Umbridge, detention, scars, and plotlines, oh my!. - Clumsy?

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 126118


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "eggplant9998" 
<eggplant9998 at y...> wrote:
> 
<SNIP> 
> I don't see the problems with OOTP that you do, nor do most people 
I
> think it's safe to say considering it's popularity. 

Oh, I don't know.  I never find that I lack for company when the 
subject of OOTP and its faults comes up.  But you are right that I  
am more critical of OOTP than most.  That's life.  And after all, 
don't forget that in the great swath of the population I represent a 
favorable group with regard to JKR.  I was willing to plop down a 
hard-earned $35.00 American for OOTP, and have already done the same 
for HBP.  The vast majority of humanity, even of humanity that 
speaks English and has the cash, is not willing to part with a dime 
for Harry Potter.  JKR is definitely the world's most popular and 
successful author.  But after all, even at that the great mass of 
people, even of English-speaking people, really don't give a flip 
one way or another.


However you do
> have a point, it must be a bit intimidating to be JKR's editor, 
you'd
> need the confidence of a heart surgeon and the courage of a test 
pilot
> to walk up to the most successful novelist of all time and say "No 
no,
> you're doing it all wrong, do it this way
"

Chuckle.  Confidence yes and an extremely kind boss.  But, to be 
fair, in the end it is JKR's baby.  It is never the editor's job to 
write the book, only to try and improve it.  That is why ultimately 
JKR has to get the praise or the blame for her successes and 
failures, not her editors.


> 
> If I were her editor I would timidly suggest only two changes to 
OOTP: 
> 
> 1)  In the final exam Harry is looking at Venus and Orion, but 
Venus
> can only be seen near sunrise or sunset and this was about 
midnight,
> and Orion is a winter constellation and it was June. Change it to
> Saturn and Polaris.

Good point.

> 
> 2) Cut out unnecessary adverbs, the book would be 10 pages 
shorter. 
> 
> Eggplant


Probably more like 50 pages shorter.  Another good point.


Lupinlore