hard for me to deferenciate between the two because I often go back to the movie in order to support what I read in the book). In the book, Dumbledor (the headmaster of Hogwarts) is actually a very comical character while in the movie, he's very dignified all the time.
On the whole, I felt very detatched from the characters. If this were a true Roald Dahl, then I wouldn't feel that way. I mean, I feel for Harry getting the short end of the stick and for Ron for being just another weasley and for hermione for not having friends because she's so smart, but then I feel as though Rowlings isn't giving me enough to make me want to identify closely with the characters. There's so much emphasis on action that I get lost trying to get myself to pay attention to alot of things at once.
It's good enough, but it could be better.
