Attention, Harry Potter fans: Do not click this link; Update: Entire book now online?
posted at 10:36 am on July 19, 2007 by Allahpundit
Oooh, you’re just dying to click it, aren’t you?
The book’s been embargoed for sale until midnight Saturday morning, but the Times couldn’t wait so they found themselves a dealer willing to break its promise and sell them a copy early. Then they published their review — early. And naturally they included a (very general) spoiler.
They don’t give much away, but they do give some, and J.K. Rowling’s none too pleased. Very stupidly, the AFP’s story about her reaction repeats one of the tidbits from the review so fans are advised to skip that link too and rely on the blockquote here:
In a statement released through British publisher Bloomsbury, Rowling said: “I am staggered that some American newspapers have decided to publish purported spoilers in the form of reviews in complete disregard of the wishes of literally millions of readers, particularly children, who wanted to reach Harry’s final destination by themselves, in their own time.”
The link to the Times review is going to be sitting here all day, Potter fanatics. All day.
You’ll be happy to know, though, that it was indeed a rave.
Exit question: Did the Times act unethically?
Update: I won’t torture the Potterites any further by scrounging up the link, but apparently photos of every page in the book are now online. And using CSI-type “digital DNA” sleuthing, the publishers are determined to find out who’s responsible.
Update: Rowling’s publisher plans to sue Levy Home Entertainment and DeepDiscounts.com for breaking the embargo.
Blowback
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Kelli:
Well, it’s mostly of interest to literature geeks like myself or bigtime fans of the books (also like myself) — any insight into the author’s beliefs, particularly when it comes to his or her magnum opus like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Dune, might lend insight into why things happen the way they do and what larger meaning is intended to be communicated.
seejanemom:
No ma’am. Not a liar. It is, of course, possible that what I read was entirely fraudulent, as the blogger JinxMcHue links to believes, but if so it’s certainly one of the most elaborate hoaxes ever conceived.
Not as big a hoax as JK Rowling mild-mannered exterior covering up the depraved pagan orgies she leads at her blood-drenched palace in Scotland while chanting the Satanic prayers hidden in every Harry Potter book, of course. But you knew that.
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Exactly. Narnia puts it right out there with little question, but Lord of the Rings is a little more subtle. So knowing it and finding it in the texts provides more depth to the stories.
I take it it’s the whole thing online, so putting out a fake one would be difficult.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Esthier:
Yes, several of the file-sharing sites have photographs of every single page in the book, from the flyleaf to the back inside cover. They’ve most likely been taken down by now. I don’t feel particularly bad about reading it, as first of all I’d already paid for my copy back when they opened pre-orders, I’m not distributing it to anyone else, and the quality of the photographs gave a splitting headache. :D
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 12:30 PM
After reading that link, I’m thinking that the only way it might be fake is if it wasn’t the finished copy. It’s not necessarily common for pages and things to be added after a book has been published, but it can certainly happen, especially with a book like this one.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 12:35 PM
From the review:
I must admit that I haven’t read any of the HP books. What I know is only from seeing a few of the movies, but I seriously doubt there is the detail of Tolkien’s ME in the HP books. The HP may be long, but Tolkien created actual languages and histories for ME before writing the trilogy. This comparison alone makes me laugh at the Times quality of literary review.
Snidely Whiplash on July 19, 2007 at 12:42 PM
I have never seen a Harry Potter movie nor read the books.
Weren’t these geared towards 10-year olds, anyway? The only thing the NYT is doing is spoiling it for the kids. Then again maybe the kids don’t care either.
kiakjones on July 19, 2007 at 12:42 PM
I think it’s in poor taste to post spoilers, especially the last chapter. Same goes for doing reviews prior to the owner’s established sale date.
On the other hand, I find it a bit disingenuous of Rowling to toss about the “for the children” meme regarding anything associated with her and her publisher’s marketing campaign to maximize their profits on the continuing and maybe never ending saga of Harry Potter.
