• What do you think of Harry Potter companion books/ encyclopaedias/ A-to-Z guides?
• Do you think such books are of value to the HP reading experience?
• Do you think you would have benefitted from having one while reading HP?
• Do you think such books could negatively affect one’s experience of reading HP?

The question is not whether such books are legally or ethically allowable or if they constitute an infringement of copyright but whether they are of value and benefit to the reader.

Leaky News reported in their coverage of the introduction of HP into the A-Level syllabus(here) that a highcourt judge described much of the series' content as "gibberish", and seemingly felt that there may be some merit to such a companion book. Do you agree?

Please Discuss

I do agree that they are needed, but not for the first-time readers because of spoilers. I also don't think one like the Lexicon is needed where it just quotes the book. I think that if you read the series and then get a companion book to help you remember some things, then you don't have to worry about spoilers anymore.

*Puts Modly hat on*

Just a short, friendly precautionary note: I will politely ask everyone to avoid any commentary on the WB/JKR vs. SVA lawsuit in this thread, and to please refrain from posting any personal feelings about those individuals involved in the case as well.

Have fun and happy posting

Lirene
LL Mod

I think companion books such as an A-Z guide could be helpful if I were using the series for some kind of academic purpose. As a casual reader, however, they would have little to no real value to me because I wouldn't have a use for them.

That said, I would point out that in my modly business here on Leaky I have relied heavily on the Lex website for a couple of years. I've used it for everything from making polls to trivia to answering specific questions from posters. That value would not transfer over into any kind of physical book (regardless of who produces it), however, since I mod from a variety of locations. I'm not about to carry around a reference book, even if it is HP.

I would be interested in JKR's encyclopedia because of the new information it would provide, not because it would put the old information in a handy format.

Just my .02.

When I began poking around on the internet the first site I used was HPL and thought it could make a great reference book. I would have also liked that it include the essays, artwork, in other words all of it. I have spent a lot of time reading online about the characters and their positions in the various books. I haven't bought any of the other companion books published as the few that I have seen didn't hit my "buy me" button. As I good consumer I have all 9 books, plus one boxed complete set of 7 as the others are getting a little grotty, all 7 audio books by Jim Dale for my Ipod, so I'm thinking yes I would likely buy a good HP companion/reference book. (Hmmm.... not surprised JKR is a billionaire.)

hmmm, well that's the thing isn't it. The idea behind some of these guides is to, as you say, present the information in a handy format, but
I've found that I've looked at one-or-two(I can't remember what their names are but my intent isn't to name and shame, so...) and I found them to be a very poor resource. The entries were very basic, uninformitive, gave no references and were in a few cases incorrect! They were very childish and although one may argue that these specifically may have been aimed at the children's market, I do think they could serve to negatively impact the public's perception of the series

Edit; Damn Typos!

I own Fionna Boyle's "A Muggle's Guide to the Wizarding World", which includes everthing from Books 1-5. It's basically a refrence guide. I bought the book when I was younger and less of a fan of the series. It has good information, but I don't see how it would be beneficial to the reading experience: it's basically just the books rehashed and categorized. The only thing I use it for is trivia challenges I have with my frineds occasionally.

Hmm! some knotty questions here.

What do you think of Harry Potter companion books/encyclopedias/A to Z Guides?

I think we need a clear definition of what is a "companion" book. I do not want to read a book that is all puff and no meat. I've had opportunities to see many books cropping up in the bookstores in the section where the Harry Potter books are being sold, and there seems to be quite a cottage industry of non-canon books. The best companion books I have read so far were the little gems written by Jo herself. (Magical beasts and where to find them--it's been a while, so forgive me if I didn't get the title quite right).

Other "companion" or study books that I have found helpful are Looking for God in Harry Potter by John Granger and The Gospel According to Harry Potter by Connie Neal. These are good books to have on hand in case you have some fundamentalist Christian friend or relative who thinks the Harry Potter books are Occult and evil. The Granger book is more scholarly and develops a alchemical theme throughout each book. It only goes up through book five, though. Granger did predict that Dumbledore would die in book six, which at the time I thought was reaching a bit. In hindsight, I would say that he was tuned in to what was happening more than I was, as I had had no thoughts of Dumbledore being killed. The Neal book mainly covers the first Harry Potter book, and is written more on the level that would be appropriate for a young reader.

I also liked the book of essays edited by Mercedes Lackey, Mapping the World of the Sorcerer's Apprentice(Harry Potter).
I found each of these books to be entertaining reading, and having some original insight which was helpful.

Do You think such books are of value to the Harry Potter experience?
Yes, but with the qualifier that the Harry Potter book or books should be read first.

Do you think that you would have benefitted from having one while reading Harry Potter?
While actually reading one of the HP books, no. My personal thinking is that any kind of study guide or "help" book should only be read after the original novel itself. Otherwise the reader gets tainted by the viewpoint of the other writer. If the writer of the companion book does a good job, then the reader should have a sense of recognition when coming across points about the HP books. I am very much opposed to reading books with an agenda in mind. It takes away so much of the enjoyment of the (original)author's work.

Do you think such books could negatively affect one's experience of reading HP?
Oops! Got ahead of myself again. See above answer.

LeakyNews reported in their coverage of HP the A-Level syllabus that a high court judge described much of the series' content as "gibberish", and seemingly felt that there may be some merit to such a companion book. Do you agree?

I will break this down into individual answers. It seems to be entirely reasonable to place reading of Harry Potter books on A-Level reading requirements, as it has been such a cultural phenomonen.
As for the judge's comments, I am enraged! How dare he call the Harry Potter books vocabulary gibberish?! Personally, I think he should recuse himself from the case as he clearly does not have the literary background that would qualify him to make a decision in this case. Is any book whose author uses creative vocabulary to be called gibberish?
I suppose in that case we would include the works of J.R.R Tolkien and Lewis Carroll in that category!! Bah! Humbug!

By companion book I mean one which is intended to accompany or supplement the series in A-to-Z or encyclopaedia format. As stated above I haven’t thought much of those guides which I have encountered to date. I agree with stellasofia that some are just the HP books “rehashed and categorized”. I think some novels can benefit from companion guides of this nature but I don’t think HP is among them.

For example I have Terry Pratchett’s “The New Discworld Companion” which I found to be an invaluable resource while reading the Discworld novels. It is just info from the books presented in A-to-Z format but as the information could have been mentioned or occurred throughout any one of the 36 Discworld novels there is an actual necessity for the guide. Hp differs in respect to this as Jo explains most events as they occur. Most people will (I think) have read the series in sequence but even if not I think Jo gives sufficient narration to make up for what may have been missed from other books.

I don't think a companion guide is applicable to the HP novels in the same way, but clearly there are those who would disagree(such as the "gibberish" judge) but I just don't get it

I'm in agreement with your sentiments, Pleione. Rowling's encyclopedia is a literary work that I am certainly looking forward to. Having read the entire series I would be interested to know a lot of the back story to the characters and events that we are not necessarily privy to, or only get a smidgen of information at best and I believe it will enrich my HP experience.

I would also like to own Rowlings own companion books; "Quidditch Through The Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts". There are so many fascinating creatures mentioned in the books, and Quidditch is fascinating in and of itself and I would find Rowling's books a great accompaniment.

I agree wholeheartedly with you, Fricka. A companion book would be of value to me only after the books are read. I wouldn't want any spoiler information if I am a first time reader and I believe Rowling does such a fabulous job with her own books that all else would be paltry in comparison.


I respectfully disagree with the judge's comments .