Editions; Collectors Ed; WSJ Article; JKR Questions, Gay Issue

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 4018

Hi --

Kelley -- you didn't by chance acquire your HP books through
Book-of-the-Month Club, did you?  That occurs to me as one possibility
why you might not have printing info on your books (I think BOMC books
are separately printed somehow).

Voicelady -- is this the book you received (and is it the clothbound
edition you were talking about earlier)?  If so, I asked for this for my
upcoming birthday.  :--)  Black leather-bound book that runs $60 from
bn.com??

http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?userid=2KXTMDQPND&mscssid=MA5SP0REEEAS9NE30SP2RJHHX43JAWXC&isbn=043920352X

Thanks to Smitster for providing us with the  Journal article earlier
today -- now I have to chastise my husband for not bringing it home to
me (must mean he didn't read *all* of WSJ yesterday, eh?).

I am going to add some of the recent question thoughts to my Word
document & repost it.  Ellie had some good suggestions.

GAY ISSUE -- In general, I liked Neil's thoughts on this issue.  I like
the notion that perhaps we will learn about gay characters & their place
in the wizarding world through Hermione's developing social conscience
as Neil suggested.  I'm not adverse at all to their being a positive gay
role model in the series, but like Neil, I don't necessarily forsee that
she will go that route.  However, I don't necessarily think it's because
she's one to shy away from controversial or sensitive subjects or
because the books are "aimed" at young readers.  I think I just don't
see that she can effectively make any of the major on-screen characters
gay all that easily at this point.  Harry, Ron & Hermione have all
exhibited heterosexual preferences at this point for example.  Carole
will slap me, but you know, *maybe* Sirius is gay.  *Maybe* Lupin or
George Weasley or some of the other "second-tier" characters will turn
out to be gay.  But, the three major characters are not.  The stories
are told from Harry's POV, and he's heterosexual from what we know at
this stage.  So, it would be hard for her to convey a gay character's
feelings, struggles, etc. (IMO!).  I think it could perhaps be most
effectively handled & conveyed in Rowling's unique indirect style (we
all get her views on racism for example but she doesn't beat us over the
head with it).

As far as *asking* Rowling about this issue, I did include it in my Word
doc in case someone is using that series of questions as a "go-by" &
wants to include that question in their list.  Others who want to omit
it can do so.

Did we ever settle if it makes sense for me to submit them all or if I
should rely on some of you to submit some of them?  If you're planning
to be at the Chat & will submit 5 or more questions from the group, just
let me know.

Penny