From: Linda Zame <zame>
Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000 10:46:38 -0700

Susan Barnard wrote:


I actualy think that as the story progresses we are going to see more of Privet Street and the Dursely's and in a different light. At the end of GOF Dumbledore expressly sends Harry back to his relatives saying something like blood relations are important and protective in a way that the Weasley family isn't.

As for the books being cliche ridden, withouth the depth of a Tolkein or Lewis, I have to say that there is some truth to this but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying the books and devouring them like many of the young people I know. But sometimes we forget that reading is a difficult and complex task, and the sad truth is most people never master the set of psychological and cognitive tasks that it takes to read with depth and passion and to read books that are psychologically and intellectually complex.

For me some of my joy in Rowling is that she lures in those readers with poor reading skills. And although she may not be the most complex writer she asks a good deal of her readers, cognitively and emotionally (more than a Daniele Steele or John Grisham). Rowling may be the best bridge we ever had for sending readers
(adult and children) on the richer and deeper children's books.

Linda Goettina, D.M.H.
Received on Fri 08 Sep 2000 12:46:38 PM CDT