Halfway through the book and we haven't even gotten to Hogwarts yet.
The movie speeding that part up did the book a service. I haven't touched any Rowling stuff since middle school, but I remember her breezing right past the non-Hogwarts/Dursleys as each book went on. By the fourth book that opening "what's harry up to outside of school?" is like ten pages.
>>24684145If you weren't already into this as a child then getting through any of these is a slog
>>246842192 is the slog
>>246846242 and 1 are both better in movie form in my opinion. But there are benefits of both.
1, 2, 3 are the best parts. They're like actual books. At that point, Rowling clearly still listened to her editor. From 4 on the books are just full of aimless filler, the main plot is a mess, and the writing ridiculously self-indulgent, and it just gets worse and worse
>>24684145What if Hogwarts was just a metaphor?
>>24684203It's the modern catalogue of the ships
>>24684718Whichever book had the Tri Wizard Tournament or whatever was the most awful in my foggy recollection. I read them way back in middle school or something, when I was a young autist who would read uncritically any novel or encyclopedia I could get my dirty hands on, and that plot was still one of the biggest cringe things in modern lit. Atlas Shrugged was a more natural and believable plot. I remember being so confused as to why it became such a massive cultural force when I was in college, because sure the novels were readable and somewhat fun but nothing that had any lasting value. Hell, Animorphs had a better and more internally consistent plot with more beleivable characters, those novels held better cultural value. Just go turn into a bird you massive fucking faggot, go turn into a bird and take bird shits in the woods and then meet Space Jesus.
>>24684145i regret being an idiot kid. I read the words but only because it was popular. I had no idea what the plot was until I watched the movies. now i'm too old to read them
>>24684203The buildup is good though. It shows how shitty Harry's life is and makes you really feel the wonder of Hogwarts and why he would be so glad to be there
It's okay Rowling skips all the classes barring a few minor exceptions. So don't worry, the core conceit of seeing Harry learn spells is cut out.
