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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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Lunarly challenged
Points: 2480
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
Auror
Points: 2621
hbluvhp says:
Harry needed to have life after Voldemort... It just wouldn't be fair to the goodness of his character not to have the opportunity to live a life beyond the craziness!
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2875
Chogiiiirl says:
Awesome interview! I totally agree with Jo, it was hard for Harry to have to survive and rebuild after so much loss, but he did it.
Posted Oct 10, 2008 at 5:44 PM EST
Witch
Points: 819
accio_kim says:
I really liked the fact that there was no certainty going in to Hallows of the outcome. My friends and I shared many debates as to whether or not Harry would live, and I conceivably thought she could have killed him. Sad, yes, but also cathartic in a sense, because we know he would have killed Voldemort. Nice to hear her thoughts on it.
Posted Oct 11, 2008 at 3:29 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1453
smart hermione says:
Hmm...intersting way she puts it, wouldn't have thought of it that way. Before the last book i had a big hope that he would live, but i thought that it would be too perfect if that happened. The killing off of all those characters made it a bit more realistic, though
Posted Oct 11, 2008 at 5:26 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1433
Brianna Huckpuck says:
JK Rowling, you are my hero. Wonderfully worded. I loved the ending and always will!
Posted Oct 11, 2008 at 10:52 AM EST
Squib
Points: 163
OceanBaBY says:
Laugh out loud (no chatspeak)! Jo is funny and I agree with her 110%!
Posted Oct 11, 2008 at 7:53 PM EST
Witch
Points: 595
puremudblood says:
Yeah thats very influential and strong not to mention very Rowlingish. Well thats how we like it isnt it? She will be remembered I am sure!
Posted Oct 12, 2008 at 8:50 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3656
Anastasia Popovick says:
Fastinating the way she compares Harry to a war veteran. It was a wizard's war. Truly interesting way to look at things.
Posted Oct 13, 2008 at 8:10 PM EST
Witch
Points: 983
Helena xx says:
Oh my god!!!
i can't believe i didn't know about harry a history!!!!
i am soooooooo excited!!!!! i can't wait!!!
Posted Oct 15, 2008 at 1:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 983
Helena xx says:
Oh my god!!!
i can't believe i didn't know about harry a history!!!!
i am soooooooo excited!!!!! i can't wait!!!
Posted Oct 15, 2008 at 1:33 PM EST
Rickmaniac to the Core
Points: 2564
snaily says:
Awesome interview! I'm waiting for this book to come out.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Posted Oct 19, 2008 at 10:29 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 14
SiriusAbby says:
I thought the ending was very emotional and i cant be happier the person who brought pain upon all those innocent people is dead. i think we all knew from the beginning that harry was going to conquer the Dark Lord. But i cant help but think...was it all to much of a set-up.
Posted Aug 5, 2009 at 12:04 AM EST
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