Harry Potter-Setting

     Harry Potters Magical world is a vast and often dreamed about place that fills the hearts of many readers alike. A world that makes kids smile from cheek to cheek. A world that gives kids sanctuary from their problems. A world that makes people more than just muggles. It is often wondered about by readers since Rowling doesn't cover too much in detail of the magical world. Rowling likes to let people imagine a world of their own. In the movies they do a great job of imagining a world that everyone loves and can relate too. This must have been a monumental task. One line so far in my book; Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, "It looked as it once been a large pigpen, but extra rooms had been added her and there until it was several stories high and so crooked it looked as though it was held up by magic (which, Harry reminded himself, it probably was). Four or five chimneys were perched on the top of the red roof. A lopsided sign stuck in the ground near the entrance read, The Burrow. Around the front door lay a jumble of rubber boots and a very rusty cauldron." This description is not portrayed in elevated diction but rather simple words like "red and pigpen". This is very simple but still allows the reader to picture "The Burrow" in their minds. Using simpler language will help the audience increase instead of making younger kids not able to read. I think this is funny because as I have said in earlier blog posts the diction used by Tolkien is very elevated and often I had to consult a dictionary to understand some of the things being said by Tolkien.

     Another line that Rowling uses to help the reader imagine themselves with Harry is, " Not daring to look at each other in the eyes, Harry and Ron followed Snape up the steps into a vast, echoing entrance hall, which was lit with flaming torches. This is another descriptive line that Rowling slips into the page. It is simple and concise that does not get into the way of the plot. This is great for readers and doesn't lengthen the book a ton and still gives great description. This is why I think Rowling is such a great author. She appeals to so many people with her writing that it is no wonder she has the largest grossing series.

                                                    

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

     Of all the Harry Potter movies I have enjoyed this one the most. So when I was starting to read this book I got very excited. So far this book has been an easy read and does not have as much elevated diction as The Lord of The Rings series. Harry Potters books seem to have an easy vernacular because they are meant for all ages and should be considered books that kids should grow up with. Since I wasn't exactly a prolific reader when I was younger I thought I could go back and revisit such a classic series. There isn't many things I can talk to you about because I already have seen the movie so I know most of the plot and I already told you about why I chose this book. In this blog I will talk to you about J.K. Rowling the genius behind the book series.

     Rowling's career wasn't a typical one. She didn't plan to be a huge author, she just wrote a book she liked. But before all of that she got a degree in French and Classics. Rowling then moved to Portugal and became a foreign language teacher. This is also where she got married and had a kid. Unfortunately the marriage did  not last long and she went back to the U.K. to finish her book. She had not done any other books before this one. In fact her career and money intake was practically nothing. Rowling had to make the manuscript on a typewriter.

     What else has Rowling done? To be honest she has only done a couple of books and those were under different pen names and were for adults. This list of books include; The Silkworm, The Cuckoo's Calling, and The Casual Vacancy. These books aren't bad sellers and won't probably reach the point of her Harry Potter series but they are still good books. Her author career is not like most, she didn't know she would have the most grossing book series of all times. Who knows maybe you too will have a rags to riches story yourself, and I will have to do a blog.

More Info on Rowling

What I Want To Read Next

     I have been reading The Lord of The Rings and I am on the second book so far. Many think that I will go on to read the last book in the series The Return of the King. However I have been reading the second book and I have lost interest in the series. I liked the first book but I have slowly disliked the writing style and description used in this series. Maybe one day when I have had my break I will come back to the series and read the last book but for now I have set my goals towards the Harry Potter series since I have never actually read the series. I have seen all the movies and read the first book but I want to continue this because it is a classic piece of literary genius. I have heard lots of great things about the Harry Potter series and did enjoy the first book. I have started a trend of going back and reading lots of the popular books. The harry Potter series should take me to the end of the Summer and after that who knows what I'll read. For now, I want to focus on Fantasy because I am going through a Fantasy phase.
 
     The Harry Potter series is also similar to The Lord of the Rings, not in writing style but in the structure of the characters, setting, and story. One thing that I mentioned in my last post was the fact of the death eaters whom play a similar role as the Nazgul in The Lord of the Rings. Another thing we notice is a male main character with a best friend who serves as comic relief and someone who cares about the main character a lot. My last point but definitely not the final thing in common is how the main character has parents that have died and has left them to the comfort of the Uncle's.

     I do regret however not reading the Potter series when I was younger so that way I could "grow up" with the series and perhaps it would be more special to me. Now though I will have a chance to read the books and hopefully be able to talk more in social groups.

A Letter to my Friend Tolkien

     Hello, I am Ian Markley and I am close to finishing your book, The Two Towers. The book has a plethora of elevated diction. With your elevated diction you create extravagant scenes full of detail and imagery. In Middle Earth you make every blade of grass feel important, every person, every tree. I can tell by the way you wrote this series that Middle Earth is more than just a setting for you, it is a sanctuary you can go to. A place were you feel home, somewhere you can't be disturbed and go into a world you created and wanted to share with many others who are just as enthralled with the story. I am surprised that you didn't run out of words in the dictionary to use as descriptive words. I also like how you make an inconceivable hobbit a hero who takes a bearing that many men do not have the will to do. It is definitely a book for people who are underdogs in some aspect of their life. I also like how in this series that this is really just about an orphan who is looking for adventure. People get engrossed in all of the action and description but miss the simplicity of the book and perhaps the real reason an author wrote the book. I hear that you went to South Africa and remember some vivid encounters including meeting a huge hairy spider. Was that your inspiration for including a huge spider in the 3rd book when Frodo fights a spider?

     I do in fact like your books and agree that these are classic pieces of literature. This book brought back Fantasy book and has inspired many of my generation to get into the Fantasy section and is part of why we see lots of that genre in our generation. Your book has also created a foundation for many books common to yours. For instance, most books today have a wise man, accompanied with an unlikely hero. I would also like to say that you influenced a book that has captured many great minds and inspired many more; Harry Potter. You have created the foundation for this series and Rowling definitely copied some of your aspects into her story because she saw the success from your books. For instance, the death eaters are the same as the Nazgul. I think that your books will influence many people and authors for the next 100 years and hope to see that your books continue to be read and enjoyed. Oh and here is a link to why people think your books are better than Harry Potter. Why LOTR is better than Harry Potter

                                                                                                           Until Next Time,
                                                                                                                    Ian Markley