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Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great. Darth_Katie Send a noteboard - 13/07/2010 01:14:01 PM
While her technique isn't bad (look at how she describes Dursley's day in the first chapter, for example -- when she mentions what he doesn't see), her language is at this point very naivistic, almost too simple. It does not flow naturally, and she repeats words too often. This is something that suggests a children's book to me. There are also a couple of phrases, like "he looked simply too big to be allowed" which ring like a child's language (or a grown-up talking to a child, at any rate).

But because she uses this language to point out things that normal children's books wouldn't, it appeals to us as well. The early description of Petunia, for example, is gold. As is Vernon's slow descent into madness.

I forgot how funny it was, the little details about him spreading marmalade on the newspaper and jumping at small noises. And Harry is quite the smartass, I forgot that too. :D


Yes, I keep being amased that he has kept that while being continually put down and locked in a cupboard. To still be answering back 11 years later when that life is all you can remember is quite a feat.


It really is amazing he turns out as well as he does. Of course, a broken and abused Harry would be a much more depressing hero ... :(
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Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans) - 12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM 3340 Views
Chapters 1-3: Introducing Harry - 12/07/2010 08:28:49 AM 1782 Views
Characterisation *NM* - 12/07/2010 08:29:02 AM 1022 Views
My thoughts, such as they are. - 12/07/2010 04:09:55 PM 1840 Views
Agree. She gave us enough to make it interesting. - 12/07/2010 06:45:46 PM 1798 Views
Re: My thoughts, such as they are. *spoilers* - 12/07/2010 07:43:49 PM 1777 Views
You hit the nail on the head. - 13/07/2010 12:20:19 AM 1734 Views
Re: You hit the nail on the head. - 13/07/2010 08:51:45 AM 1651 Views
Writing style *NM* - 12/07/2010 08:29:18 AM 1010 Views
A couple of points. - 12/07/2010 04:10:20 PM 1664 Views
It is very clear it is a children's book at this time - 12/07/2010 07:18:14 PM 1853 Views
True. - 12/07/2010 07:36:49 PM 1775 Views
Re: It is very clear it is a children's book at this time - 12/07/2010 09:31:11 PM 2018 Views
Re: It is very clear it is a children's book at this time - 12/07/2010 09:51:23 PM 1603 Views
Vernon's slow descent into madness is great. - 13/07/2010 04:03:26 AM 1827 Views
Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great. - 13/07/2010 08:54:40 AM 1782 Views
Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great. - 13/07/2010 01:14:01 PM 1840 Views
Indeed. - 13/07/2010 01:15:23 PM 1606 Views
Early themes *NM* - 12/07/2010 08:29:37 AM 1052 Views
Strong vs weak *spoilers* - 12/07/2010 07:23:45 PM 1623 Views
- 12/07/2010 07:43:27 PM 1660 Views
Re: - 12/07/2010 07:44:56 PM 1604 Views
Chapters 4-10: Making Friends at Hogwarts *NM* - 12/07/2010 08:29:58 AM 951 Views
Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends. *NM* - 14/07/2010 08:29:38 AM 994 Views
I'd forgotten how annoying Hermione was - 14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM 1705 Views
Me too. - 14/07/2010 04:30:13 PM 1642 Views
Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though. - 14/07/2010 04:58:04 PM 1692 Views
Some thoughts before I run off to the library again - 14/07/2010 06:11:45 PM 1827 Views
Good points - 14/07/2010 08:45:56 PM 1765 Views
What about the magic? - 14/07/2010 08:58:51 AM 1699 Views
The magic wasnt really developed at this point - 14/07/2010 02:13:41 PM 1632 Views
Re: The magic wasnt really developed at this point - 14/07/2010 08:53:08 PM 1873 Views
