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ummm…Shoshana…This was my first time commenting on anything in over 3 months. Just because you only notice when I post about stuff I don’t like, dosen’t mean I don’t post about the stuff I do like. I just didn’t like the 7th book, so I am kind of mad at Rowling, and the rose color glasses came. I can see that I lot of people still have them on. On a sidenote, I don’t want to anger anyone at the leaky cauldron site, so this will be my last post about this topic. Have a nice day!

I do have to say, I think it’s very odd that someone who was supposedly so affected by her mother’s death would refer to the end of the book series she was writing as “the biggest emptiness in my life”. A big emptiness, I can understand, but the biggest emptiness?

Chris, while I get where you’re coming from, I disagree with you. I just don’t see how that comment means JKR doesn’t care about family and is a thoughtless hag. If her family mysteriously disappeared for some reason than I’m sure that would leave a huge emptiness. But they haven’t disappeared so it’s really a moot point. She never said Harry Potter was any more important as family.

Lynn- I think “One trick pony” is an unfair label for JKR (as of this moment, at least). Of her work we have only been exposed to Harry Potter so we can’t say that any subsequent books will be better or worse that Harry Potter. A better label might be a puppy that has only learned the trick sit so far. It’s still got speak, roll over, shake hands etc. to learn. The puppy might learn those tricks and be really good at them, or maybe it could only handle sit. You’ve got a good point though. They thing she’s writing now could turn out to be awful. Or it could be awesome.

And come on. Just because someone didn’t like DH all that much (And there are perfectly good reasons to dislike it, while still being a fan) or has a problem with one thing JKR says doesn’t mean we should proclaim them as heretics and hunt them down with pitchforks. People aren’t just coming here and mindlessly insulting JKR and all things associated with her. They (And by they, I mean Lynn and Secunda in their original posts in particular) seem to be having some doubts about whether she will be able to write more good books. And there’s really no problem with that.

And about the actual news itself, I think it’s nice news.

“Chris, while I get where you’re coming from, I disagree with you. I just don’t see how that comment means JKR doesn’t care about family and is a thoughtless hag. If her family mysteriously disappeared for some reason than I’m sure that would leave a huge emptiness. But they haven’t disappeared so it’s really a moot point.”

what an excellent excellent point!

Anyway, about this one trick pony comment:

Jo’s very first published work happened to earn her enormous success and her very first work just happened also to comprise a set of seven books. That doesn’t make her a one trick pony, it just means she had a lot on her plate. Many writers do loads of average stuff before they even get noticed, and when a book becomes successful fans go back and read their earlier stuff; in other words their earlier stuff makes money on the back of their one successful later novel, and not because the earlier stuff is any good (take the rubbish Philip Pullman has churned out; it probably only gets read because of HDM).

A major reason, in my opinion, that HP has been so successful is BECAUSE Jo lavished 17 years writing, planning and researching a very exquisitely detailed world in which to place her beautifully observed characters. If she hadn’t devoted so much time to the research to make her world as authentic as possible then the books wouldn’t be nearly so good. Some writers churn out too much stuff with too little attention to detail. I think it is refreshing to see someone who prefers to pay so much attention to creating the best possible world she can for people to enjoy. Why should quantity equal quality?

I can fully understand Jo´s feeling about the emptiness. It´s hard to be parted from people, things, work… you love. I have felt emotions like this myself in some circunstances and yes the emptiness that stays behind hurt

Peolpe who are critizising her maybe have not had sustencial losses in their lives, and have therefore a lack of emphathy.

It does not mean that Jo doesn´t love her family or friends. Everyone and everything has it´s space and it´s importance and thats good so.

I am amazed that Jo is busy writing and I can´t wait to put my hand on the new book which surely will be great.

Nice that the staff in the coffees help her to keep privacy.

I wounder who many copies she will be printing ? 500.000 ?

Oh you crazy Scots! What will you steal next!

Clearly I’m joking.

I am soooooo excited!!!!!!! I hope it is fantasy based, and a series!!!!! THANK YOU, JO!!!

