Rowling pens Potter prequel to benefit charity

[gottriplets]

Originally Posted by MasterOfDeath

What a stupid article.

Absolutely one of the most horrid articles I've read...how rude!!!

[wickedwickedboy]

Seems to me it was a tongue in cheek article...the author was not being serious.

I cracked up laughing at the bit where he said he couldn't lie his way through a defense to a friend in the future by saying he was 1/2 way through a new Harry Potter novel and not really getting into it - because his friend would raise a brow and say 'but it is only 2 words long' . And the bit about a wealthy, illiterate teenager was also in jest - that was while reading a novel with one page that says only "Wizard" . The author of the article knows the restrictions on the writing for the charity venture (limited to a card) and he knows people of all ages and sexes enjoy the book - everyone knows that. He was just having a bit of fun. He even took us on a bit of a circular ride through other hilarious writing adventures - an entire novel without any "e"'s?

[PerfectDystopia]

Meh. Time has always been having a go at JK Rowling. I don't think the article was meant to be serious.

[IchLiebeGeorge]

Where did you guys get the detail about policemen being in the story? I've only checked out Mugglenet.

[ladyblack23]

Originally Posted by wickedwickedboy

Seems to me it was a tongue in cheek article...the author was not being serious.

I cracked up laughing at the bit where he said he couldn't lie his way through a defense to a friend in the future by saying he was 1/2 way through a new Harry Potter novel and not really getting into it - because his friend would raise a brow and say 'but it is only 2 words long' . And the bit about a wealthy, illiterate teenager was also in jest - that was while reading a novel with one page that says only "Wizard" . The author of the article knows the restrictions on the writing for the charity venture (limited to a card) and he knows people of all ages and sexes enjoy the book - everyone knows that. He was just having a bit of fun. He even took us on a bit of a circular ride through other hilarious writing adventures - an entire novel without any "e"'s?

Yeah, I agree. I think it was entirely tongue in cheek. It was just playful. I don't think the author was in any way writing with malicious intent. And anyway, the world isn't going to keep writing wonders about her forever. There is only so many times the general public wants to hear about the poor struggling mother writing on the back of napkins who became richer than the queen! I love her and Harry to death, but I think its okay if the Times takes the mickey every now and then.

[wickedwickedboy]

Originally Posted by IchLiebeGeorge

Where did you guys get the detail about policemen being in the story? I've only checked out Mugglenet.

It's an article in the Guardian - Mugglenet references it with a link.

[PrivetHedge]

Originally Posted by wickedwickedboy

Seems to me it was a tongue in cheek article...the author was not being serious.

'ear-'ear!

...He was just having a bit of fun. He even took us on a bit of a circular ride through other hilarious writing adventures - an entire novel without any "e"'s?

Uhh, actually, that part is true.

http://www.themodernword.com/scriptorium/perec.html

or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Void_(novel)

[JustAnIllusion]

Originally Posted by meesha1971

Very true. I usually avoid articles like that, but sometimes it's like a train wreck - you can't stop yourself from looking. It just amazes me that some people can be so mean spirited and rude.

Indeed. The article called me a "crackhead lit kid". I think I'll cry myself to sleep tonight...

Seriously, though, writing something that mean spirited is terrible. Jo is doing this for charity, and if it's going to get kids to read even more, than what is the harm in it? I wonder what he's going to say about the encyclopedia...

[Beatifically]

Even if it was a joke, it seemed like the person who wrote the article could have done much better in order to show that it was all in good humor. Quite frankly, it seemed more immature than amusing to me, and I think that the person could have written the article in a much more professional manner.

Originally Posted by leah49

Technically, 800 words is not a novel.

Good point. A novel is much longer than 800 words. 800 words is less than five pages! In novels a chapter is usually longer than what JKR is writing.

I really don't see the harm in writing this. She wants to benefit the world and knows that by writing something that's Potter related will be the way to ensure that money is raised for the charity.

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by beatifically

Here's the article.

That article made me so angry, I decided to leave him a little, erm, love note in the comments. I was very glad to see most people who commented were disagreeing with him.

I wondered if it was a joke or not, but even if it was just a joke, I'm still angry, because it isn't very clear that it's a joke. If he was intending to be funny, he hasn't succeeded.

[Raven_Girly]

Not a very nice article indeed. It was incredibly harsh and untrue. I'm beginning to wonder if it was only written with such a strong viewpoint to attract the criticism it has (and therefore attract readership). Even if it was intended to be in tongue-in-cheek, the author did not make that very clear. It certainly didn't amuse me.

[Rons_Twin_Sis]

Hmm...maybe it was meant to be a joke, but I certainly didn't take it that way when I first read it. Oh well, it's not going to stop me from reading it!

[member_of_SPEW]

If it was a joke, I think the author did a poor job of making that clear. But whatever; I don't really care what the Times says about Harry Potter any more. I'm really looking forward to seeing a lighter moment in the first war.

Ten more days!

[wickedwickedboy]

That is because it was tongue in cheek - not straight out humor. He spoke of other humorous, but "real" novels (like the one without any 'e''s - and translated!! ) and continued to call it a novel throughout, fully knowing it was a 'card for charity'. He then went on to talk about her future works: a 2 word novel, followed by a 1 word saga! . I think it was clear he was poking fun at JKR - if he was serious, he would have brought up the other authors who also wrote cards, most with less than 800 words on them (JKR is the only one who used both sides of the card and cramped writing I think). I don't know how much clearer he could make it that he was being tongue in cheek. He may not be a Potter fan, but that only makes it funnier to me, because he was truly having a fun go.

[leah49]

I don't know, it didn't seem humorous or tongue-in-cheek at all. I don't see how those who've pointed this out see that. Can someone explain to me how they saw it that way?

[meesha1971]

Originally Posted by leah49

I don't know, it didn't seem humorous or tongue-in-cheek at all. I don't see how those who've pointed this out see that. Can someone explain to me how they saw it that way?

I agree. It was just too mean spirited and rude for me to see that as humorous.

[Nadia]

Guys, please let's get back on topic and discuss what might or might not be on the prequel

[meesha1971]

Sorry.

Okay, what we know so far -

• It's about James and Sirius
• It's set about 3 years before Harry was born - probably around their 7th year
• There's a policeman involved

I'm wondering if this might be something that occurs during the summer between their sixth and seventh years - a muggle setting where there would be a policeman.

[Raven_Girly]

Originally Posted by meesha1971

I'm wondering if this might be something that occurs during the summer between their sixth and seventh years - a muggle setting where there would be a policeman.

I think this will most likely be the case. The fact that there is a policeman involved leads me to believe it will be a light, humorous scene where the two guys get into a bit of trouble.

[RebeccaMatthews]

Love how the Times is treating HP. Eh, just beating something down only make me wanna read it more.

I am just glad that we as fans can learn more about characters that had an important role in a series of books we love.