Sorry… but I don’t think JKR’s rag to riches story made one fucking difference to kids picking up the books.

I genuinely think it was the books themselves, the topic, setting, characters, writing quality, world building, etc.

It just hit the mark.

I haven’t finished it, but so far like 30% of the book is irrelevant to the plot and is just the authors random musings and philosophies on life.

Exactly, why I can’t get through it. its not about the vocabulary, its about how irrelevant the ramblings feel to the plot.

Damn, when I was kid I just read whatever I wanted like HP or Percy Jackson, whatever, just for fun. It was great

There has been a little while where I’ve been trying to read a classic. I’ve tried Moby Dick multiple times a while ago, a failed.

I tried “Don Quixote” a while ago, and that was funny, but I still couldn’t complete it.

I feel like its gotta be a different approach in the way books were written back then. I figure back then people wanted to spend a lot more time in these worlds, and books were made without cutting much fat. vs now books seem a lot more to the point… idk.

Either way I think I will try Dracula… since I’ve heard great things about that

Damn, when I was kid I just read whatever I wanted like HP or Percy Jackson, whatever, just for fun. It was great

There has been a little while where I’ve been trying to read a classic. I’ve tried Moby Dick multiple times a while ago, a failed.

I tried “Don Quixote” a while ago, and that was funny, but I still couldn’t complete it.

I feel like its gotta be a different approach in the way books were written back then. I figure back then people wanted to spend a lot more time in these worlds, and books were made without cutting much fat. vs now books seem a lot more to the point… idk.

Either way I think I will try Dracula… since I’ve heard great things about that

I hate book condescension.

I hate book condescension.

idk honestly, ever since I can remember my parents encouraged me to read or listen to books. I loved them so it felt like free will throughout. Only School recommended books I didn’t like reading.

so I’m wondering how far back can I go and it still be considered a novel. so many i’m sure i’ve forgotten.

Romona Quimby series was probably very early on, idk, warriors for sure, rangers apprentice, sisters grim, percy jackson, games and giant peach I LOVED very early on, Series of unforunate events, Harry potter, etc

The list goes on, I’m certain I’ve forgetten great books

ye I care. I hate ai created art, especially with a book.

Eragon was really successful was it not? I mean I guess it didn’t have the movies and stuff, but its up there in terms of novel series for kids

100% totally agree

James and the Giant Peach was one of my most favorite! kept rereading that again and again

No not really. He is pretty talented, its just you don’t feel his talent much, in the same way as other characters. Because you see things through his mind.

Compared to Hermione he’s not that good of a student. He’s not a Dumbledore level talent or anything

But he’s pretty great at defense agaisnt dark arts, gains lots of dueling/fighting magic experience, able to pull off difficult spells like that Patronus that wards of Dementor monsters, and he’s an extremely talented broom flyer, making him the star of Quiditch(the wizard’s sports team)

So it isn’t that he isn’t talented, its that whenever he’s in a combat situation, he doesn’t feel powerful, he feels like he’s doing what he must to survive and escape being killed.

hit the nail on the head with this one. Wish fullfillment.

Also reminded of something George Lucas said about kids

“Children love power, because chiildren are the powerless. So their fantasies all center around having power”

I think this relates to how a lot of children’s novels start out, a protagonist who is the ultimate underdog, often, homeless, orphan, pick pocket, etc, treated terrible with no power.

Then gains power, status, achievement, family,. etc, through their journey.

I feel like with this you’d have to hit something involving schools like with HP. Like half the magic of HP was in Hogwarts… this magical school, where Harry was the hero, surrounded by great friends, and a feeling of family, etc

I feel like the setting is very important. idk