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JULY 16, 2003 at 11:20 PM
Posted by JAMES
Source: BBC via iharrypotter.net
Quite a fury of passion on the BBC forums has risen to oppose Byatt, as you can see by the quoted text below.
Rowling allows us to identify with her characters and live in a world of excitement and adventure for a few hours. The hype has reached an excessive level but these books are wonderful. Rowling is a brilliant writer mostly because she is able to give her audience what they want. She deserves to be rich if she is able to continue this.
Jared Hill, USA
I am 13, and am interested in the works of writers such as Milton, Joyce, Thomas Mann and Gunther Grass. I have a lot of seriousness and stress in my life, and can see merit in books which allow me to temporarily escape that.
Michael, Australia
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Points: 3950
CowsOJMilkSoil says:
Its good that people are speaking against Byatt. They're stating their opinion and thats really good.
Posted Jul 16, 2003 at 11:29 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 390
OliverPavo says:
More People need to stick up for J.K. and her books, they wonderful!! J.K. deserves everything she gets plus more. She is making reading fun again to many people. I know a 6 year-old Who wants to read her books, so he keeps practicing and trying to learn more words so he can read J.K. books and understand them.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 12:09 AM EST
Snape's Woman
(Moderator)
Points: 5392
Prof. Andaxia Moonstar says:
(I posted this once, but I don't think it came up - if this is a double-post I apologize).
Sorry, A.S. Byatt, but I don't watch soaps, reality TV, or follow celebrity gossip, and I still like the Harry Potter books. I was glad to see so many people wrote in to refute Byatt's claims, that Harry Potter fans have limited imaginations. On the contrary, I find that people who read fantasy and sci-fi have more imagination than those who don't.
I am in my mid-twenties, and I don't limit myself to HP either. I love Charles Dickens, John Milton, and Robert Louis Stevenson. I have read The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aenied, and Beowulf. So many people have been introduced to the incredible history of mythology and the intrigue of word origins through the HP series.
"Limited imagination?" Hmph.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 12:21 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2303
padfoot5312 says:
"It would be interesting to find out how many Harry Potter books Ms Byatt has read. I am in my 50's, don't watch soaps, reality TV or gossip programmes, in fact I watch very little TV, especially since I have the new Harry Potter book. Sounds to me a little like sour grapes, as she has not obtained the same notoriety, and possibly money.
Carole Belton, UK "
Love this statement and most of the others. People of all ages enjoy the books. They entertain us. In our fast pace of living, it nice to find excitement and adventure in other places for a short time.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 1:04 AM EST
Points: 1450
Gopotter2004 says:
It's human nature to be jealous, and if that's what this is, I understand. But with such a large fan base, not only speaking out against the author but provoking the fans is just stupid.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 1:23 AM EST
Editor of the Squibbler
(Moderator)
Points: 2031
eudaemonia says:
There's no other reason but jealousy for her recent criticism of Rowling. There are plenty of writers out there who don't live up to her elite standards of "literary children's classic", but she isn't attacking those authors is she? Noooo... it took her until the release of Rowling's fifth book to suddenly express her realization that she wasn't a good author. She'd be a bit more credible had she mentioned this before Rowling became richer than the Queen.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 1:58 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1783
Juno Puddifoot says:
Seriously, having seen the photo of Ms Byatt I believe she resented the representation and description of *hem hem* Professor Umbridge, I mean, really, the similarity between them was quite was quite disturbing. hee hee.
Her comments were however MOST annoying. I'm pleased fans are speaking up too. Although I would have to wonder if JK really cares, I mean the sales figures speak for themselves. It is so obviously a case of sour grapes.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 3:17 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 468
Charlie'sMum says:
Oooh - maybe JK created Umbridge to be like Byatt on purpose, and Byatt knows it and that's why she wrote the article!! Or, er, not.
Everyone is entitled to like or not like the books depending on their own tastes, but the thing that really bugged me is that she assumes that people who like the books are by definition shallow and undereducated. Well, I'm bloody not. I read the classics for fun (not to look all clever and smart) and I never watch reality shows. So its nice that the BBC gave the fans a chance to rebuttal.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 8:15 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2303
padfoot5312 says:
http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/06/13/specials/byatt.html
http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/jwss.old/possession/
Here's some sites on the author - first one has a picture.
