Comebacks we'd like to see: #17 -- New Harry Potter books
Filed under: Extracurriculars
This post is part of our series ranking the top 25 bygone products and trends we'd like to see return.Over the subsequent six years, I've spent a lot of time waiting for J.K. Rowling. I've waited for books to come out and movies to be released. I've waited to see who was cast as Voldemort and who was cast as Sirius Black. I've waited for relationships to develop, conclusions to arrive, and plot points to resolve. In the meantime, my girlfriend became my wife, and we have spent way too much time on geeky debates about the series. When the fifth and six books came out, we each bought a copy because neither of us wanted to wait for the other to finish. When the seventh book arrived, we were strapped for cash, so we only got one copy. She read it first, but was polite enough to burn through it. I helped by keeping the kid out of her way.
Now, of course, there will be no further Harry Potter books. Although I'd gladly buy "Harry Potter and the Thinning Hair," "Harry Potter and the Upsetting Mid-Year Work Review," or even "Harry Potter and the Vaguely Disconcerting Polyps," I know that anything beyond this point will definitely be jumping the shark. For better or worse, Harry Potter is finished as a primary character; his story is done. On the other hand, I still have some hope for his kids, particularly "Albus Severus Potter," whose initials are, interestingly, "ASP." Hmmmm.
In the meantime, I've got the original seven books, and will be going back to them every now and again. I also have some of the novels that inspired Rowling, including C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons. I've got H. Rider Haggard's catalogue and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. Neil Gaiman is still writing up a storm and there's a rumor that they're going to make American Gods into a movie (I'm still waiting on Good Omens). Although her wizard stories are great, Rowling's greatest achievement was getting the world to read again. Now that she's taking a richly-deserved sabbatical, I'm revisiting a few of my favorites and seeing what else is out there.
At least until she comes out with "Harry Potter and the Incorrigibly Incontinent Puppy." Then all bets are off.
Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. No, he doesn't own a cape.
What literary characters would you like to see return?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-30-2008 @ 7:18PM
jinglemall said...
i totally agree. "Rowling's greatest achievement was getting the world to read again". These books will always be special in my heart. It's sad to think that the next generation won't know how big they were.
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5-16-2008 @ 12:32PM
Bruce Watson said...
Jinglemall-
It's funny, but when I was teaching college, I used the Harry Potter books to explain to my students just how big the original Star Wars movies were. I only hope that the next generation will have a literary series to call its own!
Thanks for dropping by!
5-16-2008 @ 6:17PM
Robin said...
I had two early elementary school children when the books came out and scoffed at the adults and children that were totally wrapped up in Harry Potter. One day when my oldest daughter was in fourth grade I picked up the first book and quickly devoured it and the second and third as well. I paced the floor waiting a year for the fourth one and have begun to plan my life around HP midnight book releases and HP midnight movie openings and subsequent DVD sales. I have a feeling if I was given a month to live today I would last until viewing the Deathly Hallows in my living room on DVD. I am 48 years old and I love Harry.
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5-16-2008 @ 6:11PM
Bruce Watson said...
Robin,
You sound like an addict. I know the feeling--it really is an amazing series of books!
Thanks for stopping by!
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5-17-2008 @ 12:39PM
WILL GRANT said...
I don't even think Harry Potter was "old" enough to be added to a list of comebacks. Even if it were, I must admit that I wish not that it would come back, but that time would reverse itself, and the entire Satanic work would never have been written. This isn't good Chrisitian reading, folks. Back me up, Christians? Are there any out there? Unless that lady writer (who introduced an alternate lifestyle into acceptance just when you wondered how much more damange her "literature" could do to young minds) sees herself and her work for what it is, she can count on a warm place to spend eternity. I will continue to pray not only for her, but all the lost, the degradation, the annihilation of Biblical principles, and the foolhardy expansion of Second Amendment Rights that has been allowed to fester and grow like a fungus in this morally deteriorating mass of land we call "Home of the Free". Freedom defined: the right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins. America is letting anybody and everybody get away with swinging their fist at my nose these days.
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5-18-2008 @ 2:01PM
Tx said...
