Chapter Discussions: Chapter 3, the Advance Guard

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 76080

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ali" <Ali at z...> wrote:
>> 
> (Q 12)  Much of this chapter could be viewed as superfluous 
> narrative. Is this a chapter which a more rigorous editor would have 
> stripped down to a few lines? Has JKR's success actually meant that 
> her editors are now reluctant to offer advice and guidance which 
> might have lead to the OoP being a shorter and punchy book?
> 
> Ali

Tut! Tut!
How better to hide clues and significant items than in verbosity?
But for the ploy to be successful, the 'padding' should be regular
throughout most of the book, which it is, save for 'action' scenes
such as in the MoM.  Otherwise, when the flannelling index rises
readers are fore-warned 'here be something to watch!'

JKR is also an addict for 'atmosphere'.  Suck in the reader, make
them feel comfy and at home, lull them, cosset them. So much 
detail makes the reader feel involved and very much a prime
victim for a sly mugging.

Her editors are probably scared stiff of cutting *anything*. She 
hasn't confided plot details or development to them; they were 
probably so damn grateful to finally receive the manuscript that
they would have printed a bus ticket used as a page marker, had 
one been there. 

Kneasy