Harry Potter
The postman just rang the bell today and dropped off an Amazon package for a neighbour. So I ask him where those people live, he says…
postman: “3rd or maybe 4th floor in the first building? No idea, but that’s the new ‘Harry Potter’ there.”
till: “Harry Potter?”
postman: “Yeah!”
till: “Hmm, really?”
postman: “Oh how much I hate this book. We have to deliver all those Harry Potters by today. Otherwise I would be home by now.”
I have to admit, I am probably the last guy on the planet who has not read the books yet. I admit (in shame) to seeing one of the movies. But hey, I just did it for the girl I went with. But all in all, why do people care so much about this little fucker?
Go get a grip and read a real book, people.
Tags: berlin, postman, harry potter
no need to be rude. granted, the hype is despicable. but the books are well-written and entertaining.
No need to get all vulgar, it’s nice to see folks excited about a book as opposed to a sports star, sex scandal, movie or other utterly mindless pablum.
What would you have them read instead?
I am so OK with kids getting all excited about a book. For a chance, it’s not just about Paris or the iPhone!
I am just very fond of adults talking about Harry Potter like there is nothing else to do.
Here is a list of my last books:
* 1984 (reread that again)
* Hungry Spirit
* House on the Borderland
* Getting things done
* Peopleware
That’s all I remember just now. I read a couple other books in 2006 which I don’t remember right now, but they are more classical German literature along the lines of Thomas Mann and Franz Kafka.
Of course not all of those books qualify for fiction (in terms of Harry Potter). But that’s what I read. Of course I skipped a couple titles which are way too related to my profession.
Uhm… wait.
You didn’t read it but you think it’s not a “real book”? Please define “real book” for me. Or at least name examples.
I know mainstream is shit most of the time. But you shouldn’t be so blind. Some stuff really rocks. Like HP, the iPod shuffle, the movie “match point”….
I haven’t read them either… but I am one up on you… haven’t even seen a HP movie!
@Katja: :D
@Lenart: Good you didn’t read my comment. ;)
Till, I’ve spent time doing both academic and interest reading this past year, covering multiple categories of books that are both non-fiction and fun, and fiction and not-fun and combinations of those four categories, and frankly, one does not need to read “great works of literature” all the time. In fact, reading only those books that are considered masterworks seems to me like only listening to Beethoven and Mozart instead of also working in some punk, pop and rock bands.
I’ve read Stevenson’s Baroque Cycle, Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden novels, as well as Steven Levy’s Hackers, Howard Rheingold’s works on sociology and connectivity, so there’s no saying I don’t have diverse tastes. Rowling’s a decent writer, and remember: it’s a kids book, so it’s not going to be Tolstoy.
Hell, I don’t even LIKE Tolstoy.
@Tom: It’s a kids book, but so many adults go crazy about it? ;-) Just for example, my neighbours have no kids.
till, i agree completely. maybe universal literacy isn’t such a good idea after all…