Readers in the WW (was: JKR and "Think of the Children!")

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 162086

> Magpie:
> I think Harry is cheerfully and unashamedly presented as a boy not
> much interested in reading--never was, never will be, and we've got
> a very detailed picture of his activities.  <snipping> It would 
> have been simple to say Harry liked to read (unlike Dudley) or 
> liked school.  JKR made him a slightly different boy. He's not a 
> booklover, didn't like school etc.

Jen:  Neri's point works along with the character point though, that 
part of the reason JKR didn't make Harry a book lover was so the WW 
wouldn't be seen as part of his imagination or the lines wouldn't be 
blurred once he does enter the WW.  In Narnia the kids don't believe 
Lucy at first because she does have a wonderful imagination, in part 
from being very literate and living with book-reading siblings.  
Plus in a fantasy series like Narnia or the Borrowers, there's an 
adult outside the world who knows of the world and lends the air 
of "it doesn't matter if it's true or a child's imagination, 
believing makes it real."  JKR completely bypassed such a storyline 
by having the Durlseys know the WW is real and decide to deny it, as 
well as having Harry act as a fairly unimaginative boy--even his far-
fetched dreams turn out to be real!  That way there's *no* question 
the WW exists, no question it's part of Harry's imagination. 

Jen