[HPforGrownups] A writer's power of imagination (was: Abusive behavior)

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 1606

Hi:

I have to agree with Peg.  I've read nothing to suggest that JKR had 
anything other than a happy childhood.  That's not to say that she *wasn't* 
abused, but every indication is that she was not.  She's a powerful writer, 
and I don't think it's necessarily true that she would have needed to 
experience child abuse first-hand in order to write about it effectively.  
There are a number of explanations that run the gamut from (a) she *was* an 
abused child herself (most extreme); (b) she had friends or close relatives 
who lived through this experience; (c) she worked with abused children in 
some capacity at some time in her life; (d) she read extensively on the 
subject as Peg suggests is possible, conducted interviews, etc.; or (e) she 
has no more than general knowledge of this problem but was able to translate 
it effectively into her books nonetheless (the other extreme).  There are 
probably a number of other options between my (a) & (e).

While I think there *are* possibly some experiences that are best conveyed 
by an author if they have some personal experience with the matter, I don't 
think this is one of them.

Penny

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