tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post1581038936030322210..comments2024-01-11T18:39:50.665+00:00Comments on Painting With Shadows: Harry Potter and the Relief of Finishing the Final Book Before Anyone Gave Away the Ending.Kim Ayreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-50120264859217622112007-08-24T17:06:00.000+01:002007-08-24T17:06:00.000+01:00C in DC - I never saw Northern Exposure, but when ...<B>C in DC</B> - I never saw Northern Exposure, but when I was in Canada in the early 90s I do remember several people raving about it<BR/><BR/><B>Birdwatcher</B> - I have a few story tapes that I bought just before I changed my car. I've never been able to listen to them as the new vehicle came with a CD player instead<BR/><BR/><B>Pat</B> - you should record it and upload it to the web so we can all listen<BR/><BR/><B>Michael</B> - I remember reading that over at your site - it's an excellent articleKim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-38766233600490800872007-08-23T20:34:00.000+01:002007-08-23T20:34:00.000+01:00thats a really nice story. and i agree with you ab...thats a really nice story. and i agree with you about his dark materials. can i point you to this about him too...<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/2uzd9eAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-90804233017984333582007-08-23T14:25:00.000+01:002007-08-23T14:25:00.000+01:00I used to know a Big Ears joke - it was a shaggy d...I used to know a Big Ears joke - it was a shaggy dog and I used to tell it with all the different character's voices and everyone was convulsed - well I was anyway, and it ended with BE telling little Noddy to <BR/>'Get stuffed!'<BR/>You had to be there!Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-15786917318715716482007-08-23T06:34:00.000+01:002007-08-23T06:34:00.000+01:00Every long car journey we do with the children is ...Every long car journey we do with the children is accompanied by a Harry Potter tape. (ok we have an old car) As a device to ensure a peaceful journey its brilliant. I just keep on getting woken up by the words "end of side etc etc".The Birdwatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05682268406484192602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-46239597631936448432007-08-22T22:21:00.000+01:002007-08-22T22:21:00.000+01:00Wait, that was Northern Exposure. Nevermind. Time ...Wait, that was Northern Exposure. Nevermind. Time to go home for the day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-90707648110528177612007-08-22T22:19:00.000+01:002007-08-22T22:19:00.000+01:00Northern Lights was a very popular TV show in the ...Northern Lights was a very popular TV show in the 1990s about Alaska. Perhaps they changed the name of the Pullman novel (and definitely the movie) to avoid confusion.<BR/><BR/>I have a coworker who also read most of the HP series to his kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-77340463995280321162007-08-22T08:36:00.000+01:002007-08-22T08:36:00.000+01:00Amy - it seems it's not uncommon to change the nam...<B>Amy</B> - it seems it's not uncommon to change the names of books as they cross the pond. The Philip Pullman books mentioned have had a similar change. The first in the trilogy here is called "Northern Lights", but in the US it's called "The Golden Compass", which is also the title of the film version of it coming out this christmas.<BR/><BR/><B>Kanani</B> - it's definitely a book you get more out of if sharing it with a child.Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-63929561836723731262007-08-21T21:56:00.000+01:002007-08-21T21:56:00.000+01:00Oh... I haven't read it. I'm not sure that I will....Oh... I haven't read it. I'm not sure that I will. I stopped after the third one!<BR/><BR/>But I admire you greatly for finishing it without hearing any of the spoilers!Kananihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317494343177263398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-945895507318671352007-08-21T20:48:00.000+01:002007-08-21T20:48:00.000+01:00We just started the first book at our home. In th...We just started the first book at our home. In the US it is the sorcerer's stone (I guess philosophy doesn't sell as well here!). Now I know what all the fuss is about. I hope Emma still enjoys having me read to her when she is 12.