9 posts tagged “jk rowling”
And so I've finished all four books in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. They have dominated my life for the last si weeks, almost in the same way that Harry Potter series does, but not quite.
Perhaps it is unfair to compare the two series, after all they are
ultimately aimed at different audiences but their success and
phenomenon surrounding them make them obvious contenders for a compare
and contrast.
Meyers makes Rowling look like a writer worthy of receiving a Booker nod. OK so Rowling isn't the best writer and was given too much free reign
in later books but the Harry Potter series has far more layers,
revelations and she certainly knows how to make her characters suffer,
something Meyers can only do in degrees.
There is much that is frustrating in the Twilight series: the poor writing in places, the indulgence, the overwhelming 'niceness', the sometimes awkward plot flow and decisions but all that can be forgiven for what is ultimately an addictive and fascinating premise.
I'm 37 and I want to be a vampire. There I've said it.
Having now finished the last book, I feel lost, all those evening looking forward to reading the next instalment. However, unlike Rowling, Meyers has left the door ajar and I ticked off at least three potential new story lines in the final chapters. So despite my frustrations, I'm almost hoping she does decide to write a fifth.
Here are my reviews for the individual books as I finished them:
Twilight
Sentimental and some vomit inducing romance but written in a such way that can press all the same buttons it would have done had I been 14 again and reading it. Because of this and the fact that it is nice easy read and shameless escapism I loved every page and am going straight on to the sequel.
New Moon
Eclipse
Book concentrates on the relationships of the key characters with less big dramatic story lines than the previous two books. In fact it is more about the build up to the grand finale rather than the finale itself which is a little bit of a damp squib. Maybe a little indulgent at times and the Edward character is starting to become just a little too good to be true. But that said it got its hooks in and I cantered through it with much enjoyment. Straight onto the next and final book in the saga...
Breaking Dawn
Feel slightly sad it's all over for the Twilight series now, although she has left a couple of potential threads which could make further books. Meyers isn't JK Rowling and frustratingly often shies away from taking the drama to the next level (Note to Meyers: think carefully what you entitle your chapters as it can kind of spoil the tension when they give too much away). The first two books are the best. Although Breaking Dawn has more in it than Eclipse but I was still hooked and there is now a vampire-sized hole in my life.
Roll on the release of the Twilight DVD in April.
This is just wrong on so many levels. It is SEVEN books for criminies sake and that's before you start making room for crap, pointless songs and dance routines.
Now the Potted Potter on the other hand, I'd pay to see that because that sounds clever and fun.
It is the last night of our holiday and we've had a wonderful time, despite the weather. We are spending the evening in the pub, for a change.
Yesterday we went to Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors where Heartbeat fans congregate as it is used for filming. As I haven't watched Heartbeat since Nick Berry was in it, it all meant nothing to me.
But the reason for the visit, for me anyway, was because of this:
There was one moment today when I thought a local book shop had broken the Deathly Hallows embargo and I hurried hopefully to check out the queue only to find that a local author was doing a book signing.
So tonight is my last 'how will it all end' night. I'm buying the book from a small independent bookseller and will be happy to pay full cover price. Sod Tesco and there like with their discounts, I'm supporting the small business people.
I plan to have finished reading it by Monday. I'm slightly concerned that it's not going to be a satisfactory ending. I haven't seen an interview yet with JK Rowling that shows evidence of anyone ever asking her how she would feel if there was a massive backlash of discontented fans.
I'm hopeful I'm not going to be disappointed.
Two down, four to go.
In Chamber of Secrets I love how Hermione starts to develop a rebellious streak. She is certainly the brains of the trio and without her the two boys would still be trying to get past the charms which protect the Philospher's Stone.
There is a line in the film, I haven't checked to see if it was lifted straight from the book, when Dumbledore says to Lucius Malfoy something along the lines of "I hope nothing else from Tom Riddles school days ends up in innocent hands".
I know that JK Rowling has had some influence over the scripts and ensured that certain elements of the books are retained as they hold significance to later stories. And I wonder if this is one. At the start of the book Harry is mistakenly transported via the flu system to a shop which sells dark objects. He overhears Lucius telling the shop keeper that he has many objects in his cellar at home which are 'dark' which gets me thinking of a potential horcrux.
It would be great to have Rowling's description of the Malfoy's home although I do have some images of my own.
PS Soup, this is the version of the adult cover that I have...
One down. Five to go.
She writes in this book: "In years to come Harry wouldn't remember..." Surely a sign he isn't going to get killed off!
I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a massive fan of the Harry Potter books. Regretfully I got into them after seeing the
So the last book is a biggy for me. The final piece of the jigsaw. The answers to (most of) the questions. The big reveal.
I'm not pre-ordering it because you can walk into just about any shop that sell books and fall over piles of the buggers once it is out.
But my diary for the 21 and 22 July will be cleared. The phone won't get answered. There will be no batteries in the doorbell. TV, radio and iBook will remain off.
My biggest fear is that I accidentally find out what happens before I've read it for myself or worse still, someone tells me.
When the last book was published some jokers hung a banner across a busy A-road in Wales with the identity of the character who dies written on it. Funny to non-fans I'm sure but incredibly mean in my eyes.
I'm also re-reading all six books, the aim being to finish The Half Blood Prince a few days before the final publication date.
They are such a delight to read and I get completely sucked in half way through the first chapter.
Its fun scouring them for any tiny clues as to what might happen and in particular anything to indicate the identity and locations of the remaining horcruxes.
I really hope JK Rowling doesn't kill Harry off so that no one can persuade her to write any further books. I don't mind if she doesn't write any more but I just think it would be a bit mean after everything the character has gone through.
If you could write like one fiction author, who would it be?
Submitted by Marilyn.
