Inspired by this blog, we were overheard today. I was in a bookshop with Mark, and we were looking at the Harry Potter books. I explained to Mark that yes, I have read the books. The reason being simple : there was a time, at the height of Potter mania, when some of my prospective partners (some of whom later become actual partners), insisted that I read the books so that we too could have conversations about Potter.

"I had to read all the books, so I could get laid." I said to Mark.

"That was a hardship." said a woman as she left the bookshop and passed us.
Shit! Overheard.

A very astute comment - and unlike mostr comments I couldn't read what she really meant. Even if, by the 714th page of Harry Potter and The Incredibly Long Fifth Book In The Series, I couldn't decide if it was actually worth the effort. It was a hell of an effort.

Oh, and for the record, the first two books are shit : poorly written, and in need of judicious and massive editing. To me, they felt like the first two novels she had written : and the first two novels anyone writes are not worth reading, unless you're brilliant - and J K Rowling isn't brilliant.

I've written four novels by now. The first three aren't very good : the fourth is, with some careful editing, possibly worth reading. I'll tell you more about them if you like. (You know what the comments box is for).

Oh, and thanks for reading.
- posted by Mark @ 8:34 pm