Current Events > I'm rereading the harry potter series as an adult and I have to say...

(+) Yeah! (+)

they're still pretty good. :v I barely remember them (and never touched book 7 at all) so it's almost like a new experience to me. There's a lot of wit to them that I'm sure went over my head as a kid. I'm up to book 3 and like, the implications of Harry's dad not actually being the great person Harry imagined him to be are pretty heavy. Snape being bullied like Harry is by Draco was quite the twist.

After I finish 7 I'm gonna have to play hogwarts legacy I guess

A lot of people like to retroactively declare them garbage because Rowling turned out to be garbage, but they are actually very good.

I think people need to reconcile the fact that a terrible person can create something wonderful or they end up with incredible black-and-white thinking.

I'm doing the same. I read them in my late teens/early 20s translated in Dutch and am now reading them in English for the first time. Currently halfway through Order Of The Phoenix and I'm really enjoying the read.
And to those who are ready to call me out for giving Rowling more money, I borrowed them from a family member who purchased them years ago specifically because I don't want to fund her despite still enjoying the books.

pegusus123456 posted...

A lot of people like to retroactively declare them garbage because Rowling turned out to be garbage, but they are actually very good.

I think people need to reconcile the fact that a terrible person can create something wonderful or they end up with incredible black-and-white thinking.

yeah, at this point we all need to be capable of separating the art from the artist. I can like something but still acknowledge the creator is a piece of shit.

Ted Nugent for example, dude is a raging conservative whack job, but I will always love Stranglehold that song is amazing.

I did the same last year. I remember feeling the the first two books were really flawed... Especially Chamber of Secrets. But starting with Prisoner of Azkaban, it definitely picks up in quality. Books 3,4, and 6 are the best I think. 5 and and 7 are a little too long imo but not bad.

https://youtu.be/-1iaJWSwUZs?si=sDSvOAUiYutLF6oM

pegusus123456 posted...

I think people need to reconcile the fact that a terrible person can create something wonderful or they end up with incredible black-and-white thinking.

I get/got a lot of shit on here about that way of thinking when it comes to The Cosby Show.

But I'm sorry, no matter what Bill Cosby did, it doesn't all of a sudden make that show not funny.

Same thing when all the allegations came around regarding Kevin Spacey. Whatever happened, and whether he is guilty or not, it's not going to all of a sudden NOT make Se7en one of my favorite movies.

Rereading 3 as an adult was an experience. As a kid I imagined myself in the student's shoes, and it was pretty thrilling to put myself in a cool magical castle slumber party that serial killer was trying to break into.

As an adult I can't help but put myself in the teacher's shoes and feel a bit stressed at the prospect of managing and watching over those students during that incident lol.

But taking off the nostalgia goggles, Book!Snape is not nearly as cool as Alan Rickman convinced me he was lol. Actually, there's a very small, subtle bit in Book 5 that stood out to me because it read like Rowling was specifically channeling Rickman's take on the character, because it otherwise clashed with his personality in pretty much every other part of the books. >_>

Kim_Seong-a posted...

But taking off the nostalgia goggles, Book!Snape is not nearly as cool as Alan Rickman convinced me he was lol. Actually, there's a very small, subtle bit in Book 5 that stood out to me because it read like Rowling was specifically channeling Rickman's take on the character, because it otherwise clashed with his personality in pretty much every other part of the books. >_>

As good as Rickman is, I think the movie version of Snape kind of misses the point of the character. Snape is a bad person who has fallen into doing good because his motives happen to align with the good guys. He is not a hero, he is a monster that happens to be against a bigger monster.

Kim_Seong-a posted...

Rereading 3 as an adult was an experience. As a kid I imagined myself in the student's shoes, and it was pretty thrilling to put myself in a cool magical castle slumber party that serial killer was trying to break into.

As an adult I can't help but put myself in the teacher's shoes and feel a bit stressed at the prospect of managing and watching over those students during that incident lol.

But taking off the nostalgia goggles, Book!Snape is not nearly as cool as Alan Rickman convinced me he was lol. Actually, there's a very small, subtle bit in Book 5 that stood out to me because it read like Rowling was specifically channeling Rickman's take on the character, because it otherwise clashed with his personality in pretty much every other part of the books. >_>

Yea, movie Snape comes off as way cooler than book Snape. :v Alan Rickman really made the character his own.

Kim_Seong-a posted...

Actually, there's a very small, subtle bit in Book 5 that stood out to me because it read like Rowling was specifically channeling Rickman's take on the character, because it otherwise clashed with his personality in pretty much every other part of the books. >_>

I'm actually on Book 5 right now, though I haven't gotten to the training he does with Harry yet. Mind elaborating what you're referring to?
Been telling a female friend of mine for years who adores movie Snape and hasn't read the books how much of a piece of shit he actually is and not the tragic hero she perceives him as due to that portrayal.

TheSavageDragon posted...

I'm actually on Book 5 right now, though I haven't gotten to the training he does with Harry yet. Mind elaborating what you're referring to?
Been telling a female friend of mine for years who adores movie Snape and hasn't read the books how much of a piece of shit he actually is and not the tragic hero she perceives him as due to that portrayal.

To me it was when he was called in to give the veriteserum to Umbridge. Just the poise he maintains when talks and exits with a little bow felt out of line with how bitchy he usually is in the books. >_>

Needed more swords n lasers n shit

Kim_Seong-a posted...

To me it was when he was called in to give the veriteserum to Umbridge. Just the poise he maintains when talks and exits with a little bow felt out of line with how bitchy he usually is in the books. >_>

Going to keep a lookout for that. And as someone with the books fresh in his mind, you're absolutely right. Pretty much every time Snape has been mentioned exiting a room so far, it has been with a swish of his robes when in a hurry or pissed off.

Snape was the incellest of incels lol. Don't get me wrong I love the books and his character but dude was a fucking dweeb

I enjoy the series, but yeah, Rowling is a trash person. So while I enjoy the books, I won't purchase anything new to support her. Kind of like Ender's Game. Author of that book is awful.

Book 5 is probably my least favorite. 4 and 6 would probably be my pick for two favorites.