Well I am a christian and my children have not been affected by Harry Potter in any negative way. I myself do not think it is Satanic.It is simply using your imagination.My children understand that it is not a true story, and that god will not send them to hell for reading the Harry Potter Books. There are worse things on T.V (including the news) then anything in those books.If God wanted everyone to be the same,think the same, feel the same he would have done so. I am actually glad those books were written.They got them reading and using their imagination in a positive way, and they haven't turned to the devil and they aren't sacrificing animals. I pray for you to be more understanding and faith that not all people who read these books are going to turn to Satan instead of God. If someone turns to Satan it is not the books fault, they simply were already headed in that direction. But I will say this it is a free country and we have a right to each of our opinions.God gave each of us imagination but he has not denied anyone from using it, so why do some feel that we are falling into Satans hands if we use it?Thats my opinion and I'm sticking to it.
7-16-2008 @ 6:37AM
Whitney said...
I am a Christian and an avid Harry Potter reader. I have the feeling you haven't read the books, especially the seventh, if you think it is anti-Christian. In this book the characters evolve into well-known Christian archetypes. Perhaps you think this is sacreligious, but I believe it helps revive belief in miracles. The emphasis on love of friends and forgiveness of foes is a message repeated throughout the New Testament. The book even gives hints toward an afterlife that is very similar to my Christian idea of heaven. Most importantly the books show the importance of fighting society for the greater good and the greatest power in the world is love. Will, I love you and pray that you can hear the Lord's messages through parables in the Bible as well as those told today to teach us how to love one another. Have a blessed day.
8-14-2008 @ 9:21PM
Jessica said...
Jesus, man, relax. I'm raised orthodox roman catholic, and i loved harry potter. (well, not him specifically- i loved voldy, snape, and ron) i assume you're one of those stick-up-your-ass religious fanatics (not unlike hasidics or muslim suicide bombers) whose sole goal in life appears to be making it just a little more aggravating for the rest of us. harry potter did not cause any suicides, it did not commit anyone to an asylum, it did not cause a civil war in the middle east, and it is not an instrument of satan. it's an instrument of a british waitress strapped for cash who struck it rich through insane imagination and writing ability. if you actually feel as strongly about this as you say, please explain WHY harry is satanic. see, i've noticed in my extensive internet travels that while select few christians feel the need to bitch about harry, they never seem to be able to formulate a solid argument against it. is it the witchcraft? the magical creatures? the snake-esque bad guy stolen from the garden of eden? please reply, since i for the life of me cannot see your point. ttyl.
5-18-2008 @ 10:43AM
Debbie said...
I became addicted to Harry, Ron and Hermione after watching the first movie that was the only choice in the Hollywood Video store's new releases that I had not or did not want to see. I went out the next day and bought the first 3 books and had all of them read within the week and I waited for #4, 5, 6, 7. I have to admit I wish there was one more book. What happened in the years between Harry's win over Voldemort and him and Ginny putting their 2nd child on that special red train. What careers did they choose. Why does Ron say grandpa Weasley will disown his grandchild if he marries a pureblood. Who raised little Teddy and what family did the young lady he was snogging belong to.
Please just one more book to answer all the unanswered questions.
"Hi my name is Debbie and I am a 49 year old Harry Potter addict. Now everyone in the support group says "Hi Debbie".
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5-18-2008 @ 10:43AM
Bruce Watson said...
"Hi, Debbie!"
5-18-2008 @ 12:02PM
Sib said...
Now that HP has ended try reading Stepanie Meyers Series starting with Twilight. A parent gave me book one to read as a way to break the "ice" so I could counsel her 12 year old daughter. I groaned when I saw it was a vampire story BUT once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Ran to Barnes & Noble to get the next two books. A great series and soon to be first movie...try them you'll like them...oh..and don't look in sci/fi section like I did... they are in the teen section!
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5-18-2008 @ 11:52AM
Bruce Watson said...
Sib-
Ironically enough, Twilight is about to come out as a movie. Somehow, I feel like history is repeating itself...
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5-18-2008 @ 1:54PM
Potterhead said...
"Hi Debby"
I'v been addicted since the 3rd book, and have proudly waited from 11 am to 4 pm to get a wristband, then returned to Barnes and Noble (in costume) for midnight. Part of Harry's greatness comes from the limit, it makes each book more special. I'm also a christian and see no problem with the books, because they are FICTION. BTW, for anyone who is interested, www.jkrowling.com has more information on the ending of certian characters, as does www.mugglenet.com
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6-09-2008 @ 10:04AM
Susan said...
