[HPforGrownups] Re: Whether or not they're children's books

Kagome Shikon Seeker KagomeShikonSeeker at BonBon.net
Tue Sep 30 23:46:08 UTC 2003


No: HPFGUIDX 81985

I've been lurking, and following this debate for a while, and just have one
thing to say.  This is from an interview of JKR given in Newsweek (not sure
which issue) that I happen to use as my bookmark for OoP.

QUOTE:

And yes, the plot gets darker in "Phoenix," a point Rowling thinks is so
obvious by now it's hardly worth mentioning.  "I'm surprised that people are
surprised that the series is getting darker, because the first book started
with a murder.  And although you didn't see the murder happen, that for me
was an announcement that these things would continue within the series."
But she's not blind to the fact that very young children will want to read
the books, and that they will be disturbed: "I was always ambivalent when
people told me that they'd read the first book to their 6-year-old, because
I knew what was coming.  And I have to say even with the first book, that is
a scary ending."

/QUOTE

Now, based on this statement alone - and it's direct from JKR's mouth - I'd
say that HER intent is not a "children's book".  Hence any labeling of
"children's book" was done after the fact, by the marketers and publishers.
NOT by her.

The label is just a label.  Get over it, and stop thinking of it as "adult"
or "children".  The truth is, this is one of those rare books (or series)
that transcends the label, and is enjoyable by anyone, no matter their age.
Giving it a label at all is pointless, foolish, and a waste of time.

Actually, giving this series ANY label is pointless.  For instance, each
book in this series could fit under the genres of Child, Young Adult,
Mystery, Suspense, Supernatural, Occult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Drama, or
any of a number of labels.  The only labels I can't see this falling under
are Western and Romance.  (And even the latter may change later - we have no
way of knowing.)  And because she has so many elements in it - and blends
them all so well - she pulls in people who normally have completely
different tastes, and gets them to love it.  For instance, my mother
normally only reads Mysteries - she loves Harry Potter because of the
element of "figuring it out" throughout each book.  My sister loves fantasy;
she loves the little spells and items they have throughout the books.  I
love fantasy dramas; I love the interactions between the characters, and how
their classes work and all that.  I also love the 'darkness' of some of it,
which is why my favorite characters are Moody and Sirius Black.

The fact is, there is something for almost everyone in these books.  That's
why they're so popular.  JKR having the gift of storytelling is all well and
good, but that alone wouldn't make these books sell so well.  It's the fact
that no matter what your interests, no matter what your age group, you will
most likely find something in these books that appeals to you.

But trying to label it, to fix it into a category and say "This is what it
is," is foolish.  There's no point to it, because no matter where you try to
put it, you will find things that will fit, and things that will not fit.
These books aren't books that can be pigeonholed that way, and the further
she gets into the series, the more obvious it's becoming.













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