Quote:
Originally Posted by foghat
^Not gonna try convince you, but Harry Potter really finds its legs starting in the 3rd book. The first 2 are okay, but very 'childish'.
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To each their own: I loved the Potter books from the first paragraph. The lady can write very witty and immersive prose.
On the 'childish" part, though: it is *by design*.
The Potter books are designed to be readable by kids of Harry's age. So the first two are intended for an audience of 9-12 year olds. This age-appropriate writing scheme is why there is an entire generation of kids that have grown up with Harry Potter books and movies. And why Rowling has been careful with the authorized merchandizing. Harry Potter was created for kids' enjoyment, not to milk it for the last penny available.
Rowling just happens to be good enough that the books are also readable by adults.
As for TWILIGHT, I read the first novel and its not really bad once you realize Bella is, in fact, a clinically-depressed teenager in serious need of psych counseling.
That, or somebody to dump a bucket of ice water on her head.
I only got through half the second book; at that point her whining was grating on me and I discovered David Drake's RCN series. Adele Mundy is more to my taste when it comes to female protagonists.
