JK Rowling?

Question

Her books are incredibly successful but I heard from different sources that they are not well written. Is this true? I like the books and have read every one of them (they are actually the reason I started reading in the first place) but whats wrong with them?

Answer 1

Personally I don't think they are well written. But that just gets a lot of negative comments here. I blame her editor.

JK's writing drives me nuts with all her superfluous uses of the word "that" - a definite no-no any editor would tell you to remove. She also writes in the passive tense - again any editor would correct that. Those are two things you learn very early on in writing.

I have commented a lot here lately on the fact so many people seem to have questions about the last book. It seems to me the book asks more questions than it answers. Not a good scenario for a "final book of a series", is it? And when JK has to literally go on TV and online to explain her book, something is wrong with it, right? She has made up all kinds of extra information for the epilogue. She has explained what the crying being meant. She has even had to explain the pensieve ... which has been in her stories since way back.

The stories are entertaining, I do not deny that. I do have another problem with her work, but I won't mention that because I am negotiating now with a magazine to publish an article on that and I don't want to give it away.

Her stories are fine - she is just not technically the best author out there today. If you asked me who is, I think I might say Daniel Silva, though you wouldn't know who he is - since he doesn't write for kids. Pax - C

Answer 2

It probably gets down to people's favorite styles. Personally I think JK Rowling writes amazingly. She uses better descriptions and words in general than I read from some other authors so you'll never hear me complaining. As for those who hate her writing.. they are probably envious [i would be if I were a struggling author] or just like traditional writing. For all I know it could go back to the whole "witchcraft = bad" thing.

Answer 3

Some people will find fault with anything that is popular mass produced fiction. They are comparing a children's series to classic books and would love to see the world reading stuffy novels like Grapes of Wrath and Wuthering Heights. Everyone has the freedom to read what ever it is they like, and no one should put them down for doing so. Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore.

Answer 4

They are very well written. The plots are well thought out and well played out; the characters are consistent from book to book; there is sufficient descriptive work that a reader can well visualize what they need to see; and the language is quite well used.

They don't need to be the best thing ever written to be well written.

There's nothing wrong with them at all.

Answer 5

Everyone has an opinion. What constitutes well-written for one is a snorefest for another. Don't take it personally. Those same people probably don't think Dr. Seuss books are well-written, either. (They're wrong.)

Check this out:

www.life-after-harry-potter. com

Included is a list of only the best sorcery fantasy books, grade reading level, and a short review of each book.

I hope this helps.

Jim

Answer 6

My #1 problem with Rowling is that she sometimes obscures her tremendous creativity with bad grammar/diction and confusing scenarios (most notably in the last book). Interestingly, I thought Deathly Hallows illuminated both her strongest and her weakest points as a writer. The content was really rich, and there was a wide range of emotions expressed, but the language was often really clunky.

Answer 7

Well, for a book to be "well written" there has to be a lot of symbolism, colorful language, very deep character development, etc. Some books that are well written are not very interesting context-wise. HP books are extremely engaging and are probably my favorites.Yet, I must admit that they are only "light reading" and I would never expect to glean any intelectual stimulation from them.

Answer 8

Nothing. It;s the genre. Fantasy can be written by a schizo nutso cracko with a talent for stringing words together in an intersting way. As great literature, it is not simply because of the genre. Unknown if she can do anything else. Must be very boring to be so limited. Then again, her real name may be Mitzi Schwartz from Rhode Island.

Answer 9

you might be thinking of harold bloom's (professor of literature or something at yale) complaints about the book. he had a hissy fit because the average person prefers a book like harry potter (which, he feels, is a dumbed down style of prose) over one of the 'classics,' like shakespeare.

he also whined because he feels that the fantasy elements that the books show (like the magic and everything) encourage children to act out fantasy dreams or makes them feel like they really can do magic. i think it's ridiculous -- almost every kid's show or book has some fantasy element to it.

"a classic is something everyone wants to have, and no one wants to read" -- mark twain

Answer 10

She is an awesome writer!!!
The plot line is pretty complex...
To get the logic right , you need a couple of keen rereads...
And since I am one of the big fans, I can assure you that the story makes a LOT of sense...

I can only say one thing to you..
You've read the books yourself...
People are entitled to their own opinions..
So are you..
So dont make up one based upon what others tell you..