PoV, US vs UK english, shipper poll and Narnia reading order

[Simon]

No: HPFGUIDX 10129

Alexandra wrote: "The POV of the Harry Potter books is, I believe <snip>
referred to as limited third person. I want to say that we never see
anything that Harry does not see, but this is not strictly true; <snip about
PS/SS first chapter and GoF first chapter).
Aside from these two most obvious times when the narrator "leaves" Harry, it
is unclear when the narrator is relating a thought or an opinion of Harry's,
and when the narrator is making a personal comment on the scene. At the
beginning of all of the books, with the "Harry was in fact a most unusual
yada yada yada fresh from his first/second/third year at blah blah blah"
part, the narrator gives some background independent of Harry in a by no
means objective fashion--sort of turning away from the little window into
Harry's head to speak directly to the reader. The description of the
Dursleys from the very beginning of SS is biting and sarcastic, before
Harry's own opinion could ever come into it."

There is also the first Quidditch match (Ch 11 PS) that Harry plays in. In
this the narrator follows the goings on between Ron, Hermione and Hagrid
(which Harry would not have been able to hear and possibly see) and also the
goings on that is Harry flying. The narration flits between the two.


Jim wrote: "There is only one *tiny* justification for the translation from
British into American that I have seen: some fine points of grammar are
different enough that American teachers would "count off" if their students
used the British forms in class.  Here's an example from PS/SS:

British:  "Slytherin are on the offensive"
American: "the Slytherins are on the offensive"

Maybe Scholastic has done a service by "correcting" the original version for
American kids. Would any teachers (or students) care to comment?"

I am neither (well not an student reading English at least) but wish to
comment. I could not find the quote, but would guess that it is part of the
commentary from Lee (I am assuming this in my reply - if incorrect it ruins
my point slightly). If it is commentary, then as it is what Lee is saying it
is perfectly correct. The grammar may not in itself be correct, but that
phrase is typical of sports commentary in the UK.


Scott wrote: "Also I HAD to add in the Sirius/Yourself one for Carole and
the rest of the siriusly Serious fans. (Erm, reverse that!)
Carole replied: "Hehehehe...a category just for me? (carole looks about
...kind of sheepishly) ok now I have to go vote!  Thanks for pointing out
you can vote for more than 1...I was torn between H/H and Sirius and
me...now I can have both!  YAY!"

There seems to be a category all for myself. Seemingly lots of people agree
with Carole but I am on my own! I cannot decide if this is a good or bad
point!



Going off topic now
Amanda wrote: "Um, what order are they [Narnia books] in now? That's so
weird, changing the order."

There are two suggested reading orders. One is to read then books 1 to 7;
this is the way that makes the story make sense. But this is not the order
the books were written in. The other order is to read them in the order in
which CS Lewis wrote them (but I have lost this order so can be of no more
help).



Simon