I forgot to mention it last night, but ABC reported that JK Rowling is having second thoughts about how she ended the HP series. Apparently, she now thinks she shouldn't have had Hermione wind up with Ron. WTH? It was clear from the very first book that Hermione was Ron's girl. And despite Harry's briefly dating Cho in Book Four, it was also fairly clear all along that he was going to wind up with Ginny. So, what's this nonsense now? The item didn't site a source, or I'd try to check it out for myself. I just thought it was rather silly, especially at this point.
I've only read the first book, but at that time I didn't think it was clear that Hermione was Ron's girl. Based just on what I saw there, I would have expected her to end up with Harry. Although that's really based on nothing more than standard literary tropes. They were too young for there to be anything concrete.
Catreona, I have no doubt whatsoever that you are far more savvy than I when it comes to parsing out the plot of a book! As for me, I thought Harry and Hermione would have made a perfect pair, because they were evenly matched intellectually and both cared deeply about what matters in life. But I figured Rowling simply didn't want to do the obvious thing. And, anyway, Harry was necessarily focused on survival and defeating him whose name we do not utter. LEt's face it, with that dude after Harry, what were the chances of lasting happiness? Not exactly someone to settle down with. ;-) But I never felt right about the Hermione and Ron match. She was way smarter than Ron, but there's no telling where Cupid's arrow will fall. Ha! As for Ginny, I never saw that one coming at all. But then, I didn't read the books, I only saw the films.
Well, I'll grant that maybe it wasn't glaringly obvious in the first book. I'd have to go back and reread. But certainly going forward Ron's admiration for, protectiveness of and growing reliance on Hermione forms a running subplot through the series. Listener is certainly right that Harry is on a mission and knows he has no right to form attachments. He tells Ginny as much in rather a touching scene somewhere in the sixth or seventh book. By that time, such a statement has become necessary because Ginny's feelings have become quite plaine. All of this is in the books though, as Listener rightly points out. My recollection of the movies is rather vague, but by necessity much nuence gets left out of them.
Listener, I'm not entirely sure it's fair to say Hermione is smarter than Ron. She is brainier, that's true. But there are different and complimentary forms of intelligence. Ron is practical while Hermione tends, at least at first, to be more interested in studying for studying's sake. Ron is the bumbling best friend while Harry is the dashing hero to be sure. In the end though I think Harry and Hermione are better suited to be best friends rather than a romantic pairing, maybe precisely because they are so well matched. Ginny is clever and athletic, but she and Harry aren't the same, they aren't quite on a level. Each has strengths and weaknesses that compliment each other, much like Ron and Hermione.
Maybe I only think that because that's the way it worked out, but I really don't think Harry and Hermione would have been happy together, not least because of the irrevocable wedge their getting together would have driven between Harry and Ron. Even in the last movie I think that's touched on. But I guess you'd have to read the books to see what I mean.
*groan* How pathetic is it to spend your time disecting the romantic entanglements of the HP series? What a loser I am, possibly even a dweeb!
Pathetic? Piffle! It's about exploring ourselves, just like all good fiction. (U.S. Grant: "No generalization is worth a dam, including this one.") I was not as attentive to some of those relationships, as I recall--but it has been quite a while since I read the books. But Harry and Hermione? That just doesn't seem right.
I don't recall--do the books ever say what becomes of Luna Lovegood?
I spent the day hand-dipping candles. It takes about 100 dips per pair, and you have to let them cool a bit from time to time. I dipped three or four pair at a time and it still took me seven hours to get 14 pair. I'm very pleased with my "small batch" of art! :-)
After they have cooled for a week or two (it takes that long for them to fully harden), I can hand-decorate them.
A huge amount of work--but the sense of accomplishment should make it well worthwhile. It occurs to me that candles must have been a significant improvement over the type of oil lamps used in the ancient world.
