Will JK Rowling kill off Harry?

[nccanes]

Seems kinda cruel to her loyal readers that have made her a bazzilionaire! ;)

Rowling hints she may kill Harry
Friday, June 27, 2003 Posted: 4:04 AM EDT (0804 GMT)

LONDON, England -- "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling shocked fans by hinting the young wizard may be killed off in the last book.

Rowling plans to write two more novels in the seven-book series, taking Harry up to the end of his time at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

But she drew gasps from an audience of 4,000 children in London Thursday when she answered a young fan's question about whether she planned to write books about an adult Harry someday.

"You have to wait and see whether he survives to be a grown-up," she replied teasingly. "I'm not saying he won't, but I don't want to give anything away."

And she disappointed her young Royal Albert Hall audience again when she admitted: "I really don't believe in magic. I believe in some kinds -- the magic of imagination and the magic of love. But the magic of waving a wand and making things happen, no."

Rowling was interviewed on stage by actor Stephen Fry, who narrates the British "Harry Potter" audio books.

She also answered questions during a live Webcast from children around the world.

Asked what magic powers she would like to have, she said: "I would love the power of invisibility. It is a little bit sad but I would sneak off to a cafe and write all day."

Rowling, who now earns more than Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, started writing the Potter books in an Edinburgh cafe when she was an impoverished single mother.

Quizzed about what she would like to see if she looked in a magic mirror, like Harry does in the book, she replied: "I would see what Harry saw -- my mother again." Rowling's mother died of multiple sclerosis in 1990.

The excited audience members screamed with delight when Rowling took to the stage.

The author told them: "The Beatles were my favorite group -- this is the nearest I will ever get to being a Beatle."

[talkingcanes]

I think it is so great that these books make children want to read. I love them myselves and I always send a copy to my nephews. They can not wait to read it and use it as their reading time with my brother and sister-in-law at the end of every day. No one is allowed to read ahead and they love to discuss it with me so I have to stay with them or they'll tell me what's going to happen :)

I heard JK Rowling on an interview with Katie Couric and she was talking about killing off a character in the current book and how (paraphrasing) you have to be vicious and hard hearted to write heart warming children's books. It was actually a very funny line.

[Stormbringer]

I really should sample Harry Potter as much as I've heard regarding how wonderful the books and character are. Heck, my dad says he really liked the first Harry Potter flick, and that's real impressive for him to like something like that.

While we're on the subject of children's books that adults can enjoy...have any of you happen to read Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events books? Those are HILARIOUS. The following site offers a great sampling of those...

http://www.lemonysnicket.com/

[folgersnyourcup]

I don't understand why she would even say something like this.... I love the books but I'm a bit annoyed by her telling every newspaper in the country things like "a major character dies in this book", "a minor character dies in this one", I don't want to know that! And in response to the fans' question about Adult Harry books she could have just said "Wait and see!" or "Maybe!".

Phooey. Knowing someone is going to die at the end of a book is like being told that a movie has an incredible twist at the end. It spoils. You still have the surprise of which character is going to die or what that great twist is......but it makes it that much sweeter if you know absolutely nothing. If you've read even one article about the new book, you know a character dies in it. It's not like she needs to say this stuff to increase sales, she could name the next book "Harry Potter and the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team presented by Gale Force Entertainment" and say that the book features Harry taking Hermione to various Hurricanes hockey games and then to get pizza. Also, she could specifically say that nothing of interest happens in teh book. The same millions and millions of people worldwide would still purchase it! I don't need to know someone dies.

Hehe, well enough ranting. I still have to buy the new book and read it. I'm really excited!

[VandyCane]

Rowling hints she may kill Harry
Friday, June 27, 2003 Posted: 4:04 AM EDT (0804 GMT)



"You have to wait and see whether he survives to be a grown-up," she replied teasingly. "I'm not saying he won't, but I don't want to give anything away."

Perhaps it makes more sense in the context of her latest book. I will not give away anything but there is a "prophecy" in "The Order of the Phoenix." If she answered any other way it would not make any sense to those who read the book.

I love the books. The first was ok, but the third was fantastic. This last one was enjoyable and entertaining. We actually have whole family discussions about what goes on in the books. Definitely a good way for a family to have something in common.

