Well, I like this article from the Onion:

Children, Creepy Middle-Aged Weirdos Swept Up In Harry Potter Craze
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28009

I love the series. Each book is so riveting that I can't put it down. I can't wait for the next book to come out!!!!

I teach day care, I gotta know all the stuff. Still working on figguring out the YuGiOh stuff several years later.

Its an interesting phenominon the people who are anti-Harry for religious reasons yet have no problem with the witches in Snow White, Little Mermaid and Sabrina the Teenaged Witch. What really is the difference?

i LOVE harry potter!!
i am so excited to see what is going to happen in book seven... wow!!! it will be hard to see it all end, though...

i was in a bit of a blue funk when the last star wars movie came out, too... it was great to see the movie, i loved it, but just knowing that there won't be another one to look forward to was just weird. i'm sure i'll feel the same way after harry potter 7

Enid Blyton was just as good...more prolific...and had many similar stories.

Loved her books as a child.

There's an interesting book out called "The Gospel according to Harry Potter" which takes this pop culture phenomenon and does theological reflection on it. Also encourages this of kids. It's neat. There are similar ones for The Simpsons and such.
Our church's family ministries person ran a family Bible-study using this material.

Oh ya - sorry - I forgot to add that I'm a huge fan - I've read ALL the books and I own the movies as well as go to the new ones on opening day with a whole mess of kids!

I too love the Harry Potter books. And isn't it wonderful that so many kids are so excited to read? If someone had predicted that there would be a book series so wonderful that kis would camp out in front of book stores to get the first copies, no one would have believed it.

I just hope J.K. Rowling doesn't kill off Harry in the last book.

i think that is what is going to happen, but that harry will sacrifice his life or something... you know, he'll die for the greater good or whatever.

my prediction is that harry will die, though. just based on how sure rowling is that there will be no more harry potter books after book seven is released.

if you really wanna get intricate, i think his death will be protecting someone he loves, so that they can go on to destroy the next incarnation of voldemort... kind of like how his mother died to save him.

whaddya think of that?!?!?

You do have something there sighsnootles. I'll also go on a limb and say it may be either Ginny or Neville who do the killing. Ginny because she has had quite the run with Voldemort. Neville because he was the one who could have been the one.

Oh just thinking about Neville going to visit his parents at the hospital is just so sad!

it is. but the humour of making that 'clip clop' horse sound to the 5th incarnation of the 'defence against the dark arts' teacher who is also in the hospital and watching her reaction does temper that a bit, dont you think???

If she kills of Harry, no matter how nobly he dies, I don't think I'll recover!!

*****SPOILER ALERT*********

What do you all think about Snape? Did he really murder Dumbledore because of the unbreakable vow, or did he preparrange it with Dumbledore as part of a greater plan?

Personally, I'm shooting for the latter......I want Snape to redeem himself in Harry's eyes - after all, he was a victim of Harry's dad's bullying!

oh, i'm totally in the 'this was a premeditated action' camp. just the way that dumbledore looks at snape before snape does the avada kedavra curse tells me that this was the way that snape was supposed to get in tight with voldemorts camp before the final battle.

i'm TOTALLY sure that snape is a good guy, and just happened to be the PERFECT person to play this part in dumbledores plan because of his past with voldemort.

i have talked to some who are equally convinced that snape is a traitor, but none of their reasoning has changed my opinion.

I love the series. I'm actually currently in the process of re-reading them from the beginning since it has been several years since I first read the first few. I'm finding them interesting on second read too (which not all books are) and discovering how good a writer JK Rowling is to have woven her plot lines together so thoroughly.

I think it is marvellous that these books are introducing children to a love of reading!

I also think it's great that they encourage imagination. I think it is foolish to worry that kids won't know the difference between imagination and reality.

I think the only kinds of books we should keep kids from reading are those that are exceedingly negative about humanity and its possibilities. These books certainly don't fit into that category. If kids empathize with Harry or Ron or Hermoine or Ginny or Neville or even Fred and George, they will still find themselves encouraged to develop their gifts and use them for good. How can that be a bad thing? I love that there are so many interesting characters with different personality strengths and flaws to identify with in the books.

