In The News
J.K. Rowling named Runner-Up for Time's Person of the Year
J.K. RowlingTime.com's Person of the Year (Vladimir Putin) was announced this morning. Though we knew JK Rowling was on the shortlist, the nominees have all been profiled on the magazine's Web site. J.K. Rowling's profile spans the whole phenomenon, the author's plans, and more.
The article also mentions the HP Alliance's summer podcast (as played on PotterCast), "Becoming Dumbledore's Army." The episode saw more than 100,000 downloads and, "In the days that followed, the student antigenocide coalition stand saw a 40% increase in sign-ups for high school chapters and a 52% increase in calls to its hotline, 1-800-GENOCIDE."
"When asked about the group, Rowling practically levitates off the couch, spilling her coffee along the way. "It's incredible, it's humbling, and it's uplifting to see people going out there and doing that in the name of your character," she says. She's especially pleased by the group's choice of mission, and the old Amnesty International worker in her surfaces. "What did my books preach against throughout? Bigotry, violence, struggles for power, no matter what. All of these things are happening in Darfur. So they really couldn't have chosen a better cause."
TIME has also put up a 10 Questions article in which we learn whom Draco married (more on this is also to be on the next PotterCast) and hear more about those who came from the Resurrection Stone, the epilogue, and more.
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AnotherWeasley: I do agree with this. I sort of like the idea of Ron helping out George from time to time not so much as a job, but just because someone in his family could use some assistance. Maybe during those back to school rush days when all the kids come to Diagon Alley, or if he needs help working up some particular product. That seems sweet to me.
Anotherweasley and Kelly, I third your comments. Ron could certainly do both, and why not? Ron may need a break from the serious nature of his work as an Auror to get his laughs in and work with his brother at WWW. The Weasley’s are a tight knit family as well, they back each other up, and I have a feeling that George’s family would rally around him in a heartbeat, after all..he is missing his other half :(::
On a happier note- Jo, lovely interview. It was nice to read this alongside Leaky’s interview on Pottercast Part I. Previously, I had never heard Jo’s voice and it was just such a wonderful experience.. and her great, full laugh was so amazing! Thanks again Leaky! (for the third time haha) :)
OK, that interview was absolutely wonderful. Finally, a reporter who “gets it.” Really lovely to hear Jo talking about the HP alliance – think I’ll have to wear my HPA tshirt today!
This is an amazingly well written article. I loved reading about all the different weird things that people have done in the name of harry potter. I hope someone expands on that in their book *wink wink
RUNNER UP!!!!!!! What world to these people live in? He just won because he isthe leader of a country, and i heard little of him this year! Where as Jo ruled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a crocky —-cop out -- choice.
Wait, is she implying that Teddy was in Hufflepuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really hope so!
Astoria Greengrass? Interesting. I was hoping that the very question of Draco’s wife would be addressed in the PC special. I’m happy to hear my wishes will come true. :)
THAT’S DUMB!!! BS! Jo definitely did more than anyone on the list. But it doesn’t matter what Time’s or anyone things, she has her fans who support her and love her with everything that she puts out there.
Time Person of the Year isn’t a popularity contest, it’s not about who’s the nicest or most popular person of the year, it’s about who they think has had the greatest influence in a particular year, who provided leadership, good or bad. Adolf Hitler won in 1939 and I think we can all agree he wasn’t a nice guy, but he was the most influential person of that year.
While I might not necessarily agree with their choice, I can see their reasoning. While Putin may not be the most democratic of leaders, he has helped put Russia back on the map and he will play a major role in how Russia takes it’s place in the world in the coming years, and that’s important, whether we agree with how he is doing it or not.
I would have loved it if Jo had been named, given her role in getting children to read again, not to mention her charity work, but that wasn’t to be.
With regard to the Ron’s job discussion, I think it is possible that George also did a spell as an Auror, or whatever title those cleaning up the Ministry were given, rather than going straight back to the shop (perhaps running WWW as mail order in his spare time for a while).
Now, let’s give credit where credit is due. Putin DID sacrifice his life for Harry, Ron, and Hermione and was instrumental in their defeat of Voldemort. Oh, wait . . . that was Dobby. I always get them confused.
I can’t believe Jo didn’t win. Oh well, the info about Draco marrying Astoria was pretty cool.
Pootin stinks. Ah, well….two great Jo-related things in one week! :D Astoria Greengrass is a kick-arse name. And also, I think she deserves EW’s Person of the Year more because TIME is a political magazine. :D I WANT THE SCOTTISH BOOK RIGHT NOW, DAMMIT!
Lets list some people who affected my life this year: Al Gore: I recycle now! Hilary Clinton: makes me uncomfortable Barack Obama: makes me like politics Vladimir Putin: I appreciate my free speech and democratic choices, and get the willies when I look at him
Yep, I think that about covers my life in 2007. Way to go Time!
I’m confused:
“That’s how I always planned it, from when the first book was finished, that the three marauders and his mother would come back…So I wanted Harry to be surrounded by his mother and James and Sirius and Lupin, all of whom had died in a way for him. You know Lupin had laid down his life in Harry’s battle, he didn’t have to come back, he didn’t have to fight.”
Didn’t she intend Lupin not to die?
well, to the best of my knowledge Jo hasn’t revealed when she changed her mind about lupin die. Remember, Arthur was originally gonna die in OOTP, but she changed that. And that was around 5 years ago that she wrote that.
Its quite possible Jo changed her mind about Lupin dying quite some time ago.
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Leaky Poll
Moving the HBP film to July 2009 is:
- Completely unforgivable15 (46%)
- Annoying, but I'll get over it11 (34%)
- Not something I care about.1 (3%)
- Cool; who wants to go to the movies in the winter anyway?1 (3%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 until next year.0 (0%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 because now I'm skipping this movie!3 (9%)
- I've made a Facebook group, started a protest, called my local councilman, staged a sit-in, started a boycott, and organized a million-fan march because we won't stand for the - wait, what was this about again?1 (3%)
Great interview as usual Jo! As to the whole “Ron” debate. In the interview with Pottercast, she said that Harry and Ron didn’t graduate, but started right away to help rebuild the ministry as aurors. So, to me he could have easily done both, worked as an auror and helped George out in the shop. I don’t see why it has to be one or the other.