Yeah, once they stopped having the time to properly edit and translate them (with #5 I think), the overall quality really suffered. I still love the series, but the latter books could have been so much better.
And we live to fight another day.
Mal ,'Objects In Space'
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megan walker - Nov 17, 2010 6:24:05 am PST #12046 of 30000
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
DavidS - Nov 17, 2010 6:46:17 am PST #12047 of 30000
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
"ZOMG YOU GUYS THERE'S SO MUCH EXCITING STUFF GOING ON OUTSIDE THIS TENT TOO BAD JKR IS GOING TO KEEP YOU HERE ANOTHER 100 PAGES KTHXBYE."
Yeah. OTOH, it did create this big fanfic space for people to write about Neville, Ginny and Luna at Hogwarts.
I think I need to use "tent bickering" as a convenient short hand for tedious narrative choices designed to try your patience. I will retroactively apply it to Frodo, Sam and Gollum trekking endlessly through the Marshes.
beekaytee - Nov 17, 2010 6:57:16 am PST #12048 of 30000
Compassionately intolerant
Yes, for all the reasons Hec points out. Also the 100+ pages of Tent Bickering complete with pop-ins from other characters saying "ZOMG YOU GUYS THERE'S SO MUCH EXCITING STUFF GOING ON OUTSIDE THIS TENT TOO BAD JKR IS GOING TO KEEP YOU HERE ANOTHER 100 PAGES KTHXBYE."
Totally this.
There are a handful of awesome moments that, were they appropriately edited, would have fit into 200 or so pages.
le nubian - Nov 17, 2010 7:00:25 am PST #12049 of 30000
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
properly edit and translate them
???
Rowling's books were translated? From English to English?
Laga - Nov 17, 2010 7:10:23 am PST #12050 of 30000
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.
Well, for some reason those Brits thought us Yanks couldn't understand what a Philosopher's Stone is.
Jessica - Nov 17, 2010 7:12:19 am PST #12051 of 30000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
If they'd been better edited, there would have been room left in the back of each book for a UK-US English glossary! Jumpers and lifts - mysteries no more!
Laga - Nov 17, 2010 7:14:42 am PST #12052 of 30000
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.
Yesterday I looked up 'chipolatas' in the dictionary.
beekaytee - Nov 17, 2010 7:27:44 am PST #12053 of 30000
Compassionately intolerant
Yesterday I looked up 'chipolatas' in the dictionary.
I had to do that when I first listened to the book!
Laga - Nov 17, 2010 7:35:28 am PST #12054 of 30000
You should know I'm a big deal in the Resistance.
Then later on I was watching Doctor Who and they were eating chipolatas! How had I never noticed that I didn't know that word before when I've read those books and watched that TV show so many times?
megan walker - Nov 17, 2010 7:37:33 am PST #12055 of 30000
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Rowling's books were translated? From English to English?
Yep. In the beginning it's all sneakers and sweaters and by the end it's trainers and jumpers. (Plenty of books are translated from British English to American English, especially cookbooks and DIY.) At the time I noticed the change, you could find long lists of all the HP edits on the Web. I'm sure you still can.
I wouldn't care either way, but I hate the inconsistency. Also, the fact that it stops at some point is a confirmation that the publishers just weren't spending time on the books anymore.