Looking For God In Harry Potter: Amazon.ca: John Granger: Books

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From Publishers Weekly

Granger (no relation to fellow brainiac Hermione), a homeschooling Christian father of seven, initially resisted when a friend encouraged him to read the Harry Potter books. But Rowling's novels, sprinkled with literary allusions and strong biblical values, won the classicist over quickly, and he became an avid spokesperson for the series. This book transcends the responses of some other Christian writers (those in support, like Connie Neal, or in sloppy accusations, like Richard Abanes) to offer a serious literary and Christian appraisal of the first five books. Granger begins with the thesis that all humans are "wired" to respond to "stories that reflect the greatest story ever told," including that of Harry's struggle against evil. The best part of the book is Granger's lucid commentary on Rowling's use of language—the insights into character names alone are worth the price of admission—and his keen awareness of word play. Although some arguments are a stretch, and there are a few tiny mistakes (in a footnote, for example, Granger claims that the hero of James and the Giant Peach was named James Potter, like Harry's dad, when it was James Henry Trotter), this is obviously a painstakingly researched book. It is easily the best examination to date of the spiritual legacy of "the boy who lived."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

Millions of children, even Christian children, are reading the mega-selling Harry Potter book series and are exposed to the Harry Potter movies. John Granger, a devout Christian, teacher of classic literature, and father of seven children, first read the Harry Potter books so he could explain to his children why they weren't allowed to read them. After intense study, however, he became convinced that the books are underestimated as literature--and reflect important Christian truths. In Looking for God in Harry Potter, Granger gives parents and teachers a roadmap for using the Harry Potter books to teach Christian truth to children.

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12 Reviews

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4.9 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting..., July 3 2004

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Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking For God In Harry Potter: Is there Christian meaning hidden in the bestselling books? (Hardcover)

In the old days, Christians might hide their pack of playing cards or a cigarrette from the pastor. Now, both young and old stash Harry Potter videos and books. However, after reading this book, you might want to proudly display them instead.

**** John Granger (no relation to Hermione), takes apart all five volumes of the demonized books to miniscule detail and finds vast amounts of Christian allegory inside them. Going beyond the obvious, he brings to light enough material to keep a Sunday School class going for six months, at least, in a style almost as entertaining as the books themselves. In fact, by the end of Finding God in Harry Potter, you will be convinced that we can learn as much at Hogwarts as in Narnia or Middle Earth. Maybe more. ****

Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Granger is a Genius!, July 5 2004

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Moira Haley Davidson (Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking For God In Harry Potter: Is there Christian meaning hidden in the bestselling books? (Hardcover)

John Granger gives us an authoritative, honest, thought-provoking book, and I recomend it to anyone who's heard of Harry Potter. It's easy to read, but provides a wealth of important informaiton for Potterholics, like myself, and the Harry Haters. Everyone ought to read this book; we have a great deal to learn from Granger, and, as he says, the Potter books themselves. So what are y'all waiting for??? Buy it, Read it, Love it.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Tickling sleeping dragons, Jun 25 2004

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A. Williams (Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Looking For God In Harry Potter: Is there Christian meaning hidden in the bestselling books? (Hardcover)

Don't let the fact that this book is called 'Looking for God in Harry Potter' put you off.

Admittedly it is the best book I have seen for any Christians who are looking for an intelligent alternative to set against the less than totally convincing and intellectually sound argument that, as Stan Shunpike might have said, (had he been a fundamentalist) "Course 'Arry's evil, 'cos 'e's a wizard, inee?'

But this book is not just for Christians, its much too good for that. Its for anyone who has read the Harry Potter books, anyone whose children have read them, and for anyone who is intrigued by the phenomenal success of the books, whether they've read them or not.

Even if you decide that the analysis in terms of specifically Christian symbolism, themes, and answers to questions about the meaning of life, love and death are a stretch, this book still provides an intriguing analysis, and one worth considering. It is by no means a Christian tract or an attempt to bend fiction to the cause of evangelism. It takes the books on their own terms as part of the English literary tradition, a tradition that has frequently made use of Christian symbolism, imagery and themes, even while using the metaphor of magic as a means of making the transcendent tangible.

Of course if John Granger is right and the Harry Potter books are an attempt to smuggle a message past the watchful (C.S.Lewis) or sleeping (J.K.Rowling) dragons that guard us against such things, then maybe this book risks letting the kneazle out of the bag and putting the pixie among the pigeons, even before the complete series is written and published.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking for a sample chapter from the book?
I agree with the other reviewers, that Granger's book is probably the BEST commentary available on the Potter books. Read more

Published on Jun 25 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Granger shows God's easy to find in Harry Potter
That this book is under the aegis of Tyndale House speaks volumes. John Granger, an educator with strong Christian credentials, has been at the forefront in seeing JK Rowling as... Read more

Published on Jun 23 2004 by rapierpen