If she didn’t want to ruin it “for the children”, then maybe she should have thought about not pimping her new book into this frenzy in the first place. It reminds me of all the other celebrities that pimp themselves all day, everyday, when they want, how they want, where they want, etc, and then be outraged when paparazzi follow them around because they have the right to privacy and it’s their sole right to define what the story is and how it is heard.
Dusty on July 19, 2007 at 12:45 PM
I can understand that, I’m a big fan of LOTR too, though probabaly not to an extreme level of geekiness as some :P
But I almost think he created his own religion as deep as he delved into that world.
Keli on July 19, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Esthier:
Yes, a galley having gotten online seems plausible, but I wonder how many galleys of a book so shrouded in secrecy were really distributed.
If, by some chance, the copy I read *does* turn out to be a fake, I’ll cheerfully admit it, congratulate the hoaxer on a job well done, and enjoy the fact there are, basically, 8 Harry Potter books instead of 7.
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Ah, yes. The self-proclaimed “authority”. Always a joy to be blessed with the presence of those Christ-like figures who really know what’s best for us. Since we’re all simpletons (“LIBs” in her vernacular) who have been suckered by a “pagan hag”.
Thank you so much for protecting us, wise and blessed seejanemom. I will sleep better at night, knowing your vorpal blade of righteousness will protect me from the dementors. Er, sorry, liberals.
nukemhill on July 19, 2007 at 12:48 PM
I think it’s high time the ankle biters/crumbcrunchers of the preteen set get their bubbles and expectations crushed. Reveal the ending of the book now! A teachable moment ” you can’t always get what you want” apologies to Mick
MNDavenotPC on July 19, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Why? Surely to goodness you homeschool if you despise the public school system so much?
SouthernDem on July 19, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Heh. Now that’s some serious geek cred.
Slublog on July 19, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Absolutely, based on the Silmarillion’s opening chapters. It’s quite elaborate. There is a religious subtext as far as good versus evil, but LOTR was more of a slant toward WW2 if I understand correctly.
SouthernDem on July 19, 2007 at 12:51 PM
*blush*
Why, thank you! I knew all those hours of playing D&D in high school would pay off someday!
nukemhill on July 19, 2007 at 12:55 PM
The NYT reveiw does not give much, if anything away. The reviewer liked the book, period.
However, the Baltimore Sun’s review gave away much more info, I thought, and arguably will affect the enjoyment for some who subsequently read the novel.
doufree on July 19, 2007 at 12:56 PM
VORPAL? long before D&D Lewis Carroll had fun with that word…. and Monty Python too! Remember the vorpal bunny?
MNDavenotPC on July 19, 2007 at 12:57 PM
True, but I find it equally hard to imagine that the real one could have gotten out. You’d think she’d have it under lock and key, but I guess she isn’t as paranoid as Michael moore
Elaborate is certainly appropriate there. I’ve seen history books with less information in them.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Some spoilers I read:
Voldemort is Harry’s Father. Hermione is his sister.
Hermione and Ron have been dead since book 3. Harry sees dead people.
Snape casts a spell turning the everyone on the planet into APES!
Deathly Hallows is the name of Harry’s sled.
Chocolate Frogs are People! They’re PEOPLE!
In the end Harry leaves the Department of Magical Law Enforcement after telling his tale of the horriffic battle. Slowly losing his limp and magicly removing the scar from his forehead. The Aurors who interviewed him then realize that the story told was all concocted on the spot and that Harry was really Voldemort.
Darksbane on July 19, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Darksbane:
Don’t forget the Deathly Hallows wind up being locked in a crate and buried in a massive warehouse somewhere in London, to be studied by “top men.”
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 1:01 PM
It doesn’t matter. I only watch the movies anyway.
Vaporman87 on July 19, 2007 at 1:02 PM
Tyler Durden is Harry Potter!
Jim Treacher on July 19, 2007 at 1:05 PM
Yes, I remember MP and the vorpal bunny. But my first (and most extensive) exposure was playing endless hours of D&D as a kid. I remember watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail as a teenager and almost falling off the couch with the VB scene.
