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

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 162099

> >>Neri:
> <snip>
> But lets see if I can restate my rule more precisely. The rule     
> would be: in a fantasy setting that is supposed feel *real*, it    
> would be rare to find "fiction" books. And the more "real" the      
> fantasy setting is presented, the less you are likely to find      
> fiction books in it.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I'm not a Tolkien expert, but didn't the characters all go for those 
long epic poem type things that were big in the Western world before 
novels were born?  Poems and songs of love and war, etc?  I would 
equate such an interest with being a "reader".  Also, in Robert 
Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series (fantasy presented as "real") the 
main characters are readers, with the main protaganist stretching out 
in front of the fire with his favorite book.  So I don't think that 
rule holds true.

> >>Neri:
> The reason for this is probably that it might be too confusing:     
> inside a fantasy setting that needs to be convincing enough, to    
> have a book that is fiction in that fantasy setting. It's too      
> complicated.

Betsy Hp:
Why would it be complicated?  It's a cultural point and a character 
point, that's all.  Types of music, types of story-telling, it all 
goes to setting a scene.  

> >>Neri:
> <snip>
> So Tom Sawyer is allowed to read fiction because his adventures take
> place in a RL setting, but Harry Potter is not allowed to read     
> fiction because his adventures take place in the WW fantasy        
> setting.

Betsy Hp:
Except the non-reading occurs in the very real life setting of the 
Dudley suburban home.  So I don't think your original "rule" even 
applies.

> >>Magpie:
> <snip>
> I would also suggest that loving books is the character point. I   
> just read a book where the hero goes on a tangent about how the    
> library smells and how books smell--he admits he mostly likes Civil 
> War books because of the gory pictures, but there's no doubt the    
> author is describing a book lover--going out of his way to do so.   
> It seems a bit of a cheat to suggest that if reading is important   
> to the plot it's not really a character trait--I'd say Tolkien     
> makes it very clear that both Bilbo and Frodo are book lovers, and
> the fact that they read myths based on legend doesn't change that,
> especially since they seem to relate to the stories the same way we 
> relate to fiction.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Exactly.  And part of Harry's character is that he's not a reader.  
It was just amusing to me in the opening of PS/SS because that was 
presented as a count against Dudley, but Harry isn't a reader 
himself.  It doesn't mean that Harry's a bad kid or anything.  He's 
just not a book lover.

(Honestly, I find the scramble to try and show that Harry *is* a book 
lover a bit amusing too.  Why does he need to be?  Perhaps it goes 
towards my little theory that presenting your character as a book 
lover is an easy way to get the reader on your character's side, 
because presumably the reader is a book lover themselves.)

> >>Lynda:
> > <snip>
> > And since the narrator doesn't give us blow by blow of Harry's   
> > every activity I cannot say "Harry doesn't read".
> > <snip>

> >>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. 
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I totally agree.  We've seen Harry wasting time at different points 
(usually at the Dursleys), and he generally stares at the ceiling or 
out the window, or loafs about.  He never picks up a book (unless 
he's doing school work).  So the books crowded on that shelf in 
Harry's room remain untouched.

And again, that's not a *bad* thing.  I found it amusing, but it's 
also a part of what makes Harry, Harry.  (Just as Tom Sawyer's 
reading helped make Tom, Tom.  And, IIRC, was part of the reason 
Huck's father beat him.)

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > IIRC JKR stated in an interview that there are no fiction authors 
> > in the WW.

> >>Potioncat:
> Does she really? I do remember something about her writing charms,
> but no fiction?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
That's how I remember it (I remember being mildly horrified at the 
idea) but I couldn't say where or when I heard/read it.  And it was 
just an interview.  She may have changed her mind. <g>

Betsy Hp