In which I discuss HP again:
Okay, first off, I think I got M to agree to read the first HP book. She has never agreed to this before. Here's what happened: I was pouring juice and telling her that I wanted to watch Oprah today, because she was interviewing JKR. I usually have no interest in Oprah, not that I dislike her, I have respect for what she has accomplished, but because... I don't watch a lot of tv, I guess. Can't be bothered. But I love JKR. Anyway, M rolled her eyes and I told her, "Do not judge, you have never read these books." And she called me a hypocrite, because I don't read her political analysis/American history books. So I told her that if I read one of her books, she had to match me, page for page. And she agreed after her semester is over.
This challenge is slightly unfair because HP and the SS is much easier than what she will be forcing on me, especially since we both expect the other to retain everything. No skimming. Rats. Worth it? We'll see.
As to the interview, I wasn't completely freaked out; I've seen interviews with Rowling before. She's soft-spoken, well spoken, and above all, very charming and classy. And she and Oprah could connect on a very real level, which was nice, because sometimes it seems like Oprah fakes it a bit, not willing to put herself out there (I can't really blame her, I guess). Glad they could talk about how they "made it" and how money is a super power. What happened last week? Oh yeah. my mother lost her unemployment and I got a job in the stock room at Macy's. But Oprah was interviewing her (as trite as it sounds) about her life. Which, it may sound harsh, I know a bit about and it's fascinating, but I don't really care! I wanted to talk books!! The insights into her religious views, such as they were (as JKR is very private), were interesting. I thought.
I want to talk more about mythology, and the importance of names and dreams and so on these books. It sounds Freudian, but... the language of it kind of has to be important. Harry's dreams are so important, and NAMES in these books are so insightful. I figured Remus was going to die from book three. There's a reason she didn't name him Romulus.
I also wanted to talk about how these books are completely relevant, why they connect to so many readers. But all this is a continuation of my HP class.
Fascinating. So, these are the questions I would ask if I had a chance. I made a list.
So, questions I would ask JK if I could (in no particular order):
WHY OH WHY DID YOU KILL OFF TONKS?
Did you intend to base Hermione's S.P.E.W. off of the feminist/suffragette Society for the Promotion of the Employment of Women (1859) [SPEW]? Since House-Elves to traditionally what is known as "woman's work," such as cooking, cleaning and in Winky's case, care-taking? And the mark of a good house-elf, of course is that you don't know they're there. And they don't have proper clothes. Or was that just a coincidence? (For those of you that weren't in my HP class last semester, I just rocked your world).
Luna Lovegood: Crazy or Spiritual? What's the deal with her character? She seems to spark a lot of debate.
How did Lily and James, Alice and Frank, defy Voldemort three times and survive? I would love to read that story. Not just the prequel, but all the nitty gritty details.
Would Tom Riddle have turned evil if Dumbledore had nurtured him like he had Harry? Harry and Tom start off in similar backgrounds. It's true Tom doesn't have his mother's love running LITERALLY through his veins, but... Harry would have been lost without Dumbledore, I think.
Anyway, feel free to respond to these questions, or perhaps ask you own.
This challenge is slightly unfair because HP and the SS is much easier than what she will be forcing on me, especially since we both expect the other to retain everything. No skimming. Rats. Worth it? We'll see.
As to the interview, I wasn't completely freaked out; I've seen interviews with Rowling before. She's soft-spoken, well spoken, and above all, very charming and classy. And she and Oprah could connect on a very real level, which was nice, because sometimes it seems like Oprah fakes it a bit, not willing to put herself out there (I can't really blame her, I guess). Glad they could talk about how they "made it" and how money is a super power. What happened last week? Oh yeah. my mother lost her unemployment and I got a job in the stock room at Macy's. But Oprah was interviewing her (as trite as it sounds) about her life. Which, it may sound harsh, I know a bit about and it's fascinating, but I don't really care! I wanted to talk books!! The insights into her religious views, such as they were (as JKR is very private), were interesting. I thought.
I want to talk more about mythology, and the importance of names and dreams and so on these books. It sounds Freudian, but... the language of it kind of has to be important. Harry's dreams are so important, and NAMES in these books are so insightful. I figured Remus was going to die from book three. There's a reason she didn't name him Romulus.
I also wanted to talk about how these books are completely relevant, why they connect to so many readers. But all this is a continuation of my HP class.
Fascinating. So, these are the questions I would ask if I had a chance. I made a list.
So, questions I would ask JK if I could (in no particular order):
WHY OH WHY DID YOU KILL OFF TONKS?
Did you intend to base Hermione's S.P.E.W. off of the feminist/suffragette Society for the Promotion of the Employment of Women (1859) [SPEW]? Since House-Elves to traditionally what is known as "woman's work," such as cooking, cleaning and in Winky's case, care-taking? And the mark of a good house-elf, of course is that you don't know they're there. And they don't have proper clothes. Or was that just a coincidence? (For those of you that weren't in my HP class last semester, I just rocked your world).
Luna Lovegood: Crazy or Spiritual? What's the deal with her character? She seems to spark a lot of debate.
How did Lily and James, Alice and Frank, defy Voldemort three times and survive? I would love to read that story. Not just the prequel, but all the nitty gritty details.
Would Tom Riddle have turned evil if Dumbledore had nurtured him like he had Harry? Harry and Tom start off in similar backgrounds. It's true Tom doesn't have his mother's love running LITERALLY through his veins, but... Harry would have been lost without Dumbledore, I think.
Anyway, feel free to respond to these questions, or perhaps ask you own.