[HPforGrownups] Anyone know these HP-related books?

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 12725

Hi --

Dinah wrote:

> Today I got notice that I am really allowed to write my final paper
> about Harry Potter. I have 100+ articles on my hardrive, but now I'll
> start to look at all the other books that are available.
>
> First off, I think of buying J.K. Rowling: The Wizard behind Harry
> Potter by Mark Shapiro

It's dreadful!  I would not recommend it.  As Sheryll said, it's replete
with errors.  The author couldn't even bother to get JKR's birthdate
correct.

> Then I found a book that's called: Interview with J.K. Rowling, by
> Lindsey Fraser - actually it's more of a brochure than a book.

I don't know this one.

> And do you think that the Schaffer book will be any help?

No, I really don't think it would be useful.  Schaefer also gives the
impression that she's trying to make a buck off the HP cash cow without
really putting in much effort.  One has the definite impression that
she's read the books once (and very cursorily at that).  She doesn't
even convey all that well that she *enjoyed* the books!  Then again, I'm
not a fan of this work -- maybe others will tell you it was useful.

> I have until February next year to finish the paper, that's lots of
> time, and I'll write most of it in the summer holidays. The faq's will
> be out until then, and I really think those will include more
> information than I'll ever need, right? Somehow I think the book is
> stupid and am really reluctant to buy it.

The FAQs will be out by then.  The JKR FAQ (to toot my own horn so to
speak) is much more complete & accurate than the Shapiro book.  It's
based on every interview & secondary source that I could locate.  If you
need it before it gets uploaded, let me know offlist & I can email you
the current Word version.

Good luck!  What fun -- to write a HP paper.

Penny



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