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Leaky Lounge > HP-Related Discussion: Diagon Alley > HP Book Discussion: Flourish and Blotts > Academic Analysis: Obscurus Books

 
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Revised Editions of the HP Books, My literary critique shows a need for revisions of the books
Migdalin
post Apr 26 2009, 09:05 AM
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For most fans, a fully-revised seven books has to sound pretty good. Probably we all have different ideas on what a revised edition would look like. As for myself, I've written a book-length (80,000 word!) critique that spells out what I think Ms. Rowling should focus on in such a revision. The critique is unpublished and free to be read, dowloaded, used in the classroom, etc. The critique is posted in PDF format, broken out by chapter (but I plan to put an all-in-one PDF up soon), and can be found at
Destiny Unfulfilled: A Critique of the Harry Potter Series
(http://www.migdalin.com/HarryPotter).

I feel my main qualifications for writing the book are that I'm a (slightly disgruntled) fan of the series, and I've put a lot of effort into analyzing the seven books. To be clear, this is not a religious diatribe, political axe-grinding, nor do I attempt to take Ms. Rowling to school on who should have fallen in love with whom in the series. Rather, this is an examination of issues like the role of a protagonist, the writer's contract with her readers, characterization, shaggy dog resolutions, and so forth.

The critique makes claims such as that Harry fails to fulfill his role as a protagonist and, ultimately, ceases to be even a necessary character. Hermione could easily have made it through Book 7 without Harry and Ron tagging along after her.... That seems like a fairly major problem, when the title character turns out to be unnecessary.

I hope we can make enough noise to get Ms. Rowling's attention. We aren't asking for more books in the series, just that she fulfill the promises she made to us: that the books would star Harry as the hero and protagonist, that the books wouldn't be episodic, and so forth.

Cheers,
Jim

This post has been edited by Pleione: May 9 2009, 01:30 PM
Reason for edit: Edited on request. :)


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Fricka
post Apr 26 2009, 02:16 PM
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Joanne Kathleen Rowling owes me NOTHING! I am thankful that she wrote the books she did!

Now, Migdalin, you can write all the treatises you want to on JKR's work, and that's fine. But you take it too far when you state that she should go back and revise her work, just because there are parts you disagree with. I'm sure I could think of other endings and character changes that I would like to have seen in other author's books, but I would never have the chutzpah, the immortal rind, to think that because there was something in a book that I did not agree with, whether from a literary point of view, or personal preference, that that author is/was obligated to make changes.


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Migdalin
post Apr 27 2009, 10:09 AM
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QUOTE(Fricka @ Apr 26 2009, 02:16 PM) *
Now, Migdalin, you can write all the treatises you want to on JKR's work, and that's fine. But you take it too far when you state that she should go back and revise her work, just because there are parts you disagree with.


Everything is just one person's opinion. And there's only one person whose opinion counts, and that's Ms. Rowling, which I very well understand.

However, I like to think I'm doing more than disagreeing with certain specific developments, and doing more than merely quoting out of some arbitrary creative writing textbook.

What I try to do in Destiny Unfulfilled, as much as possible, is operate from within the context of the books themselves. The most significant issue that I raise isn't a particular development, but rather the ongoing fact that Harry fails the test of humanity. He passes through a childhood of abuse, is attacked over and over again, kills Quirrell, destroys the diary version of Voldemort ... and none of that has any effect on him whatsoever. That isn't an indication of a strong character, despite what Dumbledore says. It's an indication of a cardboard character in a book, not someone who could really exist. Or at best, anyone like that would be so lacking in conscience and empathy as to be psycho-killer material.


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SnapesSister
post Apr 27 2009, 10:22 AM
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QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 27 2009, 04:09 PM) *
What I try to do in Destiny Unfulfilled, as much as possible, is operate from within the context of the books themselves. The most significant issue that I raise isn't a particular development, but rather the ongoing fact that Harry fails the test of humanity. He passes through a childhood of abuse, is attacked over and over again, kills Quirrell, destroys the diary version of Voldemort ... and none of that has any effect on him whatsoever. That isn't an indication of a strong character, despite what Dumbledore says. It's an indication of a cardboard character in a book, not someone who could really exist. Or at best, anyone like that would be so lacking in conscience and empathy as to be psycho-killer material.


(bold mine, for emphasis)

You're right, it is an indication of a character in a book, not someone who could really exist. But why does that matter? This series is fantasy, it isn't real. Why must the characters be realistic, who says they have to be?