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15065245209257127659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-32238541338053362722007-08-21T19:19:00.000+01:002007-08-21T19:19:00.000+01:00I think the idea that is was deliberate is almost ...I think the idea that is was deliberate is almost too scary to think. I would just hope that after 10 years or more of writing, she'd naturally be improving. Then again, I'm not sure how much my writing's improved after 2 years of bloggingKim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-28568642466573747482007-08-21T19:15:00.000+01:002007-08-21T19:15:00.000+01:00I wonder sometimes whether she started out as a me...I wonder sometimes whether she started out as a mediocre writer, but then her writing got better as she wrote, or if she deliberately set out to have the narrative mature as her protagonist did...<BR/><BR/>If the latter, what a feat. If the former, well...GOOD.Andrastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17995089221441792487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-90724285054914383762007-08-21T19:07:00.000+01:002007-08-21T19:07:00.000+01:00Pat - Unfortunately I always end up thinking of th...<B>Pat</B> - Unfortunately I always end up thinking of the old joke "Why do elephants have big ears? - Because Noddy wouldn't pay the ransom..." everytime Noddy is mentioned<BR/><BR/><B>Julie</B> - mind you, if I start putting on silly voices she wakes up quickly enough...<BR/><BR/><B>Andraste</B> - I still remember my shock and surprise when, I think it was in the HP & the Order of the Phoenix, I noticed her first use of a semi-colon. I felt a certain level of respect that she was improving her writing rather than just cashing in on the success of the eariler booksKim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-21831122839639228922007-08-21T18:38:00.000+01:002007-08-21T18:38:00.000+01:00You're right, Kim. The writing did get better as t...You're right, Kim. The writing did get better as the series went on. By book 7 JKR was writing some of the best action sequences she's ever done. That film of this one should be a special effects masterpiece. <BR/><BR/>Yes, I just outed myself. I'm a Harry Potter geek. Not proud.Andrastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17995089221441792487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-70547591311970753492007-08-21T13:50:00.000+01:002007-08-21T13:50:00.000+01:00Kim, I'm with Maggie on this one. There's nothing ...Kim, I'm with Maggie on this one. There's nothing more soothing to me than my husband reading to me. I don't fall asleep if he's telling me a personal story -- just when he's reading a book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-58409128717836594252007-08-21T11:46:00.000+01:002007-08-21T11:46:00.000+01:00It's a precious part of parent/child bonding. My ...It's a precious part of parent/child bonding. My poor kids had to survive with Noddy and Big-Ears and that imbued my eldest with a dread of the downstairs loo which he was convinced was over run with crabs.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-12024489358432230712007-08-21T10:19:00.000+01:002007-08-21T10:19:00.000+01:00Mary - Reading the Japanese one? Seriously impress...<B>Mary</B> - Reading the Japanese one? Seriously impressive! <BR/><BR/><B>Carole</B> - If it hadn't been for my son, I doubt I would have read them all. However, if nothing else I started to get curious how it was all going to end. The main enjoyment has always been the shared experience with Rogan<BR/><BR/><B>No Longer</B> - I would definitely recommend the Pullman books.<BR/><BR/><B>Gimme</B> - I've been waiting for a few years to read him the 'His Dark Materials' series. I figured eleven was old enough to start and understood that I'd probaby have to make frequent stops to try and explain some of the concepts. <BR/><BR/>When I started reading them I did fear that an awful lot of it would just go straight over his head, but he got enough of it to absolutely love the stories. <BR/><BR/>These are books he will come back to again when he's older and understand more levels then.<BR/><BR/>Eight probably is a bit young, although I see they're bringing out a film of the first book this christmas<BR/><BR/><B>Sarah</B> - I hope it's one of those things he looks back on with fond memories - something to counteract all the things he's likely to be cursing me for in therapy...<BR/><BR/><B>Julie</B> - I used to read to my wife more often but she invariably falls asleep. She assures me it's because my voice is so soothing and relaxing rather than just because I'm a boring old fart. I like to believe her...<BR/><BR/><B>Eryl</B> - WooHoo!!! That's excellent news. Your fellow students should be hoisting you up on their shoulders and parading you around the campus<BR/><BR/><B>Sayre</B> - and then organise your bookshelves...