a different 'crucial' question was:Re: "The Crucial and Central Question"

[Hitomi]

No: HPFGUIDX 92254

> Kneasy, I love reading your posts.  Sometimes I agree, sometimes 
> not.  You make me shake my head, laugh and sometimes wish I knew 
you 
> in another life.  But on this one, I have to speak out.  There are 
> more than 11,000 of us on this list alone.  We've read and re-read 
> the books.  We've analyzed and scrutinized every word of text.  
We've 
> inferred and conferred.  Perhaps it's all too much.  We've 
discovered 
> mistakes/Flints in characters, math, spells, etc.  Isn't it just a 
> bit like American celebrity?  With so large of a magnifying glass, 
> can anyone/anything emerge worthy?  We've put JKR's work on a 
mighty 
> pedestal.  Is there an ending or series of explanations that would 
> satisfy us all after we've dissected it with our usual vigor?  
> Perhaps we've delved too deeply.  What if it ultimately ends up 
being 
> just a great children's tale?  That's ok with me.  I'm great at 
> willful suspension of disbelief.
> 
> Tcy, who is going back to lurking to ready herself for the barrage 
of 
> howlers for this bit of sacrilege.

Hitomi:
Tcy, no howlers coming from this direction.  Honestly, I was more 
than in agreement.  I've noticed, on this list especially, that we 
over-analyze everything, pick apart every detail, and most of the 
time for no positive purpose.  There's nothing wrong in doing it, 
discussing books we all enjoy, but a lot of the analytical 
criticisms have brought me down at points, turning much loved 
aspects into something to be questioned.  I think some things we 
need to just take at face value, or admit that JKR isn't making this 
into the fanfiction of mature readers' dreams.  (That being the main 
reason I stay away from the fanfics, I find it sad that many fans 
prefer the fanfiction over the original creator, who is still 
laboring away).  So she doesn't do things how we'd like her to, so 
she makes mistakes - so what?  It doesn't mean her books and 
characters aren't still spectacularly good.  I'm tired of 
questioning everything she does, or has Harry and/or Dumbledore do.

And of course, in our analyses we have predicted accurately, and I'm 
sure we will do so again, but some points like the Graveyard scene: 
was LV talking about Karkaroff, Snape, and Crouch Jr., or was he 
talking about Fudge or someone else?  Is Harry really the one, or 
will JKR for some nonsensical reason have it be Neville, even though 
the entire series is about Harry?  Will Harry and Hermione get 
together, even though Harry shows no interest, and Ron does?  Are LV 
and Tom Riddle two different entities?  Is DD really a time-
traveling Ron?  Will Ron be Quidditch Captain to the insult of 
Harry, and what about Katie?  Will Sirius come back, even after JKR 
has put Harry through a hell with no purpose if Sirius does come 
back?  Are DD and/or Harry evil?  Are Lily and James even Harry 
parents?  Is Remus really James?  Is Harry just dreaming all this up 
in his cupboard?

And maybe some are right, maybe Fudge is actually the DE LV 
mentioned, or maybe Harry will suddenly like Hermione.  I'm not here 
to say I know what JKR is doing.  But I do know after Book 5, when 
during around Book 3, I said if she uses the cliche plot device of 
Harry being prophecied, that that would be stupid, and JKR will 
never do that, I have stuck my foot in my mouth.  I've read loads of 
fantasy with that same plot device, and JKR has used it, but she's 
made it her own, and it wasn't stupid, by any means.  Book 5 was, by 
far, my favorite book of the series as it now stands.  So, again, I 
trust JKR, she knows what she's doing, even though she does make 
mistakes, and if she happens to make OBHWF, or if she has Harry 
become MOM, it doesn't mean the books will be wrong.  I'm sure I'll 
love the next two books, and I try to remember that this is her 
story, not mine.

~ Hitomi, who will always love this series, even if the unthinkable 
happens, and Harry does die, though it may be awhile til she picks 
up Book 7 again