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The Gryffindor Gazette

Michael Rosen clarifies his remarks about Harry Potter

by Wendy on May 20th, 2008

Yesterday I told you about children’s literature laureate Michael Rosen’s remarks about Harry Potter. Today, he wrote a super long response to the outcry that followed his remarks (and by long, I mean LONG - has he never heard that brevity is the soul of wit?). Here’s the gist of the article:

  • He was misquoted. What he meant to say was that he hasn’t read the books, and he thinks that they are too old for younger readers. Which, I’m not sure why he thinks he was misquoted, because that’s EXACTLY what I reported him saying yesterday!

You can read the rest of the article if you want, he kind of goes on and on and ON. But I think he’s basically trying to backpedal. I mean, really, who cares what this guy thinks of the Harry Potter books?

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2 opinions for Michael Rosen clarifies his remarks about Harry Potter

  • taylor
    May 20, 2008 at 16:18

    you said it wendy. its called backpedaling. sheesh.
    vive xe

  • Michael Rosen
    May 27, 2008 at 08:25

    Let’s take this in steps. It wasn’t me who said that what I had to say about HP was worth reporting. I wasn’t interviewed about HP, I was interviewed about my tour of Scotland.

    1. I’ve defended HP books right from the off against literary types who’ve attacked them for being derivative and/or boring. It’s me who’s been hauled onto radio and TV shows in the UK to say why I think they’re worth reading.

    2. What I said that they’re tough going for my seven year old , so I hadn’t read them to her, because no mom or dad want’s to risk boring their kids. I suggested that JKR writes a more sophisticated kind of story ie one where you don’t know who is a goodie or baddie until the story unfolds. Some children under the age of 7 find that disconcerting and uncomfortable. Why spoil the fun when they’re young when they can enjoy it so much more when they’re older.

    3. I also said that they’re not my preferred reading. I like Thomas Hardy, Dickens and Maupassant. That’s just because of who I am and how I’ve grown up.

    4. Respect to all who love HP books. I’ve never at any point said ‘they’re boring.’ Ever heard of newspapers who fabricate stories? Ever heard of newspapers that don’t tell the truth? Well, you have now.

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