Digital Harry Potter manuscript allegedly stolen - Page 5

nekokami · 06-29-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Petunia has access to the magic world in the way of an alarm belll, no doubt also to protection charms.

I don't think this is described in the books anywhere. Petunia certainly knows more than she usually lets on about the wizard world, as we see in scenes at the beginning of books 5 and 6, but I think if she'd had an alarm bell, she'd have tried to use it to get rid of Harry when his hair grew back overnight, etc.

I agree, Yvan, that part of the purpose of the Dursleys (beyond humor value) is that they make Harry so miserable that he's actually relieved to go back to Hogwarts and into genuine peril each year. He's often not all that happy at Hogwarts, e.g. when he's under suspicion for speaking Parseltongue, or when everyone thinks he's nuts for believing Voldemort is back. And he's often at physical risk there, as well. If he had the option of just staying at The Burrow with the Weasleys all the time, he might not want to go back to Hogwarts at all.

yvanleterrible · 06-29-2007, 01:32 PM

Well she's Harry's mother's sister. I'd have to reread The Half Blood Prince but if I remember correctly she did do something like asking for help at some point, even if it was just not to get rapped on the fingers. I don't have time to look it up.
If you have siblings, you know something of their professional occupations, like them or not. Lulls in conversation on family gatherings require that you give news of what you do of who you hang out with; and you do sometimes meet those people on occasions.

nekokami · 06-29-2007, 01:33 PM

I'm about 2/3 through re-reading HBP now. I haven't seen anything like that so far, but I'll keep my eyes open for it.

NatCh · 06-29-2007, 02:15 PM

I'll watch for it too, when I get there, but you're waaay ahead of me on the re-read, neko, I'm still at the beginning of HP4 -- I may not make it all the way before HP7 comes out. If that happens, I'll just have to read it without finishing my "refresher" course, I guess.

nekokami · 06-30-2007, 09:01 PM

Oh, well, I didn't start with the first book this time around, since I've read them all more than once (and I used to spend enough time on lists like HP4GU that I've rather seen the first 5 dissected to death). I figured I'd just re-read Half-Blood Prince right now because I think I didn't finish it on the second read-through (we moved at that point, and things got busy), and I figured that way the most immediate details would be fresh in my mind for Deathly Hallows.

I'm almost looking forward more to the third Paolini book, at this point, but it will be good to get things wrapped up in the Potterverse. I hope she does write the "encyclopedia" she's been talking about, though, so we can see the back story notes she's accumulated over the years.

NatCh · 06-30-2007, 09:11 PM

I'd be extremely interested in those back-notes myself, and an actual, unabashed encyclopedia format would be better than a Silmarillion approach, I think.

nekokami · 06-30-2007, 09:18 PM

Yes, I have to agree there.

NatCh · 07-06-2007, 04:03 PM

I decided to jump ahead to reading Half-Blood Prince (I was at the Yule Ball in Goblet, and decided I couldn't take reading the rest of it and Order, which I find rather frustrating. Umbridge is just so nasty), and all the talk of the prophecy at the beginning has got me thinking along a new line.

The prophesy says:

Quote:

The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the dark lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the dark lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies…

What I'm wondering is what JKR means by "... the power to vanquish ...." Does she simply mean that the person in the prophesy is the only one who can do it, or does she mean some particular ability? Dumbledore has already named one power that Harry has that Voldemort can't stand up to: Love. But by using Harry's blood in his re-embodiment spell, Voldemort co-opted that particular power, albeit second-hand (if you'll pardon the punny allusion to Wormtale's contribution to that same spell). It also occurs to me that Voldemort may have made a huge error in insisting on using Harry that way, he's likely bound the two of them together even more tightly than they were before.

But if that is the "power" that's referred to in the first part of the prophesy, then that part has quite possibly already been fulfilled by Voldemort's first encounter with Harry. In which case, it really is a crap shoot as to what happens when next they meet.

If that's not the right "power," then what else could it refer to? Or is it just the less interesting meaning that only Harry can do something that can lead to Voldemort's death?

nekokami · 07-06-2007, 08:40 PM

You may want to pop back and read just the end of GoF so you can read Dumbledore's "look of triumph" and then his tired expression immediately following, when Harry tells him about Voldemort's use of his blood and the fact that V. can now touch him. I think Dumbledore was hoping Voldemort would be stupid enough to strengthen the link with Harry, as you put it, in this way, but then again, this confirmed that Harry is going to have to fight Voldemort later, perhaps at some cost of which Dumbledore was aware.