Was not aware (or perhaps don’t remember) that Lewis Carroll played with “vorpal”. Any quotes at hand?
nukemhill on July 19, 2007 at 1:06 PM
Lewis Carroll invented the word “vorpal.” It’s one of his many nonsense words, and appears in the poem “The Jabberwocky.”
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 1:07 PM
Interesting. Dictionary.com sites Lewis Carroll as the creator of the word.
Ya learn somethin’ new every day.
nukemhill on July 19, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Heh. timing.
nukemhill on July 19, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Esthier, you handled yourself quite nicely! I always thought seejanemom was a little off, but completely un-hinged…?? I had no idea! :)
heatherrc77 on July 19, 2007 at 1:11 PM
You should know better, Slublog…
He’s the Fifth of the Final Five Cylons, a special breed. It was him who actually shot Adama, impregnated Cally, and caused Tigh’s initial drinking problem.
He also killed Kennedy, set off the explosions in the WTC, and created manbearpig child we know as AP.
TheEJS on July 19, 2007 at 1:12 PM
You’ve finally been outed. Your academic cred’s and scary ancestry have found the light of day.
You’ve been a pretty good moby.
mesablue on July 19, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Ha. I don’t have a Ph.D., so I’m not completely radioactive.
Slublog on July 19, 2007 at 1:18 PM
Top 10 thread…for so many reasons…
RushBaby on July 19, 2007 at 1:20 PM
nukemhill on July 19, 2007 at 1:08 PM
Isn’t it just wonderful to know there are some literate people around…..lol
MNDavenotPC on July 19, 2007 at 1:22 PM
We all know real-life scenario Potter would go as follows: Snape’s been running a billion-dollar corporation when he-who-must-not-be-named-cause-you-have-to-do-it-like-this-for-dramatic-effect comes back and immediately starts to work on his EV-AHL plan. Lord Vladamir attains nuclear weapons from Kah-plack-eh-stan and hold the world in ransom for one hundred billion dollars! Snape would em0 cry but be able to do nothing cause Vladamir has call records implicating Snape called up the D.C. Prostitution Madam. Long story short, an American strike force comprised of 173rd Airborne, 160th SOAR, 1st SFOD-D, and Denzel Washington would swoop in, stop the nuclear holocaust, and kill Vladamir.
And Harry dies of AIDs from Jenn-aey.
TheEJS on July 19, 2007 at 1:26 PM
Or it would go down like this.
TheEJS on July 19, 2007 at 1:29 PM
Nah…. Harry has an epic battle with Moldymort, and gets a new BFW3000 (big Fn Wand 3000) from Ollyander to help…
Hermiowny and Ronnie get caught in the crossfire, and Potty blows em away…
After the battle he disappears… and his PTSD takes over… and he becomes a bum in diagon alley…
Hagrid… finds love, and moves to the far North… where he dons a Vikings hat and is featured in his own ongoing story…
Romeo13 on July 19, 2007 at 1:37 PM
Harry Potter shot JR. – in Dallas.
Real spoiler? Harry Potter is FAKE. He really didn’t do anything, it’s all made up.
Now,The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings, thats genius stuff there.
shooter on July 19, 2007 at 1:40 PM
Thanks. I honestly had no idea that would happen over something that’s really so trivial.
Of course I’m just a childless child and a lib, so you probably shouldn’t listen to me.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 1:41 PM
Esthier:
I just want to know if Robert E. Howard ever generated that kind of anger.
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 1:44 PM
Except for the few regular drive-bys who clearly know better than to engage the LOW BROW Potterheads in here, this thread is populated with jobless trolls.
When will I learn?
AND IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER TO CALL ME, don’t be a gutless troll and hide out under ALLAH’s generous wing. YOU COME STRAIGHT TO MY BLOG AND SAY IT THERE. There are many things I WILL GLADLY LASH YOU WITH over at my place, but I refuse to sully Michelle’s parlor.
I’d come to yours, but sadly, you don’t have a marketable opinion, as per your LACK of a blog.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And yes, SouthernDem, I PROUDLY do not partake in the filth that is the public school system.
seejanemom on July 19, 2007 at 1:51 PM
After much debate, I have decided to use up my contacts and release this spoiler:
Harry Potter is a front for al Qaeda, intended to put a wizard’s face on the terrorist group.
