Childrens' Books? -- Death Predictions -- King's Cross -- Why I Read HP

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 22500

Hi everyone --

I'm loving some of the recent threads and am *determined* to actually 
compose & send a message before my daughter needs to be fed again.  <g>  I'm 
tired of just reading everyone else's thoughts & not joining in.

CHILDRENS' BOOKS OR ADULT BOOKS --  I've found a kindred spirit, Bbennett!  
We may not agree much on the shipping points, but I agreed with virtually 
everything you wrote in your very insightful post on this topic.  <g>  We 
have discussed some of these points before but it's worth noting again.   
I'm writing a biography of a childrens' author (Laura Ingalls Wilder), so I 
do have a keen appreciation for childrens' literature.  When I say that I 
don't consider HP to be childrens' books, this is no way meant to derogate 
children's lit, which I love!  But, I really agreed with Bbennett's point 
that the HP books, IMO, are really adult novels that can be enjoyed by 
children rather than childrens' novels that can be enjoyed by adults.  She 
said it better, but I like the point.  :--)

Does anyone know of any other series of books where the protagonist (and 
other main characters) age from childhood to adulthood (a bildungsroman in 
other words) where the first books in the series are appropriate for 
children but the later books become less & less appropriate?  I naturally 
think of the Laura Ingalls Wilder series as an example of a series where the 
heroine ages from age 5 to age 17/18.  So, she starts out younger than Harry 
but gets to the same point.  BUT, the critical difference is that she's as 
innocent in the last book as in the first book if that makes sense.  While I 
think 9-12 yr olds will still be able to read the words of the later books, 
I don't think they'll take as much away from them as they do the earlier 
ones.  I think Ebony said last year that her 5th grade students all rated 
PS/SS & CoS higher than GoF, whereas her 8th grade students tended to rate 
GoF as their favorite in the series (or something like that).  Point is: the 
kids themselves may lose interest in the later books -- not the ones who are 
aging right along with Harry but newer 9 year old readers.  I believe Ebony 
queried some conference of childrens' lit experts with this question, and no 
one could really come up with a comparable series.  I think HP presents a 
unique dilemna for parents of the future once the series is complete (and 
the children are not aging right along with Harry .... which is becoming 
more & more true.... think of all the 8 year olds who will see the movie & 
rush out to read the books).  When all the books are available in the 
library, how will parents handle it? Interesting question I think.

I'll have to disagree with Amy Z (no tomatoes Amy -- just disagreement) -- I 
don't think they are YA books either.  I think they are adult novels that 
happen to include a protagonist who will age year by year through 
adolescence.

DUMBLEDORE/SIRIUS DEATH PREDICTIONS -- I agree with Caius' reasons why 
Dumbledore seems likely to survive until the 7th book (or possibly the end 
of the 6th book).

In commenting on why Sirius seems likely to die despite it being "cruel" 
beyond imagining for Harry, Caius also said:

<<<It seems to me that the dream of Harry to live with his godfather is one 
of those "too good to be true" fantasies which derives its poignancy from 
its increasing unlikelihood.>>>

Yes, but at the end of the series, Harry will be an adult who won't need a 
"home" with a parent figure necessarily.  I seriously doubt that Harry will 
live with Sirius because of the circumstances of the coming war.  But, I 
don't think he would do so at the end of the war regardless of whether 
Sirius lives or dies.  I'm still in the camp that thinks (hopes!) Sirius 
survives.

KING'S CROSS -- Ebony, I'll refrain from a big "I told you so!"  Platforms 9 
& 10 look nothing like I envisioned.  There is literally no barrier there at 
all to speak of -- you could literally step over it.  Nicolson's in 
Edinburgh is still worth a visit though.

WHY I STARTED READING HP -- We've done this thread before, but I always 
enjoy it.  Like Neil & Ebony, chance circumstances ended up affecting my 
life in a big way.  Not a particularly cool story, but here goes.  My sister 
is an elementary school teacher & asked for the HP books as a Christmas 
present in 1999.  I found such a good deal on the set through bn.com that I 
thought I would buy myself a set "just to see what the fuss is all about."  
I even went so far as to think to myself that I could always give away the 
set to some kid if I didn't like the first one.  My decision, BTW, was 
largely influenced by my curiosity about these books that could dominate the 
NY Times Bestseller List for such a long time.  <skipping my standard rant 
against the NY Times!>  As with many of you, I was hooked from the first 
chapter -- and the books changed my life significantly.  I found this group 
when it was in its infancy over on Yahoo Clubs.  I read Paradigm of 
Uncertainty as it was getting started in March 2000.  I attended the GoF 
party at a local bookstore, and of course by then was deeply immersed in 
this fandom.  Amazing, isn't it?

Penny (very proud of the fact that I'm getting this message off!)





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