Howard is our shining light.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention it last night, but ABC reported that JK Rowling is having second thoughts about how she ended the HP series. Apparently, she now thinks she shouldn't have had Hermione wind up with Ron. WTH? It was clear from the very first book that Hermione was Ron's girl. And despite Harry's briefly dating Cho in Book Four, it was also fairly clear all along that he was going to wind up with Ginny. So, what's this nonsense now? The item didn't site a source, or I'd try to check it out for myself. I just thought it was rather silly, especially at this point.
ReplyDeleteI've only read the first book, but at that time I didn't think it was clear that Hermione was Ron's girl. Based just on what I saw there, I would have expected her to end up with Harry. Although that's really based on nothing more than standard literary tropes. They were too young for there to be anything concrete.
DeleteHere's the link to the story Cat mentioned:
Deletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/10612719/Harry-Potter-should-have-married-Hermione-admits-JK-Rowling.html
Catreona, I have no doubt whatsoever that you are far more savvy than I when it comes to parsing out the plot of a book! As for me, I thought Harry and Hermione would have made a perfect pair, because they were evenly matched intellectually and both cared deeply about what matters in life. But I figured Rowling simply didn't want to do the obvious thing. And, anyway, Harry was necessarily focused on survival and defeating him whose name we do not utter. LEt's face it, with that dude after Harry, what were the chances of lasting happiness? Not exactly someone to settle down with. ;-) But I never felt right about the Hermione and Ron match. She was way smarter than Ron, but there's no telling where Cupid's arrow will fall. Ha! As for Ginny, I never saw that one coming at all. But then, I didn't read the books, I only saw the films.
DeleteWell, I'll grant that maybe it wasn't glaringly obvious in the first book. I'd have to go back and reread. But certainly going forward Ron's admiration for, protectiveness of and growing reliance on Hermione forms a running subplot through the series. Listener is certainly right that Harry is on a mission and knows he has no right to form attachments. He tells Ginny as much in rather a touching scene somewhere in the sixth or seventh book. By that time, such a statement has become necessary because Ginny's feelings have become quite plaine. All of this is in the books though, as Listener rightly points out. My recollection of the movies is rather vague, but by necessity much nuence gets left out of them.
DeleteListener, I'm not entirely sure it's fair to say Hermione is smarter than Ron. She is brainier, that's true. But there are different and complimentary forms of intelligence. Ron is practical while Hermione tends, at least at first, to be more interested in studying for studying's sake. Ron is the bumbling best friend while Harry is the dashing hero to be sure. In the end though I think Harry and Hermione are better suited to be best friends rather than a romantic pairing, maybe precisely because they are so well matched. Ginny is clever and athletic, but she and Harry aren't the same, they aren't quite on a level. Each has strengths and weaknesses that compliment each other, much like Ron and Hermione.
Maybe I only think that because that's the way it worked out, but I really don't think Harry and Hermione would have been happy together, not least because of the irrevocable wedge their getting together would have driven between Harry and Ron. Even in the last movie I think that's touched on. But I guess you'd have to read the books to see what I mean.
*groan* How pathetic is it to spend your time disecting the romantic entanglements of the HP series? What a loser I am, possibly even a dweeb!
On a somewhat more grownup note, I'm rereading a fascinating book by Brion Greene called The Fabric of the Cosmos.
DeletePathetic? Piffle! It's about exploring ourselves, just like all good fiction. (U.S. Grant: "No generalization is worth a dam, including this one.") I was not as attentive to some of those relationships, as I recall--but it has been quite a while since I read the books. But Harry and Hermione? That just doesn't seem right.
DeleteI don't recall--do the books ever say what becomes of Luna Lovegood?
--Alan
I spent the day hand-dipping candles. It takes about 100 dips per pair, and you have to let them cool a bit from time to time. I dipped three or four pair at a time and it still took me seven hours to get 14 pair. I'm very pleased with my "small batch" of art! :-)
ReplyDeleteAfter they have cooled for a week or two (it takes that long for them to fully harden), I can hand-decorate them.
A huge amount of work--but the sense of accomplishment should make it well worthwhile. It occurs to me that candles must have been a significant improvement over the type of oil lamps used in the ancient world.
Delete--Alan