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[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Am I the only one a little bothered by Dumbledore? Not only with the fact he could end up in the Guinness Book Of World Records for "Most Incompetent Headmaster of All Time" (though I'm sure there's worse. :P), but also because...he just bugs me. I know JKR was trying to write him as the "flawed Yoda", so to speak (and to be fair, he's nowhere near Yoda. XD), but it's also how...preachy he gets. Towards Fudge, for example. You know, in Goblet of Fire, with, "You place too much importance on purity of blood, yadda yadda et cetera et cetera" -- which considering how he treated Tom Riddle and the Slytherins is...slightly hypocritical isn't it? Probably bad writing on JKR's part, though. :/

Anyways, sorry 'bout the rambling. Thoughts?

Comments

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to mention (again) that, in addition to the Cat series that's been mentioned, there are several other excellent books about kids finding they are wizards. Terri, I and others have raved about Diane Duane, who is miles ahead of Rowling on so many levels - though I can see some readers who don't like SF being turned off by all the techspeak in these books. Then there's the Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, and the classic Earthseabooks by LeGuin, and so many others!

I cannot assert that any of these influenced Rowling. I think it would have been better if they had.

My two cents. BTW, glad you liked the essay!

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

Diane Duane ♥

So totally recommend this series! I love the way it handled the main character being bullied, in a way that showed personal growth and strength of character as opposed to 'I and others, including those in authority, shall beat up this kid so that I can be confident in my natural superiority'.

Also, I just found a link to this page where JKR talks about her views on bullying: (http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=78)

What is your advice to children who are being bullied?

TELL SOMEONE, whether it is your Mum, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, a teacher, a brother, a sister, an adult friend – just tell someone. If the first person you tell doesn't seem to understand how bad the problem is, tell somebody else. I know that it is very hard to admit that you are being bullied, but it is absolutely crucial if you are to end the misery. Life in school can be very tough and any adult who has forgotten that is an idiot, so don't be ashamed... just tell.

LOOOOOL. Considering the way she glorifies bullying against Slytherins or other classmates who are in the main characters' way, I find that just...so hypocritical. Oh, poor woobie Harry, so bullied by that nasty boy Draco (despite Draco being the one ending up physically bashed on more than a few occasions and Harry never displaying any signs of being insecure or hurt by his comments). Marauders v Snape? LOLOL, boys will be boys!

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Oh, Double Standards. They never get old. :P

Elrond, hook a girl up, will you?

http://thecimmerian.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Elrond-Facepalm.jpg

Thank you. :)

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

To me, this suggests that she doesn't have much self awareness or awareness of the sorts of characters she writes more than anything. It would explain the "power of love" being possessed by a nasty, immature little brat like Harry.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

*This*! :D

It would also explain why good old Dumbles is professed the "epitome of goodness". Seriously, *Gandalf's* the epitome of goodness. (Do I even have to explain? :) Or at least awesomeness. :P /is an LOTR nerd. XD

*Shakes head*

Sometimes I really pity Rowling... :P

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

I don't know if Gandalf is the epitome of goodness, but awesomeness definitely. And unlike Dumbledore, he actually cares about what happens to his charge (Frodo) and tries to give him as much information as he can rather than leaving him in the dark and thus in unnecessary danger. And he can feel pity even for creatures like Gollum. When did Dumbledore feel true pity for anybody?

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

"I don't know if Gandalf is the epitome of goodness, but awesomeness definitely. And unlike Dumbledore, he actually cares about what happens to his charge (Frodo) and tries to give him as much information as he can rather than leaving him in the dark and thus in unnecessary danger. And he can feel pity even for creatures like Gollum. When did Dumbledore feel true pity for anybody?"

Ha! *This*! :D

And agreed *so very much* for pitying Gollum. Seriously, I think Tolkien could teach Rowling a few lessons on morality, methinks. ^__^

[sunnyskywalker]

And Gandalf told Frodo what he knew as soon as he could. Once he figured out that the ring might be the One Ring in the Gondor archives, he hurried back, did the test, and explained to Frodo what it was and what they had to do. None of this nonsense about waiting for the most dramatic moment. Because when Tolkien wanted the characters not to get information at a certain time, he set up events to prevent it, like Gandalf getting imprisoned by Saruman, not just having him randomly decide to hold some information back.

[dracasadiablo.livejournal.com]

To me, this suggests that she doesn't have much self awareness or awareness of the sorts of characters she writes more than anything.

It would also explain why good old Dumbles is professed the "epitome of goodness".

True.
Just look at this JKR about DD

“Dumbledore is a very wise man who knows that Harry is going to have to learn a few hard lessons to prepare him for what may be coming in his life. He allows Harry to get into what he wouldn’t allow another pupil to do and he also unwillingly permits Harry to confront things he’d rather protect him from.”
–J.K. Rowling (June 2003)

“Immense brainpower [has created] some problems… for Dumbledore, because his wisdom has isolated him, and I think you can see that in the books, because where is his equal, where is his confidante, where is his partner? He has none of those things. He’s always the one who gives, he’s always the one who has the insight and has the knowledge…. I see him as isolated, and a few people have said to me rightly I think, that he is detached.”
–J.K. Rowling (July 2005)

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

As if Dumbles ever protected a student from anything! And I don't know why more people don't find his 'grooming' of a child for death absolutely disgusting.

