Sarah Monette(SPOILERS) and JKR WAS: Re: JKR's Opinion

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 179903

> >>a_svirn:
> I haven't seen the film, but judging by what you've said, it was a
> failure (at least in your view, sorry if I misunderstood what you
> are saying).

Betsy Hp:
On the contrary, I enjoyed the film. <g>

Alla:

OOOOOO, run from this movie a_svirn, run. I am kidding of course, 
maybe you will enjoy it as much as Betsy did, and I hated it very 
much.

But that I am just sticking here to make sure you know that the 
opinions on that movie differ, lol and the main reason I am replying 
is the Sarah Monette work v JKR.

> >>a_svirn:
> Failures happen. What exactly does it prove? I'd say it is
> counterproductive to judge creative process by failures.

Betsy Hp:
I agree. That's why I used the above examples as they are of works I
enjoyed. I think Monette's a brilliant writer, tackling issues JKR
wishes she had the strength to take on, and creating characters with
a depth of soul that make Harry so much cardboard. And I think a big
reason for that is Monette's willingness to allow for organic
growth. But *also* Monette's willingness to rewrite and rewrite and
rewrite. So there's the combination of subconscious and conscious
there.


Alla:

So, as Betsy knows I am in love with Sarah Monette works as well. I 
do think that she is a brilliant writer, but having read three books 
of hers I do have to take a rather strong exception to her 
characters' organic growth. Unless she changes her mind, the next 
book is supposed to be a last one, is it not?

So, the series are three quarter done, and what do I see in the main 
protagonists? Okay, series start and I see Mildmay as an assassin 
for hire, who wants to get out of it, but who has no problems IMO to 
kill when it is needed to solve his problems.

Felix is.... Well, Felix is half crazy most of the book, so I guess 
we cannot evaluate much of his character. Second book shows us Felix 
as um, being a manipulator, liar and somebody who has no problem to 
force his half brother into killing to give Felix his revenge.

Oh, oh and it looks like Felix feels really bad that he forced his 
half brother to do it and being hurt really badly.

BUT here we go third book, and Felix wants revenge for his lover's 
death. Anybody wants to guess? He is trying to manipulate his half 
brother into killing again. I mean, only this time the guy is able 
to resist the compulsion and Felix does it again.

I am sorry Betsy, I see **no growth whatsoever** in Felix character 
so far.

Mildmay, well, I think it is way past due for him to realize that 
his brother is not going to treat him decently, IMO. So I am not 
sure I see any growth in that department either.

I would love to be proven wrong here though.


Um, yes back to Potterverse finally. I see growth in Harry, I 
definitely do. I see him being able to see grayness in the world and 
people - that he was able to forgive Snape of all people, that he 
was able to forgive Dumbledore of all people IMO. I see growth in 
Harry that he was shielding everybody including Narcissa when he 
came back.

I see it as rather organic growth, but what is most important to me 
is that I would much rather **hang out** with Harry than Monette's 
characters. I may feel for them on the "hurt-comfort" level, just as 
I feel for Harry in a different way, but I would run as fast as I 
can from the assassin for hire and guy who does not hesitate to kill 
with magic, when he wants revenge, no matter how justified it may be.

Harry does not kill, even when Lupin scolds him. It is a very big 
plus in my book at least.
Having said that, I think to compare those books is to compare apple 
and oranges. I did not notice any fairy tales origins in Monette's 
story and I think JKR's story has a lot.

JMO,

Alla