Chris, et.c. does have a point. It’s good that she’s writing again, but there are some “news” items here that are about as worth reading as “JKR breaks wind.” “JKR enjoys breakfast cereal.” And some of you would do well to be less obsessive & look at things with more realistic, less rose-colored glasses.

SPF

This IS a Harry Potter site, and Jo is a huge part of the HP world, so any news about Jo will most likely be reported about on Leaky. I have found their posts to be both interesting and informative, such as the recent news of Jo and her organization (Children’s High Voice?). There are a lot of people who like to keep up with the major things in Jo’s life, none of which have anything with her breaking wind.

I’m not trying to sound snappish, but I think the fandom deserves more credit than you’ve given them.

I don’t think that every news item is worth consideration, personally I don’t get all the awards show nomination things(although nice I’m sure but in the grand scheme of life who cares if so and so won a solid gold grapefruit) The reality is that I don’t think any one of us walks around living our lives like we are at Hogwarts but most of us just enjoy the books and commend the author in the creation of them. Everyone is most certainly entitled to their opinion but in no way does that give anyone the right to call down others who don’t share that opinion. Being crass and demeaning of others surely shouldn’t be a part of a fan website. I’m sure there are other sites devoted to being overtly critical and would welcome your opinion but I don’t think it belongs to a fan site devoted to supporting the author, books, actors and movies.

On a side note, it amazes me what people would type online and not have the balls to say to someone to their face….

Chris, et.c. does have a point. It’s good that she’s writing again, but there are some “news” items here that are about as worth reading as “JKR breaks wind.” “JKR enjoys breakfast cereal.” And some of you would do well to be less obsessive & look at things with more realistic, less rose-colored glasses.

Posted by SPF on March 03, 2008 @ 05:34 PM

Allow me to translate this for you from a mundane, polite requite, to what it really is, a nasty message designed to infuriate and irritate. translation is as follows… ” Chris is right JKR sucks, what a @#%$# HP means more to her than her dead mother and kids. You are all just a bunch of patethic HP fanatics. GET A LIFE”...As Shakespeare said “A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet” in other words posts like yours(SPF) and your friends are stinky no matter how civil they are. If this post is deleted by Leaky because of my translation, I would implore you to delete the offending post also. I do not like being called a FANBOY, especially in a nice civil forum like this.

How exciting to be embarking on new writing adventures! I look forward to her next characters…in adult’s or children’s fiction. She has a knack for intertwining humor with real life and fantastical trials. I’m sure we’ll see these talents emerge again in her future works.

correction< I think Beedle the Bard proves Jo is NOT a one trick pony. (an important word wasn’t typed in sorry)

<I do have to say, I think it’s very odd that someone who was supposedly so affected by her mother’s death would refer to the end of the book series she was writing as “the biggest emptiness in my life”. A big emptiness, I can understand, but the biggest emptiness? Posted by Marauder on March 03, 2008 @ 03:43 PM <

I concur. A very strange comment to make. I find it interesting that 18% of the vote in TLC poll say they don’t care what she writes next, it’s Harry only for them.

one trick pony would imply she only had a SINGLE successful book. she had 7 sucessful novels, an three charity books that were a resounding sucess raising tens of millions of dollors of charity.

also, to clear up a few misconceptions, harry potter is not the first novel she wrote, it is simple the first one she got published.

and chris, just give it up. jk rowling has worked on harry potter for 17 years. that is a long time. get a brain, to be working that long on something, when you finish it, most people would feel a emptiness, that DOES NOT MEAN SHE HATES HER FAMILY! honestly.

You even insulted Melissa Anelli personally a few weeks ago. Does it really make you feel good inside? What can you possibly get out of spending your time here? You make me sad, because you seem like an intelligent person who could put her passion towards something more worthwhile and meaningful. There has to be a worthwhile cause in your community that you can focus your time on, instead of being angry about Harry Potter. Get angry about homelessness or something. You’re wasting your time getting mad at JK Rowling and Harry Potter fans.

