Book Review: The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter (long)

[erisedstraeh2002 <erisedstraeh2002@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 49035

In her terrific review of The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter, Penny 
Linsenmayer wrote:

> 8. "Crowning the King: Harry Potter and the Construction of
> Authority" by Farah Mendlesohn - <snip> She paints Harry as a 
> passive hero  who is successful largely due to "inherited" talents 
> and assistance from others, a "gentleman scholar" (a star on the 
> playing field and passably bright).  She argues that the Sorting 
> Hat reinforces the destinarian nature of elitist Hogwarts and is 
> not at all about personal choices.

Now me:

Oh, my.  She really has missed the boat, hasn't she!  She must have 
skipped over Dumbledore's "choices make us what we are" speech at the 
end of CoS.  How unfortunate.

While Harry definitely has quite a bit of inherited talent, it's what 
he chooses to do with that talent that really makes the series so 
wonderful to me.  And while he does receive quite a bit of assistance 
from others, the assistance is designed to enable him to make the 
most of his talents and thereby live out his destiny - which, IMO, is 
to overthrow Voldemort once and for all.

Penny's review again:
 
> 10. "Hermione Granger and the Heritage of Gender" by Eliza T.
> Dresang - <snip> Dresang concludes that Rowling's descriptive 
> adjectives and verbs often place Hermione at odds with her core 
> character (the whining and shrieking doesn't mesh at all with what 
> we the readers know about Hermione's strength).  

Me again:

While Hermione does occasionally giggle somewhat out of character, I 
don't see that this detracts from her strengths.  It only happens 
occasionally, and it's a good reminder that she's still a teenage 
girl, despite how grown-up she usually acts.

Penny's review again:
 
> 12."You say 'Jelly.'  I Say 'Jell-O?'  Harry Potter and the
> Transfiguration of Language" by Philip Nel - <snip> However, he 
> overall believes that the "Americanization" of the Scholastic
> versions was misguided.  <snip>  Nel cautions that with such 
> intricately-plotted novels, all the details count and that 
> seemingly minor changes may have greater ramifications in
> future novels than the editors realize.

Me again:

How true, how true!  I'm so glad to see this issue addressed.  
Scholastic's changing "curse" to "murder" in Ch. 1 of GoF completely 
changed the meaning and has led to a lot of confusion among American 
readers.  And why add Dobby cleaning Lucius Malfoy's shoes at the end 
of CoS in the American versions but not in the UK versions?  These 
types of changes are much more than clarifications to ensure that 
American readers understand British expressions.

Penny's review again:

> 14."Specters of Thatcherism: Contemporary British Culture in
> J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series," by Karin E. Westman 
> <snip> Westman argues that Rowling's "sharpest critique of racial
> prejudice and materialist politics appears through Ron Weasley."  

Me again:

While Ron does have the most violent (literally and figuratively!) 
reaction to Draco's use of the term "mud-blood" in CoS, I really see 
Hermione as championing the anti-prejudice movement with her S.P.E.W. 
campaign in GoF.  Of note is that Ron has no patience for Hermione's 
house-elf liberation front, and gladly exploits the house-elves for 
food from the kitchens.

Penny again:

> Hope you enjoyed this - I'm planning to write similar reviews of 
> other HP secondary sources in the coming month.

Me again:

I loved it - thanks so much, Penny!

~Phyllis