What's your opinion on chapter illustrations

No opinion...

I think that they take away a bit from my mental image, but hey, the movies do that too! lol

I enjoy a good picture. Many of my older, turn of the century books are adorned with detailed artwork.

ASC

I used to have a mental image different form the movies, especially on Hogwarts and the Great Hall. After viewing the movies my mental image was lost

But I think Mary GranPre's Illustrations are good and give a nice look to the books, that's why I prefer the American Books than the Spanish books which do not include the chapter pictures

I don't own any american version books. i don't have any opinion about it all.

The pictures are good...I like that you can look at the picture and guess what will happen next chapter

i only actually own 1 american book - socorers stone, simple because i have an american friend who "borrowed" from his sisters school, and it found its way to the uk!!

I think the chapter pics are well worth having, and its a shame the uk ones dont have them!!

PS - Sorry to anyone who goes to "welsh valley middle school" somewhere in pensilvania

OMG, this *is* an old one!!

I've only seen some of the illustrations because I paid an extortionate amount of money for the Mary GrandPre (sp?) calendar this year and I have the audio version of the American OotP and most of the illustrations were on the CD sleeves.

I really like them, to be honest. I wish they did it in the British versions, but then I like forming my own images of things too - I didn't like her version of Sirius. He looked kind of gangly to me. And Moody was downright creepy.

You know, I'm sure there's a newer thread than this around here somewhere....mmm....I seem to remember commenting about this before...

um yes love them!

(extra words for the sake of it)

Nick, you should know better. You know the rules are there for a reason and it doesn't help matters when experienced members like yourself make light of them.

I can't say that I pay an extraordinary amount of attention to the drawings while I am reading the books, but sometimes I look at them when I'm just flipping through the chapter titles (don't ask!) and I really like them. I guess I'm kind of just used to seeing the pictures there, regardless of their significance in terms of "enriching" the books (or ruining mental images, as the case may be). I've never seen the UK edition of any of the books, but I've read the French versions and I'm not exactly bothered by the lack of illustrations or anything... I guess I'm sort of indifferent...

I don't like the illutrations. I like just the text and the images in my head.

No opinion..I don't really "love" them, they are just weird and I've always imagine characters different from how they were drawn. But they are ok, it's nice to see someone's else point of view.

To be honest I never really look at the illustrations, I usually just read on through because I need to know what happens next (even if I'm re-reading it ). So I don't really have an opinion on them, I can't say I remember what any of them look like.

Although I create my own images of what is going on, I believe that the pictures at the beginning of the chapters begin a little bit of excitement for the chapter. You may see something somewhat creepy or really interesting. That can keep you reading. Most of my books are not American, but the ones that do have illustrations can seem a bit more creative and colorful.

yeah i like it, I think the way she puts the picture there and you have absolutly no idea what its about is great, it really adds to the mystery of the story!

yeah i like it a lot! it makes it so you know kind of what might happen in the next chapter and it gives you a visual about what's going on when you read the chapter.

Well, I like the illustrations of Dumbledore, but I wish they could have made Harry look a bit less gangly and more attractive, like he actually is in the movie. The cover art is very pretty, but I find the ones on the beginning of each chapter sometimes give away a little too much than I wanted to know, because it ruins the element of surprise.

Yes i like them very much. they almost showing and giving us a visual of what will happen in the chapter. it adds detail as well and plus it's never bad to have art on the books and the chapters. the illustrations were for me the first time that i could actually imagine what each character looked like...that's of course before the movies came out. still the illustrations add a nice touch to the books.

i love the chapter illustrations. they make the book more creative, and they give the reader an idea of what objects look like. If the illustrations were'nt there, everyone would have their own ideas, including the movie people. the movie people would put their ideas on screen, and the readers with different ideas of what things should look like would be unhappy... i'm rambling.

Well, I'm not American. However, I have looked at American copies,and I have this to say.

Ruining it. Harry Potter is already considered by some to be a little kid's book. So why further their argument by putting pictures in front of chapters. Besides, the art isn't that great anyway! And do you even need them? And, no offense, I happen to like the British/Canadian covers better.

But I'm biased. I'm a Canadian putting in my opinion. That's all.

It is not really like it adds more to make it a little child's book. All it is is giving you bit of a "preview" for what is to come in the next chapter. I would understand if they just put a picture on every other page. I really like the way she draws the pictures. I personally believe it makes the book a little bit better. I looked at the spanish version, which has no pictures, and I would have to say it was a bit boring.

And sorry, I am American, and I happen to like the american covers better. I like the way the new ones have the color themes, and the art is cooler. And I am biased to so sorry!

-Horace Slughorn

I think they make the book better. I was reading the British edition of PoA and I just didn't like it as much as I liked the American edition.

They are well-drawn of course and very cute but I feel that they give away something about the chapter before you've had a chance to read it.

An illustrated section at the middle or back of the book would be better. But I understand why they do it...it is sort of a nod to the fact that they are supposed to be children's books.

I wish the Canadian edition had pictures--I LOVE the one of Snape in Flight of The Prince. It's really making me look forward to the movie and Alan Rickman's interpretation of Harry calling him a "Coward". I bet he will make it really scary, even if they do add special effects to make him look "un human" his voice alone will probably make you jump from your scenes. I remember his expression in the Shrieking Shack and how you could see he hates Sirius Black and how Lupin was trying to keep things sane.

i really like the illustrations! they are pretty cool, kinda gives you some picture/idea of what the movie would be like, if you even understand what im saying (sorry, i just dont know how to put it).