<BR/><BR/><B>Sandy</B> - I've been trying to think what to introduce him to once we've finished 'The Amber Spyglass'. Assuming he's still OK withme reading to him, I might try him with some Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. He enjoyed "The Hogfather" production on SKY my father taped for us.Kim Ayreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02656677501116622953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-53315095833912003002007-08-21T08:37:00.000+01:002007-08-21T08:37:00.000+01:00kPiece!!! Peace - sorry. There are times when you ...kPiece!!! Peace - sorry. There are times when you spot your own mistakes and they make you cringe a bit, so let me correct it myself.<BR/><BR/>SandyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-78337288927242675242007-08-21T08:31:00.000+01:002007-08-21T08:31:00.000+01:00Well done Kim that's a lot of reading out loud. I ...Well done Kim that's a lot of reading out loud. I got to finish the series off in the relative piece and quiet inside my own head (I still get interupted with the occasional "Is it nearly tea time yet" or "How do you fancy a biscuit?")and quite glad I am to see it all finished. Interesting to see what she's going to write next.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with the Dark Trilogy (I certainly enjoyed it). What's next.<BR/><BR/>SandyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-65312436583793489602007-08-21T02:30:00.000+01:002007-08-21T02:30:00.000+01:00Oh, that's lovely. I think my son is finally old ...Oh, that's lovely. I think my son is finally old enough to start with HP1. Perhaps I'll read it to him. But I have to dig it out of the boxes in the garage first...Sayrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16350593991157139017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-9276619737880033872007-08-20T22:48:00.000+01:002007-08-20T22:48:00.000+01:00I haven't read any of the Harry Potter Books but I...I haven't read any of the Harry Potter Books but I love the films. <BR/><BR/>I was still reading Bob a bedtime story everynight when he was thirteen and then one night he just said to me 'I think I can put myself to bed now.' And that was the end of that. He still likes to have his head stroked though!<BR/><BR/>P.S. Have you heard, we have managed to save the university, I still can't quite believe that we can stop fighting.Eryl Shieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01818102006775827503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-21142449667865605162007-08-20T22:32:00.000+01:002007-08-20T22:32:00.000+01:00My husband and I overheard his cousin and her then...My husband and I overheard his cousin and her then-boyfriend (now husband) reading to each other one night and thought we'd try it, too. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix had just come out, so that's where we started. <BR/><BR/>He hadn't read any of the previous books, and after we finished it (and learned that I fall asleep when people read to me), we started at Book 1.<BR/><BR/>With the last book, I finished it by Sunday morning. I had taken breaks and read a few chapters aloud as well, but I made him wait to find out. I was careful not to spoil the ending.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-889519310665080902007-08-20T21:15:00.000+01:002007-08-20T21:15:00.000+01:00that is so cool Kim. i remember my mom reading to ...that is so cool Kim. i remember my mom reading to me - its has remained a highlight in my memories.<BR/><BR/>"Uncle Remus" one of my favorites was "De Tar Baby". (my mom was good at southern american accents.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-84988281180492395842007-08-20T19:17:00.000+01:002007-08-20T19:17:00.000+01:00Congrats on reaching the finishing line, Kim. I do...Congrats on reaching the finishing line, Kim. <BR/><BR/>I don't think you're alone, Carole. It only took me a book and a half to crack.<BR/><BR/>My Common Law reads the HP in our house, (we take turns at stories) and I'm alternating between Eoin Colfer's 'Artemis Fowl' series and good old Narnia.<BR/><BR/>Do you think eleven is a good age to begin 'His Dark Materials', Kim? I've read them myself (thanks to jk really) and can't wait to start on them with my eldest. Eight, though, seems a little young...Cycles Goffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00808599865674594022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-11579533611114266102007-08-20T18:50:00.000+01:002007-08-20T18:50:00.000+01:00My son lost interest in the Harry Potter books aro...My son lost interest in the Harry Potter books around book 5 but by then I already completeley hooked. I have never read Philip Pullman's books but you can bet I will now. ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15322620.post-85529619145714113062007-08-20T18:12:00.000+01:002007-08-20T18:12:00.000+01:00And I love that you read to the kids. Very, very ...And I love that you read to the kids. Very, very cool.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03828426520214270655noreply@blogger.com