Can Women Write? Page 8
Quote: zooo @ June 5 2011, 2:03 PM BSTMisled by the fact they enjoy her books?
Or do you think kids only like it because their parents tell them to? Kids don't really do that.
Not these days but in the more didactic days she was teaching they reflected the accepted norms of english education.
It would be years before Roald Dahl et al would liberate young minds,
Ah. Well now we can ignore the weird golliwog stuff and concentrate on the good bits.
But even the good stuff had a sort of stifiling style, and an uneasy belief in a conservative ordered world.
Compare it to Lemony Snickett, Roald Dahl or the sheer bloody anarchy of Beatrix Potter.
or for that matter Jaqueline Wilson who did the almost unheard task of destygmatising children's care homes.
Jaqueline Wilson and JK Rowling must be 2 of the worlds most influential writers of childrens books ever.
As long as you read a nice mixture of stuff I think you're good.
If *every* book you read as a kid is set in some crazy world that's not good either.
[quote name="sootyj" post="771962" date="June 5 2011, 1:51 PM BST]
How unfair Shandonbelle never called me a pest![/quote]
Eh?
I think I have a wasp's nest behind my shed, now they are pests...I'm terrified of the buggers.
Quote: sootyj @ June 5 2011, 1:51 PM BSTHow unfair Shandonbelle never called me a pest!
Merely strongly disagreed with me.
Speaking out on behalf of all women? How very Dworkinesque...
Oh. I was just calling you a pest then. Now I will try to leave it and not get aggravated. 
Quote: sootyj @ June 5 2011, 2:16 PM BSTor for that matter Jaqueline Wilson who did the almost unheard task of destygmatising children's care homes.
Jaqueline Wilson and JK Rowling must be 2 of the worlds most influential writers of childrens books ever.
Riley Towers is a Rowling free zone. However, Riley Minor has recently discovered Jacqueline Wilson and adores the books. I'm happy as finally its a move to a more challenging read rather than the identikit fairy/dancing/ponies stuff that is aimed at the under tens market.
What's wrong with Rowling? She's an awsome writer of thrillers eaasily better than Clancy et al and got millions reading who never would've other wise.
Quote: sootyj @ June 5 2011, 7:17 PM BSTWhat's wrong with Rowling? She's an awsome writer of thrillers eaasily better than Clancy et al and got millions reading who never would've other wise.
Not denying it but my two just aren't bothered. They have no interest in the films either.
Major reads Dahl and Horowitz. He's not into boy wizards.
Quote: sootyj @ June 5 2011, 7:17 PM BSTWhat's wrong with Rowling? She's an awsome writer of thrillers eaasily better than Clancy et al and got millions reading who never would've other wise.
How may have you read? And this millions otherwise press release given your Blyton review seems odd to me.
All of them and there's a definite drop off after book 3 I think.
I was doing this bizarre job which basically involved working in an empty children's home for 3 days of the week. They had the first 2 HP books and I read the 2 of them in under 2 days.
Then bought the 3rd and read that in day. She has that amazing coherent style and fast characterisation that only really top notch authors have.
As for the millions line. Millions read Blyton because she was promoted extensively and these were kids who were reading anyway.
Rowling got millions of people reading fantasy and creative fiction, some of whom hadn't read a book since school.
It was studied and stuff.
I think there was a drop off after two... haven't read the last two. Harry Potter was a hoola hoop. Bit like Twilight which I haven't read. Not sure it got millions reading who wouldn't have otherwise.. I know it's the official line but it does seem very defensive. I loved the Philosopher's Stone, think she should have kept him the same age. She has earned more than me slightly from writing mind. 
well fistly it did get people reading I could dig up a reference if you like
Twilight appealed to a very narrow demographic. HP was so universal they had to print special adult covers for embarassed grown ups
I know people read the books, kids who hadn't read much before. But they must have read something. What books did they go on to read and how many I guess is my point?
I read a lot of Enid B when I was about five six seven, the Famous Five etc and is the first memory of an author I returned to. Probably responsible for getting me reading avariciously, certainly writing -which I concede in this regard is an argument for you against EB!