..Rowling that is. I thought our very own JK here might be interested.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6919618.stm

Oh and btw I'm a great admirer of Clive James. Don't see nor hear enough of him these days.

I have to agree about Clive James - a very intelligent and witty man.
Whatever happened to his protege 'Margarita Pracatan'?

Wasn't she absolutely brilliant!! Clive James was everything Jonathan Ross isn't!! 'Three poofs and a piano'? Nice try...but it doesn't work. It will only take someone with a modicum of talent to overthrow Ross. And to be honest I can't wait. Clive James mildy mocked his guests, but he did it brilliantly and incorporated great satire and humour.

Great quote there as well from Mr James.."The average book does not even get published.."

The odd average book that unfortunately does get published, spends most of it`s days half read in a vacational chalet or holiday home awaiting it`s next bored victim on a rainy day.

I wouldn`t mind guessing on an Archer novel in a very large percentage of such dwellings this summer,but very few , in fact no, Rowlings.

Oddly enough I just picked up a discarded Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollow on the train today. I doubt I'll bring myself to read it, but I'm sure I can find someone who wants it.

I would heartily recommend you read it PBS but only (which I doubt from your post) if you've already read the first six.

If not, keep it on one side as a gift from heaven and start on Volume One!

Well, PBS, I never had any interest in reading the Harry Potter books. A former colleaugue was always telling me how brilliant they were and asked if I would like to borrow the first three books. In a moment of weakness, I agreed. So, really, I only started reading them under duress in case she asked me about the plot afterwards! But even with this negative attitude, I was soon hooked, and have read them all avidly since.

I am savouring the last book even more than our JK- I'm still only on chapter 18 and loving every minute.

So, PBS, give Harry a chance!

Interesting piece by Clive James but he doesn't read the books (not liking elves and magic).

The real phenomenon is how superb the books are.

They transcend the quality tests of critics (one found 7 cliches on one random page) and bring story telling and character and plot building into the imagination of millions.

That is indeed an incredible achievement. And rather than Roger Bannister (just another athlete) it is on a par with The Beatles and Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra and just a handful of global superstars.

I was somewhat surprised at the correlation he makes between Rowling and Bannister too. If Rowling's achievements can be likened to a great sporting triumph which had the whole nation in hysteria, one would have thought a better example was England's 1966 World Cup victory.

..or perhaps it's all a little bit OTT.

Isn't envy a terrible thing?

I did read the first book, and part of the second. They were okay but I've known much better writers and my interest just faded. That's not to say I thought the books were bad. Obviously millions thought they were good. They just didn't do much for me, plus I think the excessive hype put me off a bit.

I handed the book to a younger relative who said "Oh cool" and immediately went to the last few pages to see how it all ended. Kids, huh?!?

In total agreement PBS - not everyone will, or should, like everything.

At University I greatly enjoyed the novels of Thomas Love Peacock. His satire amused me. But very few others.

Presently I'm reading the latest GERALD SEYMOUR, one of my favourite writers but not widely known or appreciated.

So there's nothing wrong with NOT enjoying Harry Potter. Just don't condemn others for loving the books.