Posted on 10/26/2007 8:00:03 AM PDT by Stoat
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Rowlings may be closer to a liberal democrat in her heart, but her wizarding world is a just a fantasy story after all.
Yes, career sponge J. K. Rowling hit it big because her daydreams about being granted status and power resonated with all the other life-long sponges.
I read two of them for the first time this summer, too. I thought they were horribly written, but I also think Rowling has a talent for plot development, which was far and away the best part of the books. I shudder to think that kids read these and think they are good.
“I thought they were horribly written...”
Why?
Actually, it’s a 7 part story and the style develops through all 7.
So many don’t want to open their eyes to this women, which is fine if you want to live in a bubble. Rowling stated that she made it clear in her last book that Dumbledore was gay. An adult should have been to see that. But look at how many people were shocked by the outing. The same goes for her about Bush in the one of her books. The left knew exactly what she was talking about but the right still kept making excuses.
If you don’t care that she was in Amnesty International than you are closing the door to who she really is. Not my problem if you want to be deluded.
"It's true I used a wide stance when casting the complex charm that defeated Grindlewald, but it was merely for leverage."
At least they are reading SOMETHING and not spending 'all' of their time with Playstation, drugs, rap or TV.
Hopefully it will serve as a springboard into the classics for some at least.
And how many truly excellent titles are pushed by Oprah? Sadly, anything that's wildly popular is not going to be eclectic, by definition.
Thank you for your kind words :-)
Yeah, and Robin Hood and A Christmas Carol were also pro-statist stories...
She did nothing of the sort. I have read all of the books at least once and the last one twice.
There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the book that would lead you to think that. Her comments were after the book, what she perhaps thought of as backstory. But there is nothing in the relationship in the book to indicate that the reference was more than a partnership/friendship that ended badly.
Nothing.
And, unlike you, I can prove it.
As for the reference to Bush, you again speak from the ignorance of trusting misquoted articles.
The refernece to that "horrible man across the ocean" is a phrase used by the British Prime Minister in (I believe) book 5. The BPM himself isn't looked upon all that favorably. NO U.S. President is named. NOR IS THEIR ANY REFERNCE TO KATRINA. (If she said something outside the books, find me a quote)
HOWEVER, if you follow the chronology of the books and of Harry Potter's life (and she's pretty darn specific about dates), the reference takes place when Bill Clinton is President.
Try again.
Look, I have no problem with people who don't like the books or who don't want their kids reading the books.
But I do have a problem with people basing their hysteria on misinformation.
Shoot, from the headline I thought he was a fellow left-hander.
I have no doubt that this French philosopher or others like him will attempt to make exactly such a case the next time their own book sales experience a slump and they are looking for a bit of extra publicity :-)
That’s the argument I hear, but I don’t buy it. My own daughter hates to read (break my heart) but she will read this rubbish, even thought even she doesn’t like the Potter series. But it certainly doesn’t act as a springboard to the classics. There’s actually very good young adult literature out there, but like with everything, you have to be careful with it. There’s more rubbish in YA Lit than there should be.
They are a great read. Seven years of character and plot development.
Besides, she creates this amazing world of wizardy that is Tolkien-esque.
WOrth the time.
I appreciate the recommendation, thank you. I loved Tolkien and read the entire series 4-5 times as a child.
reducio typos
“The refernece to that “horrible man across the ocean” is a phrase used by the British Prime Minister in (I believe) book 5. The BPM himself isn’t looked upon all that favorably. NO U.S. President is named. “
FWIW - these books take place in the 90’s if there is a “horrible man” referring to the US president (which I doubt) it would be Clinton.
"He's my character," she asserted. "I have the right to know what I know about him and say what I say about him."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071024.ROWLING24/TPStory/Entertainment
Dumbledore and Grindelwald
Because Dumbledore's parents were absent (his father being in Azkaban and mother deceased), Albus became the head of the family and it became his duty to put food on the table (they were not left with much gold). He was forced to remain in his house with his sister Ariana while Aberforth completed his education. Soon later, a young Gellert Grindelwald arrived in Godric's Hollow to live with his great-aunt, Bathilda Bagshot, author of A History of Magic. The young Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and together they dreamed of ruling the world "for the greater good" by uniting the legendary Deathly Hallows.
Both wizards had the idea that the Wizarding world should take its rightful place on top of the Muggles, and both believed that wizards should rule over them and put them in their rightful place amongst the entire world. Even if they were forced to destroy a few along the way, it would be "For the greater good" and that the sufferings and losses would be rewarded a hundredfold in the end. However, a discussion between Albus, Aberforth and Grindelwald led to a duel that resulted in Ariana's death. For the rest of his life, Dumbledore felt guilty, never certain whether it was his own curse or another that had actually killed his sister.
Grindelwald stormed back to Bagshot's home and departed to begin his own rule. Meanwhile, in Ariana's funeral, Aberforth became enraged during the service and punched Albus in the nose, breaking it, giving its known crooked appearance. Albus later felt great remorse for his mistakes during adolescence. As a result of them, he felt that he was not to be trusted with power and, because of this, never took the position of Minister of Magic, despite having been offered several times. Dumbledore retured to Hogwarts as professor of Transfiguration, and most likely later became Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts as he also served in recruiting students for the school.
Dumbledore finally defeated the now-Dark wizard Grindelwald, who had come to possess the Elder Wand. After Grindelwald's defeat, Dumbledore became true master of the Elder Wand, which has been his wand until his death, regarding it as the least of the three Hallows, and the only one he was fit to wield.
While speaking at Carnegie Hall on October 19, 2007, J.K. Rowling was asked by a young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love". Rowling said "Dumbledore is gay" and that he had fallen in love with Grindelwald, who did not return his affections. That love, she said, was Dumbledore's "great tragedy."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbledore
Yeah, you'd think that it would be Clinton, however with the talk of terrible hurricanes, that makes it Bush. Besides that, nobody was hated as much as Bush. The Brits made fun of Clinton but they hated George more than anything.
Anyone can give their own interpretation of what something represents, as an analogy, to them; and that’s all it is - their own interpretation. His critique should not be read as anything anymore definitive than purely his own version of what the Potter stories mean to him.
I'm not getting the impression that anyone here is taking him too seriously :-)
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