I absolutely love the Gradpre illustrations on both the cover art and the small pictures before the chapters. I think the artwork is fantastic and take it from someone that looks at all the artwork from all the countries I can find, I prefer the American versions better than any other. I think the extra illustrations add something to the reading experience and I don't think it in any way makes it seem at all like a children's book. But that's just my opinion and what I think because of how my mind works and everyone's works differently most of the time, so I can't like speak for how anyone else might look at it. But I still really like them and the way their drawn. And if I ever wrote a book I would want small pictures at the begining of every chapter.

i really like the illustrations for the american books they are awesome they really fit the chapter like it is apart of the chapter i don't know i like the Illustrations in The American Books i forget the person who does the drawings but they do a great job.

I like the pic illustrations.I think that they are helpful because by looking at them you can kind of get an idea of what the next chapter is going to be like.

Bah, I didnt choose an opinion, I didnt get any versions that have the pictures in them, boy that sucks, I wish I did. Wahh.

I really like the illustrations in the book its just that it gives spark in the book. It's suitable for the children imagination so it's really great.

I don't think that the illustations add or that away from the story. They like the movies may take away the mental image we have of the people places and things in the stories. I really can't imagin what I would have come up with what Hogworts would have looked like in my mind because I didn't start reading the books until after GoF can to the theaters.

what ever happened to the good old fashioned imagination. the mind is an amazing thing, and readers shouldn't need or want pictures to enhance the reading experience. personally i enjoyed the books more before i saw the movies because i could have my own ideas about what the characters looked like and how they would react to certain situations. it was truly my own world that i was immersed in, but now all i see is the way the actors will portray the situation in the next movie.

I really have no opinion on the chapter illustrations. To me they don't take much away or add to much to the plot. Sometimes I focus on them and other times I read right through without noticing them. The only thing that has ruined the images in my imagination is the movies. I now onl picture Danielle Radcliffe, Emma Watson, etc. when I am reading, though I try not to.

[/quote]The pictures are good...I like that you can look at the picture and guess what will happen next chapter.[quote]

I agree. However like to form a mental image of what is happening in the book. It adds excitment to the story.

Only put no opinion as I have never seen the American books so can't give an opinion.

I am split between having illustrations in books.

I do like looking at pictures in books but on the other hand I like to use my imagination about what people look like and work out what kind of character they are like from the descriptions in the books.

Sometimes when you watch a film after having read a book. Not Just Harry Potter but when you see the person that has been chosen for the role is nothing like what you thought they would look like.

to be perfectly honest I always look forward to some of the chapter illustrations. It gives me something to look forward to in that chapter because most times I have no idea what they are supposed to mean. But I think they are beautiful. I love Grandpres style. I have my own idea of what thinks look like, but I really like being able to see her view. I think they make the book more enjoyable and more... real.

Even though the pictures aren't that realistic looking. But whatever I think you get what I mean.

Nah. I think that chapter illustrations ruin the book. I like making my own mental images. but now that the movies have come out I imagine the cast doing it instead of my own imaginary Harry!!

The artistry is great!! I would be fine with more of Mary GrandPre' in the books. If a reader so desires, they can still form their own mental images and ignore the illustrations and the films.

Yes, I love them. They sometimes help convey things that would otherwise be a bit confusing. They help the story along. Mary Grandpre is an important part of the books.

they're nice! and i do appreciate everything about drawing and the arts!

I have to say that I like the illustrations. They add so much more to the feeling you receive when you're reading a chapter because your mind automatically turns over and predicts what's going to happen just from viewing the image above the chapter title - well for me in any case.

Yes, the illustrations are okay. Sometimes, however, I find that they can look very childish (in contrast to what actually happens in the chapter). If you take a look back in HBP towards the end where Harry and Dumbledore quest to find the amulet, the illustration for the chapters are brushstroked and looks as if they've been painted with water color. Not the best type of imagery, I think.

That's just my opinoin on it though. Feel free to condradict me.

I don't read the American versions of the book, and I'm glad I don't. Chapter Illustrations just make books seem childish, and they stop you from being able to imagine how things look for yourselves; instead you have some illustrators version of how things appear. I've seen the Illustrations on the web, and they aren't really that good; Illustrations are for children's books, and I know these books are for children, but they are also for teenagers and adults, who want to escape picture books and let their minds run wild. I'm very glad I don't live in America and have to look at all of those pictures; it would spoil the books for me.

I to like the illustrations, but I don't think they make the books better. I could do without them, but I think they add something extra, espically for the younger readers.

All my Harry Potter books are the Bloomsbury edition, exect for number 5, which was a gift from a relative in America.
They (the pictures, not my relatives, they bought me a HARRY POTTER BOOK!! HELLO?? ) kinda irritate me, because they tell you what is coming up in the next chapter. It kinda lessens the impact of the story and it's twists ect....
I also imagen the characters physically looking different and these conflicting images irritate me. T
he book is a novel, let's keep it that way?! Don't ruin it by putting petty sketches everywhere??!

Well, since I only have the american verison of Philospohers Stone , I can't really give a good opion , i'm fine with the ones in PS , they are really werid looking though... haha

As i'm from the UK, i have never seen the images, however i have seen other pictures that the illustrator has drawn, and i don't think i would like them. I like to imagine myself, and the images would ruin this, however i suppose the films do this to a certain extent aswell so .... meh.

I often don't notice them, but when I look at them, they're pretty cool. I like to imagine what the picture means if it's the first time I read the book.

I dont really notice them while i'm reading the books. When i go back and acually look at them, i realized that they give a few clues to what might happen in the chapter. So yes, i think thay add a little to the books.

I actually like the images in the beginning of the chapter. They help me get a clearer picture in my head of what is really going on. They also help me picture what some of the characters look like. Without it, I had to come up with the characters look like in my head, and they come out pretty weird. The pictures help me get things clearer.
But when I start watching the movies, all the images in my head of what is going on is ruined.