Hey, if you (us) addicts really need some "new" Potter stories, there's a guy on (I believe it's) www.siye.org - "Sink Into Your Eyes" who's doing an extremely well-written, highly imaginative "re-write/replay" of the entire series. During a Potter dry-spell, I started looking into fan fiction - most of it's crap, but not this guy! The story is called "Nightmares of Future Past". You won't be sorry if you give it a try!
5-18-2008 @ 8:28PM
timecantstop said...
hi...im 15 and i have been hooked on this series since my mom read me the first one in i think it was 1999 or 2000 or some where around there...ya so my whole family(excluding my dad) are hooked....thanks to this i always read
seriously i read more than i do anything else(well it maybe tied with doodling)!
:P
i am a christian and i am proud of it!
these books have helped some of my generation to acctualy have an imagination...many of my friends are writers...i for one am one too (i have 3 1/2 book startings)...i love these and am proud of it!!!!!
:D
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5-18-2008 @ 10:04PM
WILL GRANT said...
Tx--your comments were fair and rational, and I appreciate that. I must admit that clergy have taught me about the movies in terms of mysticism, witchcraft, and that I personally have neither seen nor read Potter Book #1. So one could easily say I spoke out of ignorance, but I do trust my clergy/shepherd, and I do take their suggestions seriously. But no, I haven't read one personally. Their warning sufficed for me. 2 Thess 2:7 says: "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work: only He who now restraings will do so until he is taken out of the way."
Tx, thank you your class in your response. You sound to be the type of parent all kids need--involved. My own stepdaughter went to see it with the neighbor boy. He now slices his arm (honest) and at 15 years old, is into mysticism, all sorts of symbols, and satanic worship. His folks go to Church, and he seems a really friendly boy. It is hard to believe what my stepdaughter tells me, sometimes. He failed last year, and lost his positive interest in school activities, and has now moved back home to his blood mother. Could it be his upbringing alone? Certainly. Could it be that, plus added exposure to 'one's imagination'. Ted Bundy certainly had a lively imagination, so did John Wayne Gacy, and many others. A connection is difficult to prove, but seeding imaginations has exponentially nebulous possibilities. It got kids back to reading? Playboy could do that if you put it in some kids hands. Soldiers of Fortune. High Times.
The ease with which society can influence minds today with lessening influence of Godly teachings being allowed (and thusly undermined)--one kid can see Tom and Jerry blowing each other up in cartoons, and think "it's just cartoons"--to the Unibomber, what is it. Food for thought?
Last quote: "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who will find it." (Matt 7:14) If it is in fact, bad medicine to watch Potter movies, then God ain't happy. And I like to keep God as happy as possible, b/c at best, I am a worthless sinner deserving nothing, much less his gracious offer of salvation through the blood of his son, my Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Thank you for your comments, Tx. It is good to share thoughts with someone informed as well as gentle. Bless you.
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5-19-2008 @ 9:37AM
Erwos said...
When did witchcraft become satanic? Just because you're supposed to burn condemn to death doesn't mean it's satanic - I mean, you do that to adulterers, too, and I wouldn't call them satanic, just sinful.
(And don't give me a bunch of New Testament quotes - I don't believe in any of that stuff.)
5-19-2008 @ 9:38AM
Erwos said...
Oops, should read "condemn to death". I don't actually think witches get burned to death as a direct result of "old Testament" law. Stoning, maybe? I forget. I don't generally spend much time worrying about it.
5-19-2008 @ 10:48AM
WILL GRANT said...
Always good to have a 'fresh' point of view, Eros. 'When did witchcraft become satanic?". No biblical quote, but Mark Twain said (paraphrased), 'It isn't what I understand in the Bible....it's what I DON'T understand that worries me.'
I haven't read anything, however, about "sin" being graded according to severity, or anything like "levels of sin". Witchcraft vs. adultery vs. lying vs. stealing...one thing about never picking up the Bible; you surely don't have to worry about sin, or doing whatever you feel. Yet.
If you don't believe in something, you will fall for anything. I don't know who said that. Thanks, Euros, for the comments!
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5-19-2008 @ 11:46AM
Erwos said...
If you don't understand your own religious texts, I'd suggest you pick up one of a zillion commentaries and educate yourself. It's easier than ever, if anything. The simple fact remains that there's no clear linkage between witchcraft and satanism in the Jewish Bible (there's no real mention of satanism in it to begin with), and since this is where the entire prohibition against such things is found, well, it seems like a specious connection to say the two are somehow completely intertwined.