H.P. And The Philosopher's Stone

[poliphilo]

It turns out to be rather well-constructed too. Up until about 7/8ths of the way through you think you're just getting a series of episodes, but then everything you've learned about people, places and things is pulled together in a thrilling denouement that works a lot better on the page than it does in the film. 

In the film Voldemort seems sort of tacked on. You''ve got this metaphysical terror lurking at the edges of what is basically a spiffing school adventure. In the book he's more integral. I think it's got something to do with pacing and the way- in CGI movies- story gets bowed down under the weight of the special effects. 

So I'm going to carry right on with The Chamber of Secrets. I'm warned I may start to feel Potter-fatigue in the course of this one, but that I need to keep going and the heaviness will lift.

Comments

[methodius.livejournal.com]

Well, now you know why Rowling is so popular, and how she has managed to get a whole generation of kids to discover reading.

For about a decade before Rowling, the only kids books I could find in bookshops were ones by R.L. Stine. I read one, and wasn't tempted again. It was deadly dull, banal and boring. Rowling arrived at just the right moment with stories that were readable, when nothing else was available.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

When I was last buying children's books on a regular basis the top of the range model was Roald Dahl.

I'm impressed by Rowling. More so than I thought I would be.