What's fun about the HPs? (was: Request for new topics)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 152473

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman"
<susiequsie23 at ...> wrote:
>
> Carol wrote:
> > Ideas, anyone? Any themes we can discuss besides love, revenge,
> > and immortality? Can we look at the books themselves instead of 
> > our own lives and social views?
> 
> 
> SSSusan:
> ...edited...
> 
> Am I truly in a small minority of people who still really LIKES the 
> Potterverse? still guffaws at some of JKR's clever turns of phrase? 
> still marvels at her creativity? still shakes her head that this 
> writer can have us arguing after SIX books about whether a character 
> is evil, good, neither or both? 
> 
> Am I in a small minority of people who still actually LIKES Harry 
> himself?  ::huffs on D'oH shield and glances at it sentimentally::  
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Anybody else game?
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan
>


bboyminn: 

I've been trying to think for days how to respond to this, and haven't
had much luck. Certainly, I like the jokes and the quirks, but what
really makes me laugh out loud is recognising life. When I read
something and I get that 'Oooh, I know just what you mean. Been there,
done that.' feeling.

Like when Harry walks over to Cho so they can go to Hogsmeade for
Valentines day, and suddenly Harry has this complete 'body
discontinuity' moment, where he feels his arms are swinging wildly,
and his feet are suddenly too big. Boy do I know that feeling. 

Really, in some ways that's the appeal of the book to me, I see life
in them, and I don't mean in the obvious ways typical of other
authors. JKR capture the male mind with amazing clarity. She also
understands the underlying motivations of girls. Further she captures
the youthful frustration that brings a sense of how everything and
everyone is unfair. It's one of the things I also like about 'Malcom
in the Middle'. Malcom and his brothers will do the most outrageous
things, and when there mother comes down on them, the first thing they
scream is 'UNFAIR". Boy, do I know that feeling.

So, yes, I get the joke, I see the comedy, but what really gets me are
those 'everyday, every life' moments of self-recognition.

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn