Book Review: Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings

Harry Potter, Narnia and the Lord of the Rings: What You Need to Know About Fantasy Books and Movies by Richard Abanes

 In this book, Abanes is making a case for adults to monitor what their children read, especially because they could be dragged into fantasy realms, damage their belief systems, and confuse their sense of real and unreal. He does, however, come down harder one of the series he is writing about.

Any guesses to which series?

. . . Harry Potter . . .

For one thing, he believes that Rowling is promoting real practices of the people who believe in and use magic today. Out of concern for the children becoming Wiccan, he appeals to parents to rethink and to take a larger part in their children's reading habits. Furthermore, he accuses Rowling of encouraging children to become involved with witch craft because she researched magic to find inspiration as well as accurate information to integrate in the Potter series. And, as much as I hate to admit it, he does have a point -- many witches promote Harry Potter because Rowling's research made the series a little too realistic and accurate magic-wise.

    "Harry Potter happens to be on of the best thigns for witchcraft, and the understanding of it." (132)
     "Will it draw peopel to the craft[?] It will probably make some people very curious and therefore more open." (132)

     "I think that more peopel will start expoloring witchcraft because of the movie [Harry Potter]." (132)
     "As to whether Harry Potter generates interst in Paganism, of course it does! Many people will explore Paganism because of Harry Potter." (133)

     "[Harry Potter] will bring more attention to Paganism and the study of Magick.  . . . The open-minded peopel will go out and buy a few "Wicca 101" books to learn more about witchcraft in the rea world." (133)


He is, of course, ignoring the fact that all good writers do research before creating characters, setting, and different worlds for their novel(s), but whatever.

But he doesn't stop there . . .

He continues to rebuke Rowling's books as morally grey at best, especially when the story isn't good and evil but is rather evil and more evil. Also, he feels that there are not any adult role models because they all have flaws (this is detrimental to children's views of their parents), even Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He also brings religion into the discussion, but we'll save that for the review of his other book. I'll just say that he prefers Lord of the Rings and Narnia over Harry Potter.


He also has a problem with Harry Potter's popular. He says  that Harry is popular only because :

     "First, Harry Potter is filled with the kid of gross imagery and crass humor that juveniles find entertaining: vomit candy, pus and booger references, assorted profanities, "Uranu" juokes, and a deash of bloody violence." (219)

     "Second, "Harry Potter is a classic ugly duckling story, one of the great archetypes in literature. Misfit, rejected, even abused, Harry one day finds all that changed." Both kids and adults can identify with this." (219)

     "Third, accordign to one reviewer, Harry Potter is popular "because this character has teh ability to uncover the eternal child we all have buried inside. A teenager's identity crisis set amidst an epic adventure, the stoires appeal to everyone who's ever wanted to beat the odds and become a hero." (219)


It should be clear that Abanes is clearly not a fan of Harry Potter because the series could influence children in the wrong way. He is glossing over all the virtues that stand out in the series. Then again, this book was published before Half-Blood Prince, so perhaps his views would change if he finished the series before writing this book.