Goodbye, Harry I wish I had written this: We see, indeed, that loyalty is only tested, and only rendered meaningful, by self-sacrifice, a negation of the self for others; indeed this is the absolute moral and the basis of salvation at the end. This is …

Not a bad post here. And yes, I did follow your Dean’s World link.

I agree with much of what you’ve put here, and I too enjoyed the books. But I wish J. K. Rowlings had read a few books on military history or game theory before she put this all together. For a book that is supposed to be all about friendship and self-sacrifice, Harry sure seems to worm his way out of trouble by pure luck a bit too much for my taste. I think that detracts from the central message by making it seem that no matter what mess Harry gets into, Rowlings will find a way to rescue him.

I think also that Rowlings was consciously copying the Tolkien/Lewis model of fantasy fiction, and included the message that evil succeeds when people refuse to acknowledge it. That’s a real message for our times if you think about it. Perhaps Harry’s most difficult task in all the books was convincing the wizarding world that they really and truly had to confront Voldemort, and how unwilling the adult wizards were to do that.

There’s some depth to these books that Rowlings should get more credit for. She will, but it will take a few years before the “kids book” reputation is shed a bit as those who read it as children become respected adults and their analysis of the book becomes more accepted.

I too will miss the series and often am of the opinion that modern children’s literature is often far more “literate” (if I may borrow a BBC technique), far better written, and concerned with and about far more important subject matter(s) than is common for modern and so-called ‘adult literature.’

Anywho, you did a fine job, expressed yourself well, and obviously read in an astute and observant manner.

I am pleased by your insights.
And your writing in this case.
You should write more often in this manner, if not about these particular matters.
Practice makes perfect.

Of course, throwing in a few Jew jokes every now and then can’t hurt either.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Then get yourself back to what on what really counts.

Time’s a wastin.

Like a lot of religious people, I started out wondering whether this series would be good for my son to read, not because of magic, but because I’m suspicious of what any modern children’s literature might be communicating between the lines. But we read through the first book together, and I was won over.

You’re right to call attention to how Rowling handles the complexities of loyalty, trust, authority, and love. My son just turned 11, and I feel like Rowling has handed me a toolbox full of object lessons to help guide him through the next 10 years.

I’m now reading the fourth book (Goblet of Fire) — hadn’t gotten to it before book 7 came out — and I’m struck again by Rowling’s skill as a satirist. The earnestness of Hermione’s elf welfare crusade, Umbridge’s dumbed-down “Defense against the Dark Arts” curriculum, the distortions of Rita Skeeter’s hit-and-run journalism — all the funnier for being right on target.