I do think that Snape killing Dumbledore was prearranged. Snape is totally a good guy. (plus how wonderful is Alan Rickman? *sigh*)

It is wonderful that it gets kids reading. One of the real life people I can have an intellegent Harry Potter world conversation with is 7 years old! Hes seen all the movies and his parents have read all the books with him and he knows his Harry Potter.

man, i love alan rickman!! casting him as snape is the best casting job EVAR. the first time i ever saw him was as the sheriff of nottingham in 'robin hood: prince of theives', and he was just brilliant. he was also good in 'galaxy quest' as dr. lazarus. man, i laughed myself sick at that one!!!

but yeah, harry potter... has rowling revealed the title of book seven yet???

Harry Potter is great.

Not only does he teach friendship, loyalty, bravery, teenage-boy-reactions-to-running-into-a-hot-girl, he's also very, very dissable.

Harry Pothead for example...

my sister is Harry Potter obsessed, so it has minimally rubbed off on me.

so, i really hope they dont kill off Harry, i swear, i will seek out Jk Rowling and slap her in the face (sorry) i just get way to connected with characters in books, i cired myself to sleep when (dont read this if you havent read book 6) snape killed dumbledore.

if you need good Harry Potter theories and thoughts go to mugglenet.com, its good!

I've been reading Harry Potter for years now and I love it. The books are kind of childish and some parts really suck but I get past it. For example in the sixth book, the first chapter is about the prime minister of England and how he met the minister of magic. It was so stupid. After chapter three though the book picked up and it ended perfectly! I can't wait for number seven!
About the anti-Harryness, it's just a book!!!! There are worse books out there.There are more important things to be worried about than childrens literature anyways. There's nothing anyone can to about the books anyways. WB has movie deals with J.K. Rowling and they won't let anything happen to their biggest series ever.

Just couldn't resist an opinion.
I love all things scifi/fantasy, have for years now.
I do not think that Dumbledor's death was planned. I do think that when Dumbledor looks at Snape and says please, he is begging Snape, on their friendship, to be the one to kill him. There are two reasons for this. First, Dumbledor cannot be taken prisoner but most important to Dumbledor is that Malfoy not be turned into a teenage killer. What is most important is the salvation of Malfoy. Interestingly enough, Snape agrees with this as it matches his promise to Malfoy's mother - that he would do whatever it was that Voldemort had demanded of Malfoy if that would protect Malfoy. So here's the kicker. What do you see of Malfoy's salvation? Can he be saved from travelling the dark path of his father?

Ooooh - good point! I never thought about Draco's redemption.

Personally, I'd like to see everybody redeemed...I like happy endings.

Rowling has said that someone is going to die in the last book. I suspect it's going to be Ginny; I think Harry started his journey alone, and is going to have to end it alone.

Did the Alan Rickman fans on this site see him in Truly, Madly, Deeply - that was an awesome performance, too!

I also think Maggie Smith is perfectly cast, as is Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane....BUT, I sure miss the original Dumbledore. Does anyone besides me think this new Dumbledore in the movies just doesn't seem to quite fit the character? I miss the kindly twinkle in the eye that Richard Harris had.

i'm with you on that one. the new dumbledore isn't as close to the one i imagined when i read the book as the first one was. he is almost a little frightening, i think, whereas you always felt more fatherly towards the origional.

Love the books and movies.. There is so much real scary in this wieirdo world children and teens and yes even adults sometimes need a safety valve to deal with these things..

dont fear them,, Namaste GG

I too prefered the old Dumbledore. His measured cadence of speech did drive me a little bit but he had an air of unflappability that is necessary for the character. In fairness to the new guy, the later books do call for a stronger display of emotion and power than the first. But yes, he needs to work on the balance.

And don't forget, Dumbledore is only mostly gone. His protection of Harry ends, as does his ability to duel with Voldemort's peopole but I'm sure there is a portrait in the HeadMasters Office that will play a role in the coming book!

that picture in the headmasters office totally made me cry... i was so shocked when i read the murder, and i almost expected it to be a ploy or something, but then the picture of dumbledore in the office made it so real. its embarrasing, but i cried.

Any thoughts on who is going to be the new headmaster? Did they mention that after Dumbledore died?

I'm not sure it matters since Harry and Ron and Hermoine will not be at school next year. Remember at the end of hte last book they all agreed that after the wedding they would go looking for voldemort directly.
the school will play some part, if only to keep Ginny and Neville in the plot. As to headmaster, it will be interesting to see if they go with one of the staff (McConagal (sp?) is the official vice-headmistriss)or if there is an attempt by the Ministry of Magic &/or Malfoy Sr. to bring in someone of dubious loyalties just to create a little tension - good guy or bad?