[Logansfrog]

I love the HP books. The hubby and I have read the first 4 aloud to our kids and have both already finished the new one. We're freaks, what can I say? :crazy:

Folg, I made a point of not reading anything about the new book because I hate spoilers, too, though I had heard anyway that one character dies. It was still very suspenseful, though, because there's a fair amount of conflict in the book (I don't think that's a surprise/spoiler) and there are several characters who get seriously injured. So, even knowing someone dies, it's not obvious who it is right away. It's still a good read, even knowing that in advance.

I can't imagine how Rowling is going to end the books. I'd love to see her continue writing them after Hogwarts, sortof like Agatha Christie, where each book stands alone but we still get to see what Harry's doing as an adult. But I'm wondering if she'll kill him off at the end like she seems to be hinting. I wouldn't be surprised by an Arthurian ending, where Harry kills Voldemort, ensuring the wizarding world is safe again, but receives a mortal wound in the process. It would certainly end the series completely and neatly.

[folgersnyourcup]

This book is wonderful. I'm only two chapters in and absolutely love it.

[StormShaman]

You know, when I first saw this thread I thought it was about Big Czech Defenseman. :beatup:

[mikus]

i don't think so. it's still a book for children...maybe some kids would kill themselves when harry'd die...joke :D;)

btw. this is my first post since.......dunno

[SouthernHockeyChick]

The new HP is the best yet, IMO!! I absolutely could not make myself put it down....I'm on my second reading now.

I wasn't thrilled to have heard that someone dies ahead of time either.....and I almost heard who it was about 5 times!!! I heard Chopper and Jimmy actually said it on the radio one day last week! I'd have killed somone if I'd have found out ahead of time.

Incidentally, I let my friend who went to Canada with me last week read the first book while we were there. She finished it in 2 days and we bought the second book in Canada. Well, she finished it on the way home yesterday and when we got to the Buffalo airport she found a bookstore to look for the thrid one and decided she liked the US versions better and bought all 5 right there. Obsiously she loved them.

BTW, good to see you mikus!

[talkingcanes]

I thought it was the best one yet too. I had to finish it before someone told me anything about it. I heard that Chopper and Jimmy said told that too. I may have been dangerous to them if I'd heard it. I will say that I guessed the victim correctly though before I got to that part, but I would have been MAD if someone had told me who it was ahead of time :mad:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I thought it was the best one yet too. I had to finish it before someone told me anything about it. I heard that Chopper and Jimmy said told that too. I may have been dangerous to them if I'd heard it. I will say that I guessed the victim correctly though before I got to that part, but I would have been MAD if someone had told me who it was ahead of time :mad:

I guessed too! I'm sad that I finished reading it in an airport terminal....I didn't get to cry properly. :cry:

[raleighcanesfan]

The new HP is the best yet, IMO!! I absolutely could not make myself put it down....I'm on my second reading now.


The planets are aligned, I finally disagree with SHC.

While a good read, OoP is the lowest of the 5. I just got really bored with Harry's PMSing (sorry ladies) the whole time. Wah, wah, wah.

Dolores was a &itch, wasn't she!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Harry was sporting some serious Anakin angst, wasn't he? I didn't seem to have a problem with it though....although I do admit to wanting to slap him around a bit once in a while. But maybe I was chalking it up to the whole Legilimency thing....don't know.

[talkingcanes]

The new HP is the best yet, IMO!! I absolutely could not make myself put it down....I'm on my second reading now.


The planets are aligned, I finally disagree with SHC.

While a good read, OoP is the lowest of the 5. I just got really bored with Harry's PMSing (sorry ladies) the whole time. Wah, wah, wah.

Dolores was a &itch, wasn't she!

HP was a bit of a whiner, wasn't he. but, like SHC, I didn't mind it so much. maybe because I have nephews that are 15 and 17 that it seemed so familiar!! I did have the urge to tell him to get over himself once in a while ;)

and Delores was truly wicked :eek:

[VandyCane]

The whininess annoyed me too, but it truly is typical of the age. (I work with kids and teens) I think that's why the kids like JKR's books so well---she gets the characters right without resorting to stereotyping. BTW, I don't think the dead character is really dead.

[opuntia]

Vandy might have something there. Gone, but not necessarily dead.

Major geek that I am, I predicted the character who died before beginning to read the book. It came out when I was in Hawaii and by the time I got to a bookstore, the whole island was sold out. I got it in the airport on the way back but couldn't read it right away; cursed jet lag!

[Romney]

talkingcanes said:
I think it is so great that these books make children want to read.

I know I'm a bit late on this one, but I do have to piggy-back onto this. Our local bookstore had a Harry Potter party the night the book was available. The workers and many customers arrived in great costumes. There were special snacks and 'stations' set up such as a sorting hat and other things related to the books.

