Stories you don't understand why they are so popul

[tabethac]

I thought this might be an interesting topic to discuss. I was on another Harry Potter forum that has an active "Help I'm Looking For..." thread where people also ask for recommendations on stories to read. So, this could also be a "stories you don't understand why they are recommended so often" discussion. Anyway...

For me, it is the Saving Connor series. I've tried reading it several times and I just don't like it. I really don't get why it is so popular or why it is recommended so often. For those who haven't read it...it is a Wrong BWL story where Lily and James are alive and everyone thinks Harry's twin Connor is the BWL. It goes through the main story line some what of the books but obviously in a different way. But the main reason I don't like is the way Lily treats Harry because according to her he shouldn't have a childhood so that his brother does because of what he is going to have to do when he's older. And then she berates him when he doesn't live up to her expectations when it comes to him saving his brother. It just rubs me the wrong way.

So, what are some stories you don't get why they are so popular?

[Kitty279]

*cough*My Immortal*cough* (and that JoBekke or whatever the name was).

Of most I disliked I can't remember the title or anything. The only one I can remember right now was "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality" by Less Wrong. It started out not too bad, but around chapter 20 I gave up, because I seriously disagreed with the author about the use of public humilation. It's still one of the most reviewed stories, if not the one with the most reviews, but I couldn't bring myself to read any further.

On a more general note, never understood the appeal of *any* Harry/Hermione with Snape/Lucius/Draco pairing. I'm avoiding them like the plague.

[Silvertongue]

I got up to chapter 70-something before I gave up. It started being the same thing over and over and it was very long-winded.

[Kitty279]

Oh, good, then I have saved myself 50 chapters I don't need to know

[Silvertongue]

*snickers* Indeed you did. I do like the way they made Quirrell in that fic though. I'd like to see more of him losing the stutter and being slightly more Death Eater-y if you know what I mean?

[eskimoRock]

I read that Saving Connor fic, but it just seemed completely pointless to me. Just because one of their children wasn't the chosen one, it doesn't mean that they'd treat him like dirt whilst hero worshiping his brother! Isn't that the one where they give Harry up for adoption so that they can look after the other kid?

[Silvertongue]

There are so many fics like that where they ignore him over the other twin or ignore the other twin over him.

[Miss Wings]

if your looking for a story where the plot doesn't make sense i'd recommend this 1: www.fanfiction.net/s/8019610/1/Harry_Potter_and_Hogwarts_Heirs

they seriously can't make their minds up on what happens..

[tabethac]

"Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality"

I forgot about that one. I couldn't get into that one either.

[tabethac]

Jun 28, 2012 11:40:19 GMT -5 eskimoRock said:

I read that Saving Connor fic, but it just seemed completely pointless to me. Just because one of their children wasn't the chosen one, it doesn't mean that they'd treat him like dirt whilst hero worshiping his brother! Isn't that the one where they give Harry up for adoption so that they can look after the other kid?

No, that is not the one. Harry stays with his family but Lily kind of forces him to grow up quickly in an effort to always keep Connor "innocent" and "pure". But I think she goes way over board.

[Serena R. Snape]

Hmm, the only story I can remember from the top of my head is The Psychic Serpent trilogy. It's an old story, sure, but I never got into it. Read the first three chapters of the first book, then stopped.

[sherza]

Saving Connor creeped me out. I got through most of the first year and was just like 'holy shit ... someone needs therapy ... and it ain't any of the characters'.

[eskimoRock]

I don't know what it was, but there was one with the whole Saving Connor idea, but they kicked Harry out so that they could devote more time to the other kid, at about 5 years old, and then they went to pick him up at 11 but the Malfoys had adopted him and turned him all evil. It was the most implausable fic I've ever read. Even the way Dumbledore suggested an orphanage, and when they both went to get him back they started crying because they'd lost him forever. DONT PUT HIM IN AN ORPANAGE, IDIOTS!

[Silvertongue]

That... sounds ridiculous.

[eskimoRock]

It was. I read if for a laugh, but then it just got completely over the top and I tried to delete any evidence that I had ever read it.

[Silvertongue]

Bwahaha! Did you delete it from your history?

[viralic1]

The one that usually gets me is Jo Bekke and My Immortal. I hate how people complain about those stories, but allow a couple hundred trillion RtB's of those to pop up.

And yeah, I couldn't get into the Method Of Rationality. For me, it was the part where Draco, as an eleven year old boy, is like "Yeah, I'm gonna rape her later." and instead of Harry freaking out, he's pretty much puts in a small effort to get him to shut up, and then doesn't say anything.

[Silvertongue]

....I'd forgotten that happened. Sweet Salazar, why did I read so much of that fic?

[viralic1]

That is the point where I stopped. I won't read passed that, because I know that with that attitude, I'm not going to enjoy the story.

[eskimoRock]

I deleted it from my history, and then proceeded to try and delete it from my mind.

I read a little bit of that Method of Rationality fic, but I think I gave up.

[ykickamoocow]

Basically any story that has the pairing Draco/Hermione. I have no idea how a pairing that is so impossible (given Draco's and Hermione's personalities) could be so popular. Just a bunch of fan girls i guess who enjoy putting themselves in Hermione's place and being the one person capable of making the 'bad boy' good.

