[HPforGrownups] Re: FAQF -- The Universal Appeal of Harry Potter

[Elizabeth Davey]

No: HPFGUIDX 23573

Hi y'all,

It's been a while seen you've seen me.  Sorry 'bout
that. Thanks to the faq writers for all of their hard
work and dedication.  I'm certain the faqs will be a
valuable research and obsession feeding tool for many
of us!

I love the subject of the books' appeal and I'm very
glad we're discussing it.  I'll even risk repeating
what others have said to add my insights.  

The four books we've had the good fortune to read so
far are well written, yes.  However, I think there's a
lot more to their appeal than that.  I happened to
pick up SS/PS a little over a year ago because HP was
the theme for the program of a charity show I'm
involved in and I wanted to get the inside jokes.  I
was completely addicted within hours, and it takes a
heck of a lot more than good writing to suck me into a
world the way I've been sucked into the Potterverse. 
I've been sucked in because Ms. Rowling touched my
soul.  

The books especially appeal to the part of me that
dreams of flying and chocolate as a cure for almost
everything and magical means to overcome everything
from the great evils that threaten the world to the
little annoyances that plague me on a day to day
basis.  Ms. Rowling has created a universe where magic
is believable to the point that my hope is renewed.  I
realize that's a pretty strong statement, and I mean
it.  I'll try to avoid burdening y'all with too much
personal baggage, but I will share that I identify
with Harry in that until very recently I was
figuratively an orphan with not much in the way of a
family.  I also suffer from PTSD, and I see symptoms
of the same in Harry.  I also see Harry overcoming
both of those things in a realistically-fantastic way.
 I believe that a lot of us are able derive vicarious
satisfaction when Harry sneaks Sirius to safety,
defeats Riddle with Fawlkes' help, escapes from Voldy
at the end of GOF and blows up Aunt Marge.  I can
promise you there a quite a few people I've wanted to
blow up in my lifetime!

There are several other characters in the books who
also offer comfort and support.  Imagine having Gred
and Forge supply you with tongue ton toffee to give to
the obnoxious person in the office down the hall. 
When you need encouragement to deal with a difficult
task, visualize Remus Lupin coaching you.  If it's
sterner stuff you require, Minerva McGonagall will
help you stay on task.  For caring and concern you've
got Molly Weasley and when you need a fun and goofy
parent, Arthur Weasley fills the bill.  I could go on
and on ... Actually, I think it might be fun to do a
compare and contrast with Jungian archetypes thing
with the characters in the books ... but I'm a little
weird that way <g>

The books appeal to me because there is so very much
to the Potterverse that makes me feel good and there
is so very much to the Potterverse that makes me
think.  

Love & Light,
*Elizabeth*

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