You have been warned.
TheEJS on July 19, 2007 at 1:52 PM
LOL I’m still laughing over that one. I’ll never be able to look at moonbats again without thinking Dementors
Keli on July 19, 2007 at 1:55 PM
1. I’m not a Potterhead. I’m just not rabidly anti-Potter either.
2. I have a job.
3. The only low brow nonsense on this thread has come from the insults you’ve supplied. No one here is being even half as abrasive as you are.
4. How about instead of lashing out at people at your place with words that aren’t fit to be seen here, why don’t you actually respond to the things people have said and the proof they’ve brought.
Are you just afraid of being wrong about something you’ve spent so much energy fighting?
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 1:55 PM
Except for the time you spent working for “the filth” the very work that’s given you the authority on the subject.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Look what someone left on the parlor floor.
Slublog on July 19, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Careful, you might be giving her an idea.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Joblessness, potterhead-ishness, trolling, and outraged bursts of capitalization and punctuation aside, seejanemom … where are your Rowling-is-a-pagan articles? Still waiting on ‘em.
You should calm down. It’s a series of fantasy books that are popular, no more or less. Better than some, not as good as others, and a gateway to good literature for those youngsters who are intrigue further into reading. Your venom is ill-placed. Hate like that’ll eat ya up, kid.
As for not sullying Michelle’s parlor, it’s a bit late for that, wouldn’t you say?
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Is there any way we can work Star Wars vs. Star Trek into this, to really stir the pot?
And in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve bever read a Harry Potter book or seen a movie, but I’ve got plenty of my own geek cred otherwise. Personally, I don’t care if people enjoy them as long as they don’t act like wild-eyed cultists about it. (Or anti-cultists, for that matter.) Some people, though, if they got any more rabid they’d be like Ron Paul zombies. And that’s just not healthy.
ReubenJCogburn on July 19, 2007 at 2:10 PM
…using CSI-type “digital DNA” sleuthing, the publishers are determined to find out who’s responsible.
Assuming, of course, that whoever did the deed wasn’t bright enough to edit the meta-data in the files.
mojo on July 19, 2007 at 2:12 PM
Oh, horrid day! I read the spoiler!
Wait a minute…I’ve never read a single word of any of the Harry Potter books.
Oh, that’s right! I couldn’t care less!
jaleach on July 19, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Oh, and if you’re just dying to attack me, seejanemom, feel free to do so on your blog. I’ll look and be properly shamed. I just don’t see a good reason for giving my email address to your blog by posting a comment there.
Also, you seem to have a fan of your rant there, and I wouldn’t want to spoil that for him/her.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Googling “jpeg specification metadata” returs as the top hit:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/javax/imageio/metadata/doc-files/jpeg_metadata.html
mojo on July 19, 2007 at 2:17 PM
Esthier:
I’m just not all that enthused to give her the traffic. Besides, this is fun!
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 2:20 PM
This is always good for a laugh, but right now seems particularly appropriate for it:
http://www.elektron.pl/ks-jacek/Harry%20Potter%20Books%20Spark%20Rise%20In%20Satanism%20Among%20Children.htm
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Good point. I’m just curious at what she’s holding back on.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 2:23 PM
While we’re discussing an answer to the question, the men at the Times will go on doing whatever they please, noteably in regard to American national security and political stability. By the time we settle the matter or lose interest, they’ll probably have compromised another CIA operation, and we’ll have more to talk about, as long as America lasts.
The laws and their enforcers seem ineffectual in reining the Times men in. Editors and journalists everywhere can see the unrestraint of the men at the Times and draw conclusions, from the Times‘s single example, about their own freedom to expose whatever secrets they wish. But the example of the Times can be changed, so as to teach a more politic lesson.
Kralizec on July 19, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Can a tricorder read Harry Potter’s midichlorian count?