And IDK wtf Dumbles ever GAVE. Certainly none of the knowledge he possessed. I laugh at the so-called 'lessons' he gave Harry in HBP. I was waiting all this time for him to step up and be a proper mentor and then he half-asses it with pensieve sessions which are about exonerating him of any guilt and passing on his appalling propaganda and making sure Harry's filled with hatred and validating it as 'love'.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

*This*! :D

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

Wow, that just about says it.

[dracasadiablo.livejournal.com]

Now, now lets be fair he did gave a lot of candy!
And I'm having a brilliant idea! Candy = love. Power of love / thing the dark lord knows not = candy!
They should have killed old Voldy by trowing a few tons of candy on him. XD
Just kidding.

But seriously now. Everything about it disgusting. JKR have no idea how her character look to anybody not willing to overlook their true colors.

As if Dumbles ever protected a student from anything!
Correction, DD never protected anybody from anything. Not his students, not the people believing in him and not his sister.

About child 'grooming', I'm sure JKR haven't meant it like that but the first quote I posted look (to me) like this:
DD knew Harry won't survive so he let him do anything he wanted to make him believe that braking the rules =/= consequences. And to make the boy adore him and do what he tell him without questions.
Important "hard lessons to prepare him for what may be coming in his life" like having to actually be aware of consequences of your actions and need to follow the important rules are for kids that will have future.
Not for a sacrificial lamb.

I laugh at the so-called 'lessons' he gave Harry in HBP.
I see the "lessons" as a JKR's info dump and DD's "Aren't I wonderful, amazing and smart?" garbage. :/

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

"I see the "lessons" as a JKR's info dump and DD's "Aren't I wonderful, amazing and smart?" garbage. :/"

*This*. :D

Seriously, fuck you, Dumbledore. You're a humble servant of the light, and that should be good enough. But no -- he has to make it All About Him and how *amazing* and *wonderful* and *smart* he is -- oh wait, that's semi-Rowling's fault.

Another flaw of Rowling's: A lot like George Lucas, she tells a lot instead of shows. :P

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

Important "hard lessons to prepare him for what may be coming in his life" like having to actually be aware of consequences of your actions and need to follow the important rules are for kids that will have future.

Being aware of consequences? Thinking before you act? Why on earth would Teh Hero need to learn such Slytherinish cunning when they could just jump to conclusions and rush in rashly with no thought to others? Why, that sounds terribly like The Evil Git, and we know he's never ever right about anything! Harry and his fellow Gryffindors have no need to worry about *consequences* or the possibility of *hurting others.* They mean well. Always.

/sarcasm off

Yeah, the 'lessons' were a load of crap and Dumbledore worship, overall. And they could have been taken care of over a couple of weeks at most, not a whole year.

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

What's coming in his life= being raised to be a sacrificial lamb? Of course, I dislike Harry enough that it almost doesn't bother me. If it had been Neville, however...

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

I don't like Harry that much, and I still think it's pretty low. I mean...he's a kid, dammit! >:( *Curses Dumbledore*

But yeah...it would have been ten times worse if it were Neville. :( (Come to think of it, why wasn't *Neville* the Chosen One instead? What *purpose* does Harry serve? Seriously! DX)

[sunnyskywalker]

Anyone could have yanked a wand out of Draco's hand. No Chosen One required!

Neville organized a proper resistance, took punishments to spare other kids, and set up a safe house (/room) for them. This required actually working with people and caring about them. I'd actually believe that he could go on and improve the wizarding world after Voldemort's death. Harry's pretty much useless as soon as he's served his plot purpose. Maybe he's like Deeba in Un Lun Dun - he's the Unchosen One. (It's an awesome book. The Chosen One gets clonked on the head early on, so Deeba decides she'd better take up the quest instead even though she has no obligation to do so. And there's prophecies, but she decides to skip some of the steps in the quests because they're pointless.)

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

*Will definitely read! :D*

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

I would root for Neville if he were the chosen one. I always liked him. :-)

[night-axe.livejournal.com]

I love the way it handled the main character being bullied, in a way that showed personal growth and strength of character

Um. It's over a decade since I read any Young Wizards books so I may be misremembering stuff. Please correct me if I'm wrong! But as I recall, the first book didn't take bullying seriously enough for my tastes. I mean, it was stigmatized, but not strongly -- no "this shit is SO not okay" message. Nita's parents didn't get angry that their daughter was getting beaten up, iirc, only a little sad. The bullying stopped when the victim changed herself; the bully (I forget her name) got to stay the same vicious brat. And at the end Nita forgave the bully. It's cool that she refrained from taking vengeance. But why go the extra mile and offer friendship to a nasty little piece who beats up people for kicks? Why not calmly and maturely go, "We both know you'll never mess with me again", or words to that effect, and walk away?

Though, aside from that one thing I really enjoyed the books and wouldn't hesitate to rec them. A book series where the first thing a little girl wants to do with her magic is to stand on Olympus Mons? Made of win.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Very interesting point, night_axe. :)