The Bulwer-Lytton Prizes for 2008 have been announced (HT to Perelandra!) and the Children’s Literature Prize Winner is a wow. Who would believe that Ms. Rowling’s literary alchemy has become such a commonplace? [Read more…]
Rickman Refuses To Talk About Snape
August 11, 2008 by 6 Comments
“I never talk about Harry Potter because I think that would rob children of something that’s private to them.”
“I think too many things get explained, so I hate talking about it. Some child would read something I said and go, `You mean it’s not in my head, I’m not imagining that.'”
“So pardon me if I don’t talk about it. Until (the [7 1/2] Potter film franchise) is over, it should be left uncommented.”
Any actor that refuses to talk about himself or a role can’t be all bad. I’m trying, though, to picture the child he is discussing who also reads newspapers and I’m having a hard time imagining the boy or girl described. Your thoughts?
Israel Bans Arabic Harry Potter
August 11, 2008 by 5 Comments
It seems to be more about Israel refusing to buy books and products from Syria and Lebanon (even if sold through Jordan), but the story has a Death Eater/Dark Lord feel to it as presented.
Your thoughts, please.
The King of the Golden River – Ruskin
August 8, 2008 by 1 Comment
Another tale of three brothers, subtitled ‘The Black Brothers: A Legend of Stiria,’ this fairy tale by the very young John Ruskin (1841) should get you in the mood for Tales of Beedle the Bard. I couldn’t find a version online with Dumbledore’s commentary so I hope we can fill it in. My bet is that Ruskin, as a serious reader of Coleridge and as a Romantic in recovery from consumption, wrote this with the Dantean three layers: narrative line, moral line, and almost invisible alchemical artistry to transform our vision in a kind of esemplastic epiphany. Let me know what you see, especially in the description of the glacier and the transparency of nature.
Wizard News MidWeek Round-Up
August 6, 2008 by 1 Comment
I’m neck deep in some overdue writing but here are some online Potter News Items of general interest. Your thoughts (and patience with me for not sharing my thoughts here just yet) are much appreciated!
*From Computerworld.com: IBM has created a real-world Pensieve. Sounds like more of a Remember-All. “IBM software acts as human memory backup: IBM working on software that just may help you better recollect all the forgotten pieces of your life.”
* In Movie News: the new Batman film did not surpass Harry Potter in UK release date revenues, Jason Isaacs describes the ease with which he becomes Lucius Malfoy (and his eagerness to resume role), and tickets for Daniel Radcliffe’s Broadway run in Equus are going on sale this week.
* Fandom good news and better news: Terminus 2008 opens tomorrow in Chicago but there will be a 30 WRock band concert today as a warm-up and the Harry Potter theme park opening has been delayed until at least 2010. ‘WRock for Darfur‘ will be held 23 August for Potter band fans who didn’t get enough in Chicago.
(All News Items above were collected from Wizard News.com, your one-stop destination for such stuff.)
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