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OCTOBER 9, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Posted by JEREMY
Source: Harry, A History
Melissa Anelli has posted
yet another part of one of the many interviews she conducted with J.K. Rowling in preparations for her new book, Harry, A History, this one concerns Harry's fate in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
JKR: In many ways it would have been a neater ending to kill him. For sure, I knew that all along. felt that the books' overriding message was that love is the most powerful force in this world. My model with Harry really was war veterans, who have seen horrors and are asked to go home and rebuild, and go back to ordinary life and care for a family, be a father - particularly be a father - [it is] a difficult job, in troubled times. I felt it would be a betrayal of my character if I did anything other than show him doing that. And I think it's an absolutely heroic thing to do, to go home after that, not to become a mercenary, not to live forever frozen in a time of excitement and danger, but to be mentally strong enough, to an extent physically strong enough, to return from war and to raise a new generation with values that you hope will not lead to another war. That's massive.
Of course you can say, yes, to an extent, as ever in life, that's the eternal paradox. What's is most worthwhile may well be seen as slightly dull, but God knows without those people who were prepared to come home and raise the family and rebuild, help rebuild... rebuilding is much more difficult than destroying. So, I felt it was almost a cop-out, morally, to kill him. I wanted to show a man who, yeah, he went back and got his hands dirty and tried to rebuild. I liked that. And again, it made a lot of people were livid, but God knows by that time I was used to that by then!
To check out the website for the book, click here, and look for it when it hits bookstores in the U.S. on Nov. 4th. In the meantime, you can also feel free to preorder it via Amazon at a 40% discount.
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Snape´s Apprentice
Points: 9589
HappyAuriga says:
Interesting, if she puts it like that. On the other hand she added so much longing to be just Harry to the Harry Potter character that it wasn´t really a surprise how he ended up when he survived.
And I was glad that he did. The series has more deaths than I deem appropriate for a children´s series anyway, killing off the hero in the end would have been too much.
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 12:07 AM EST
Auror
(Moderator)
Points: 2213
Jeremy says:
Boy, I can't wait for more.
Thanks Melissa!
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 12:19 AM EST
Witch
Points: 671
draconifors says:
Again,she has a very detailed point of view when it comes to her talking in an interview!!
and i soo agree with HappyAuriga,killing of the hero would have been too much!!
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 1:06 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 529
Dementors Shadow says:
Wow, I really can't wait for this book to come out. haha Harry Potter still lives even after book 7
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 2:13 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 324
alpha_mushi says:
I had this terrible thought before Deathly Hallows that Harry would live - but Voldemort would still live too.. in that awful, scary movie kind of way.
Like you think you killed him, and Jason is rising from the river holding Freddy's head but BAM Freddy winks.. he's alive he's alive!!!!!
ARHGHGHHGH
(anyway)
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 2:42 AM EST
I Am Queen of My Castle
Points: 3918
Hecate3fold says:
Another finger in the Potter pie. Somehow I'm not too interested in what she has to say. It's all about her personal experiences with the Potter phenominon and her interviews with JKR. I'd rather wait and see if the encyclopedia JKR supposedly has in the back of her mind ever manifests. I'd be even more interested in a re-write version of the Lexicon. I hope with some revision he does get it published. The battle isn't over yet.
Blessings! Hecate3fold!
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 2:50 AM EST
Weaselette
Points: 3227
WickedLoz says:
Fantastic, thanks Melissa!
I also thought it'd be a major cop out to just kill Harry off.. You get so into a series, and by the time the walk in the forest comes along, you're bawling your eyes out.. And if Harry didn't survive, geez, not many readers (children and adults) could cope with that, it'd be a massive smack in the face. And then there are other characters; I seriously don't think all of them would have been strong enough to live without him..
This interview reminds me of the best fanfic currently going around, that I cannot mention due to rating rules (check SIYE site!!:D)
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 6:15 AM EST
Witch
Points: 588
Sexyjeans says:
Killing Harry was really painful.. BUt i want him to live again but in an ordinary way.. Hehe..
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 8:11 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2496
KissingDraco says:
Interesting how she put this. Ive never thought of it like that. And I like that the books are supposed to show that love is the most powerful thing, I think it`s true to some extend. But in real life it is way more complicated than in books.
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 9:12 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9051
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
I love the insights that one gets from the interview. Should be a good read when the book comes out. Most likely will get it, for the tidbits, if nothing else.
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 9:44 AM EST
Mrs. Draco Malfoy
Points: 27909
Arika Granger Malfoy says:
OOH YAY!
Melissa is soooo lucky to be able to talk to JKR and stuff! :D
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 10:57 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2363
Nataly says:
I am going to preorder it now.. Thanks for posting this.. it's lovely:)
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 11:26 AM EST
Malfoy by Nature
Points: 12529
WickeDraco says:
I had no idea JK was writing a new book. This is absolutely brilliant. You know, I wondered about why JK never killed him off, but in my heart of hearts, I didn't think she would. She's too attached to him, I think.
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 11:48 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 327
HB Prince says:
I cannot wait for this book to come out.. i can't get enough of this Potter series.
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 2:59 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1830
Lady Leo says:
Harry, A History, must be really tough for JKR to write cus there is soooo much. Like she said, it would have probably been neater to kill him in the end. Kudos to JKR.
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 7:37 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5294
GodricsGirl says:
How absolutely BRILLIANT! This makes me want her to write his adult story... tell me of his struggles, and his daily battles to put the past behind him! I would read every word!
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 9:31 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2861
mad_eye muggle says:
A very insightful comment from JK.i love it,its full of hope amidst the trial.You go JK!
Posted Oct 9, 2008 at 11:47 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2852
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Wow. Thats powerful. Never realy thought of it that way. I really want to read the book now. It sounds awesome!
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 12:00 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1864
Bright Eyes says:
It's great to be hearing her speak about this - and it's great to know 'Harry, A History' is on it's way!
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 5:02 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 335
x_loony_lovegood_x says:
Thats a really interesting answer. I hope we get some more insights from Jo!
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 5:25 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2424
bonniewrightrulz says:
I was one of those who thought that J.K.R would kill Harry in DH.Really liked the interview,thanks a lot for posting Melissa.
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 8:17 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4400
ILoveHP! says:
That was nice of J.K. to think of that particularly...
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 8:28 AM EST
Squib
Points: 185
cshorte says:
Wow!!!! I really can't wait for this book to come out!!!!
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2289
Snufflesmom says:
Preordered the book, sounds like a good read
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 1:29 PM EST
Witch
Points: 503
Twilight princess midna says:
I can't wait for the book. Yay bring it on.
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 3:05 PM EST
Lunarly challenged
Points: 2501
Grayback'sVictim says:
I like the way she (Rowling) talks... I guess that's why I like that way she writes too =)
Comparing Harry to war veterans... Never though of that but it makes sense and I definitely agree that it's very hard to survive things they do when in war and that come home plus you have to pretend nothing much happened (I can’t really know since I’ve never been in war, right? But I’d like to think that I can imagine).
Anyway I can't wait for that book to come out!
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 3:54 PM EST
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