The best part was watching all of the excitement for the book. Not the activities, not the costumes, but the book itself. Most of the excitement came from the "older" kids, like 7-11 graders, kids usually too "cool" to read. It was great too see that they still were hooked by reading.

Hockey note: One customer was actually spotted in a Carolina shirt with Jeff O's name and number on the back. Too bad I couldn't get to him in the crowd to talk a bit.

[Shell]

I apologize if this has already been discussed here but I haven't read a single post in this thread since I have not finished the 5th book yet and definitely don't want any spoilers. (I ordered the book to arrive on the release date but then we listened to Book 2 audio tapes on our way to work and I realized how much I had forgotten so we re-read them all before delving into 5)

Seems like the 3rd movie will be muchhhh different!

Director brings magic of sex
The Sun-Herald (out of Sydney, Australia)

Warner Bros. is very brave to have entrusted its $2 billion Harry Potter franchise to a Mexican director best known for a teenage sex movie that makes Ken Park look tame.

In Newsweek this week, Alfonso Cuaron, the new director of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, likens George Bush to evil Voldemort, and says the third Potter movie will have "lots of nudity. And lots of sex."

He was joking. But he does see the movie as an edgy puberty saga, telling The New York Times it is, "an observation of teenagers coming of age, and it's an observation of a country coming of age. There's a lot of coming in the movie."

As for Bush and Saddam Hussein, like Voldemort, they have "selfish interests and are very much in love with power", he told Newsweek. "Also, a disregard for the environment. A love for manipulating people."

The previous two Potter movies were set in a timeless England. But number three, due next year, is all 21st-century grunge, judging by photographs from the set showing the Hogwarts students in dirty tracksuit tops. Actor Daniel Radcliffe has been listening to the Sex Pistols to get in the mood to play Harry. Dumbledore is to be played by a new actor as "an elegant, old hippie".

Cuaron complains his last movie Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too) couldn't get an R-rating until he "cut a bunch of penises". He was "shocked" to be offered Azkaban. "I had just made this sexy, scandalous movie," he said. He has since decided "thematically" the stories are similar.

"But Y Tu Mama deals with class and homosexuality. Doesn't Harry Potter have fewer political overtones?" The New York Times asked.

"No. Harry Potter deals with class, with race, with power. I see this book as a metaphor for our times."

Bloody hell, as Ron would say.

[opuntia]

Please tell me this is a bad joke...

The first two movies were not ideal, but they followed the books and the right "feel" was there. This will apparently "feel" very different!

[Shell]

(Skip if you want no spoilers)

wow.. just finished.. my eyes are still puffy. I thought it was incredible. Every one of them has been my favorite so far... I only wish it was a magical book that never ends ;) Well, I imagined to avoid every spoiler except that someone died.. my mom had already read it though and did good at being coy that made me wonder if it was even true. I figured if it was anyone, that it might be Dumbledore. I have to admit I am sad to see Sirius go.. if indeed it is final.. hope Dumblydore gets that big mirror back so we can "hear" the barking laugh one more time.

I too agree that it is so wonderful to see kids so eager for books. My nieces and nephews are so into the whole thing. The youngest has ADHD (something I rarely believe, but I think is true in his case) and I have never seen him still except when I put the audio books on in the car. He will sit still for hours staring rapt at the tape player when it is on.. even if older brother is poking him in the ribs.

I've heard many Christian critics of the books, but I have never heard a sole who has read them condemn them. From witches I know (wiccans properly), to my parents who are scared of such ideas, to kids, to all types.. they speak to all. Guyute and I read it aloud on the way to/from work (hour ride each way) and had so much fun guessing what was coming next or discussing what we just read..

sorry to go on and on, but these books really do touch me a lot.

from the next movie:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030811/capt.1060604096.multimedia_potter_harry_potter_ny1 22.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030807/capt.1060287575.harry_potter_ny123.jpg

[VandyCane]

Shell, what site did you get those pics from? The actress that plays Hermione has really grown up. That is one of the things I like about the books, that these characters go from being little kids to adolescents. As I mentioned before, I work with kids and teens and watching the transformation is an amazing thing. Rowling totally gets it right. We are so ready for the third movie! We just finished reading that one to our daughter and I had forgotten so many cool things that had happened.

[Shell]

It is fun to watch them grow up for sure!! and it is fun to watch how much quicker girls grow up ;)

I saw the pics when I was perusing Yahoo's news photos