Your right Puddifoot she does look like her
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 9:53 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1065
Lerah99 says:
I am so happy to see that we are not alone in our love of all things Harry Potter! As for JK Rowling's reaction to Byatts critique, I'm sure Ms. Rowling is crying all the way to the bank. :o)
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 10:28 AM EST
Points: 216
RhondaWeasley says:
The sad thing is that Byatt has just hurt her own image with those readers who read both her books and Rowlings.
Obviously jealouse, I think she just wanted attention and she knows attacting the most popular thing going right now, Harry Potter, will get her name in the news. And when you want attention, any attention will do. But where will it leave her at the end? There is other good fantasy out there, but Potter just happened to become on the it kid. Byatt needs to get over it.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 11:33 AM EST
Squib
Points: 189
willow80 says:
padfoot5312 I also liked Carole Belton statement. I liked a few others comments as well. Most of the comments where the person agreed with A S Byatt said the same thing she said, we lacked imagination and so on.
I say to those people who agree with her and to A S Byatt, "whatever." I read all kinds of books and I also enjoy writing my own little stories as well, so I don't think I lack imagination. And I don't like it when they compare authors. I mean each other has his or her own style. And yes some writings may seem to have the same theme or story line, but every athor write it differently, so to me it make no difference if the plot or storyline seem the same. (hope that made sense)
Well I enjoy the books and wont stop reading them because others might not like it.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 12:55 PM EST
Witch
Points: 661
Flitterbloom says:
I don't think any of us, or any other HP fans for that matter, are going to stop reading the books because one woman wants to bash JKR into the ground and stamp on her. I think it's obvious now that all of JKR's fans want to bask Byatt into the ground and stamp on her. I still stand by my recent statements that she's doing this purly for publicity.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 1:19 PM EST
Healer for all Occasions
Points: 3570
Madam Malkin says:
Good job Harry fans! We need to speak in defense of the books and their writer. JK has written some great books, and we really shouldn't care what other people think. Not everyone is going to like Harry Potter. But I must say, those that don't, (depending on why they dislike it)I think have the worse end of the deal. See what they miss? A great story, well written, with mytstery and interesting thoughts on life in general. Yep, they must be for people with limited imagination. hahaha. I'm glad we have said our opinions on it. I don't care if this Byatt lady disses the books, because I know what I think about them. And I just don't agree with her. I'm going to keep reading them and feed my 'limited imagination' through these books. Yeah, limited imagination. (And I'm sure that if someone says the Potter books are 'evil' or for 'limited imaginations' I'll just say, "Okay, you cinvinced me, I better stop reading them." Yeah, right.) Let me tell you I have gained imagination after reading Harry Potter. So think of the extent of JK's imagination. Wow. That's all that needs to be said about Harry Potter. Wow.
But wait a sec... maybe the books were written for people with limited imagination, so that people can expand their imagination. Yeah, that's it. OK, not really, but that's a way to throw her argument back in her face - agree with her and then twist it so ot works for us. hahaha. I'm so terrible. And I bet it is all because I read Harry Potter.
And as to those people who argued against AS Byatt - you all are the best. True Potter fans, right there. Keep it up! Don't let people diss Harry and his author and gat away with it! hahaha. OK, sure, everyone is allowed their opinion, (that's all it is - an opinion) and we are allowed ours. We don't have to agree. I sure don't agree with Byatt. I completely agree with all those Potter fans, like me, who did not agree with Byatt's attack.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 1:22 PM EST
Old Chortlebones
Points: 2601
Newt Scamander says:
A.S. Byatt is to the real world as Rita Skeeter is to the fantasy world of Harry Potter - she just wants publicity, and doesn't care what she has to do to get there. Of course, as far as I know, Byatt has yet to do anything illegal, but still, the comparison exists.
I think that the best thing about J.K. Rowling's works are not only the incredible, seemingly unlimited (note that word) amounts of imagination within them, but also the feelings I get when I read them. I literally gasped when I first read the Sorcerer's Stone and found out that it was Quirrel who was the villain and not Snape. And I have never been given such anger whilst reading a book than I have when Umbridge did...well, all those things she did in the fifth book. Of course, it is not anger at the book, but anger at the character. After having a break for lunch following a good hour or two's worth of reading, I was fuming. Then, after I ate my hot dog, I was amazed - Rolwing had succeeded so well in transferring the main character's feelings of anger into me. This has never happened before, and I've been around the literary world in much more than eighty days. (Har har, little spin off of a title. I'm so imaginative, or so I imagine.) And then when you get to the plot itself, to the twists, the development, and all the surprises piled in one - well, you get quite a lot of praise from me, anyhow.