[Silvertongue]

Probably, but I must say I'm guilty of reading one or two Dramione fics. They weren't very well written, though, so I never finished them.

[jessieanneh2]

honestly i've started and stopped so many stories that its all a blur! I've basically stopped reading most WBWL stories because it is tragically cliche now.

I also hate stories where the author has alot of knowledge of martial arts and then goes into too much detail. good stories but my brain memory is that of an old Commodore 64!

I also stay away from stories with Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione as a focus mainly because JKR didn't write them realistically (I know teenagers have hormones and are dramatic but we don't all act like that. I always secretly felt that I was born in the wrong century)

Sorry can't really think of specific stories!

[ykickamoocow]

Jun 29, 2012 22:54:12 GMT -5 jessieanneh2 said:

I also stay away from stories with Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione as a focus mainly because JKR didn't write them realistically (I know teenagers have hormones and are dramatic but we don't all act like that. I always secretly felt that I was born in the wrong century)

JKr couldn't write them realistically as truth is that Ron and Hermione would have been having sex in OotP or HBP if it was realistic. JKR couldn't include the more sexual elements of teenage relationships. She was not even allowed by her editors to include swearing.

[jessieanneh2]

Jun 30, 2012 2:24:35 GMT -5 ykickamoocow said:

Jun 29, 2012 22:54:12 GMT -5 jessieanneh2 said:

I also stay away from stories with Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione as a focus mainly because JKR didn't write them realistically (I know teenagers have hormones and are dramatic but we don't all act like that. I always secretly felt that I was born in the wrong century)

JKr couldn't write them realistically as truth is that Ron and Hermione would have been having sex in OotP or HBP if it was realistic. JKR couldn't include the more sexual elements of teenage relationships. She was not even allowed by her editors to include swearing.

true which is why I feel that she shouldn't have tried incorporating romance as that isn't her strong point, she should have left that to the fans for that.

[ykickamoocow]

Jun 30, 2012 2:30:40 GMT -5 jessieanneh2 said:

Jun 30, 2012 2:24:35 GMT -5 ykickamoocow said:

JKr couldn't write them realistically as truth is that Ron and Hermione would have been having sex in OotP or HBP if it was realistic. JKR couldn't include the more sexual elements of teenage relationships. She was not even allowed by her editors to include swearing.

true which is why I feel that she shouldn't have tried incorporating romance as that isn't her strong point, she should have left that to the fans for that.

The romance was pretty good considering JKR's hands were being tied behind her back somewhat. JKR did a good job for instance giving clues that Ron and Hermione were strongly attracted to one another and had feelings for one another.

[jessieanneh2]

Yea they might have been attracted to each other, But I would never get into a relationship with a guy who was the main cause for me nearly dieing in first year (Halloween incident). Hermione would have died if it wasn't for Harry. Ron had to be dragged along which to me was always telling.

Then there is Ron constantly yelling at her, and putting down her love for learning, and only wanting her around to do his homework.

[AllyJackson]

Yea they might have been attracted to each other, But I would never get into a relationship with a guy who was the main cause for me nearly dieing in first year (Halloween incident). Hermione would have died if it wasn't for Harry.

What? If I recall correctly, Harry got his wand stuck up the thing's nose while Ron successfully mastered the spell he'd been having trouble with moments before. Ron then used this successfully mastered spell to *knock out a full grown troll*! If RON weren't there, Hermione would have died! And sure he was dragged along, but he's eleven! I really doubt he *actually* thought she was going to die. He's eleven. Eleven.

[AllyJackson]

Then there is Ron constantly yelling at her, and putting down her love for learning, and only wanting her around to do his homework.

You're kidding me, right? I've honestly got to ask, are you a Ron basher? Seriously. So that explains why Ron got detention with *Snape* because he defended *Hermione*. That's why he called her brilliant. Only wanted her around to do his homework? Really? You're serious?

[sherza]

Jun 30, 2012 17:27:31 GMT -5 AllyJackson said:

What? If I recall correctly, Harry got his wand stuck up the thing's nose while Ron successfully mastered the spell he'd been having trouble with moments before. Ron then used this successfully mastered spell to *knock out a full grown troll*! If RON weren't there, Hermione would have died! And sure he was dragged along, but he's eleven! I really doubt he *actually* thought she was going to die. He's eleven. Eleven.

Ron was the reason Hermione was in that bathroom in the first place, or did you conveniently forget that? If he'd kept his bloody, tactless gob shut, Hermione would have been in the Great Hall with the rest of the kids and that entire adventure never would have happened.

So yeah, I'dve held a grudge for a damn long time ... only the fact that we weren't friends at that point would have kept me from banishing him from my life entirely.

And yes, Ron *constantly* bitched at Hermione. First year, Second year, Third year ... holy hell, third year. Fourth year ... Fifth and sixth ... you get the idea. And he was constantly after her to do his homework for him. Constantly.

Just because we acknowledge these facts don't make us Ron Bashers. We're just acknowledging the truth.