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Shame...
Of course there is, but the authors of said books wrote them with very different purposes in mind. I read Jean-Paul Sartre, T. S. Eliot, Michel Foucault, Jean Baudrillard, Wallace Stevens, Lucille Clifton, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Gertrude Stein when I want to expand my consciousness. I read J. K. Rowling when I want to sit down and relax to a good yarn. Philosophy and poetry, while highly interesting to me, are things to which I must devote an enormous amount of attention, thought, and energy as I'm reading (never mind that I subscribe to the notion of poetry "liv[ing] on the breath", and thus read all poetry aloud). There are times when I just want mildly intellectually engaging fluff to help me unwind. I'm not upset that The Waste Land isn't topping the scales of popularity (even though I do think that every high school student in the Anglosphere should be required to study said poem) as I realize that it's a very dense poem which is of particular interest only to a very limited number of people. I'm not equivocating Harry Potter with thought-provoking literature by any means (unless, of course, you're twelve years old), but again: What's popular only very rarely directly correlates with what's of a much deeper quality. If it were any other way, the movie, music, and fashion industries wouldn't be able to turn a profit.
Rowan Fortune Wood about 1 year ago
I was very disappointed when I got around to reading the 7th Harry Potter book, don't get me wrong I really enjoyed it, but it sort of felt like J.K. Rowling was trying to fit in as many past characters as she could into the novel, I was also disappointed in the fact that the plot wasn't as well developed as it could have been, and the epiloge, Albus Severus Potter, that was kind of corny.
Florence about 1 year agoI'm 35 and have read it 3 times and don't feel the least bit of shame! Have you read any of the Harry Potter series? They're actually very entertaining and isn't that it's purpose?
Facebook User about 1 year agoThere's no reason for anyone to ever feel shame in anything they read. Even if it's on a topic that's incredibly controversial. The point of having books it to get people reading - reading can educate or help people destress by "escaping" the real world for a while. Who cares if people choose to read Harry Potter? So what if it's about a world that really would probably never exist, but I've read all of the Harry Potter books and own all the movies - no shame in it. I even show the movies to my students! Quit harping on whether it should be a shame or not if someone reads a particular book. At least we can read and have more than enough books at our disposal ... several people around the world can't read and/or don't have access to books!!
Facebook User about 1 year agoI'm a teacher and, personally, I have absolutely no problem with anything that gets people into reading.
Belinda about 1 year agoThat applies to children as well as adults.
In the cases of the adults that I've seen start reading again, a lot of them haven't stopped since the Harry Potter series has stopped, they've found other books and kept going.
I can't see that as a shame at all.
It might not be a classic of literature, but I don't think that's what's really important in the end...
B"H
I didn't read EVERY posting in this discussion, so I hope no one has yet covered this point. First off, I feel no shame in Harry Potter being the most read book. I've read all 7 (as has my mother) and I find their stories to be very engaging. I'm disappointed that there will be no more. I'm not much of a fiction reader (my favorite subject for light reading is nutrition), so for me to be engaged so by what is supposedly a children's book is notable, if not surprising.
For me, the story itself is only part of what I find appealing about Harry Potter. As someone who went through school with undiagnosed ADHD, I can identify with Harry -- I'm also someone who felt I didn't quite fit in with the "regular" world (it's amazing how differently I feel around other ADDers). But the main thing for me is that Harry Potter and the series represent so well and so vividly the eternal battle of "Good vs. Evil". I even wrote two "pieces" about this very subject, one on squidoo (called "Witches and Morality") and one on my blog (called "Which Witch is Which?") -- granted, they are both from a Jewish perspective, but, hey, I'm Jewish, it's the only perspective I can write from ;-)
Debbie
Debbie about 1 year agoI am one of those people that has Harry Potter 7 on their book shelf... and no I am not ashamed. Some people have a problem with there being witch craft and what ever else is said, but I read it because it carries a good message and it is a masterpiece of our times You may feel indifferent, but it is nothing for anyone else to be ashamed of.
Ashlyn about 1 year agoWhat the heck is that all about? Foreign lit. is a way to show Americans that we need to be more cultured and less celebrity-obsessed? Yes, I am not too fond of American-made music/films/TV either; I just don't watch/listen to much of it. But there are plenty of educated and cultured Americans out there. Plus, you really think there isn't crap put out by other countries?
Lara about 1 year agoOf coarse not! The whole series of Hary Potter has a beautiful theme of life, death, and power that I think is very important to be told. Just because it is so popular, does not make it any less of a beautiful piece of art. It may not be on the level of depth as Scarlet Letter or Dostoyevski, but in truth it has deep meaning that personaly touched my own life as well as inspired me as a writer. I would say it is anything but mindless. And if this is considered pop fantasy, then I believe that popular culture has finally taken a step in the right direction. Even if this is the only book some people read in their whole lives, I think it is a great read for them to experience. It is no shame that it is so well read, it is just how it is. If anything, to me, I think it deserves the popularity.
