The official webforum of the The-Leaky-Cauldron.org LeakyNews.com: Leaky Info | Potter News | Features | Interactive | Galleries | The Books | The Films | For Fun

Leaky Lounge

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )
The Rules : FAQ : Search : Member List : Sitemap

Forum News: All you ever wanted to know about Jo's Book Nook
Hot Thread: PoA Animal Poll in the HP Book Club.
Mod Thread: David Tennant - Actor of the Month Discussion

 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
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
Post #1
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup


*

Posts: 33
Joined: 8:40am April 26, 2009




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 The critique is unpublished and free to be read, dowloaded, used in the classroom, etc.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. :)


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
Profile CardPMEmail Poster
+Quote Post
 
Start new topic
Replies
LunaLovegood286
post Apr 26 2009, 04:46 PM
Post #2
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup


*

Posts: 36
Joined: 2:37am December 29, 2008
Location: California




J.K Rowling should not have to change anything. Harry Potter was her story and she kindly let us see into that world and become a part of it. If you don't like the way the book turned out it's not necessary for you to stay a part of the world she created for herself and kindly invited you into. To suggest she changes what she has written is ridiculous. Anyone who suggests this obviously has never tried or has failed at writing fiction. The story comes out and you usually can't do anything to stop it, the story takes on a life of its own and that's what makes it amazing.

Go to the top of the page
Profile CardPMEmail Poster
+Quote Post
Migdalin
post Apr 27 2009, 10:23 AM
Post #3
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup


*

Posts: 33
Joined: 8:40am April 26, 2009




QUOTE(LunaLovegood286 @ Apr 26 2009, 04:46 PM) *
If you don't like the way the book turned out it's not necessary for you to stay a part of the world she created for herself and kindly invited you into.


This is the problem. Up through Book 5, the Potter books went straight onto my "to be read over and over again" shelf -- and that is not a big shelf! To have, theoretically, seven books to add to it was a huge thing. And yet, as time went by, the non-sequiturs and cheats, the out-of-character actions, the failure of Harry to grow up and break out of his mediocrity: those things made it impossible for me to continue reading the books.

While I accept that I may just have to suck it up and do without, I love the series too much to go down without first making a fuss about it. dry.gif

QUOTE(LunaLovegood286 @ Apr 26 2009, 04:46 PM) *
The story comes out and you usually can't do anything to stop it, the story takes on a life of its own and that's what makes it amazing.


Interestingly, as I explain in Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Destiny Unfulfilled, one of the reasons why I think the Potter series failed to reach its full potential was exactly because Ms. Rowling did not let it take on a life of its own. From one interview or another, she said her vision was of writing for herself at age ten. Unfortunately, when her subconscious provided her with Voldemort, death eaters, and an eleven-year-old protagonist who kills a man with his bare hands, Ms. Rowling never stepped back to take another look at her plot outlines. As a result, we got a Stephen King horror story written as if it were an Enid Blyton tale, where the children in the story emerge unchanged and unaffected as if they'd done no more than face a handful of clueless jewel thieves.

The result is both unbelievable and a slap in the face to anyone who has endured childhood abuse, has suffered some traumatic incident, etc.


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
Profile CardPMEmail Poster
+Quote Post
Eva Hedwig
post Apr 27 2009, 10:55 AM
Post #4
Luring Muggles into Knockturn-Alley


*****

Posts: 5,374
Joined: 1:37am January 29, 2005
Location: In the south where no Dementor can find me




QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 27 2009, 03:23 PM) *
the failure of Harry to grow up and break out of his mediocrity: those things made it impossible for me to continue reading the books.


How can you know that Harry didn't grew up, if you don't read all the books ? For me a boy who marries later in life, has three nice kids and loves them, is respectful to them and his friends is a mature person.

QUOTE
The result is both unbelievable and a slap in the face to anyone who has endured childhood abuse, has suffered some traumatic incident, etc.

Harry's story showed that you can choose different for your own future and don't have to fuss over your abuses you received as kid all over again for the rest of your (self chosen sad and misable) life.

If you had a carefree childhood you can be happy easily. But the strenght of a human reveals itself when you are able to grow up and mature into a loving, respectful and responsible adult.

And the books also shows you all over again that you don't have to stay put in abuses, but that you have different possiblities to stand up for yourself and defend yourself and others.

Like Hermione did with D.A. with house elves rights, kids fighting against Umbride, V. and his D.E.


This post has been edited by Eva Hedwig: Apr 27 2009, 11:51 AM
Go to the top of the page
Profile CardPMEmail Poster
+Quote Post

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
- - Fricka   Joanne Kathleen Rowling owes me NOTHING! I am ...   Apr 26 2009, 02:16 PM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(Fricka @ Apr 26 2009, 02:16 PM) Now...   Apr 27 2009, 10:09 AM
|- - SnapesSister   QUOTE(Migdalin @ Apr 27 2009, 04:09 PM) W...   Apr 27 2009, 10:22 AM
|- - Migdalin   QUOTE(SnapesSister @ Apr 27 2009, 10:22 A...   Apr 27 2009, 10:50 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
4 Pages V   1 2 3 > » 


Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Sorting is open now for Deathly Hallows! Follow this link.
Coming Up:
The Corner Booth is on Hiatus Join us in the New Year!
Come right in to the Shrieking Shack Arcade!
Shopping at the Cauldron Shop supports this forum!
IPS Driver Error

IPS Driver Error

There appears to be an error with the database.
You can try to refresh the page by clicking here