I could just as easily point out that Voldemort could never exist in real life, because his soul is split into seven. But does that bother me? No. He's a character in a book. A character in a fictitious world.

These "unreal" characters don't in any way lessen my enjoyment of the books, and the world Ms Rowling has created. I like to think I'm intelligent enough to realise that very few of these people could exist in the real world, especially someone like Harry, who, as you say has been through so much yet has come out of it fairly mentally and emotionally unscathed.

And honestly, when I want realism, I just read another author's books. If I want fantasy, enjoyment and adventure, I read Harry Potter. I wouldn't have the books any other way than they were written. smile.gif


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Migdalin
post Apr 27 2009, 10:50 AM
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QUOTE(SnapesSister @ Apr 27 2009, 10:22 AM) *
These "unreal" characters don't in any way lessen my enjoyment of the books, and the world Ms Rowling has created.


How about looking at it from the other direction, though. If you woke up tomorrow and discovered there was, let's call it an alternate, version of the Potter series out there, written by Ms. Rowling, wouldn't that excite you? A version where, instead of going with Vernon to the drill bit factory, Book 1 starts with Dumbledore and Hagrid retrieving Harry from Godric's Hollow. A version where Harry spends at least one summer being tutored one-on-one by Dumbledore. A version where Harry is, in fact, a believable character, growing, evolving, and being affected by the events in his life.

People seem to think that such a revised edition would somehow spoil the current version for them, and I still don't understand that one. If you already recognize Harry as an unbelievable character and it doesn't affect your enjoyment of the series, then why would having a version of the books where Harry is believable necessarily change your opinion about the original version? It seems that would be a kind of birthday present. Instead of just one version of the Potter series, you'd have two!