There was one powerful protection - 15/07/2010 01:29:49 AM 1797 Views
I agree - 15/07/2010 04:51:05 AM 1757 Views
Re: I agree - 15/07/2010 05:44:41 AM 1632 Views
Re: There was one powerful protection - 15/07/2010 08:12:40 AM 1909 Views
I think - 14/07/2010 04:34:30 PM 1627 Views
Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing - 14/07/2010 05:11:40 PM 1915 Views
Re: Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing - 14/07/2010 08:51:06 PM 1614 Views
Agreed. - 14/07/2010 08:57:55 PM 1662 Views
I really need a remembrall. - 14/07/2010 08:57:10 PM 1799 Views
I felt bad for Neville. - 14/07/2010 09:03:49 PM 1780 Views
Indeed. - 14/07/2010 09:05:40 PM 1644 Views
But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten! - 15/07/2010 02:51:47 AM 1912 Views
I know, right! - 15/07/2010 06:41:01 AM 1630 Views
Exactly. - 15/07/2010 03:22:18 PM 1530 Views
Re: But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten! - 15/07/2010 08:15:55 AM 1640 Views
Ah, see - 15/07/2010 03:23:49 PM 1594 Views
Chapters 11-17: Harry the Hero *NM* - 12/07/2010 08:30:29 AM 973 Views
What'd you think of the ending? *NM* - 15/07/2010 05:21:38 PM 933 Views
Loved it. - 15/07/2010 05:56:06 PM 1684 Views
Two separate things: - 15/07/2010 07:14:08 PM 1676 Views
I hear you - 15/07/2010 08:22:05 PM 1701 Views
Re: Two separate things: - 15/07/2010 08:48:21 PM 1676 Views
I can clarify some stuff for you - 15/07/2010 09:14:07 PM 1705 Views
One of the most sublime, wonderful moments of any book - 15/07/2010 08:18:29 PM 1540 Views
Yes! - 15/07/2010 10:39:11 PM 1715 Views
Lovely - 15/07/2010 09:00:11 PM 1739 Views
Haha - 15/07/2010 09:16:16 PM 1842 Views
Re: Haha - 15/07/2010 09:24:06 PM 1722 Views
But I thought all girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice? - 15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM 1633 Views
Oh, we are. - 15/07/2010 09:35:17 PM 1526 Views
Ah like vodka vs. wine coolers? *NM* - 15/07/2010 09:48:26 PM 924 Views
Gin - 15/07/2010 09:49:33 PM 1642 Views
I was 16. - 15/07/2010 10:49:33 PM 1537 Views
So was I - 15/07/2010 10:54:24 PM 1573 Views
Honestly, dumbledore is a bit of an ass... - 15/07/2010 10:48:32 PM 1541 Views
Heresy! - 15/07/2010 10:55:28 PM 1575 Views
As I indicated below, I had some issues. - 16/07/2010 03:05:05 AM 1837 Views
Re: As I indicated below, I had some issues. - 16/07/2010 11:14:56 AM 1712 Views
In fairness, it's Hogwarts itself that is all but impregnable. - 26/07/2010 03:55:02 PM 1658 Views
A funny thing I noticed - 15/07/2010 09:00:42 PM 1759 Views
- 15/07/2010 09:18:08 PM 1616 Views
Overall thoughts for the book - 12/07/2010 08:31:37 AM 1714 Views
Foreshadowing and setting up the future - 12/07/2010 08:32:10 AM 1628 Views
Harry's anger management issues? - 12/07/2010 07:14:58 PM 1685 Views
Heh. - 12/07/2010 07:40:40 PM 1726 Views
Nah, not deliberate. - 12/07/2010 09:14:20 PM 1786 Views
Re: Nah, not deliberate. - 12/07/2010 09:55:32 PM 1702 Views
Re: Nah, not deliberate. - 13/07/2010 03:02:59 PM 1637 Views
Re: Nah, not deliberate. - 13/07/2010 03:04:42 PM 1762 Views
I noticed a lot of this. - 12/07/2010 07:22:54 PM 1806 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this. - 12/07/2010 07:39:25 PM 1749 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this. - 12/07/2010 07:45:32 PM 1733 Views
~smug~ - 13/07/2010 02:09:15 PM 1697 Views
Indeed. - 13/07/2010 02:10:41 PM 1937 Views
This response implies the experience of being both?? - 13/07/2010 03:23:29 PM 1678 Views
On Ginny: - 12/07/2010 10:36:47 PM 1755 Views
So much (chapters 1-3) *spoilers* - 12/07/2010 07:35:57 PM 1919 Views
Hm. - 12/07/2010 07:38:05 PM 1734 Views
Re: Hm. - 12/07/2010 07:39:08 PM 1792 Views
Re: Hm. - 12/07/2010 07:39:53 PM 1599 Views
Re: Hm. - 12/07/2010 07:44:16 PM 1499 Views
