I enjoyed seeing the security guards outside the bookstore last night. I told them that nobody had gotten stabbed in the face for shouting spoilers, but it'd be exciting if that did happen, and they laughed at me.
Also CNN interviewed![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
notfadeaway616and I was standing right next to him and they didn't ask me anything. I wanted to go into the values of pop vs. high literature, with references to Wilkie Collins, and finish off with an explanation of symbolism, particularly in regards to the young man carrying around a broom. I mean, clearly, when Rowling puts people RIDING on pointy objects, what are we supposed to think? Witches riding brooms has been a sexual metaphor since forever.
There were so many people last night... fire code? WHAT fire code? :P
But overall, it was fun enough. I walked around for a bit, avoiding the screaming children, enjoyed people's costumes (meril_gwend and I ran into each other there, she might have pictures up soon) and then because I had just had one of those days where you work on your feet for eight hours before sitting in rainy rush hour Atlanta traffic for another two hours, with bad contact lenses in. (I was afraid for my life more than once yesterday. But I did get 2gig flash drives for $17, woot!) And then I sat around and stood around a bit, reading Terry Pratchett's Night Watch for the umpteenth time, this time with the desire to compare it to Life on Mars (I'd say it was pretty comparable). And I talked to some people, where they said OMGOMGOMG SEVENTEEN MINUTES TIL MIDNIGHT THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING THING EVAR. And I responded, "No, it isn't, this is just a popular book. Have you ever heard of Wilkie Collins?"
Which confused them long enough for me to be a literature nerd at them, and possibly leave them scarred for life, before I returned to the gritty brilliance of Ankh-Morpork, a fantasy world that actually functions for me. Pterry has probably spoiled me for all Harry Potter ever, because I look at Harry and think, "Y'know, when Tiffany Aching was getting her magic training... she got more perspective on everything. And she knows how to make cheese. Even Esk is cooler. As is Ponder Stibbons and Rincewind... Terry Pratchett, why couldn't YOU have written the Harry Potter books?"
I dunno, I just wish Rowling had pretty much ever given us some exposition. Why does it work? 'Cos it's magic. Why is Harry good? 'Cos he's good. Why is Voldemort evil? 'Cos he's evil, and has a funny nose, and doesn't know much about genetics and inbreeding.And is from Mississippi?
And so much just doesn't make sense... like, if wizarding power is a blood and genetics thing, then why do they need wands? Why aren't they just naturally magical? And if they can do magic without wands, why don't they? It's rather a handicap... wouldn't they be better off learning to discipline their minds into focusing their natural magic without the use of a wand? Oh, I know what it must be: Rowling wants to make sure that boys are gripping their wands tightly. I get it. (Mention of something that happened in the first six pages, highlight to see): That must be why Lucius looked so uncomfortable when Voldemort wanted to grip his wand, with his wife sitting right there.
Also, if this society runs on its own currency and many wizards have absolutely no experience or skills in dealing with Muggles, and this society is basically a white-collar and service industry society, with production really restricted to luxury items such as cauldrons or herbs or whatever, then how does this society sustain itself? How do they eat, where do they get their toilet paper, etc.? This really bothers me, cause it means I can't believe in this world at all.
Whatever, I'm not staying away from the internet and fandom long enough to keep from being spoiled (and Frankly, Scarlet...) and I have a paper to write, so maybe this book will get read eventually. Last night I read the first six chapters and then went back to reading Night Watch. Let's see, mediocre teenage boy stock character compared to well-fleshed out middle-aged copper, landing thirty years in his past, and oh so very human.... Sam Vimes it is, then. Harry, you'll just have to wait. Play with your wand like a good boy, just be careful not to go blind.
Also CNN interviewed
notfadeaway616and I was standing right next to him and they didn't ask me anything. I wanted to go into the values of pop vs. high literature, with references to Wilkie Collins, and finish off with an explanation of symbolism, particularly in regards to the young man carrying around a broom. I mean, clearly, when Rowling puts people RIDING on pointy objects, what are we supposed to think? Witches riding brooms has been a sexual metaphor since forever. There were so many people last night... fire code? WHAT fire code? :P
But overall, it was fun enough. I walked around for a bit, avoiding the screaming children, enjoyed people's costumes (
meril_gwend and I ran into each other there, she might have pictures up soon) and then because I had just had one of those days where you work on your feet for eight hours before sitting in rainy rush hour Atlanta traffic for another two hours, with bad contact lenses in. (I was afraid for my life more than once yesterday. But I did get 2gig flash drives for $17, woot!) And then I sat around and stood around a bit, reading Terry Pratchett's Night Watch for the umpteenth time, this time with the desire to compare it to Life on Mars (I'd say it was pretty comparable). And I talked to some people, where they said OMGOMGOMG SEVENTEEN MINUTES TIL MIDNIGHT THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING THING EVAR. And I responded, "No, it isn't, this is just a popular book. Have you ever heard of Wilkie Collins?"Which confused them long enough for me to be a literature nerd at them, and possibly leave them scarred for life, before I returned to the gritty brilliance of Ankh-Morpork, a fantasy world that actually functions for me. Pterry has probably spoiled me for all Harry Potter ever, because I look at Harry and think, "Y'know, when Tiffany Aching was getting her magic training... she got more perspective on everything. And she knows how to make cheese. Even Esk is cooler. As is Ponder Stibbons and Rincewind... Terry Pratchett, why couldn't YOU have written the Harry Potter books?"
I dunno, I just wish Rowling had pretty much ever given us some exposition. Why does it work? 'Cos it's magic. Why is Harry good? 'Cos he's good. Why is Voldemort evil? 'Cos he's evil, and has a funny nose, and doesn't know much about genetics and inbreeding.
And so much just doesn't make sense... like, if wizarding power is a blood and genetics thing, then why do they need wands? Why aren't they just naturally magical? And if they can do magic without wands, why don't they? It's rather a handicap... wouldn't they be better off learning to discipline their minds into focusing their natural magic without the use of a wand? Oh, I know what it must be: Rowling wants to make sure that boys are gripping their wands tightly. I get it. (Mention of something that happened in the first six pages, highlight to see): That must be why Lucius looked so uncomfortable when Voldemort wanted to grip his wand, with his wife sitting right there.
Also, if this society runs on its own currency and many wizards have absolutely no experience or skills in dealing with Muggles, and this society is basically a white-collar and service industry society, with production really restricted to luxury items such as cauldrons or herbs or whatever, then how does this society sustain itself? How do they eat, where do they get their toilet paper, etc.? This really bothers me, cause it means I can't believe in this world at all.
Whatever, I'm not staying away from the internet and fandom long enough to keep from being spoiled (and Frankly, Scarlet...) and I have a paper to write, so maybe this book will get read eventually. Last night I read the first six chapters and then went back to reading Night Watch. Let's see, mediocre teenage boy stock character compared to well-fleshed out middle-aged copper, landing thirty years in his past, and oh so very human.... Sam Vimes it is, then. Harry, you'll just have to wait. Play with your wand like a good boy, just be careful not to go blind.
