Book 5 rewrites/TheQuestionThatMustNotBeNamed

[lupinesque]

Cindy wrote:

> My reaction to the rumor that JKR is unhappy with two chapters was 
> one of alarm.  The last time she was unhappy with a chapter was 
> GoF, "The Dark Mark." Apparently, she wrote it again and again, and 
> it still wound up being especially choppy and weak, IMHO.  The last 
> time she had difficulty getting a book written was CoS, which is my 
> least favorite.  So I'm seeing some warning signs.

I didn't think "The Dark Mark" was choppy and weak.  It isn't the most 
exciting chapter, but it's very well-written, IMO, gracefully 
bearing the burden of a hell of a lot of plot expo (and all cleverly 
done to cast suspicion on various red herrings).  If I'd had to pick 
out the chapter that JKR had to rewrite 13 times, I'd never have known 
which one.  But then, I also like CoS and don't think it shows any 
signs of the agonizing writer's block she suffered.

I guess I'm getting kind of on-topic here.  If you want to continue, 
let's take our gloves over to the main list.

As long as I'm picking on Cindy <g>:  your hilarious post on The Many 
Errors of Severus Snape asserts what even the most ardent 
young-Hermione acolyte has never claimed: that she is 10 *at the end* 
of PS (and 11 through most of CoS).  She either turns 11 or 12 the 
September they begin school; i.e., she is either 2 months younger than 
Harry, or 10 months older.  If she were 10 when she solved Snape's 
riddle, she'd be 14 months younger.  I refuse to mention this on the 
main list for fear of re-awakening That Question.

Amy