That "neither can live while the other survives" statement has always struck me as kind of odd. Harry has clearly been living all this time, even if what Voldemort is doing isn't exactly "life." Even OotP and HBP, grim as they were, showed Harry "living." I guess things are coming to a point when Harry won't be able to get on with living until Voldemort is defeated, but somehow the wording still seems odd to me.

NatCh · 07-06-2007, 11:17 PM

Yeah, it does sound like I should do that , thanks for the pointer , nekokami.

nekokami · 07-07-2007, 10:09 AM

Oddly enough, last night I dreamed that I actually met Jo Rowling in a setting in which I could talk with her and ask questions, and I declined to ask about anything related to the end of the series, because I figured the book would be in my hands shortly and I'd rather give her a chance to tell the story the way she had planned it. I did have some other questions for her. I can't remember now what they were. I do remember telling her how little I liked the first few (US) book covers and how they postponed my starting the series, and how Prisoner of Azkaban turned out to be one of my favorite books ever. (I liked the character-driven plot twists.)

While awake, though, I find myself impatient for the final book to get here. I think if someone were to actually manage to swipe the digital manuscript (the real one, I mean) and started passing it around, I'd get it and read it. I want to read her version of the ending, but I've paid for my copy already-- I feel no particular urge to keep waiting to read it.

mogui · 07-08-2007, 09:19 AM

The HP series is a wonderful annuity for JK. Many generations will buy it and read it. But what if Harry dies in the end? With foreknowledge would children of the future buy into Harry's power?

Just a thought.

nekokami · 07-08-2007, 09:50 AM

If you're just talking about money, Rowling has enough at this point to live on, and probably for several generations to live on if they manage the money reasonably well, regardless of whether anyone buys any of her books after this one.

That's a good point, though. Adults might buy a series knowing the lead character dies at the end, if the writing is good enough or they like the rest of the story enough. It seems less likely to me that kids would, or at least most kids.

Rowling has said all along that she would be driven by the story itself, not what other people think of it or whether anyone would buy it. And she has certainly made enough money to be able to stick to this. With the kind of story she's telling, I'd expect the hero to have to make a major sacrifice to defeat the foe. Harry isn't acting like he has a future beyond fighting Voldemort. We'll see... in about two weeks!

yvanleterrible · 07-08-2007, 03:33 PM

As for money, she's assured of two more movies and a media switch towards ebooks. I'm positive that she will not be able to postpone that indefinitely. We've been squealing about this for a while now but who says she's not waiting for a standard against ebabel or a deal from an e-publishing house?

nekokami · 07-08-2007, 08:18 PM

I've never actually seen a quote from Rowling saying she disapproves of ebooks. Her publisher(s) don't seem to want to go there (which I find very surprising, as they should simply be interested in the money, and they'd make money selling the ebook). If someone has a reference to an actual Rowling quote, I'd be interested in seeing it.

06-29-2007, 01:33 PM	#63
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I'm about 2/3 through re-reading HBP now. I haven't seen anything like that so far, but I'll keep my eyes open for it. Last edited by nekokami; 06-29-2007 at 01:34 PM. Reason: re-reading

07-08-2007, 09:19 AM	#72
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Metalogic Rules! The HP series is a wonderful annuity for JK. Many generations will buy it and read it. But what if Harry dies in the end? With foreknowledge would children of the future buy into Harry's power? Just a thought. Last edited by mogui; 07-08-2007 at 09:36 AM.

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06-29-2007, 01:32 PM	#62
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Well she's Harry's mother's sister. I'd have to reread The Half Blood Prince but if I remember correctly she did do something like asking for help at some point, even if it was just not to get rapped on the fingers. I don't have time to look it up. If you have siblings, you know something of their professional occupations, like them or not. Lulls in conversation on family gatherings require that you give news of what you do of who you hang out with; and you do sometimes meet those people on occasions.