Re: Hm. - 13/07/2010 04:41:12 AM 1612 Views
Re: Hm. - 13/07/2010 08:55:09 AM 1579 Views
I missed the school roof thing this time around too! Good catch there. *NM* - 12/07/2010 09:22:21 PM 943 Views
The thing that tipped me off - 12/07/2010 09:53:01 PM 1690 Views
Some stuff (chapters 4-11) - 14/07/2010 09:18:35 PM 1888 Views
Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11) - 14/07/2010 10:30:23 PM 1704 Views
Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11) - 14/07/2010 10:55:01 PM 1656 Views
Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11) - 14/07/2010 11:05:59 PM 1680 Views
I can answer your consistency question! - 15/07/2010 02:35:42 AM 1813 Views
You are a clever cookie. - 15/07/2010 08:14:25 AM 1682 Views
Yes - 15/07/2010 03:30:36 PM 1528 Views
Ooh, yes. - 16/07/2010 12:19:13 AM 1506 Views
More stuff (chapters 12-17) - 15/07/2010 08:55:34 PM 1572 Views
Re: More stuff (chapters 12-17) - 15/07/2010 09:19:13 PM 1633 Views
Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12 - 17/07/2010 04:23:15 PM 1770 Views
Re: Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12 - 17/07/2010 04:28:04 PM 1680 Views
Re: Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12 - 17/07/2010 07:12:39 PM 1927 Views
I like it. Thank you. - 20/07/2010 12:53:37 AM 1840 Views
What made this book (and the rest of the series) such a success? - 12/07/2010 08:33:00 AM 1784 Views
I have no idea *spoilers* - 12/07/2010 07:47:58 PM 1840 Views
I agree... - 12/07/2010 09:19:59 PM 1866 Views
It has tons of things in it that every kid dreams of doing - 14/07/2010 01:56:05 PM 1795 Views
Kid? - 14/07/2010 02:01:30 PM 1799 Views
so do I. I was just trying to act mature *NM* - 14/07/2010 02:08:01 PM 1127 Views
Not even just the super stuff Deadsy mentions. - 14/07/2010 04:38:46 PM 1925 Views
It's a simple, well-done little book. - 12/07/2010 07:46:48 PM 1776 Views
you don't read instructions, do you? - 12/07/2010 07:49:24 PM 1838 Views
Heh. - 12/07/2010 07:50:23 PM 1762 Views
Re: Heh. - 12/07/2010 07:51:40 PM 1771 Views
Awwww! - 12/07/2010 07:52:19 PM 1676 Views
- 12/07/2010 07:52:52 PM 1796 Views
Wha? - 12/07/2010 07:50:44 PM 1821 Views
Re: Wha? - 12/07/2010 07:52:21 PM 1805 Views
Pff. - 12/07/2010 07:54:54 PM 1792 Views
*NM* - 12/07/2010 07:56:03 PM 1131 Views
When did you pick up this book? - 12/07/2010 11:30:46 PM 1715 Views
I was 10. - 13/07/2010 04:13:44 AM 1869 Views
I was 16. - 13/07/2010 08:24:02 AM 1790 Views
1999 - 13/07/2010 09:03:03 AM 1778 Views
What do you mean by adult version? - 13/07/2010 02:15:40 PM 1906 Views
Re: What do you mean by adult version? - 13/07/2010 02:17:40 PM 1765 Views
Just before the first movie came out - 13/07/2010 02:17:42 PM 1934 Views
When Prisoner of Azkaban was a hardback. - 13/07/2010 02:23:57 PM 1794 Views
Just after Goblet of Fire was published. - 13/07/2010 11:50:38 PM 1847 Views
Just before Goblet of Fire came out. - 14/07/2010 04:04:21 AM 1816 Views
The first five were out, waited for HBP. - 14/07/2010 06:20:39 AM 1935 Views
You're making me want to talk about toadface - 14/07/2010 02:06:25 PM 1832 Views
Sorry! - 15/07/2010 06:36:11 AM 1868 Views
I held out quite awhile because I don't like "fads" - 14/07/2010 02:04:37 PM 1749 Views
Lol! - 14/07/2010 08:54:47 PM 1864 Views
I did the same thing. - 15/07/2010 06:39:16 AM 1859 Views
Re: I did the same thing. - 15/07/2010 10:01:04 AM 2039 Views
Re: I did the same thing. - 15/07/2010 05:44:28 PM 1915 Views
I would have, if I had known there was hype. I know I would have. - 15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM 1891 Views
- 15/07/2010 05:47:01 PM 1925 Views
I think I was first! - 23/07/2010 07:05:08 PM 1878 Views
Aged 13 or 14 - a while before the first movie (which was Christmas 2001). *NM* - 26/07/2010 04:13:55 PM 1108 Views
