Pullman interview and some comments relating to HP

[Simon]

No: HPFGUIDX 6025

Interviewer: "What do you think of J K Rowling's Harry Potter books? Why do
you think the supernatural is so effective in capturing the imaginations of
children?"
Pullman: "I think that J K Rowling has done a terrific job, and three cheers
for her. And it's not only children who like the supernatural: we all do, in
different ways. Actually the thing that captures children and adults most of
all is just a good story, supernatural or not."

I: "Do you prefer writing for children than for adults?"
P: "Well, I don't write just for children. I write books which, as it
happens, adults read as well. I don't know about this business of writing
'for' this audience or that one. It's too like labelling the book as
fantasy - it shuts out more readers than it includes. If I think of my
audience at all, I think of a group that includes adults, children, male,
female, old, middle-aged, young - everyone who can read. If horses, dogs,
cats, or pigeons could read, they'd be welcome to it as well. I don't want
to shut anyone out."

The above come from an interview with Philip Pullman on the WHSmiths Online
Web Site.
I found it interesting that he replied with basically a very similar comment
to the one JKR uses about readership level. That the books are there for all
and are not, specifically, aimed at children.

And I fully agree with his comments that the most important thing is that
the book is good. If this is the case then it does not really matter as to
which subject / genre it is about, it will be read and enjoyed by lots of
people.

Simon (waiting for the second book in the series by the above author to
arrive)
PS: I was also pleased that I correctly identified which of the Oxford
Colleges he studied at. I was glad that I understood the hints in the first
book!