Defend OOTP against my horribly Muggle mind! (long)

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 76396

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "feetmadeofclay" 
<feetmadeofclay at y...> wrote:
> Dear Grownups... 
> 
>> 
> I have consistently felt that while I like Harry Potter's universe, 
> OOTP is not a great or even good novel. 

(massive snip)> 
> Thanks for all those who answer,
> Golly

Reply from CW:

I have to say I agree with you Golly, but not quite on the grounds 
set out in your post. In my view, OotP is a self-indulgent novel, 
poorly structured, with relatively little dramatic interest apart 
from the end scenes/death of Sirius etc (sob). There was an amusing 
post some weeks back bemoaning its lack of bang-content, and this 
sums up the problem very neatly. Its got lots of lovely detail, new 
characters, and back-plot for us HPnutters to pick over, and I doubt 
if anyone would go as far as saying they wish it had not been 
published, but, IMO, its not of the same quality as the previous four 
books.

One reason for this is that the earlier books each had a fairly pacy 
story to tell in their own right, in addition to moving the larger 
story along. Even the lengthy GoF had three separate triwizard events 
to maintain the reader's interest (I'll leave aside the apparent 
pointlessness of the Portkey plot device..grrr.. as its already been 
heavily discussed). The end scenes in GoF were very moving and left 
us panting desperately for HP5. OotP, by contrast, just sprawls 
along. Various upsetting things happen, of course, and there is no 
way that I won't be waiting anxiously for HP6, but the feeling of 
constant tension and drama were very definitely missing this time for 
me (until the very end). I just found it very miserable mostly..

Perhaps the desperate anticipation for the book contributed to a 
greater chance of feeling let down, but most adults I have spoken to 
in the UK feel the same way. I have seen that the kids love it, 
though, so perhaps the teen angst plays differently to different age 
groups. (However, on that point, don't get me wrong, I don't think it 
was inappropriate for JKR to write Harry this way in this book: it is 
spot on for his age and in response to the things which are happening 
to him; my argument is more about the larger plot framework this 
time.)

I have read a good many of the interviews with JKR about why there 
was such a gap between the books, and how burnt out she felt at the 
end of GoF etc, and how she needed the time out to regroup. Also, 
some quite nice things have happened for her in those years, husband, 
baby etc. It seems to me the combined effect of all this, is that she 
has written OotP in a much more relaxed and confident frame of mind, 
but sadly, to my mind, it has affected the drive, the urgency of what 
she's putting on to paper. Question: do writers have to be miserable 
to create great books ? Discuss.

I also agree with other posters who have commented that her editors 
probably don't dare to criticise anything by now. JKR did say in one 
interview that no one saw the book apart from her and her typist 
before it was released to the publishers, and I really think that 
shows, and is a mistake. I don't mind length, relish it in fact, but 
it did get tedious and repetitive in places.

To my mind, this book could not stand alone in the same way as all 
the others can, and I think that's partly happened because the books 
have become so popular, and the pressure was so great to release 
something, even if it wasn't ready. You could argue, I suppose, that 
that's alright at this stage in the series, or alternatively, she 
deserves a break, and no writer can be expected to maintain top 
performance constantly. However, it does mean that this one is a long 
way from aspiring to great literature, despite various funny, or 
quite moving passages. History will be the eventual judge, I suppose.

On your other points, about whether she can deal with great themes 
satisfactorily, I wonder too. She has created such a very unique 
world up to now, that I was beginning to have hopes, but the 
(inevitable) continuing focus from HP's point of view made it harder 
to develop such ideas in OotP. For me, the book came across as a 
children's (well, teenager's) book far more than the previous four 
because of the lack of in-depth adult takes on the darkening WW. A 
lot will depends on how she handles the increasingly-grown up 
perceptions of the main characters in books 6&7. 

I thought PoA was perfection from the point of view of plot, pace, 
depth etc, I just hope she can get back to that form in HP6.

Sorry, a very long post, but I am glad you raised this question, 
because it was the issue which made me join HPfGU. I was so upset 
with OotP, I had to discuss it with someone, and amazingly, found 
10000 intelligent and thoughtful people right there on the Internet! 
If only Harry had a modem, those summers at Privet Drive might be a 
bit more bearable !

CW