The first book is so different in tone, and definitely shows the shaping hand of a good editor. That said, it does go on quite a bit more with the Dursleys and I think that is a kind of debt that Rowling owes to Roald Dahl's novels with the exceptionally difficult and abusive childhoods portrayed. I'm thinking particularly of James and the Giant Peach, but also Charlie's crushing poverty, and the horrible Giants of the BFG.
Wait. People? She eats people? 'To Serve Man.' It's 'To Serve Man' all over again.
Gunn ,'Power Play'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
DavidS - May 09, 2011 8:37:56 pm PDT #14652 of 28343
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Gris - May 10, 2011 2:28:06 am PDT #14653 of 28343
Hey. New board.
And Matilda! Vernon and Petunia could be directly modeled off of Matilda's parents.
sj - May 10, 2011 2:58:36 am PDT #14654 of 28343
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."
And Jane Eyre. Dead parents, an aunt who resents having to raise you, a very spoiled cousin (ok Jane had 3 of these), and school becomes an escape. I actually didn't like the first book at all the first time I read it because it seemed to just be stealing from so many classic stories. It took me a while to give the rest of the series a try.
Consuela - May 10, 2011 4:43:07 am PDT #14655 of 28343
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix
I did really enjoy the completely OTT business with Vernon taking them on the road to avoid the letters from Hogwarts. That's someone who's really committed to his bigotry.
§ ita § - May 10, 2011 5:08:58 am PDT #14656 of 28343
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I wrote words I didn't mean to be taken as true for rhetorical effect?
Oh, okay. They didn't make any sense to me.
Kathy A - May 10, 2011 8:36:36 am PDT #14657 of 28343
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
I had bought the first three books for my nephew's Christmas present, and bought another set of them for myself. I had the morning after Thanksgiving free, so I decided to read the first book before deciding whether I would be keeping my set or returning them. I devoured it in three hours, then went back and reread the first Quidditch play-by-play by Lee Jordan out loud because JKR had written it so brilliantly.
megan walker - May 10, 2011 8:44:16 am PDT #14658 of 28343
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Just wanted to report that the Alice in Wonderland purse that I ordered from Novel Creations on etsy arrived yesterday and it looks very good. Now I just have to wait until Christmas.
Polter-Cow - May 10, 2011 8:46:06 am PDT #14659 of 28343
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
It occurs to me that Harry's story is that of earning the fame he already had.
Rayne - May 10, 2011 10:33:51 am PDT #14660 of 28343
"Oh no! Has falling sky liquid once again caused you the sadness?" -Starfire
I want one of those book purses so bad!
Atropa - May 10, 2011 10:55:49 am PDT #14661 of 28343
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
I cannot justify buying the Dracula purse, I cannot justify buying the Dracula purse, I cannot justify buying the Dracula purse.
If I keep saying that, do you think I'll eventually stop wanting the Dracula purse?