Posted Jul 17, 2003 at 8:21 PM EST
Snape's Woman
(Moderator)
Points: 5392
Prof. Andaxia Moonstar says:
I agree with the point brought up by Regulus Black. I have always wondered why people believe Harry Potter is evil. If they banned every book and story that included magic, wizards, or witchcraft, then the children's bookshelves would be pretty empty. Let's see, what would be gone? The Wizard of Oz series, practically every fairy tale, and every myth for starters.
These books are incredible morality tales. They instruct us on loyalty, the bonds of friendship, being true to yourself, and to paraphrase DD, the ability to choose what is right over what is easy. How can that be evil?
Posted Jul 18, 2003 at 1:09 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 993
Muggle Wizard says:
Andaxia Moonstar -- in my opinion view, your question can be answered by one of two possible scenarios:
1. These people consider it unfair for somebody to succeed. They'd rather bring everyone down to their level rather than try to develop their own talents that are waiting to be used. (Of course, this requires the assumption that every person has a talent; I consider this to be true but admit that it is impossible to prove.)
2. These people have a warped idea of what destroys values and what builds them.
Posted Jul 18, 2003 at 1:16 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1783
Juno Puddifoot says:
No CarolAlutius, I think definitely not, but nonetheless it made me feel better:) Possibly a cheap point.
Thanks padfoot5312, strange isn't it? She has now unfortunately replaced my own mental vision of Umbridge.
I love reading, I've read reasonably widely as well, just about anything I can get my hands on really ... not at uni either, saving study for politics and law. I've read some fantasy but not a great deal. In fact the authors that she recommends I couldn't tolerate, I think Ursula Le Guin and Terry Pratchett, but I know they have devoted audiences. I think she should just appreciate what the books mean to people, (I mean she is a writer) they relly are a credit to JK; rather than try to denigrate the books, the writer and the reader. Oooh very Umbridge.
(But I really have not enjoyed one of Byatt's novels ... and still haven't finished one either.)
Posted Jul 18, 2003 at 6:29 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2289
Snufflesmom says:
Totally agree with padfoot5312. I too am in my 50s and totally love the HP books. JKR has captured both the imaginations of children and adults in her books and it does sound a lot like sour grapes on the part of the "real author".
I consider myself an intelligent person and enjoy reading all types of books. I think for an adult the Harry Potter series is a flight of fancy, taking us away from the mundane 9-5 world most of us live in.
I think Ms. Byatt needs to get a life. From reading her comments, she comes across as a literary snob. If she had been living a hundred years ago, she would have probably thought Dickens was trash.
Posted Jul 18, 2003 at 8:55 AM EST
Witch
Points: 657
Wotcher_Tonks says:
In my family there are 3 generations who read and love the HP books, my mother who is 70+, myself in my forties and my daughter who is in her late twenties, my father also has read all of the books, We also love to read other books,
I feel sorry for Ms.Byatt I can't help feeling that it is perhaps herself that lacks the imagination and is rather mundane!
Posted Jul 19, 2003 at 12:23 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 57
Mrs. Norris says:
I'm curious to know if people like Byatt have even READ the books! i.e. the two girls burning the dolls, have they bothered to read the books? I hate it when people say they don't like a book or a movie, without even reading it or watching it!
It's great that people are standing up to these people who are criticizing these great books with hollow insults. The reasons they come up with for why HP is bad aren't even feesable! If these people give me 5 good reasons for why HP is bad for me and my piers, then I'll allow them to criticize. So far nobody has been able to do that yet.
Posted Jul 20, 2003 at 12:32 AM EST
Mediwitch
Points: 2608
nickyole1 says:
I am glad that people are speaking against, er, should I say, spoken against, this lunatic. She is quite insane.
Posted Jul 18, 2004 at 1:52 PM EST
The Gryffindor Guy
Points: 2727
z Jamie Potter z says:
It's human nature to be jealous, and if that's what this is, I understand. But with such a large fan base, not only speaking out against the author but provoking the fans is just stupid.
Posted Mar 19, 2005 at 9:03 AM EST