Shared Text: Teen heroine quotes Dumbledore at family’s funeral.

I am glad Ms. Rowling’s words could bring comfort to this brave young lady in her time of grief. She gets my vote for Fan of the Year.

UPDATE:  JKR apparently heard about the story and sent the young lady a letter “written” by Dumbledore himself.

The fandom world really does contain its own type of magic.

Louise’s Predictons for Future Cormoran Strike books

After finishing The Silkworm, and re-reading The Cuckoo’s Calling, one thing is clear:  there are a million different directions this series could go.  Between Cormoran’s extended and largely dysfunctional family, the assorted supporting characters we’ve met and the tantalizing hints dropped about both the protagonists’ histories, there remain enough questions to fill up the five remaining books, even if our heroes’ never get another paying client (though for the sake of their wallets, I hope they do!)

One thing I have already noted:  Strike claims to have eight half-siblings.  The Wikipedia article on his rock-star daddy lists 6 through his father; we also know his sister Lucy.  Either Rowling miscalculated or Supergroupie Leda still has one more offspring out of there we haven’t  heard about yet.  Beyond that…  will Strike ever establish a relationship with his father?  What really happened when Leda died?  What drove Robin away from her psychology degree and into the unusual hobby of stunt driving?  Why is Charlotte continuing to taunt Cormoran, confirmed child-hater, with a miscarried/aborted/never existent baby.  And most importantly, how did Matthew ever manage to slip the otherwise sensible Robin a love potion?

I’ve had a little time to consider John’s idea that the Cormoran Strike series would parallel the 7 books of Harry Potter.  Here is my response.  Spoilers, ho! [Read more…]

Stephen Colbert Defines Young Adult Fiction

See time point 2:20 on this video in his interview with John Green.

“Do You Want to Read My Blog Post?” Of Course, You Do! Seven Keys to Why Disney’s ‘Frozen’ is (still) Red Hot

A few weeks ago, our esteemed headmaster and a friend of this blog both consulted me in their puzzlement over the popularity juggernaut that is Disney’s Frozen. Rather than fading, the film continues to dazzle, with an ice show and Broadway productions in the works, connections on the popular show Once Upon A Time, and even a huge boom in the name “Elsa” for babies! My learned colleagues really don’t get it (and let’s be honest, the Headmaster hasn’t seen it. I think he had heard of it. Maybe…) As the resident faculty film fancier and a fully-fledged Frozen aficionado, I offered to toss out my Seven Keys to Frozen’s immense popularity, and I hope you will join me in the conversation. Please don’t shut me out, please don’t slam the door…
[Read more…]

Life Imitates art: Thai rebels adopt Hunger Games salute; risk arrest

News articles here and here.

May the odds be ever in their favor.