Jesus Christ. - 26/07/2010 05:04:46 PM 2010 Views
^That was me. *NM* - 26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM 1103 Views
I was going to ask if it was. *NM* - 26/07/2010 10:04:59 PM 1089 Views
Suggestions for the Re-read - 12/07/2010 08:33:25 AM 1813 Views
I like it so far - 13/07/2010 10:16:49 AM 1820 Views
I can try that for the next book. - 13/07/2010 11:21:01 PM 1804 Views
Can we get chapter discussions everyday? *NM* - 15/07/2010 06:40:30 PM 1071 Views
Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death... - 15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM 2133 Views
Because they were tricked? They considered Peter and Sirius to be brothers. - 15/07/2010 07:05:27 AM 1790 Views
That's nonsense.. - 16/07/2010 01:08:40 AM 1718 Views
Take it up with Rowling, since you don't believe me. *NM* - 16/07/2010 08:19:58 AM 1020 Views
What's there to believe? - 18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM 1800 Views
Re: That's nonsense.. - 16/07/2010 09:37:59 AM 1927 Views
Also - 16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM 2143 Views
You are correct! There is no inconsistency - 17/07/2010 04:17:35 AM 1844 Views
Huh? - 18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM 1719 Views
But Camilla explained it! - 18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM 2046 Views
Correction - 18/07/2010 10:58:59 AM 1833 Views
I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong... - 18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM 1735 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong... - 18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM 1752 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong... - 18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM 2046 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong... - 18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM 1745 Views
That bothers me too. - 18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM 1816 Views
Re: That bothers me too. - 18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM 1691 Views
Yet... - 18/07/2010 07:47:56 PM 1760 Views
Re: Yet... - 18/07/2010 08:02:31 PM 1803 Views
To quote Dumbledore... - 19/07/2010 05:57:23 AM 1690 Views
Again... - 18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM 1988 Views
Re: Again... - 18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM 1777 Views
Re: Again... - 19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM 1976 Views
Re: Again... - 20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM 1799 Views
Yet another load of bosh. - 21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM 1779 Views
Then let's leave it. - 21/07/2010 06:48:45 AM 1882 Views
Re: Then let's leave it. - 21/07/2010 04:19:35 PM 1792 Views
My two cents - 19/07/2010 06:11:30 AM 1853 Views
It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do... - 14/09/2010 12:11:20 AM 2226 Views
Re: It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do... - 14/09/2010 09:20:46 AM 1687 Views
You have to wonder if that's actually true. - 26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM 1752 Views
Re: You have to wonder if that's actually true. - 26/07/2010 05:06:43 PM 1989 Views
I don't know that I'd call it "see through Pettigrew"... - 26/07/2010 06:22:19 PM 1776 Views
^That was me, too. Oh, dear. - 26/07/2010 09:56:43 PM 1944 Views
Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house - 18/07/2010 07:14:21 PM 1741 Views
Re: Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house - 26/07/2010 05:07:48 PM 2184 Views
^ And this, too, was me. - 26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM 1785 Views
Re: ^ And this, too, was me. - 26/07/2010 10:05:41 PM 1718 Views
- 26/07/2010 10:07:36 PM 1603 Views

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