Readers (was Re: JKR and "Think of the Children!"(was: Sending Voldie

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 162014


> Betsy Hp:
> I'm snipping a whole heck of a lot to focus in on this one thing, 
> because I found it so amusing when I reread the beginning of PS/SS 
> recently.  Dudley isn't a reader, and JKR does invite her readers 
to 
> sneer at that fact with this commentary given when Harry moves into 
> Dudley's second room:


Potioncat:
And I haven't followed this thread, but I'm responding to the part 
you are focusing on.


>Betsy HP:
> But here's the thing.  *Harry never cracks a book either*!!  For 
some 
> reason that tickled me.  I picture Harry being all "stupid lump 
never 
> reads," while he carefully avoides the crowded bookshelf himself. 
<bg>

Potioncat:
I'm not sure if I've simply projected onto Harry. I don't think I can 
quote too much canon here, but I don't think you're entirely correct. 
<g>

For some reason I seem to think Harry had read those books himself. 
Maybe I only think so because I would have. I do recall him wanting 
to do homework, but not able to because the Durleys had locked up his 
books.  He had looked over or read the text books before arriving at 
Hogwarts in year one, because he was angry that Snape had expected 
him to remember specific details. He's read several Quidditch related 
books. I know he isn't the star pupil who does his work right away, 
but he doesn't completely ignore it at school. 

OK, so he doesn't read as much as Hermione or me, but he reads more 
than some teenagers I know. So, if Hermione is at one extreme and 
Dudley on the other, Harry would be somewhere in the middle.

Although, I do like the humor of Harry judging Dudley for a fault he 
has himself--sort the same way Snape judges Harry for their shared 
faults.