JK Rowling. But I wouldn't have bothered finishing the series. Once I'd made enough cash, I'd retire into obscurity on a small island in the pacific.
Not really.
It would have to be Arundhati Roy purely because The God of Small Things tore me up and I think it would be fantastic to write a story that had such an affect on its readers.
She's working on her next novel which I hope matches it because it's been a while since I read anything that really moved me.
As promised here are the predictions or thoughts or whatever you want to call them that a couple of friends and I came up with after reading The Half Blood Prince.
V initially came up with the questions and then J and I answered them. Any alternative thoughts welcome...
Is Dumbledore really dead?
V - Yes
J - I agree but may come back as a spirit guide/voice inside Potter's head. No star wars connection there then
RS - Yes but will still play a part as he will have a portrait in the headmasters office at Hogwarts so Harry will be able to talk to him
Is Snape a "goodie" or a "baddie"?
V - A baddie
J - A goodie for sure
RS - A goodie, it would be too obvious if he was a baddie
Did Dumbledore intend for Snape to "kill" him?
V - No
J - No but gave him permission to do so if necessary to preserve his cover and anyway Dumby told him by telecommunication that he was dying anyway so he should feel free to go ahead.
RS - Based on my former answer then I think yes, and I like J's suggestion
Is Harry one of Voldemort's horcruxes?
V - Yes
J - Nice idea but no, too risky as Voldemort thinks he has to kill Potter - though perhaps he became a horcrux before Voldy knew about the prophecy or by accident? On balance I think not.
RS - I don't think so but it would be an intriguing twist if one of his friends was and he had to kill them
Where are the others? (V's suggestions and J's and RS's comments)
1 - Diary - dead
2 - Slytherin locket - dead
3 - Sorting hat J - Nice idea, I'd go with that RS - Not sure about that, why'd put Harry in Gryffindor where he can gain protection from the sword
4 - Somewhere in Hogwarts J - I'd go for the Gryffindor Goblet RS - I'd go with that, there are the other house mascots too although I can't think of them at the moment but it could be anyone of them
5 - Harry /Neville J You are forgetting the snake RS - Yep I agree but it could still be one of the kiddies
6 - Voldie himself J - No he's merely the seventh receptacle, what about Dumbledore's phoenix? RS I don't think he is and surely Dumbley would have worked it out if his phoenix was one?
RS suggestion: was there a box or something in Sirius' house that they found when they were tidying up during the Order of the Phoenix that no one could get to open, could that be one. Why mention it otherwise?
Is there more to Petunia than meets the eye?
V - Yes. She's a witch, pretending to be a muggle, albeit not as good a witch as her sister Lily was
J - She will have a role to play in the next book but not this, I reckon she will come good by giving important detail about her sisters death
Will Voldemort die?
V- yes of course, Harry will find some way of removing the Tom Riddle part of his "soul" from him without topping himself.
J - I go for full out slaughter
What will Harry be when he grows up?
V - One of the following 3 options: (1) an Auror, (2) defence against the dark arts teacher or (3) the headmaster of Hogwarts. Of the three, I'm going for the latter, albeit eventually, and that he might need to start with being defence against the dark arts teacher
J - Agreed
RS - That is of course if he lives and I really want him to live and become an auror like he always wanted to. I reckon he'll get injured in someway which will stop him from being an auror and so he'll eventually become headmaster of Hogwarts
Who will marry whom of the main protagonists?
V- Harry + Ginny; Ron + Hermione
J - Could we just have a bit of sex without this marriage bit?
RS - If they all live then I agree with V but that might be a bit too happy-ever-after for JK Rowling, if Harry survives it will be at a price and that could be Ginny, Ron or Hermione
What will he/his mates do when they grow up?
V - Harry= future Dumbledore; Hermione = Auror (J - Unless she gets to be headmistress) Ron = ministry
RS - I'd agree with that
Who is RAB?
J - Clearly related to Sirius. Does he have a brother or father called Reginald or a nick name?
RS - (and I'm cheating a bit now as I found this out after we had originally answered these questions) It is Regulus Black, Sirius's brother who apparently went over to the 'dark side' then realised his mistake. If my memory serves me he is thought to be dead. Sirius mentions him to Harry when he is showing him the Black family tree at his house.
The news I've been waiting for finally arrived this week: JK Rowling has announced the publication date of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the series.
In preparation, I plan to re-read the entire series in the preceding weeks, hopefully timing it just right so that I finish the Half Blood Prince just as the new book is released.
Not only does it mean I'll finally find out what happens after years of anticipation but I'll also be able to dust down a set of predictions compiled some friends of mine who are fellow fans to see how close we were to fathoming it all out.
My money is on Jenny's suggestion:
"Petunia will reveal that Lily had an affair with Voldemort and Harry is their son. Harry turns out to be gay and gets off with Ron. Hermione is destraught, drops out, becomes a junkie and goes to the dark side only to discover (in the nick of time) that she is Harry's sister. Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny end up in an incestuous four in a bed romp to prove to Dumbledore that love is the most important thing."
Anyway, the speculation as to who she is going to kill off is already rife - it's two characters this time, apparently.
Having grown quite attached to the books I don't like the idea of Harry being dying, I'd like him to have some semblance of a happy ending to counter balance all the trauma he's been through. That aside JK Rowling has proved already that she doesn't let characters off lightly and I wouldn't be surprised if she kills off one of the kids. I think Ginny for major effect on Harry.
For really sick twist Ginny could be a horcrux meaning Harry would probably have to kill her to get defeat Voldemort.
Still not decided on who else might die.
Think Dumbledore will retain a
role as one in his portraits among those of the dead headmasters at
Hogwarts.
If anyone is interested in other theories and thoughts we came up with I'll post them and I'd love to hear what other people think.
