Introducing myself to the board

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 5240

Hi --

Welcome to Zsenya!

> I have to say initially however, that I have a decided feeling about
> the whole series and that is that they are first and foremost
> children's literature.  It's not that I think that they are not
> "real" literature, what I mean is that I think no matter how dark or
> serious books 5 - 7 get, JK Rowling is always writing for a certain
> target audience, and that audience is not 28 years old like I am.

Well, you may get some sharp disagreement on this one -- one of your
listmoms in particular (me!) would take issue with that.  JKR herself
has said in countless interviews that she didn't write to a target
audience of children, she didn't realize PS/SS was a "children's book"
until much later, she always felt the books were appropriate for
children of certain ages but not targeted at them and most importantly,
she has said that she wrote the books as something she (an adult when
she wrote them) would enjoy.  So, she's always maintained that she's not
surprised by the large adult following.  She's also refused to "tone
down" the books for her younger readers -- if they were truly being
targeted at 9-12 yr olds, she would probably feel compelled to tone them
down.

> That in mind, although the books are amazingly intricate and complex,
> they are also in many ways (I think) quite straightforward.

Well, all I can say is: we debate & theorize *alot* in this group (i.e.,
most all of us wouldn't necessarily think the books are
"straightforward" at all really).  I guess if you've been lurking for
awhile you've probably gleaned that already.  But, we have had some
members who really thought that we were "going overboard" -- the depth
of analysis was a bit of a shock for them.  <g>

> Hermione
>
> I love Hermione.  I don't consider her to be a braggart at all. I was
> a "smart" child myself.  More than that, I was book smart rather that
> overly naturally smart, which is I think Hermione's situation as
> well.

Yay!  Another Hermione fan!!  :--)

Again, welcome to our group!

Penny


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