Neri/OT: Intro/Theorising

[carolynwhite2]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "nkafkafi" <nkafkafi at y...> 
wrote:

 So I googled "Harry Potter
> theories" and landed straight into the Fantastic Posts site. As I
> dimly recall, my first thought was "gee, these guys are crazy", but
> fifteen minutes later I was hooked.
<snip>
> As a scientist, I'm first and foremost a theorist. This is a
> challenge, and I simply must crack the mystery before Book 7 is out.
> But I'm not at all averted to other aspects: analysis,
> universe-building, even shipping.

<snip>
My favorite TBay denizen is Faith. She got edge. In fact,
> she got too much edge. Ouch. (and Kimberly, if you're still around
> here, thanks!)
> 
<snip>
> Thanks for inviting me, and thanks to Carolyn for nominating me. 
> 

Carolyn:
Why Neri, I think you have Edge too. More Ouch [& inspects scars]. 
We've talked around this one before, but perhaps you don't mind if I 
revive it again?

Like you, I am fascinated by the mystery at the heart of the series, 
but I think it would be fair to say you have more time for the girl 
in the gymslip than me. Maybe that's more a matter of belief that 
there are any supposed rules to JKR's game, than lack of interest in 
theorising, right?

Many others here would argue that the central mystery is a mere 
bagatelle, of passing interest compared to the 'big themes' that the 
series (allegedly) addresses. 

>From the perspective of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, the prospect 
of a highly conflicted ending and the confirmation of, for example, a 
theory like ESE!Lupin is what will make the series live on for me, 
and make me re-read long after Book 7 appears. The nearest analogy I 
can think of is Le Carre - his unflinching observations of trust, 
betrayal and the futility of war and international politics live on, 
and continue to resonate precisely because of the complexity of the 
plotting - it feels real because it is messy, uncomfortable and in 
many ways unresolved.

How about you? Do you chuck away thrillers and detective novels once 
you know the ending, or are there any you revisit? What kind of 
resolution would make JKR live on for you?

Carolyn