Woman of the Week #2 - Joanne K. Rowling

[Admiral Buzzkill]

The woman is the epitome of a successful commercial author, and I find what she's done far more appealing than, for example, Stephen King (that's not a knock, it's a simple expression of personal preference). Good for her.

And good for you to eschewing the thumbs up/thumbs down crap.

 

[bbailey861]

I fell into the Harry Potter books quite by accident. My wife and I were trying to get our son, who was I believe 9 at the time, to read more. I got hold of the first book and started reading it aloud to see if he would be interested in it, then he could carry on reading on his own. Little did I know, it got me hooked as well. A great story - for both children and adults, the series of books created a magnificent world to become immersed in. In addition, it created millions of new, young readers. J.K. Rowling is to be commended.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

If you want to blame someone for her success, blame the masses for their taste.

Why "blame" anyone, though? Why not credit Rowling with writing books with a vivid world and vibrant characters; that are, if nothing else, engaging page-turners?.

That's what I basically said. Rowling wrote a book. People bought it. You can't blame her for how much money people spend.

You shouldn't blame her. In fact, you should commend her ... for creating something that inspired millions of people (in particular children) to read.

I realize I am being pedantic ... but statements like "for her success, blame the masses for their taste" and "You can't blame her for how much money people spend" miss the point that Rowling's success was instead a product of her effort, creativity, and productivity - that she actually inspired people to spend money on books despite a whole host of other options (movies, music, video games, etc.).

To put it another way, one statement places responsibility for Rowling's financial success on the fickle tastes of "the masses" while the other acknowledges that Rowling's own efforts effectively drove "the masses" toward a behavior that ultimate benefits all of society: increased literacy.

So yeah ... I think I get what you mean. Personally, I'd just frame it differently.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

This is a cool topic series. Keep 'em coming.

I've never read the books, nor seen more than the first two movies. I only saw those because my teachers played them in class for... some reason. Nothing about the story offended me, I just wasn't all that interested. If nothing else, they were good expressions of human creativity, and that counts quite a bit in my book.

Way to go, JK Rowling.

 

[sojourner]

You shouldn't blame her. In fact, you should commend her ... for creating something that inspired millions of people (in particular children) to read.

I realize I am being pedantic ... but statements like "for her success, blame the masses for their taste" and "You can't blame her for how much money people spend" miss the point that Rowling's success was instead a product of her effort, creativity, and productivity - that she actually inspired people to spend money on books despite a whole host of other options (movies, music, video games, etc.).

To put it another way, one statement places responsibility for Rowling's financial success on the fickle tastes of "the masses" while the other acknowledges that Rowling's own efforts effectively drove "the masses" toward a behavior that ultimate benefits all of society: increased literacy.

So yeah ... I think I get what you mean. Personally, I'd just frame it differently.

Yeah, I wasn't trying to downplay her accomplishment, just trying to deflect the "she's made too much money" comment up thread. I don't think there are many people in her situation who would call up the publisher and say "stop sending me checks! I've made enough money."

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I've got nothing against writers "making too much money." Jeez!

 

[Balrog]

She knew her audience.

She could have written a series of books that delineated in graphic detail events surrounding the French invasion of Russia, and the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society, as seen through the eyes of five Russian aristocratic families within an existential framework. But I'm guessing she thought kids might think wizards are cooler.

Looks like that gamble paid off.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Yeah, she's definitely a little cleverer than Larry Flynt.

 

[ichab]

My favorite HP book was the Half Blood Prince and my least favorite HP movie was the Half Blood Prince. The movie was all the more shallow for what they left out. Loved the movies for the most part and enjoyed the majority of the books. She is a great role model and I have the highest respect for what she has accomplished.

If I was to pick which world I prefered, definetly the Trek Universe. Never been a fan of Lord of the Rings, the Star Wars Universe is always in chaos and Harry Potter world is mostly witches and wizards. The Trek world always seemed liked an idealistic extension of our own and more believable.

 

[Owain Taggart]

The movie was all the more shallow for what they left out.

Agreed. I felt the movie was all over the place and rather disjointed, as if the director had chosen random scenes that didn't have much to do with each other, and the movie suffered a lack of cohesion. The strongest moment of the movie was the climax and the rest of it was rather dull.

 

[ichab]

You shouldn't blame her. In fact, you should commend her ... for creating something that inspired millions of people (in particular children) to read.

This. She is in my opinion the Mark Twain of her day.

 

[{ Emilia }]

My favorite HP book was the Half Blood Prince and my least favorite HP movie was the Half Blood Prince. The movie was all the more shallow for what they left out.

Was that the movie that was all about action scenes? I only saw one HP movie in the theater and as per my usual "luck" that was the only one I really didn't like at all.

 

[Mary Ann]

When the HP books first became popular my kids were still too young for them, so I ignored them. However a friend of mine with older children recommended I read them, and I loved them, to the point where my first online fandom was a Harry Potter for grownups group.