Aaron about 1 year agoPersonally I am a huge fan of the series and I feel as though you could easily go wrong with a 7 book series, but JK Rowling managed to keep the plot fairly intricate and captivating up until some shaky bits in the last novel.
Ksera Dyette about 1 year agoEither way at least people are reading. I mean I feel like no one really reads anymore and a lot of people have wrote on forums and called into radio stations saying things like Harry Potter is the first book they really picked up since college or whatever else. Despite some people's opinions on this piece of childrens literature I thought that it was meant to be enjoyable not contemplative...and obviously as the numbers show, people ENJOYED it!
you could quit bitching about Harry Potter and instead be glad it's the last one
Facebook User about 1 year agoI don't really understand why a few of you are saying we should be ashamed that this is the most popular book on Visual Bookshelf. While there may be better written or deeper novels out there this is my favorite series by far. I've been reading this series since the first book came out and have enjoyed every book. It just shows that this is a book that many people can enjoy, my mother teaches English at University of Louisville and she and all her friends love this book.
Anonymous User about 1 year agoMaybe it hasn't shaped the course of human history yet, but who can tell? It's gotten a generation of young people reading something more complicated than a comic book. Perhaps the change won't be direct, but maybe someone will end up writing earth-changing works because they started reading Harry Potter!
Marc about 1 year agoim ashamed your ashamed. The Harry Potter series has started out so many kids to a path of reading, and i know a few adults who had problems reading, who absolutely loved these books. Kids from 6 on up can enjoy these books, so why wouldn't it be the most read? its audience is huge, and thats impressive. its also a recent book. im sure in 30 years there will be a new number one, but i dont think the potter series will go too far down. i hope my kids really enjoy to read the potter books, as well as some of the classics.
Samantha Smith about 1 year agoIt's been said, but I have no problem saying it again:
In a culture that's noted for its TV viewing and not its literary comprehension, I'm glad that Harry Potter drummed up so much interest. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people answer "Heh... I don't read" when professors have used "What's your favorite book?" as a 'Getting to Know You' question in class. In a society that encourages people to believe that only geeks read, those people obsessed with being cool won't do anything the media doesn't explicitly tell them is popular. If you want to complain about Harry Potter, you should take a look at Oprah's book list. There are some real duds that have made it because she's recommended them.
When you have kids, teens, and adults all reading, I think that's akin to a minor miracle. It may not be the best piece of literature, but at least it's prying them away from the TV.
Kat about 1 year agoJ.K is a brilliant writer. The way she has written these books is what should be looked at, not the fact that its fantasy. Her vivid imagery and flowing transitions are what should be awarded. Its the most read book because people can read it, not because its fantasy and thats what people enjoy. Not only is it appealing to such a wide audience, but its also rare that that wide audience can read these books. 10 years ago could you really find a 10 year old who could read a 700 page book. Her writing technique is beyond brilliant. Not to mention I think our lives are much too realistic and tragic. When we read these books we get lost in the fantasy and in my opinion there's nothing wrong with that, especially if your going through a hard time and coping with some big issues, if literature can help you through that, than there is nothing to be ashamed about. We should praise such a writer for her talents, not tear her down and say 'what is this world coming to when harry potter, a fantasy book, is the most popular piece of literature.'
Daniel about 1 year agoI am aware I'm just adding another voice that is saying the same thing, but I think that this is complete and utter balls. I have read Dickens, Nabokov, Faulkner, Satre, Tolstoy etc, I'm trying to work my way through as many of the classics as possible, but Harry Potter is most definitely on my bookshelf. For those who think that it doesn't provide philosophical discussion, you can read it on a morally relativistic viewpoint: at one point Dumbledore tells Harry that he is neither good or bad, but his choices make him who he is - reminiscent of Shakespeare's 'nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so". I think it questions determinism and obligation. Really, it is what you make of it.
Facebook User about 1 year agoAlso, those who were attacking it for not having originality, I read once that there were only 7 original story lines in the world, and it is only the treatment of them that colours them differently.
Mindlessly de-stress? I don't know about you but an epic with strong allusions to Nuremberg and Nazi Germany and themes such as ethnic cleansing, domestic spying, use of torture on civilians, indoctrination of the youth, and other real world issues is more than mindless de-stressing to me. Those books delve into more serious issues than most "real literature." And, like all hero stories or stories that in any way follow the heroic quest formula, it is a tale of coming of age and finding one's place and purpose in the world. You don't have to like or appreciate Harry Potter but don't condescend to those who do just because you don't see their value.
Shannon about 1 year agoP.S. I wrote a research paper on issues of politics, religion, and censorship surrounding Harry Potter and mentioned the series in my senior paper on the misrepresentation and under-representation of females in children's media.
Shannon about 1 year agoIt's a book that engages populations of all ages. In a culture that almost embraces apparent (not actual) illiteracy, I think it's a great thing. So what if it's not full of deep philosophical commentary? It gets America reading, and that can only be good.
Now if only people would read newspapers.
Kevin about 1 year ago