It’s pretty bad. Remember how abolishing slavery is literally a running gag? Or his there’s one character of every non-white ethnicity? Or the prose kinda sucked? Or how dumb the magic sport is? Or…
Edit: if you want someone from the same place writing genuinely whimsical important meaningful bullshit wizard stories, try Pratchett’s ‘discworld’ novels. They’re far from perfect, but the author died of old while never being outed as a raging piece of shit, so I think you’re safe. There’s also one where all but one of the main characters turns out to be trans or in drag.
It’s pretty bad. Remember how abolishing slavery is literally a running gag?
It’s not just a running gag, but the one character who takes an issue with it is ridiculed for it.
Honestly, it makes no sense that Harry is so relaxed about the slavery thing, he’s also from a “muggle” background, and should be affected just as much as Hermione. Then again, he’s a pretty insensitive prick, and shows very little care for the people around him.
Then again, he is a trust-fund baby that grew up to be a cop. So… Guess all that is par for the course.
They’re far from perfect
I don’t believe in perfection, but Terry Pratchett’s books are terrific.
For an interesting and fairly recent magical school story, I’d recommend the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik, also known for His Majesty’s Dragon, a historic fantasy series.
Caroline Easom did two videos on the women in the books, and makes a really good argument that Rowling doesn’t really seem to like anyone but like, white men. She hates women, particularly women of colour.
For example, you have Parwati and Padma Patel, who are basically the same character, filling the same role; being backup ladies that Harry and Ron to settle with bringing to the ball. The difference between them? One wears their hair a braid! Ooo.
Hell, even Hermione who is ostensibly a main character is treated really poorly in the books.
I second this, but I found even his Tiffany Aching novels tougher to read than HP 1-2 for a youngster.
Chris Ridell has written amazing books for the younger audience. The Ottoline serie (youngest public) were the only books I enjoyed reading to kids for the Nth time and you find a similar humour in Lily Goth and such.
It’s pretty bad. Remember how abolishing slavery is literally a running gag? Or his there’s one character of every non-white ethnicity? Or the prose kinda sucked? Or how dumb the magic sport is? Or…
Edit: if you want someone from the same place writing genuinely whimsical important meaningful bullshit wizard stories, try Pratchett’s ‘discworld’ novels. They’re far from perfect, but the author died of old while never being outed as a raging piece of shit, so I think you’re safe. There’s also one where all but one of the main characters turns out to be trans or in drag.
It’s not just a running gag, but the one character who takes an issue with it is ridiculed for it.
Honestly, it makes no sense that Harry is so relaxed about the slavery thing, he’s also from a “muggle” background, and should be affected just as much as Hermione. Then again, he’s a pretty insensitive prick, and shows very little care for the people around him.
Then again, he is a trust-fund baby that grew up to be a cop. So… Guess all that is par for the course.
I don’t believe in perfection, but Terry Pratchett’s books are terrific.
For an interesting and fairly recent magical school story, I’d recommend the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik, also known for His Majesty’s Dragon, a historic fantasy series.
Don’t forget the names of the non-white characters are racist caricatures at best.
Caroline Easom did two videos on the women in the books, and makes a really good argument that Rowling doesn’t really seem to like anyone but like, white men. She hates women, particularly women of colour.
For example, you have Parwati and Padma Patel, who are basically the same character, filling the same role; being backup ladies that Harry and Ron to settle with bringing to the ball. The difference between them? One wears their hair a braid! Ooo.
Hell, even Hermione who is ostensibly a main character is treated really poorly in the books.
I don’t think there’s anything about those books that I want to remember.
I take issue with “they’re far from perfect”
Even the ones where you can see his early-onset Alzheimer’s developing are excellent
GNU Terry Pratchett
The first two aren’t spectacular. They’re better than harry Potter, but they don’t really pop.
I’ll give you that. But … Night Watch, Small Gods, Carpe Juggulum, The Amazing Maurice, Thud!
I second this, but I found even his Tiffany Aching novels tougher to read than HP 1-2 for a youngster.
Chris Ridell has written amazing books for the younger audience. The Ottoline serie (youngest public) were the only books I enjoyed reading to kids for the Nth time and you find a similar humour in Lily Goth and such.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoline_and_the_Yellow_Cat