James on July 19, 2007 at 2:27 PM
I don’t know about Star Trek vs. Star Wars, but I do know that when my brother and I heard Ralph Fiennes was going to play Voldemort we started re-working all his lines from RED DRAGON to be Harry Potter lines. “I am the serpent, Mr. Potter! And you…owe…me…AWE!”
Eh, maybe you had to be there.
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 2:32 PM
Heh.
ReubenJCogburn on July 19, 2007 at 2:35 PM
The spoiler is the revelation that the Hallows are real and the definition of what they are. It’s actually a pretty significant leak. My guess is that their reviewer wasn’t really familiar with the series and probably thought that the secret had been discussed in a previous book. But maybe they just suck at writing reviews.
To a lesser extent, it’s also a spoiler to reveal that there’s a point in the book where Harry has to make a significant, plot-defining decision about whether to go after the Hallows or the Horcruxes. But that only ruins about a chapter of the book. The revelation that the Hallows are real and what they are manages to ruin apx. 90% of the book – it’s arguably the second biggest reader question after “who dies”. Don’t neglect the possibility that some deranged Potterhead will hunt this reviewer down and kill them for this.
Fwiw, the page-by-page leak of the book hit bittorrent Monday night. It was all over by Tuesday morning. By now, at least the first 10 chapters are floating in text form.
omriceren on July 19, 2007 at 2:42 PM
Why is nobody discussing the significance of the fact that the Grey Lady is the house ghost for Ravenclaw? You people call yourself geeks? Sheesh.
JackOfClubs on July 19, 2007 at 2:49 PM
Harry Potter gets klonked in the head with a golfball and wakes up in bed with Suzanne Pleshette. The whole thing was just a dream.
Or. . .
Voldemort is secretly Harry’s older brother. And Speed’s, too.
Gottafang on July 19, 2007 at 2:50 PM
The unlucky chap that uploaded it left the Exif data, which has the model and serial number of the camera. So, I guess they do have a lead of sorts. Oops.
Sisyphus on July 19, 2007 at 2:52 PM
I forgot to mention that this has been floating around for a few days now.
Sisyphus on July 19, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Ahhh! Proof that Rowling’s a pagan!!!!
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 2:55 PM
Esthier:
Some Christian group actually was floating that article around as a real piece of reporting about 6 or 7 years ago, after editing out the over the top quote about fellating Satan. I was wondering if that’s what our friend might have been thinking of.
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 2:59 PM
Oh, and Harry’s Keyser Soze, too.
Or has someone already said that?
Gottafang on July 19, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Had they never heard of the Onion?
I’m proud to be a Christian, but sometimes I’m not proud of Christians.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 3:03 PM
Esthier:
Having worked for the Catholic Church around the time all the pedophilia scandals broke, I can sympathize.
Honestly, I am not sure if they were aware of The Onion being a parody newspaper or not. The fact their version of the article is slightly bowdlerized and, thus, less funny, makes me think it was more a cynical attempt to twist the article to their own uses.
You can find a writeup on the whole incident at Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/potter.asp
I’m more than a little ashamed to point out that World Net Daily was involved with this.
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Yes. But by now we shouldn’t be all that surprised.
The real (larger) question is, when is the last time the Times acted ethically?
Lawrence on July 19, 2007 at 3:12 PM
Never read a Potter book. I’ve never seen one of the movies either. Of course I’m aware of them. But this stuff happens all the time. Eh, knew the ending of Sixth Sense just from the commercials, still enjoyed it when I saw it.
PowWow on July 19, 2007 at 3:18 PM
oh God, well now I know where all the silly hysteria came from. Theres no telling how many people still believe this stuff too lol
Keli on July 19, 2007 at 3:19 PM
Wow, just wow. Some people are willfully dense.
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 3:22 PM
Yikes.
SeeJaneMom obviously has a few issues. Rather large and distrubing ones. Not much else to say on the subject. Quit poking her. It tickles the Frischy Frisch out of her. If you catch my drift.
On the plus side, this whole bizzarro thread has motivated my inner dark Satanic pagan side to hit the library and re-read these books. I think I quit after the third – does he ever hook up with Hermione or what? Isn’t that the important question here?
