I'm American and read these books growing up - I never heard that sort of criticism. I do think his books have a lot of dark elements though, if people have been saying that, they aren't wrong. There's some disturbing stuff for a kids' book.

I'm not saying it's bad to have stuff like that at all. But it is what it is. I think elements of those books stick out to me more as an adult than they ever did when I was a kid.