Weird

I read them as they came out. My grandmother got me the first one, because she always looks out for stuff for me in the papers, and when that was recommended one week she got it me. I loved it, loved the second, third, fourth, liked the fifth, was ambivalent on the sixth, and never read the seventh. they just didn't keep up with me as I grew up, but I understand why people love them. My mum likes them a lot, because she says it reminds her of reading the Chronicles of Narnia when she was younger, so I find the idea that there is a specific generation divide interesting, because I've always seen it as one of the big, cross-generation things that people of all ages love - those who joined in via the films, and those who bought the 'Serious adult on the Tube to Work' covers that they started printing at around Book 3.

Tempy wrote:

I read them as they came out. My grandmother got me the first one, because she always looks out for stuff for me in the papers, and when that was recommended one week she got it me. I loved it, loved the second, third, fourth, liked the fifth, was ambivalent on the sixth, and never read the seventh. they just didn't keep up with me as I grew up, but I understand why people love them. My mum likes them a lot, because she says it reminds her of reading the Chronicles of Narnia when she was younger, so I find the idea that there is a specific generation divide interesting, because I've always seen it as one of the big, cross-generation things that people of all ages love - those who joined in via the films, and those who bought the 'Serious adult on the Tube to Work' covers that they started printing at around Book 3.

There are a few of those types of people, but I'm not sure that there's a huge number. If at least the first book didn't come out before you hit your late teens, I'd say that the chances are you haven't read them. If they were available when you were a child, then the overwhelming likelihood is that you have.

Yossarian wrote:

Tempy wrote:

I read them as they came out. My grandmother got me the first one, because she always looks out for stuff for me in the papers, and when that was recommended one week she got it me. I loved it, loved the second, third, fourth, liked the fifth, was ambivalent on the sixth, and never read the seventh. they just didn't keep up with me as I grew up, but I understand why people love them. My mum likes them a lot, because she says it reminds her of reading the Chronicles of Narnia when she was younger, so I find the idea that there is a specific generation divide interesting, because I've always seen it as one of the big, cross-generation things that people of all ages love - those who joined in via the films, and those who bought the 'Serious adult on the Tube to Work' covers that they started printing at around Book 3.

There are a few of those types of people, but I'm not sure that there's a huge number. If at least the first book didn't come out before you hit your late teens, I'd say that the chances are you haven't read them. If they were available when you were a child, then the overwhelming likelihood is that you have.

At this point it's just your anecdote against mine, but they were popular enough with adults that Bloomsbury decided to launch the whole series with a cover that appealed more to adults so that probably says something.

You can label that criticism at pretty much any franchise with a title character though. See Marvel etc

Tempy wrote:

Yossarian wrote:

Tempy wrote:

I read them as they came out. My grandmother got me the first one, because she always looks out for stuff for me in the papers, and when that was recommended one week she got it me. I loved it, loved the second, third, fourth, liked the fifth, was ambivalent on the sixth, and never read the seventh. they just didn't keep up with me as I grew up, but I understand why people love them. My mum likes them a lot, because she says it reminds her of reading the Chronicles of Narnia when she was younger, so I find the idea that there is a specific generation divide interesting, because I've always seen it as one of the big, cross-generation things that people of all ages love - those who joined in via the films, and those who bought the 'Serious adult on the Tube to Work' covers that they started printing at around Book 3.

There are a few of those types of people, but I'm not sure that there's a huge number. If at least the first book didn't come out before you hit your late teens, I'd say that the chances are you haven't read them. If they were available when you were a child, then the overwhelming likelihood is that you have.

At this point it's just your anecdote against mine, but they were popular enough with adults that Bloomsbury decided to launch the whole series with a cover that appealed more to adults so that probably says something.

I know, my ex read them. I know very few other people my age who did, but as I say, not zero.

It is to me Tempy, it ruined Christmas day.

I had to pack up my proper goodwill family and put them back in the loft.

I have stats:

http://www.jamesgirone.com/npd/npd10.htm

I grew up with the books. I devoured most of them (well, 3-5) on release. The final two didn't appeal so much, though I still enjoyed them all the same. My mum picked up the first one for me when it first came out. Always had an eye for a book, Mama Tiger. The films are fine. Nothing more

AJ wrote:

I've watched the first two or three films and heard a chunk of the first book read by Stephen Fry. Didn't like any of it. The book was particularly bad and I thought I could like anything in Fry's voice.

I imagine it would be the same for most adults with most children's books. I pick up children's books as a professional thing-to-do and I find most hard to finish. Wolf Wilder was great. Gaiman's kids stuff isn't bad (Coraline is brilliant. I'd use that as a text if I taught KS2). Prose is often better than Rowling's but rarely is the world building as interesting. Harry Potter, despite whatever, is magical. Ahahem.

Potter should probably be taught because, if nothing else, it's a gateway into lots more folk tales and myths thanks to her utterly shameless cribbing. Would put lit readers in good stead to be able to learn how allusions to old myths in texts can foreshadow and signify things.

YA is vast, eh. Full of quality. Railsea by Mieville is a cracker (didn't like the end, but it's often the same with him). Abercrombie's Half series is YA too and that is pretty heavy with good stuff. I fucking adore Thorn. Brilliantly written character.

The Wolf Wilder petered out a bit at times but has some of the most brilliantly lyrical writing and imagery I've seen in a young 'uns book at times. Rundell has something. Fucking polymaths.

Bollockoff wrote:

Mr Men.

Bangers and Mash mayte!

Ooh, my little pretty one, my pretty one
When you gonna give me some time, Patronus
Ooh, you make my motor run, my motor run
Got it coming off o' the line, Patronus

Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind
I always get it up, for the touch of the younger kind
My, my, my, aye-aye, whoa!
M-m-m-my Patronus

Read more like you just had a stutter.