Comments on: Liveblogging Harry Potter (No Major or Direct Spoilers)

By: Russell Arben Fox

Russell Arben Fox — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:26:51 +0000

Well, no Shield Charm at my place; I've got my thoughts laid out at length here. I touch on a lot in the book, but leave much more untouched, as I was mostly thinking about my own reaction to a book that, I must admit, I got badly wrong, and loved nonetheless. Perhaps people in the comments can point out all the crucial matters I missed.

By: Alan Jacobs

Alan Jacobs — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 02:13:48 +0000

I’m intrigued, Sdorn, but Tim’s still got this damned Shield Charm up, so I guess we can’t pursue it any farther at the moment. . . .

By: Sdorn

Sdorn — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 02:10:20 +0000

I’m not talking about other books to write but, well, let’s see… who’s on the platform in the epilogue, and who’s NOT? What about relationships with house-elves and goblins (think about a certain arrangement)? Werewolf status?

By: Alan Jacobs

Alan Jacobs — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 01:08:10 +0000

(I messed up some of my earlier description of events, by the way — will clarify when Tim gives the all-clear.)

I think “the older people in the story” have had their story, their life-defining conflict — anything after that would seem anticlimactic. You just can’t go back to that particular well again.

But the world, the fictional environment — it would be a real shame to do as much as she has done to create it and then leave it explored no further. Two options occur to me, two books (or series of books) that I would love to see JKR write:

(1) A historical novel from the wizarding world, on something like the Goblin Rebellion that we hear about in the History of Magic class. This would be JKR’s version of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, and I think she would handle that brilliantly.

(2) More Hogwarts stories, not necessarily as serious and Welthistorisch as the one just concluded. JKR’s comedy is absolutely masterful, I think — why not some lighter-hearted school stories, something closer to Encyclopedia Brown than to Aeschylus?

By: Timothy Burke

Timothy Burke — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:57:35 +0000

Um, sure. Can we talk about this yet? Not an unfinished story, just another one.

e.g., what do the, uh, older people in the epilogue do next?
Or:
What do the younger people do next?

All you need is some new threat. The world’s been created, it’s been populated, no reason why she can’t tell more stories in it. It just won’t be the next chapter of the particular story of HP vs. Voldemort.

By: Russell Arben Fox

Russell Arben Fox — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:46:22 +0000

Are you guys serious? I mean, Rowling’s never truly said she has no interest in coming back to the series, ever; she’s always allowed that there might be another story to tell, ten years down the road or who knows win. But are you seeing an actual opening, a continuing and begging-to-be-resolved storyline, just waiting in the last chapter and the epilogue? I mean, besides all the “gosh, I wonder what X did in the meantime” stuff? If so, I’m all ears.

By: Timothy Burke

Timothy Burke — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 23:26:13 +0000

I think Sherman’s wife is right, by the way. Will say more soon on that. Let’s just say this is like JMS saying “B5 is NOT a franchise”.

By: Russell Arben Fox

Russell Arben Fox — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 22:27:48 +0000

Interesting exchange there, Alan and Tim. I’ve got a lot to say…but my computer is being buggy on me, and I’m unable to post. Hopefully later tonight.

“OH DAMN! EVERYONE WAS RIGHT!”

I have to say, this was one of my most common reactions, all through the night as I read the book yesterday.

By: Sdorn

Sdorn — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 22:00:41 +0000

My wife insists it all hasn’t been wrapped up. More in a week or so…

By: Jonathan Dresner

Jonathan Dresner — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 05:35:18 +0000

I think you’re already into spoiler territory with these comments. I was going to forward this to my wife, who’s reading it now, but maybe I’ll just do a dramatic reading of the post itself. (I don’t care so much: I’m curious how she resolves things, but I can’t exactly say I’m a fan….)