What do you like best about the HP books?

[Sue Wartell]

No: HPFGUIDX 72707


>Buttercup <cathio2002 at y...> wrote:
>  
>
>>Just wondering what everyone like best about JKR's
>>books? Here are some of mine.
>>
>>1)JKR's talent for characterization. There are so many
>>people in these books and every one is an interesting
>>individual. No one's stereotypical or dull. She does
>>such a good job that these characters seem like REAL
>>people. Readers really care about them.
>>

Marianne responded (in part):

>JKR has said she likes Sirius and she cried when she killed him off.  
>And a number of people on this list said either, 1) they didn't care 
>about Sirius, so the death didn't bother them, or 2) they don't like 
>Sirius, so thank god he was the one who died, or 3) gee, she said 
>this was the death of a major character, but it was only Sirius, so 
>what's the big deal...
>
>Well, are those readers missing the point, or has JKR not written 
>those characters well enough to make people see them the way she 
>purportedly does?
>
>I'd give JKR no more than a C+ or B- for characterization.
>  
>
Me:

Another favorite author of mine has a quote that I think is very much to 
the point -
Lois McMaster Bujold has commented  "A book, the real book, the art as 
it takes place and makes its existence, requires two elements, the text 
on the page, and the mind that is processing or remembering that text."  
Full essay at http://www.dendarii.com/collide.html  There and in a 
couple other assays, she has discussed the idea that a novel is an 
active collaboration between author and reader.

The author's intent is only part of the story.  We each have personal 
histories and beliefs about the world and how it works  that we bring to 
bear on our reading, as well as on the real world.  IMO, an author who 
gives us characters who can be discussed as complex people, characters 
who can inspire admiration or respect or loathing, independent of the 
opinions of the author, has done a superb job.  I'd give JKR an A, 
personally.  Of course, this sort of thing is absolutely subjective - 
what works for me may be a dismal failure for you...

Sue