Literary snobbery.

Nothing irks me quite like literary snobbery. It's for people who aren't pretty/rich/cool enough to feel superior based on their looks/possessions/fashion... so they feel superior based on what they read. Same difference. Just let people like what they like, and shut up, OK?

This from the WaPo...

The vast majority of adults who tell me they love "Harry Potter" never move on to Susanna Clarke's enchanting "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell," with its haunting exploration of history and sexual longing, or Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials," a dazzling fantasy series that explores philosophical themes (including a scathing assault on organized religion) that make Rowling's little world of good vs. evil look, well, childish. And what about the dozens of other brilliant fantasy authors who could take them places that little Harry never dreamed of? Or the wider world of Muggle literary fiction beyond?

First of all, I've read both Jonathan Strange and His Dark Materials AND all 7 Harry Potter novels (I reread the first six) since January. My mom has read all of the above as well, so NYAH.

Secondly, so a lot of people read Harry Potter. That doesn't mean it sucks. More people eat cows than dogs but it doesn't mean it's morally superior to eat dogs, or that dogs are higher quality. (I'm just saying.) Heck, way more people read the WaPo than the Times. And not everybody can devote as much of their time to reading as a paid literary critic, or simply like all the things the critics like, just like not everyone can weigh 105 pounds/own a lexus/be one of the cool kids.

As far as I see it - you could have "the vast majority" of Americans reading Harry Potter - or nothing at all. I don't think anyone is making a choice between Harry and something else. It's not like people are saying "Well, I read Harry Potter so I guess I can't read Jonathan Strange now."

I'm just ranting I guess. There was a similar article in American Libraries a few months ago that similarly pissed me off. Instead of just whining about how not everyone is as good as you are, maybe just get over yourself and enjoy sharing what you like - and don't get in a snit if the entire country doesn't follow your command.

My predictions...

I have finished. To protect the slow readers ;-) I am placing my commentary on my predictions in a comment to this post.

Final thoughts.

Note: Book SIX spoilers here but really, if you haven't read book six by now, you probably don't care.

Well, here I am trying to convince myself to wait just a tad longer before running off to Borders to pick up You-Know-What at midnight. Ah the moment I have been waiting for - since finishing off Book Six two years ago, yelling in frustration as I reached the last page.

Six months or more ago I pre-ordered my copy and picked up my TRUST SNAPE sticker which is now displayed prominently on the Beer Fridge, next to EQUALITY MARYLAND and GREENPEACE.

Here are my final predictions -

1. Snape turns out to be good, or at least redeems himself. Honestly, JKR can NOT make her big, takeaway less of her 7 books be "don't give anyone a second chance, especially if they're ugly." She just isn't that kind of person.

2. Snape will die somehow saving Harry as Harry finishes off Voldemort, or dies enabling Harry to finish off Voldemort.

3. I'm undecided on Harry living or dying. I give him 55% odds of being alive at the end of the last sentence.

4. Remus and Tonks will live happily ever after, to my great disdain. So will Ron and Hermione, to my great joy.

5. At least one Weasley will bite the dust. (Well there's just so many of them! It's statistics!)

6. Harry is a horcrux.

7. We learn more about Regulus.

Well, there you have it. Of course, I was 100% confident that Mr. Weasley was going to die in book 5, and 110% confident that Hagrid was the half-blood prince - so - well at least one of those has got to be right!