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Posts in this topic
- Migdalin   Revised Editions of the HP Books   Apr 26 2009, 09:05 AM
- - Zoom   No, no, no, no, no, no no and no again. Re writin...   Apr 26 2009, 10:52 AM
|- - wandmastercalum   QUOTE(Zoom @ Apr 26 2009, 04:52 PM) No, n...   Apr 27 2009, 11:59 AM
- - chloe squibbulus   I second that 'no.' Its up to Rowling if ...   Apr 26 2009, 11:33 AM
- - Rinzy   Uh... Say what? Firstly, I agree with Zoom and ch...   Apr 26 2009, 11:36 AM
- - JaneMarple9   I have to politely disagree . Jo could never plea...   Apr 26 2009, 01:28 PM
- - LunaLovegood286   J.K Rowling should not have to change anything. Ha...   Apr 26 2009, 04:46 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(LunaLovegood286 @ Apr 26 2009, 04:4...   Apr 27 2009, 10:23 AM
|- - Eva Hedwig   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 27 2009, 03:23 PM) t...   Apr 27 2009, 10:55 AM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Eva Hedwig @ Apr 27 2009, 10:55 AM)...   Apr 27 2009, 11:17 AM
|- - Eva Hedwig   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 27 2009, 04:17 PM) T...   Apr 27 2009, 06:41 PM
|- - WalnutWandCarrier   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 27 2009, 12:17 PM) Q...   Apr 29 2009, 01:17 PM
- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Zoom @ Apr 26 2009, 10:52 AM) Re wr...   Apr 27 2009, 09:15 AM
|- - davidenglish   Dear Migdalin, I'm sure you're not a ...   Apr 30 2009, 07:12 PM
- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Rinzy @ Apr 26 2009, 11:36 AM) Thir...   Apr 27 2009, 09:47 AM
|- - lirene   First off, to Leaky, Migdalin. Second, your topic...   Apr 27 2009, 10:08 AM
- - Flutesong   I agree that the final book needs an overhaul. As ...   Apr 27 2009, 11:58 AM
- - Purpleztar   The first five books were amazing. The sixth book ...   Apr 27 2009, 04:12 PM
- - George Weasley's Girlfriend   QUOTEWhat I try to do in Destiny Unfulfilled, as m...   Apr 27 2009, 05:44 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(George Weasley's Girlfriend @ Apr 2...   Apr 28 2009, 07:54 AM
- - Mrs_Linnea_Snape   Migdalin, I haven't read your essay yet, but I...   Apr 27 2009, 09:10 PM
- - moonyschick   It may not seem like Harry was all too traumatized...   Apr 27 2009, 09:34 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(moonyschick @ Apr 27 2009, 09:34 PM...   Apr 28 2009, 09:19 AM
- - Nadezhda   I have now read about two chapters of your critiqu...   Apr 28 2009, 01:40 AM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Nadezhda @ Apr 28 2009, 01:40 AM) [...   Apr 28 2009, 08:34 AM
- - George Weasley's Girlfriend   QUOTEDid he, though? He certainly never gets over ...   Apr 28 2009, 11:47 AM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(George Weasley's Girlfriend @ Apr 2...   Apr 28 2009, 01:50 PM
|- - roonwit   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 28 2009, 07:50 PM) A...   Apr 28 2009, 05:02 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(roonwit @ Apr 28 2009, 05:02 PM) Ha...   Apr 29 2009, 10:46 AM
|- - roonwit   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 29 2009, 04:46 PM) I...   Apr 29 2009, 02:35 PM
- - Wendall   Migdalin, I've only read about 25 pages of Des...   Apr 28 2009, 04:45 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Wendall @ Apr 28 2009, 04:45 PM) Bu...   Apr 29 2009, 10:00 AM
|- - Wendall   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 29 2009, 04:00 PM) I...   Apr 29 2009, 03:02 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Wendall @ Apr 29 2009, 03:02 PM) Bu...   Apr 30 2009, 08:04 AM
|- - Wendall   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 30 2009, 02:04 PM) I...   Apr 30 2009, 01:44 PM
- - moonyschick   QUOTEBut returning to the Dursley home year after ...   Apr 28 2009, 05:09 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(moonyschick @ Apr 28 2009, 05:09 PM...   Apr 29 2009, 10:35 AM
- - Hallows not Horcruxes   "Yes, Harry gets older, but do the events in ...   Apr 28 2009, 05:37 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Hallows not Horcruxes @ Apr 28 2009, 05...   Apr 29 2009, 11:06 AM
- - Nadezhda   Great post, Wendall, I completely agree. QUOTEHar...   Apr 29 2009, 11:54 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Nadezhda @ Apr 29 2009, 11:54 PM) I...   Apr 30 2009, 08:26 AM
- - Gandalf's Beard   Well, I have never come across anyone quite as hub...   Apr 30 2009, 08:43 AM
|- - WalnutWandCarrier   QUOTE(Gandalf's Beard @ Apr 30 2009, 09...   Apr 30 2009, 09:31 AM
- - Gandalf's Beard   I couldn't find a good emoticon for sarcasm ,...   Apr 30 2009, 10:31 AM
|- - Migdalin   I'd forgotten about putting that bit about the...   Apr 30 2009, 11:29 AM