I can't quite imagine a Harry Potter book without the seasons of the school year. And I'm sure that who ever survives the confrontation with voldemort will be granted their Wisarding Levels and go on to grown up lives. I mean, if the hero drops out of school, they have to at least get their GED or what kind of example will they be setting for the young fans??!!?

I do very much love the Harry Potter series and I also await the release of the 7th book despite the fact that I know it will be the last and that will make me teary eyed for awhile.

Killing Harry? I don't know really. It would make sense, this was J.K. Rowling would protect her main character from potential spin-offs that coudl be written by others but I don't think I could cope with the death of Harry Potter.

Malfoy's redemption, an interesting point I can admit that I never really considered that side of it. I was rather wrapped up in the fact that Dumbeldore had been killed at that point. I think I need to read book 6 again, it has certainly been awhile and I think before I make a good comment on my opinions I shall need to become re-informed.

Although another interesting subject from the 6th book. What does everyone think of Horocruxes and who wrote the message in the fake locket (it was a locket right?) Personally I am stumped!

Sorry to double post, I know how annoying that is but I just read the article that was linked from above. And I have to say that I find some of those older people just a little creepy. I of course am cool with any age enjoying the Harry Potter series but that obession seems a little unreal...then again...I think I am a Sith Lord (Darth Jaina Solo on my Star Wars RPG) so maybe I shouldn't be talking...

Colleen,
A friend of mine suggested it might have been Sirius' brother who destroyed the locket Horcrux. We know he was a Voldemort follower who switched allegiances and was killed shortly therafter.

That is an interesting idea..and better then my...uuuhhh hmmm no idea theory lol

I think some of Harry, Ron and Hermione are goign to have to go back to Hogwarts if only for access to the library in their search for the other Horcruxes. It also would not surprise me if one of the Horcruxes is hid at Hogwarts.

Love it, love it, love it, love it, love it.
oh and did I tell you I LOVE IT.

When Harry #5 comes out in theaters my kids will be at camp. Too bad for them; I'll go alone on opening night. And when #7 comes out a few weeks later, I might not go to bed until I finish it like I did with #6.

Sighsnootles, the name of the last Harry Potter book is "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows". I had my name on the list with Chapters Indigo since they received notice of the publication date. I've already paid for 2 books, one for me and one for my second oldest niece. The delivery date is July 21/07. We're excited!
I don't want to know who dies or even speculate on the outcome of this final book. I want it to be a surprise. I know I'll have a box of kleenex right beside me.....I'll need it!
I, too, have not been able to accept Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. He just doesn't have that feeling inside that brings the character to life the way that Richard Harris did. RH was Dumbledore. It's the same with the other characters. Each actor seems to fit perfectly with his/her character. Could any other actor play Snape with such zeal? Probably, but Alan Rickman becomes Snape in spirit for the movie.
As of this posting, it's 85 days to the last Harry Potter. (Chapters Indigo has a countdown onsite in days, hours, minutes, seconds!)

I love the series and have re-read all the books. Rowling has some problems, some things that I don't much like, but I do like the over-all series.

I'm not much on "Order of the Phoenix" it's too dark, too brooding. I don't much like the direction she's gone with Ron Weasley, he's too much of a jerk to fit with the rest of the clan, (Percy is only the reverse of the family and so fits).

I'm not much sure what direction Rowling will go in the last book, although I do think that Snape is not what he appears to be.

I hope Harry lives and gets together permanently with Ginny. I like happy endings.

As for who dies? I really have no idea, but hope that Rowling continues her theme of taking away from Harry's childhood to create the adult: This leaves Hagrid and McGonnigal as the only candidates for death, besides Voldemort, that is.

I would just like to point out, that I cried for most of the second half of the third movie, and there was some little boy sitting infront of me, and he turned around and gave me the weirdest look. It took all my energy to not yell out **spoiler?** "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! DON'T EVER READ ANY FURTHER, OR SEE ANY OF THE OTHER MOVIES, IT'S STILL HAPPY HERE!"

I also cried in the fourth movie, when Harry comes back with Cedric, that scene is brutal, it's still painful for me to watch.

In general cried through the last quarter of the fifth book (Not to mention when you thought Weasley died, that was a couple chapters of tears).

The sixth book was just... I don't remember if I cried, I think I was in shock, Dumbledore was such a figure head, you didn't know all that much about his life, I loved him dearly, but I didn't have the emotional tie ins I had with Sirius, and it wasn't so much of a wasted life as it was with Cedric. It was like someone yanked the safety blanket out of my hands, I wanted to cry, and scream, and fight, but I was just at such a loss, I couldn't comprehend what had happened.

