JKR answering fan concerns/correcting impressions (was: My Reaction)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 132948

Lupinlore wrote: 
> It seemed to me that large segments of HBP were written to 
> please/placate/pacify certain sections of the fandom. I don't mean 
> that as a criticism, by any means, since I think any author 
> ignores their fans to their peril. Still, it was striking how 
> things worked out. For the shippers we get LOTS of attention to 
> the two most popular ships, as well as a nod to a minor ship (R/T) 
> which even most people who shipped it probably never expected to 
> see in canon. For those interested in Draco we got a humanizing of 
> him. For those interested in Slytherin we got a Slytherin who was, 
> if not exactly good, at least competent, loyal, and more-or-less 
> harmless.


SSSusan:
Just picking this one little bit of Lupinlore's post to respond to.  
I also felt this, to some degree.  Chapter 2, especially, and a 
couple of other places in the book felt to me like JKR crossing 
items off a list.  "Fan complaint #1?  Yes, took care of that.  Fan 
misinterpretation #2?  Yep.  Fan concern #3?  Got it."  I mean, when 
Bella asked all those questions in Spinner's End, and Snape provided 
answers -- BING BING BING -- to them all, didn't anyone else feel 
like JKR had created a list of most-often asked or complained-about 
points and just got them out of the way?

Another example I think of is Molly.  I've *always* been a defender 
of Molly -- I adore her.  But it's true that she had some harsh 
moments in OoP, and she has taken a lot of criticism from fans who 
found her overbearing, bossy, hypercritical, unfair, selfish, etc.  
In HBP, Molly was pretty awesome, I think.  She was less stressed, 
less pushy (no harping on Bill for his ponytail), more supportive 
(obviously proud of F&G's business acumen), less inclined to rants & 
to bossing Arthur (who didn't enjoy "Mollywobbles" and that tender 
scene? :-)).  

While I enjoyed this Molly very much, I confess that I wondered if 
it wasn't JKR "correcting" fan "misinterpretation" of Molly after 
OoP [PLEASE note those quotations marks].  Or am I nuts?

DISCLAIMER:  Like Lupinlore, this isn't really a *criticism* of JKR 
nor of HBP.  I was very, very pleased with this book (except for a 
chapter or two which felt kind of "un-JKR'ish" and almost fanficy), 
and it was very exciting, very creative.  The woman's brain is a 
truly awesome thing, imo.  

I just think, even though I believe what she's said re: writing 
these books for herself, she does also seem to be very aware of 
what's being talked about in the fandom, and I do wonder if she 
doesn't use some of the dialogue as a way to address what she sees 
there.

Siriusly Snapey Susan