|- - Pleione   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 30 2009, 12:29 PM) I...   Apr 30 2009, 12:42 PM
- - Mrs_Linnea_Snape   Migdalin, I finally sat down and read all of Desti...   Apr 30 2009, 12:40 PM
- - George Weasley's Girlfriend   QUOTEAt platform nine and three quarters, as every...   Apr 30 2009, 01:08 PM
- - dave1972   To say that J.K.Rowling owes us revised editions o...   Apr 30 2009, 03:45 PM
- - Wendall   Migdalin, after reading a bit more of Destiny Unfu...   Apr 30 2009, 03:54 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Wendall @ Apr 30 2009, 03:54 PM) So...   Apr 30 2009, 05:50 PM
|- - Wendall   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 30 2009, 11:50 PM) I...   May 1 2009, 06:01 AM
- - Kalin   I'm still reading the critique which brings up...   Apr 30 2009, 07:30 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Kalin @ Apr 30 2009, 07:30 PM) Anot...   May 3 2009, 09:28 AM
|- - acciosirius   QUOTE(Migdalin @ May 3 2009, 09:28 AM) (S...   May 3 2009, 10:03 AM
- - Nadezhda   QUOTEI was definitely trying to read between the l...   May 1 2009, 01:25 AM
- - MaraudingDon   Migdalin, that is an astonishing accomplishment to...   May 1 2009, 03:15 AM
- - Gandalf's Beard   QUOTEMigdalin wrote: Maybe this is something tha...   May 1 2009, 04:11 AM
|- - Northen Light36   QUOTE(Gandalf's Beard @ May 1 2009, 07...   May 1 2009, 10:49 PM
- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Mrs_Linnea_Snape @ Apr 30 2009, 12...   May 1 2009, 05:59 AM
- - Migdalin   QUOTE(dave1972 @ Apr 30 2009, 03:45 PM) T...   May 1 2009, 07:51 AM
|- - lirene   QUOTE(Migdalin @ May 1 2009, 08:51 AM) Wh...   May 1 2009, 12:30 PM
- - birdi86   JKR doesn't owe you or anyone else anything. E...   May 1 2009, 01:47 PM
- - Gandalf's Beard   Funnily enough, Stephen King thinks the Potter boo...   May 1 2009, 08:43 PM
- - Zoom   Since you gunned for my post specifically: QUOTEW...   May 1 2009, 08:46 PM
- - Gandalf's Beard   I haven't heard about Michael Scott's seri...   May 2 2009, 02:09 AM
- - Northen Light36   Mr Scott is worth reading if you're interreste...   May 2 2009, 02:13 AM
- - Mrs_Linnea_Snape   QUOTEHow about this one. Suppose Fred and George h...   May 2 2009, 06:12 AM
|- - WalnutWandCarrier   QUOTE(Mrs_Linnea_Snape @ May 2 2009, 07:1...   May 2 2009, 12:59 PM
|- - Hallows not Horcruxes   QUOTE(Mrs_Linnea_Snape @ May 2 2009, 06:1...   May 2 2009, 04:43 PM
|- - Bedford Falls   QUOTE(Hallows not Horcruxes @ May 2 2009, 04...   May 2 2009, 05:25 PM
|- - roonwit   QUOTE(Hallows not Horcruxes @ May 2 2009, 10...   May 3 2009, 09:39 AM
- - calliet2b4g   JKR wrote the books for them to be enjoyed! wh...   May 2 2009, 07:07 AM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE([b]Mrs_Linnea_Snape[/b]) It...   May 2 2009, 07:35 AM
|- - Pleione   QUOTE(Migdalin @ May 2 2009, 08:35 AM) .....   May 2 2009, 06:50 PM
- - Northen Light36   QUOTEOften, the reward for a job well done is to b...   May 2 2009, 08:37 AM
- - acciosirius   Hi everyone! This is my first post, but I’ve b...   May 2 2009, 10:51 AM
- - BeAchL0veEr05   I think Harry is important to the series, and alth...   May 2 2009, 12:34 PM
- - davidenglish   Whenever one feels a work of fiction has gone off ...   May 2 2009, 03:08 PM
- - TheGoldenSeeker   Yeah... i don't think revising them is a good ...   May 2 2009, 03:22 PM
- - lirene   *Your Professor Snape imitation was great Pleione ...   May 2 2009, 07:13 PM
|- - Nadezhda   QUOTE(lirene @ May 3 2009, 06:13 AM) *You...   May 3 2009, 11:01 AM
|- - Mrs_Linnea_Snape   QUOTE(lirene @ May 2 2009, 08:13 PM) *You...   May 4 2009, 01:14 AM
|- - Hallows not Horcruxes   QUOTE(Mrs_Linnea_Snape @ May 4 2009, 01:1...   May 4 2009, 01:38 AM
|- - Mrs_Linnea_Snape   QUOTE(Hallows not Horcruxes @ May 4 2009, 02...   May 4 2009, 02:05 AM
- - Gandalf's Beard   Thanks to Davidenglish and AccioSirius (and others...   May 2 2009, 07:24 PM
- - cbm   I could write a great deal about what I think of y...   May 2 2009, 11:47 PM
- - davidenglish   QUOTEWould things have gone differently in that fi...   May 3 2009, 10:50 AM
|- - madbrad   QUOTE(davidenglish @ May 4 2009, 01:50 AM...   May 3 2009, 07:34 PM
- - Kalin   Just a quick comment on the anti-hero concept: QU...   May 3 2009, 07:35 PM
- - Gandalf's Beard   Kalin is absolutely right. I continue to be amazed...   May 3 2009, 09:18 PM
|- - madbrad   QUOTEThe elder wand is not an unbeatable wand, the...   May 3 2009, 10:43 PM
- - Kalin   Well, the whole plot is obviously improbable as it...   May 3 2009, 11:46 PM
- - Shard   I think the problem that people have with the wand...   May 4 2009, 12:02 AM
- - Wind Lane   Migdalin - Just started reading this and noted a f...   May 4 2009, 12:55 AM
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