[HPforGrownups] Second guessing JKR (FF)

[Sue Porter]

No: HPFGUIDX 75877


>"Geoff Bannister" <gbannister10 at aol.com wrote:
>
>I sometimes wonder whether, here on the group, we get a little too
>involved in second guessing what Jo Rowling is intending us to read
>into her books. This thought came to mind when the writer of a recent
>message commented on whether there was any significance  that
>when "Moody" had been using the Imperius curse in GOF, Hermione was
>not in the list of those named. Was there a deep and significant
>reason which books 6 & 7 would reveal? On the other hand, did Moody
>use all the members of the class? Or did he use Hermione but this
>fact wasn't mentioned in the text?
>
>I have cogitated for some time as to whether JKR spent a great deal
>of time putting together the words of the prophecy so that
>ambiguities would be perceived by those who like to dissect every
>paragraph of the book with a scalpel! By way of example, we have had
>deep treatises (and a good deal of fun) in trying to interpret what
>was meant by the use of "either" and to whom it referred. I wonder
>whether this was the case. Have readers ever written an email or a
>letter or said something to find that the reader or hearer has put a
>totally different slant on what was meant? Maybe JKR wrote down the
>words of the prophecy with her own specific line of thought in mind
>without stopping to consider how the readers might choose to see a
>different meaning  or did she consider every word thinking "Aha!
>This'll get `em going. He, he". This is perhaps a trap of critical
>analysis that we assume that the writer has paralleled our line of
>thought and has indeed inserted material which can be analysed in
>umpteen ways; or perhaps we are tripping ourselves up in our own
>eagerness to "unfog the future".
>
>I shall await the arrival of books 6 & 7 with increasing impatience
>to see how accurate the outcomes of our musings are. One hope is that
>it is not a dream in the manner of Dallas or I shall be joining the
>lynch party! My only wish would be that HP does not die. He is a
>great survivor already; may it remain so.
>
>Geoff Bannister
>
>
I agree totally Geoff, not matter how wonderful these groups are at 
discussing Jo's ideas and books and dissecting every sentence basically, I 
just can't imagine her going to all that trouble just to give us something to 
write about. Obviously she has her own plan in mind when writing these 
books and I do think she maybe keeps track of the fanfictions being written 
so as not to copy anything or too much or whatever. I read a lot of them and 
was impressed by a number of them and even more impressed when Jo had 
totally original ideas in her book, although some of these fanfic authors 
guessed at things that turned out to be right. One series I read had Mrs 
Figg as a witch, al lo and behold she turns up in OoTP as a squib, close. Of 
course the same series had Ron being bitten by remus and becoming a warewolf 
too LOL. Actually, I think if she read too many fanfics she would get 
herself as confused as me. I have to reread the canon books occasionally to 
remind myself of the true story line.
But back to your original point, I guess that's why it takes her longer to 
write each one - apart from the length of the books, she probably does do 
some thinking about how it will be interpreted. Especially with all the 
wackos claiming that they promote the occult etc etc and calling for them to 
be banned.
I too will be waiting eagerly for the last two books, hoping that at least 
some of the things I would like to happen actually do, but being happy with 
whatever she has lined up for us. As long as harry doesnt die. For me that 
would be the ultimate slap in the face - like haha I got you to love this 
guy but guess what good guys finish last and now he's dead!
Sue

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