It’s awfully funny that these modern day Narnian tales can inspire such controversy. Then again, C.S. Lewis was obviously a Christ-hating Pagan, too, right? ;)
Where’s Allahpundit? Maybe he get me into the atheist’s club. I’m starting to see their perspective. Are there dues? Free cookies?
Professor Blather on July 19, 2007 at 3:42 PM
Never mind. Thanks for ruining the ending, Slublog. You pagan.
May Kevin Spacey rot in Hell.
Professor Blather on July 19, 2007 at 3:44 PM
Wait…I thought I was a LIB.
Slublog on July 19, 2007 at 3:53 PM
It’s just a book, for crying out loud!
*runs away, dodging projectiles*
Mephistefales on July 19, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Spolier
Harry Potter is really Luke Skywalker
Ron is really Han Solo
Hermione is really Princess Laya
Voldamort is really Darth Vader
And JK owes Lucas a big royalty.
TheBigOldDog on July 19, 2007 at 4:07 PM
Well, the DO have magic in them, don’t they?
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 4:34 PM
Okay, okay, people…settle down. I got the answer to all of this bickering on this point.
As a Potterhead myself, and a Christian, here’s how I take the books.
1) They’re not real.
2) They’re a great story.
3) People get too wound up about it.
My father, when he first became a Christian, struggled with the idea of my brother and I watching anything in regards to witchcraft (he was new, after all) because he was afraid that we would take it as “real” and want to do it ourselves. After he let us watch a few Disney movies (a lot of the early Disney movies have a lot of it, which never occured to him), he realized that my brother and I would take it as “make-believe” and left it at that, satisfied that we weren’t going to go towards the “dark arts”. (Although I will admit that after reading Stephen King’s “Carrie” I wanted her powers because I was getting picked on in school a lot)
When the Harry Potter craze started hitting its stride, he decided to watch at least the first movie in the series, curious about the things that he had read online about the “evils” of the movie because there was “witchcraft” in it. (I was well beyond the stage of protection by this point, I should add) His reaction — it was a good movie that clearly showed the values of friendship and loyalty, and the clear difference between good and evil. And he left it at that. And he was as Christian as you can get.
So there you go. Bite at it as you will. But even as a Potterhead, I know that it’s still a book. In the end, all that matters is that the series is complete, and I can pass these down to my future kids over the years so they can also have a good story to read.
ScoopPC11 on July 19, 2007 at 4:53 PM
Oh, I don’t know. If you’re childless, you can’t really talk about this subject.
The authority has spoken!
Esthier on July 19, 2007 at 5:16 PM
Doesn’t matter!!! I’m a die hard fan. Read every Harry book at least twice and sometimes more to pick up on things I might have missed the first few times and this one will be no exception. There are so many nuances(accidental or not?)in them. Never buy them,just put my name on the waiting list at the library(where they buy multiple copies). Anticipation is the best part of it. JR deserves her laurels(and cash)on these.
jeanie on July 19, 2007 at 5:17 PM
I have stepkids, but hubby and I are trying for our own. And I’m starting masters classes to be an English teacher. So there. :-P
;-)
ScoopPC11 on July 19, 2007 at 5:21 PM
LOL, of course the Times is unethical. I run a HP site (yeah, go figure), and it’s rather amusing the chaos happening right now.
As for the online book that’s floating: There’s soo much wrong with it that if it IS the real one, Rowling will be roasted. Absolutely ROASTED. For her sake, I hope it’s a fake.
Vanceone on July 19, 2007 at 5:37 PM
What a bunch of LIBS. Yes, with capital letters. Oh – and some extra !!!
Also, you’re pagans, and you hate God.
No, you’re not a LIB. You’re a LIB!!! Didn’t I cover this? You dumb pagan.
Can’t read Harry Potter and be a Christian. Aren’t you paying attention? You’re a pagan. Probably a wrinkled one, too.
And I hear you on the witchcraft stuff! One time I read this book with a guy named Jesus in it – I think he was like a Latino or something – and he went around turning water into wine, walking on water, making the blind see … this book was FULL of magic!
