Like it or not. WAS Re: Which characters are dynamic?

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 141959

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> 
wrote:

> I really don't know how you would gauge something like that [if 
fans are or aren't satisfied]. Sales numbers? I don't know, a lot of 
people will continue to read the series just to see what happens, or 
to be in on the latest trend.  But taking a quick look at several 
fanboards I would have to say that after HBP the expressions of 
disappointment, while not in the majority, and not as pronounced as 
with OOTP, were very frequent and significant, and were in the 
majority on some particularly boards.  

Hickengruendler:

However, the fanboards are not representative either. We here on the 
boards discuss every tiny little plot detail and possible hint about 
two hundred times. We are bound to be less surprised by JKR's plot 
twist than the average reader, and that is entirely our own fault, 
because we have read or written countless theories, and some of them 
have to be true. I am, for example, sure, that some online fans will 
probably complain should R.A.B. turn out to be Regulus, because it 
was too obvious. For the averager reader, however, it is not too 
obvious, because they haven't spent the time between OotP and HBP 
speculating, if Regulus might be Stubby Boardman and important to the 
storyline. It is instead a solvable, but not too easy clue regarding 
a minor ministry. (Not that I regret it. I would not want to miss 
those engaging discussions. And I at least loved OotP and also liked 
HBP, in spite of having read both books after joining the online 
fandom).

Neither are, as you correctly said, the Potter fans from our real 
life representative, as you rightfully stated. Every real life person 
I asked (which does include a literature professor in my university) 
liked the HBP, in fact, most of them probably better than I did 
(sorry, I can't really get over the shipping subplot, even though I 
find the rest of the book really good. And I'm not a shipper, 
therefore this is not the reason, why I didn't like it).
 
Lupinlore:
 
> So, no, I don't think I'm jumping the gun.  Given the 
disappointment 
> level and vigorous reactions to both OOTP and HBP, where much less 
> important matters were at stake, I think its safe to say that JKR 
is 
> going to provoke a great howl whichever way she moves. 

Hickengruendler:

For sure it will. There is no way around it. In a fandom as big as 
the Potter one it is downright impossible to satisfy everyone. 
Personally, I think what JKR did at the end of HBP regarding Snape 
and Dumbledore showed a lot of guts. She had one fandom favourite 
kill another. Since she doesn't seem to be stupid, she had to know in 
which state it would leave the fandom. And she said in an interview, 
that she does not care if in the end she will only have seven 
readers, she wants to keep to her original story. She also admitted 
to have made minor changes, but I think we all agree that the 
Dumbledore death scene is that important, that it had to be planned 
from the beginning.
  
Lupinlore:

<Shrug>  I 
> don't guess that in itself is necessarily good or bad, although I 
> personally would have preferred had she kept her options more 
open.  
> But good, bad, or indifferent, I think it's inevitable.
 
Hickengruendler: 

I disagree with you. What you are suggesting would IMO be the boring 
variant. A writer first and foremost has to tell the story. If fans 
like it, than it's excellent, if they don't, than bad luck. They 
might have valid reasons to dislike it or they might not, but I 
surely admire a writer more, who has guts and does the controversial 
thing, compared to one who tries not to upset the readership.

Hickengruendler