Why JKR wrote OoP - what Adler might say

[lmbolland at earthlink.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 71215

Katy wrote:
> > It's sad that some people have to analyze fiction TO DEATH and end 
> > up not enjoying it at all. 
Del replied:
> Hey ! Analyzing fiction to death is one of my great pleasures ! I
> enjoy it thoroughly. Nobody's forcing you to read our posts, you can
> just skip them, just like I skip those who don't appeal to me.

ME:

LOL.  I'm with Del.  (As Bacon said, "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.") 
Since this is the HP list, I'm assuming most of us are thoroughly digesting JKR's books!

A book many are undoubtedly familiar with is called _How to Read a Book_ by Mortimer Adler. (It's available anywhere and everywhere - amazon, b&n, etc.)  If you aren't familiar with in-depth study, this is a great book to begin walking you through it!  

The first read through usually is an "overview" which is going to give us a first reaction.  For me, reading OOP, this was an emotional type reaction -  "Sirius is dead!"  "Harry has to kill Voldemort or be killed!"  kind of thing.  The second level of reading (again, this is in Adler's book) is more inspectional - systematic scanning through looking for specific sections, skimming, etc.  I found myself doing this as I read posts and discussed OOP with my hubby & kids - what did the prophesy say, again?  who first mentioned "a weapon"? etc.  The third reading Adler would have us do analytical - finding the message/messages, criticizing the book and author, etc.  Since Adler is considered the father of modern book-analysis, I think he's a fairly safe expert to quote here.  So we would NEED at least three readings of OOP to really grasp the meaning and have enough meat with which to criticize or praise JKR.  A first reading *is* going to be entertaining - that's the nature of a first reading.  Few people will go back for a second systematic reading and even fewer for that third in-depth, analytical reading.  However, those who've been over it three times will be armed with a bit more history and information with which to discuss OOP.   I'll admit, on my third time through both the prophecy storyline and the DD's love for Harry line really came through.

Chapter 14 of Adler outlines how to read imaginative literature.  His key maxim on this would be  "don't criticize OOP until you fully appreciate what JKR has tried to make you experience."  The corollary to this is "a good reader of a story does not question the wizarding world JKR creates"  So (as an example I'll use the recent gay character discussion) if JKR chooses to have teachers/adults of no particular overt sexual origin  - it's her world, what can we say?  (Tho I'd say there are people in the real world who live celibate lives and are perfectly healthy and happy individuals - it does happen!)  

So, the restated maxims (Adler's but in relation to OOP) might be:

-before we express our likes or dislikes of OOP, we must first be sure we have mad an honest effort to appreciate JKR's work
-by appreciation, it means having the full experience JKR is trying to produce for us (our emotions and our imagination)
-only after we've read OOP in that full light are we competent to judge
-the first judge of OOP *will* be one of taste  not of true or false or right or wrong - it will be judgement... if we like it or dislike it and *why*

One thing that particularly struck me about OOP is that JKR makes us taste, smell or hear nearly every new "scene" - not just "see it".  The carriages smelled of old hay and mold...  really delightfully descriptive writing.  I must admit I didn't catch the sensual (as in five senses) aspect on the first reading!


Lauri