That being said, I don't think Snape is evil. I think it was a really hard thing for him to do, but that Snape/Dumbledore had discussed what should happen if that situation ever arose.

And as a little bit of a happy note for those who just had to read my depressing post. check this guy out http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=613405 He's a wizard rock musician, some of his songs are funny, some are sad, they are all pretty good though.

I was a little shocked when J.K.Rowling announced that Dumbledore is gay! Do you think this is going to make an impact on certain groups either anti or pro Harry Potter?

oh, of course it will, but really, it will just sell a few more books, and get people to read it again.

I liked her description of his experience - it made sense, and I remembered the character fondly.

I think that some of the folks who would have problems with the character's sexual orientation are the same folks who avoided Harry because of the Wizardary. Fundies are afraid of everything, whether is a fictional gay Wizard Head Master or a boy wizard...

wow...

dumbledore is gay.... i didn't believe it until i read the newsweek article there.

i gotta hand it to her... she has really written a series that is relevant in our society today.

At dinner last night my friends and I had a hilarious hour-long discussion on the "homosexual subtext" in the Harry Potter series. We concluded that we have to read the entire series over again and find all the hidden homosexual messages in the text.

What I think is sad about this (and something with sarcastically joked about) is that there are going to be a ton of "no wonder Dumbledore was so interested in Harry" jokes, reinforcing the stigma that gays are pedophiles.

HollyJ - you wrote that you were "shocked" - why shocked?

Yes SG, as creepy as it sounds ,your parents had sex. But dont' worry, only the number of times for each of your siblings. siblings. I think that was a rule.

I think the other rule was too that they had to keep all their pyjamas on ,so it's not quite as bad as it sounds

what i find odd about it is that the book is about the children growing up and the adults are not sexual characters. I dont' see any of them as sexual so why single this one.

My daughter, who is 16, loves the books, has many gay friends doesn't get it. Dumbledore is not sexual, he is a mentor. He is not sexual he is wise leader.

Kids don't think of adults as sexual, didn't you think your parents had sex just to have you?

My parents had SEX??????????????????????

I am fully aware that my parents have sex.

I wish the walls in my house weren't so thin.

Thanks for mentioning the parental sex thing.

(Meredith gets some bleach to rub in her eyeballs)

AOTN,

I think your point about the jokes at dinner are good ones. However, I think that Rowling has done something good to move the discussion forward. For too many years people would automatically jump to idea that your friends joked about. Because of this I think that we just quit talking about it and gay men simply had to be become asexual if they were to work in that area.

Art represents what is going on in society, and it usually pushes our envelopes and moves us along. I think that Rowling may be contributing in a small way to moving that discussion along. So we can conclude that yes a gay man can be the headmaster of a school, be very dedicated to his students, mentor a young wizard like Harry, as a teacher and mentor, without having to be an asexual saint in the rest of his life.

I hope that I'm making sense. Really what I'm trying to say is that the fear of being labeled is as stifling for the people and for the discourse as the sneering and narrow minded comments are. This sort of discussion needs to happen out in the light of day, because if it gets pushed back into the closet and gay men who work with children pretend to be asexual saints in the rest of their lives then prejudice has won and I would suggest that perhaps some really good people have steered clear of professions where they would have made a great difference.

Holden

Lastpointe,

You have made a good point, our initial reaction is likely to be, why bother even bringing it up it is a book for kids, who cares who the headmaster was in love with.

Let's de-construct that argument however and look for the problems in it.

The argument is premised I believe on the idea that the adults in the lives of children, whether real ones or in art and literature do not present with a sexuality. This is where the argument goes off the rails however. Every student who has seen a family picture on the desk of their teacher, with the mom and dad and happy children, has received the message, "my teacher is heterosexual". Everytime a teacher tells a funny story about how his kids flushed the keys down the toilet the night before, or brings in muffins that his wife (or husband) baked, it sends a message to the students that teacher is heterosexual.

We only notice when the person is the "other". The problem is that our discourses don't consider the other. We assume that we interact with students or children in a completely neutral way but every interaction is full of meaning and tells a story about the person.

All that Rowling is doing, in a very small way is introducing the voice of "the other". Once more people do this and we see it more and more in art and literature and most importantly in life, "the other" becomes familiar and we barely even notice.

I hope I have made some sense

Holden