When did you first read Lord of the Rings?

[xMellrynxMaidenx]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Harry Potter isn't as deep as LOTR.

As I said, he has been doing this longer than J.K., but for me, it doesn't necessarily mean the HP books are bad, I'm a fan of both. J.R.R. went into more detail of the races, the area, history, etc. He went all out on it which makes his books more interesting to read for some. Had J.K. done the same for the area around Hogwarts, maybe even went into further detail about the houses and their founders, etc. the HP books would be just as interesting. It's just a matter of preference from the readers.

[Galadriel55]

I don't really mean details - well, that too, but mostly feelings. LOVE in HP became almost a formula. You love, you're good. LOTR is totally different. It has a wide range of emotion hidden between the lines.
Well, you could say that teenage tantrums count for emotion, and that if all the LOTR characters were kids, then yeah, I guess you're right. But still, I just don't feel like I'm part of the book in HP the same way as in LOTR. In LOTR, action isn't the main thing - more like phylosophy or something like that. HP wouldn't exist if it wasn't for action. It doesn't have enough behind the action. It's shallow, if you know what I mean.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

It's shallow, if you know what I mean.

I wouldn't say it's 'shallow' but I'd say it's 'juvenile literature'. Meant for the slightly simpler minds of children. Come on, you can't expect a 5 year old to understand the themes of LotR like he/she would the themes of Harry Potter.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Galadriel

you can't expect a 5 year old to understand the themes of LotR like he/she would the themes of Harry Potter.

That's true.

[xMellrynxMaidenx]

Originally Posted by Galadriel

I wouldn't say it's 'shallow' but I'd say it's 'juvenile literature'. Meant for the slightly simpler minds of children. Come on, you can't expect a 5 year old to understand the themes of LotR like he/she would the themes of Harry Potter.

I would have to agree, actually. Considering it DID start out as children's books, the more she began to write and develop the characters, the more it became more suitable for middle/high school kids. When she caught wind of adults reading her books, she tried to make it more...grown up for lack of better words to describe it. Really, I believe she just tried too hard, but I still like them none the less.

With the exception of the last part of the last book, she really rushed through it. :\ But, I like it now because I liked it as a kid.

If a five year old was ever able to grasp the themes of LotR and I were the parent, I would be proud of that child.

[Galadriel55]

I wouldn't want to be the poor parent who is doomed to hour long explanations of LOTR themes to his/her 5 year old child.
However, if the child really grasps the concepts all by himself, it really is an extraordinary genius and a brilliant kid.