06-29-2007, 02:15 PM	#64
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I'll watch for it too, when I get there, but you're waaay ahead of me on the re-read, neko, I'm still at the beginning of HP4 -- I may not make it all the way before HP7 comes out. If that happens, I'll just have to read it without finishing my "refresher" course, I guess.

06-30-2007, 09:01 PM	#65
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Oh, well, I didn't start with the first book this time around, since I've read them all more than once (and I used to spend enough time on lists like HP4GU that I've rather seen the first 5 dissected to death). I figured I'd just re-read Half-Blood Prince right now because I think I didn't finish it on the second read-through (we moved at that point, and things got busy), and I figured that way the most immediate details would be fresh in my mind for Deathly Hallows. I'm almost looking forward more to the third Paolini book, at this point, but it will be good to get things wrapped up in the Potterverse. I hope she does write the "encyclopedia" she's been talking about, though, so we can see the back story notes she's accumulated over the years.

06-30-2007, 09:11 PM	#66
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I'd be extremely interested in those back-notes myself, and an actual, unabashed encyclopedia format would be better than a Silmarillion approach, I think.

06-30-2007, 09:18 PM	#67
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Yes, I have to agree there.

07-06-2007, 08:40 PM	#69
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	You may want to pop back and read just the end of GoF so you can read Dumbledore's "look of triumph" and then his tired expression immediately following, when Harry tells him about Voldemort's use of his blood and the fact that V. can now touch him. I think Dumbledore was hoping Voldemort would be stupid enough to strengthen the link with Harry, as you put it, in this way, but then again, this confirmed that Harry is going to have to fight Voldemort later, perhaps at some cost of which Dumbledore was aware. That "neither can live while the other survives" statement has always struck me as kind of odd. Harry has clearly been living all this time, even if what Voldemort is doing isn't exactly "life." Even OotP and HBP, grim as they were, showed Harry "living." I guess things are coming to a point when Harry won't be able to get on with living until Voldemort is defeated, but somehow the wording still seems odd to me.

07-06-2007, 11:17 PM	#70
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Yeah, it does sound like I should do that , thanks for the pointer , nekokami.

07-07-2007, 10:09 AM	#71
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Oddly enough, last night I dreamed that I actually met Jo Rowling in a setting in which I could talk with her and ask questions, and I declined to ask about anything related to the end of the series, because I figured the book would be in my hands shortly and I'd rather give her a chance to tell the story the way she had planned it. I did have some other questions for her. I can't remember now what they were. I do remember telling her how little I liked the first few (US) book covers and how they postponed my starting the series, and how Prisoner of Azkaban turned out to be one of my favorite books ever. (I liked the character-driven plot twists.) While awake, though, I find myself impatient for the final book to get here. I think if someone were to actually manage to swipe the digital manuscript (the real one, I mean) and started passing it around, I'd get it and read it. I want to read her version of the ending, but I've paid for my copy already-- I feel no particular urge to keep waiting to read it.

07-08-2007, 09:50 AM	#73
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	If you're just talking about money, Rowling has enough at this point to live on, and probably for several generations to live on if they manage the money reasonably well, regardless of whether anyone buys any of her books after this one. That's a good point, though. Adults might buy a series knowing the lead character dies at the end, if the writing is good enough or they like the rest of the story enough. It seems less likely to me that kids would, or at least most kids. Rowling has said all along that she would be driven by the story itself, not what other people think of it or whether anyone would buy it. And she has certainly made enough money to be able to stick to this. With the kind of story she's telling, I'd expect the hero to have to make a major sacrifice to defeat the foe. Harry isn't acting like he has a future beyond fighting Voldemort. We'll see... in about two weeks!

07-08-2007, 03:33 PM	#74
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	As for money, she's assured of two more movies and a media switch towards ebooks. I'm positive that she will not be able to postpone that indefinitely. We've been squealing about this for a while now but who says she's not waiting for a standard against ebabel or a deal from an e-publishing house?

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07-08-2007, 08:18 PM	#75
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I've never actually seen a quote from Rowling saying she disapproves of ebooks. Her publisher(s) don't seem to want to go there (which I find very surprising, as they should simply be interested in the money, and they'd make money selling the ebook). If someone has a reference to an actual Rowling quote, I'd be interested in seeing it.