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

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 162118

> Magpie:
> But I can't help but think this all sounds like an unnecessary
> defense, a way of saying that Harry would be a reader except JKR
> had these reasons not to make him that way., so maybe he should be
> counted as one anyway.  Why is that needed?  Why can't we just say
> that one of the things we know about Harry as a boy is that he 
> doesn't particularly like to read, unlike some other fictional
> characters.  I don't see anything about the story that would make
> Harry liking books a problem, any more than it would have been a 
> problem to have him be bad at sports.  It seems like it's just the
> way he is.

Jen:  You may hear a defense of Harry in my words, but I promise I'm 
not mounting one.  Neri brought up an interesting thought, I applied 
it to the story and other fantasy series I'm familiar with and ran 
with it.  I don't care if Harry reads, I didn't even *notice* that 
about him until someone here started this thread and said, 'hey, 
Harry doesn't read.' Likewise it never occurred to me that the WW 
doesn't have any fiction because other aspects of the series are 
more engrossing.  Maybe it's JKR's chosen characterization, maybe 
she had several reasons for her choice, maybe the Harry who appeared 
fully formed in her head just wasn't a reader and she went with it--
who knows?  It's just a new point to me and an interesting one to 
consider as we sit here and wait for the final bell.  I don't think 
there's a 'right' answer to the question.