It was abominable. I threw that pagan book across the room and immediately started homeschooling my kids. And using lots of capital letters.
Yup. Authority … the absolute moral kind! (Hey, that’s vaguely familiar …)
———————–
The above snark-fest was brought to you by the Gore/Sheehan ’08 Campaign. I’m a Chilean Seabass, and I approved this message.
Professor Blather on July 19, 2007 at 5:38 PM
Vanceone:
What sort of things do you find wrong with it (if you can discuss any of them without spoiling)?
Il Padrino on July 19, 2007 at 5:40 PM
Oh, dear God, Allah, and Rowling … that is the most ironical irony I’ve ever seen.
Like magic!
Professor Blather on July 19, 2007 at 5:42 PM
Yes….i did click this link…..and no, while I did read the inital story into I sped right over the comments. I assumed you would not drop a serious spoiler on me right off the bat, and I was right. Why do some folks feel a need to ‘be first’ in this? I have so enjoyed these books and want to read and reach the end myself, in my own time….and I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW EARLY!!!! I don’t want some young kiddo to tell me who dies, who survives, what happens. I want to read it for myself. If I wanted a spoiler, I’d go looking for it….as it is, I am afraid to sign on, click on a link, open an email for the next several days…..coz there are those out there just dying, dying, to spoil my reading fun so they can claim to have been ‘first’. OH GROW UP! Amazon will deliver my copy come Saturday….and this grandmother will immediately begin reading and love every minute. Why do some feel the overwhelming need to spoil it for me….et al???
dustoffmom on July 19, 2007 at 6:26 PM
Yes, they acted unethically. A promise is a promise, pure and simple.
ricelchew on July 19, 2007 at 6:27 PM
Sorry..sorry…I will try to do better.
Slublog on July 19, 2007 at 7:43 PM
Gosh, the poor little billionair is staggered! To bad, so sad!
NEMETI IN SYRACUSE on July 19, 2007 at 8:46 PM
Jane,
Let me say up front that I’m on your side vis a vis the Potter books. It is so easy to find wonderful literature for children to read without them being trained toward such thinking as prevails in those stories, and I would strongly protest any public school that allowed them as an approved part of curriculum, if I didn’t homeschool.
While I understand and share your passion for the hearts and minds of children, your vehement comments on this thread do come across as excessive. Sadly, too many people have failed to learn how to be consistent about standards and convictions. When I see a person defending the Christian faith in one thread, then going on and on about a woman’s chest in another, I feel mildly grieved. This isn’t the venue to call them out on it, however, so I have to select silence. I’m sorry this topic causes you such strong emotion, I just wanted you to know you’re not alone.
Freelancer on July 19, 2007 at 9:29 PM
Thanks FREELANCER. You are an old buddy. A PMS rage is a PMS rage, what can I say. (When did I go on about women’s breasts? I don’t remember that one, honestly. Is that ME you are talking about? ;))
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My objection isn’t about “magic” or “Christianity” for me, but the MORAL RELATIVISM and HUMANISM that pervades and coarsens our society in the form of Rowling’s “harmless” pop pulp.She is a GIFTED writer, as I have said. But she is no Lewis Carol. Her early stated intentions for POTTER are much more sinister.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
AND TO THE THREE ASSHATS who ragged me here all day and said that I was being ignored, blahblahblah…JOKE’S ON YOU.
SPIN (dot) COM linked me and between you three mouth breathers and the SPIN link I have a TIDY four digit bump in my steady four digit daily average. THANKS GUYS!!! Y’all behaved exactly as scripted. Suckers.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is the last I will say here, in my friend’s forum, and will expect that your reluctance to come to my blog to finish this (Esthier and company) is cowardice on your part. Surprise.
