On Letters (was Re: Hmmm. What's your favourite *now*?)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 183055

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "montavilla47" <montavilla47 at ...> wrote:
>
> > Geoff:
> > Just in passing, I think you meant "empathise".
> 
Montavilla47:
> As for when or how Harry might have gotten one of the 
> letters, I think he had a fighting chance to get one on the
> second (the day you didn't mention) when Vernon was
> fighting Dudley and Harry was choking Vernon.
> 
> I think Harry did show some intitiative, by the way, on the 
> third day, when he snuck down to get at the post first.
> 
> On Saturday, 24 letters arrived.  We don't know how or when,
> so it's hard to know what Harry's opportunities could have 
> been.  

Geoff:
We do. They were concealed inside two dozen eggs delivered 
by the milkman.

> But, looking over that chapter, something comes to quickly
> to mind.  Dudley was as curious as Harry was, and he's 
> a lot more effective than Harry at getting his parents to do
> stuff.  I know Harry and Dudley don't like each other, but they
> have a common goal.  Working together they probably
> could have come up with a good plan.

Geoff:
I think their realtaionship was beyond "don't like". I think the
only reason he expressed an interest was because Harry, who 
usually was the "Oliver Twist" of the family was actually getting 
something which wasn't a cast-off from him.
 
> I'm including this snippet from your post:
 
<snip>
 
> May I remind everyone that Harry turns out to the most talented 
> seeker in one hundred years at Hogwarts?  This scene is like that 
> key room, except Harry doesn't have to snatch one special key--
> any of them would do.

Geoff: Yes, but there is a subtle difference between jumping up into 
the air off the floor and trying to grab a letter while being assailed by 
Vernon and having the flexibility of being on a broom.
  
Montavilla47:
> I agree that the Pevensies are in a better position than Harry.  But Lyra
> isn't (unless you want to count Pan as her helper).  Sara (the Little 
> Princess) is quite alone in the world, but she manages to do most of 
> what she wants through sheer force of personality.  And Dido Twite 
> was foiling anti-monarchist bombing plots and sailing around the 
> world as an undersized ten-year-old.

Geoff: 
Sadly, I must reveal my literary ignorance.
:-)

Apart from the Pevensies, I am not acquainted with the other folk who 
you name.

Geoff (previously):
> > I think I must launch it successor the QHBC (Quit Harry Bashing Club).
> > 
> > To misquote the timeless words of a great American, 'Ask not what 
> > Harry can do for you, - ask what you can do for Harry.'
> 
> Montavilla47:
> You're mistaking my meaning, Geoff.  I admit it is easy to mistake and
> it seems like I'm bashing Harry.  I don't mean to.  My post was in
> response to (was it Potioncat or Pippin?  I know it was a "P" post), who 
> said that JKR was deliberately making Harry into an "Everykid" by 
> having him act in a mediocre way.
> 
> My contention was that JKR was mainly interested in that passage with
> piling on absurdity upon absurdity to create humor, and that the 
> reader needs to cut Harry a break in terms of his inability to snatch and
> read a letter in order to enjoy the joke.

Geoff:
I appreciate the absurd humour as well - trying to knock in a nail with a 
piece of fruit cake and spreading marmalade on his paper for example.

My Harry-bashing comment wasn't specifically aimed at you. There are a 
number of folk who seem to fit that category. Perhaps I should have put 
a smiley after my QHBC remark.

My IWHTLC posts of last year were usually accepted as being semi-serious.
:-)