Why to Like and Not Like OoP

[ellejir]

No: HPFGUIDX 70663

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, 
Del wrote (in reference to backstories):
"Didn't find it fascinating here, especially since JKR kept to her 
highly annoying habit of not telling things straight and clear. I 
just can't get over the fact that by book 5, we still don't know such 
basic things as which House each of the Marauders belonged to, how 
James and Lily got together, who and what their families were, what 
job they had, etc... It doesn't make sense that Harry wouldn't have 
discovered those things by now, so I'm feeling like I'm being lied 
to, which I hate."  <snip>

Me:
I'll admit *upfront* that I hate any criticism of the HP series, but, 
that said, you did have some valid points in your (much longer) 
post.  I do think that JKR's "highly annoying habit of not telling 
things straight and clear" is due to the fact that she is writing a 7 
book series and trying to keep things interesting for the readers.  
It is unreasonable to expect her to spell out every future plot 
twist.  I imagine that she either has her reasons for not revealing 
things like which house each of the Marauders belong to, etc. or 
possibly does not consider such things important to the books.  It is 
*possible* that such issues are of more interest to obsessed 
fans/fanfic fans like those of us on the list than to JKR herself. 

Del:
" I hate being taken for more stupid than I am, and I feel that's 
precisely what JKR is doing."

Me:
I don't get the feeling that she is "writing down" to me.  I thought 
that OoP was a tremendously enjoyable adventure story.  It was not as 
tightly written as some of the earlier books, but it was witty and 
exciting and imaginative.  JKR's use of descriptive verbs and adverbs 
is frequently repetitive, but I don't care.  I have read many books 
that have far more scintillating sentence structure and not enjoyed 
them half as much.    


Del:
"Moreover, I hate to see characters' personalities being modified or 
trampled just so the hero can look better. I disliked that hero-
worship JKR's displaying towards Harry right from the first book, but 
now I feel it has taken dangerous proportions : she's sacrificing the 
plausibility of the other characters, of the plot, of the whole 
story, just to make us pity and love Harry. Urgh."

Me:
Errrr....People *do* change and Harry *is* the hero of the books.  
Perhaps JKR is not being manipulative at all.  Perhaps she just loves 
Harry herself.  I certainly do.  I don't understand how you can love 
the HP books and not like Harry. (I don't mean that in a nasty way.)  
In reference to the changing personalities: 
Neville was not going to stay a hopeless loser forever
Ginny was dying for some character development and I think that 4 
years is really a long enough crush
Sirius's personality change was not so striking to me as to some 
others on this list.  He was really not in the other books a great 
deal, but always did seem to be described as an impulsive risk-taker 
who really cared for Harry. Pretty much like he was in OoP.
Ron and Hermione were pretty much their same old selves, except 
Hermione was even a bit more of a nag than usual (but always right, 
of course!) 
 
I wonder if by obsessing too much about the books, some people are 
ruining their own enjoyment of the rest of the series.  A good reason 
to try to stomp on my own current HP mania.    

Elle  (Disclaimer:  No offence intended to those who hate OoP/Harry 
Potter/JKR etc.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion--however 
misguided.  Just kidding about that last part.)