SPIN ON THAT.
seejanemom on July 19, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Thanks FREELANCER. You are an old buddy. A PMS rage is a PMS rage, what can I say. (When did I go on about women’s breasts? I don’t remember that one, honestly. Is that ME you are talking about? ;))
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My objection isn’t about “magic” or “Christianity” for me, but the MORAL RELATIVISM and HUMANISM that pervades and coarsens our society in the form of Rowling’s “harmless” pop pulp.She is a GIFTED writer, as I have said. But she is no Lewis Carol. Her early stated intentions for POTTER are much more sinister.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
AND TO THE THREE AMIGOS who ragged me here all day and said that I was being ignored, blahblahblah…JOKE’S ON YOU.
SPIN(.)com LINKED ME and between you three mouth breathers and the SPIN link I have a TIDY four digit bump in my steady four digit daily average. THANKS GUYS!!! Y’all behaved exactly as scripted.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is the last I will say here, in my friend’s forum, and will expect that your reluctance to come to my blog to finish this (Esthier and company) is cowardice on your part. Surprise.
SPIN ON THAT.
seejanemom on July 19, 2007 at 11:24 PM
Ah. I see. You’re nothing more than a (link) whore. Now I understand.
nukemhill on July 19, 2007 at 11:55 PM
Heh. I’ve never understood the tendency of some religious people to just come unglued over books that are clearly not only fiction but fantasy fiction, and make no pretense of being anything else. And by “come unglued”, I mean freak out more than they would over something like abortion, which I can understand people getting emotional about. Getting mad about Harry Potter is like getting mad about Superman or Bugs Bunny–they’re all fictional characters who can do things that people in the real world can’t. That’s why they call it fiction.
I knew a guy that owned a comic store, and one day a couple of people came in, bought some comics that they’d decided were “Satanic” (they weren’t), and proceeded to set them on fire in the parking lot. And he stuck his head out the door and told them to put that out (they did) or he was calling the cops–he didn’t care what they did with them after they’d paid for them, but if they wanted to burn them they could do it on their property, instead of ruining the sealer on his parking lot. But I wonder about the mentality of people like that–did they think they’d won some great victory for the Lord that day, burning a few issues of a comic they bought out of a back issue bin, that 99.99% of the people in the world never even heard of anyway? Does anybody actually believe that they win souls for Christ by giving that kind of “Hey, I’m a nutjob!” witness?
ReubenJCogburn on July 19, 2007 at 11:57 PM
Awesome!
nukemhill on July 20, 2007 at 12:01 AM
All about the links, eh, seejanemom? No wonder you keep trolling for us to come to your blog. And no wonder you feel so comfortable harping on Rowling’s alleged cyncism as you fairly drip with it yourself.
You should be grateful Allah and Michelle are as accomodating and good people as they are. On lots of websites, kicking up dirt and demanding people talk all about it over on your blog is grounds for banning.
All of which is beside the point. I — and I am sure the other folks who attempted to debate you today — did not come to your blog because you are a loudmouthed jerk with absolutely nothing to back up her ludicrous statements other than poorly-written invective and smug statements of superiority that indicate a, shall we say, less-than-ideal level of self-esteem. Arguing with you here is an amusing diversion. Following you back to your blog would be a waste of time.
But hey! If the ticking up of a digital counter is all it takes to buoy you up out of whatever emotional morass provided the groundwork for your adolescent outbursts, more power to you, lady.
Il Padrino on July 20, 2007 at 12:28 AM
Grr. Lousy tags.
Il Padrino on July 20, 2007 at 12:29 AM
The joke is: what kids read the Times?
Always preferred Burroughs, Howard and Wells. (“Phoenix Prime” is a classic take on “wizardy” by Ted White.)
I read the first 5 or so pages of Rowling’s 1st Potter book when it came out, and found it to be a nice kids book…
The films look like murky exercises in being stuck back in school, which I didn’t much like as a kid, so why would a kid want to read about being in school? Even (or especially) with magic powers?
If the magic powers can’t get you out of school, they’re ultimately useless.
(I would guess the final book’s ending would be: that a spell is cast upon Harry and he ends up in a world of only wizards, who long to be normal kids… because magic is a flaccid-making excess-of-power which ultimately corrupts.
profitsbeard on July 20, 2007 at 1:09 AM
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