Yes, I insulted her and I still mean it. Thank you for the compliment anyway. Well, the day is much longer than the time I spend here so don´t worry about me wasting my time. It´s nice you are concerned. I fear it doesn´t matter how one expresses their critics here. I have read really polite criticism and still those people get insulted in return.

Well, you know Jo has reached so many people with her books and that´s why it is not unimportant if ex-readers get angry at her. She has money she has influence she has spread her morals with the books. And I don´t deny that a lot of what she had to say is morally correct, at least she tries to. But still there are this major moral flaws in the books: the use of old stereotypes when it comes to different peoples and races, the flayed baby in the end, the Cruciatus-curse Harry used. In addition the many mistakes…..

respect: I exspected someone will bring in this word. Let me just say that I regard it as a sign of disrespect towards her readers that she uses the limited effect of the Polyjuice Potion to base the plotlines of two books upon (2,4) and in the last book she just overthrows it. I don´t care that much about smaller mistakes. Some facts she just might have forgotten, but the PjP was very important.

I do have to say, I think it’s very odd that someone who was supposedly so affected by her mother’s death would refer to the end of the book series she was writing as “the biggest emptiness in my life”. A big emptiness, I can understand, but the biggest emptiness? Posted by Marauder on March 03, 2008 @ 03:43 PM <

I agree

DOES NOT MEAN SHE HATES HER FAMILY!

Did anybody say that?

I fear it doesn´t matter how one expresses their critics here. I have read really polite criticism and still those people get insulted in return. Posted by secunda on March 04, 2008 @ 09:04 AM

I fear that all criticism is becoming more and more harsh and unjustified. Why not have a discussion on a more appropriate forum? This is a comment section about JKR writing another book. Yet critics feel they must let their VOICES be heard. Please spare us from the victim stance critics so often take.

(But still there are this major moral flaws in the books: the use of old stereotypes when it comes to different peoples and races, the flayed baby in the end, the Cruciatus-curse Harry used. In addition the many mistakes…..)

You saw a flayed baby, I saw the disgusting creature Voldemort was at the beginning of GOF. You see Harry using the Cruciatus curse, I see a boy desperate to avenge his Godfather’s death by biting, scratching and clawing his much more evil murderer. Yet all critics bash Harry and never Bellatrix.

respect: I exspected someone will bring in this word. Let me just say that I regard it as a sign of disrespect towards her readers that she uses the limited effect of the Polyjuice Potion to base the plotlines of two books upon (2,4) and in the last book she just overthrows it. I don´t care that much about smaller mistakes. Some facts she just might have forgotten, but the PjP was very important. Posted by secunda on March 04, 2008 @ 09:04 AM

Polyjuice was not the base of the plotline in 2, it was introduced in 2 and used to full effect in 4, and later books. It is a plot device, but no more than a scalpel is to a doctor drama or bullets in a western. It is so easy to point out things that in your opinion are contrived cliches apparent in HP, but it is much harder when you try to justify them against other literary devices used in countless books and movies. Or for that matter justify their non-use as a literary device. Why not just start a polite conversation about whether or not polyjuice potion is overused? Don’t just fling cliched non constructive criticism and disguise it as intelligent banter with big words and a more truthful perception.

I believe that JKR’s decission to continue writing books for children is the correct career move for her. It is difficult for the adament fans who frequent this and other Harry Potter fan sites to realize that possibly more of her adult fans were extremly disappointed with Deathly Hallows then is represented on the fan sites. It appears to me that JKR still has a strong hold on her adoring child fan who believe that she is some kind of “Queen” who can do no harm, but I do believe that she has disappointed more of her adult fans then maybe even she realizes. I am starting to believe from what I have seen elsewhere that the disappointed adult fan might actually be a silent majority rather then a minority. These fans have simply taken their disappointment and moved on with their life. I doubt that they would automatically buy an adult book written by JKR, but the worshipping children would want to buy anything she writes.

This is my 2cents on this subject.