Dumbledore on the Dursleys in OotP (was:Re: Old, old problem.)

lupinlore rdoliver30 at yahoo.com
Tue Apr 25 00:21:34 UTC 2006


No: HPFGUIDX 151402

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <clthoma at ...> wrote:
>

> 
> Carol, who disliked DD's criticism of the Dursleys in HBP (though they
> deserved it) and felt that JKR was bowing to reader criticism of OoP
> rather than standing her ground and keeping the characterization of DD
> consistent
>

Absolutely JKR was bowing to reader criticism, as well she should 
have.  Like it or not, a writer is a salesperson, of books and of 
images and ideas. Like all sellers, a writer ignores his or her 
customers to his or her peril.  A writer who does not keep an ear to 
the ground when it comes to reader preferences and dissatisfaction is a 
fool -- which is something I don't think anyone has ever accused JKR of 
being.  JKR's book sales were not in danger, but her sales of ideas and 
images certainly were.

Was she being inconsistent? Many would say that it is OOTP Dumbledore 
who is the bizarre and inconsistent figure, not the Dumbledore seen at 
the Dursleys.  Or, perhaps more to the point, DD at the Dursleys' got 
across the image JKR was trying to sell when it came to Dumbledore, 
whereas DD at the end of OOTP blurred that image to the brink of 
incoherence.  Like all intelligent salespeople, JKR simply accepted 
that her tactics were not effective when judged by the results and made 
appropriate adjustments. 


Lupinlore










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