The thing is, though, the Harry Potter books are *more* than just popular books - they've inspired millions of kids (and adults!) to read. Rowling's lasting legacy - if not for the epic story itself - will be just how much she influenced the literacy of children worldwide; in how she influenced the industry of children's literature. Does anyone think Percy Jackson, or Twilight, or The Hunger Games, or any other modern MG/YA series out there (Series of Unfortunate Events, Mortal Instruments), would exist, or be as popular, without Rowling's work?

True, there are very legitimate literary criticism that can be leveled at Potter as a series and at Rowling as an author. But Rowling's achievements toward increasing the scope of literacy for readers of all ages cannot be dismissed. It's not a question of how "tasteless" the populace might be and is, rather, a question of how Rowling crafted an epic that has nearly universal appeal to a diverse, worldwide readership (not to mention single-handedly forging and/or expanding that readership).

Samuel, you've said exactly what I wanted to say. The influence Rowling has had on getting more kids and adults to read is what I admire most about Rowling's work. I worked with children for several years in educational settings, and know what a trial it can be getting children to read if they grow up in a home with no books, as a shocking number of children do. I'm not qualified to say whether or not the HP books are great children's literature or not, but its influence on getting people of all ages to read is one hell of a legacy in itself.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I admire Rowling a great deal. What's not to like? An inspirational rags to riches story, humility, a willingness to give back expressed through philanthropy, education, and her political stances, creativity that gave us a rich multi-layered fantasy world that has encouraged countless children, teens, and adults to read, exceptional business savvy, and dedication to her fans and to the integrity of her work.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I admire Rowling a great deal. What's not to like? An inspirational rags to riches story, humility, a willingness to give back expressed through philanthropy, education, and her political stances, creativity that gave us a rich multi-layered fantasy world that has encouraged countless children, teens, and adults to read, exceptional business savvy, and dedication to her fans and to the integrity of her work.

Considering the poll I made I'm now curious to hear how much of this you think applies to George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry and JRR Tolkien.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I admire Rowling a great deal. What's not to like? An inspirational rags to riches story, humility, a willingness to give back expressed through philanthropy, education, and her political stances, creativity that gave us a rich multi-layered fantasy world that has encouraged countless children, teens, and adults to read, exceptional business savvy, and dedication to her fans and to the integrity of her work.

Considering the poll I made I'm now curious to hear how much of this you think applies to George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry and JRR Tolkien.

Hey, George Lucas gave back in the form of Jar Jar. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[ichab]

My favorite HP book was the Half Blood Prince and my least favorite HP movie was the Half Blood Prince. The movie was all the more shallow for what they left out.

Was that the movie that was all about action scenes? I only saw one HP movie in the theater and as per my usual "luck" that was the only one I really didn't like at all.

No, The Half Blood Prince was the one where they ripped out important flashback sequences,the big fight at Hogwarts, and many other parts of the book and left us with a movie that was more Twilight than Harry Potter. There was hardly any action scenes at all. It was the one where Snape betrays everyone, kills Dumbledore and is somehow able to just walk out of the castle with no problems.According to the hacks that wrote that script anyways.

 

[{ Emilia }]

My favorite HP book was the Half Blood Prince and my least favorite HP movie was the Half Blood Prince. The movie was all the more shallow for what they left out.

Was that the movie that was all about action scenes? I only saw one HP movie in the theater and as per my usual "luck" that was the only one I really didn't like at all.

No, The Half Blood Prince was the one where they ripped out important flashback sequences,the big fight at Hogwarts, and many other parts of the book and left us with a movie that was more Twilight than Harry Potter. There was hardly any action scenes at all. It was the one where Snape betrays everyone, kills Dumbledore and is somehow able to just walk out of the castle with no problems.According to the hacks that wrote that script anyways.

I looked it up. Apparently Order of the Phoenix was the one movie I hated.

 

[Thestral]

Order of the Phoenix was an alright adaptation, but very much played like "take only the exciting parts and make a movie!" Which, I suppose since the book was so sprawling isn't entirely unexpected, but it left out some stuff I really liked (in particular, more about the thestrals, which I think are one of the coolest and saddest creatures in HP). The third film is still my favorite, even though the seventh(s) is great.

I came into the Harry Potter scene about midway through - started reading them around the time the fourth book came out, and liked each one more and more. Well, till Book 5 which I personally think is the highlight (even with so much mopey Harry) but there's still great stuff after of course. Books 4-7 I actually read in one sitting as each came out. Seriously - would get the book, start reading, and not stop till I finished the next morning, that's how much I was caught up in JKR's world.

As to Rowling herself, I think she's definitely inspiring, and it helps that I generally agree with her position on things. I think the fact that she knows from experience the difficulties of the "rags" end of the "rags to riches" story gives her a good perspective on things.

 

[The Dominion]

I think the Order of the Phoenix was a good adaption. My family who didn't read the books said it was their favorite, so I guess that attests to how well it stands on it's own. Although, compared to the book it's extremely condensed. Half Blood Prince was hands down the worst adaption, I thought. So much was cut out of it, I can't imagine what someone who had no knowledge of the book could possibly get from it.