More Ginny, Hermione and the Curse of Mary Sue (Was: self-confident Hermione?)

[Julie (a.k.a. Viola) <viola_1895@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52534

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ladjables <ladjables at y...>" 
<ladjables at y...> wrote:
> I concur: the diary storyline is more suited to a young girl, but 
if 
> JKR wanted to, she could have made anyone-Susan Bones, Parvati, 
> Lavender-fall prey to the diary, if the character were merely 
> necessary to engineer the meeting between Riddle and Harry.

I agree. Though I do still think, regardless of gender, that someone 
like Neville would be more susceptible to the diary than a Parvati or 
a Lavender. Tom Riddle feeds on weakness, both the obvious and the 
hidden, and so far those girls haven't shown any serious 
insecurities. But that's just my interpretation. (I actually find 
myself wondering how Hermione would have reacted if *she* had been 
given the diary instead of Ginny. I'm not convinced she would have 
done what we all expect. Hmm. AU plot bunny. ^_^)

But I agree that the selection was most likely not random or a matter 
of "type" on the author's part. I'm not even saying that it has be 
for stereotypically romantic reasons, but I do think it's indicative 
of *something* more than what we've been given so far. Ginny/Harry 
isn't my One True Pairing by a long-shot. (Up till GoF I was a vague 
Harry/Cho shipper, if I shipped anything at all.) But I also don't 
understand why the pairing is the red-headed stepchild of the fandom.

> Ama, who will be horribly disappointed if nothing else comes out of 
> Tom Riddle's possession of Ginny

*laughs* I'm half convinced that Ginny is a Sleeper Agent O' Evil, 
but then I watch a lot of Buffy. ^_-

> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Penny Linsenmayer 
> <pennylin at s...> wrote:
> "even in a *kid's* book," eh?  Deep sigh.  No energy for that one.

*raises eyebrow* It's *not* considered Young Adult Literature? This 
obviously must be part of some old kerfuffle that I'm not familiar 
with, so I don't want to needlessly re-start the debate, but I'm 
surprised that that's such an uncomfortable label. I'm not saying 
it's not a *valid* story because of that, but generally serious 
Freudian imagery and YA Lit don't go together. Unless, of course, 
you're Philip Pullman and even then with mixed results.

> This is the real reason I wanted to reply on this thread tonight.  
Guys: It's not Ginny's crying that makes me think she's portrayed as 
younger than she is.

I actually wasn't even thinking specifically of your post when I 
brought up the issue. It's an argument I've seen over and over again 
in various corners of the fandom.

--Julie