"All I got were a few shrinking door keys..." yawned Mr. Weasley....
"Why would anyone bother making door keys shrink?" said George.
"Just Muggle-baiting," sighed Mr. Weasley. "Sell them a key that keeps shrinking to nothing so they can never find it when they need it...Of course, it's very hard to convict anyone because no Muggle would admit their key keeps shrinking -- they'll insist they just keep losing it. Bless them, they'll go to any lengths to ignore magic, even if it's staring them in the face..."
(Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3, "The Burrow," p. 48)
So I've finally figured out why I keep losing my library card. Twice in the past two weeks, I've been sure that I've known exactly where it was, only to have to hunt madly for it and end up finding it somewhere else. I've decided I prefer the magic reason to the other possible reason, which is simply that I'm getting older and losing my memory. :-) Much more fun to assume that one or more of the librarians at the little library down the road actually hails from the wizarding world and has an offbeat sense of humor. I have my guesses as to which one(s) it might be!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The Significance of Lily's Name
This morning I had a few more minutes to read in Sorcerer's Stone and got up to the chapter with the "Mirror of Erised." I always find the moment when Harry first realizes he can see his long-dead family in the glass to be very moving. The hunger with which he stares at their images, and how we come to find out that the mirror shows nothing more, nothing less than the deepest desires and longings of one's heart -- I still get a bit choked up even though I've read the scene countless times.
So I had that image in the back of my mind as I worked this morning. And one of the things I had to do at the office today was compile a list of people in our congregation who bought Easter lilies in honor or memory of loved ones, to beautify the church sanctuary this coming Sunday.
I got to thinking about the significance of Easter Lilies -- why we decorate with them on Easter, and what they mean -- innocence, purity, resurrection, remembrance -- and it suddenly dawned on me that JKR, who chooses her character's names oh so wisely, did not pick Lily accidentally. That's probably a "duh" kind of moment, but I still thought I'd share it.
I did a bit of google research to find out more about the Easter Lily tradition. Purity, virtue, life, hope -- those are some of the other words I found associated with the lily, besides the ones I already mentioned. There's also an old tradition that says lilies sprang up and bloomed in the Garden of Gethsamene from the drops of blood that Jesus sweated during his night of agony.
Interestingly, lilies also have significance in non-Christian legends and fables. In Greek mythology, apparently the milk-white lilies are associated with milk from Juno's breasts, hence with motherhood. The lilies were supposed to spring up from droplets of milk (although some of the milk also formed clusters of stars -- hence the name of our galaxy, the Milky Way).
The lily also has a long association with the Virgin Mary. Think of all the annunciation pictures where Mary is holding a lily!
I got most of this, by the way, from the following website: http://www.appleseeds.org/easter-lily.htm
I find all of this very apt for the character of Lily Potter. A loving, courageous mother who sacrifices herself at great cost for the life of her infant son. A woman whose blood plants, if you will, seeds of hope and life. It's her blood flowing in Harry's veins that grants him protection from evil while he is a child. One wonders if that blood, and the life-giving act that shaped him so profoundly before he could even consciously remember, is not what has kept Harry "pure in heart," open and vulnerable to keep loving even in the fact of great suffering. It's that purity, that love, that vulnerability, Dumbledore insists, that are Harry's chief weapons in the war against evil.
And isn't it interesting that Dumbledore himself, Harry's protector and mentor and one of the people who becomes a de-facto parent for Harry when the boy is orphaned, is named Albus? Albus, which means "white." I know the alchemical imagery is an important factor in his name, but it strikes me that it also gives him a deep kinship with Lily.
Now what we're to make of the name Petunia, I'm not sure. It's a much more common, garden variety flower, true...I did a quick look-up of "flower meanings" and discovered that Petunia is associated with anger and resentment. Though apparently sending petunias to someone can indicate to them that you find their presence soothing or calming. Hmm...
So I had that image in the back of my mind as I worked this morning. And one of the things I had to do at the office today was compile a list of people in our congregation who bought Easter lilies in honor or memory of loved ones, to beautify the church sanctuary this coming Sunday.
I got to thinking about the significance of Easter Lilies -- why we decorate with them on Easter, and what they mean -- innocence, purity, resurrection, remembrance -- and it suddenly dawned on me that JKR, who chooses her character's names oh so wisely, did not pick Lily accidentally. That's probably a "duh" kind of moment, but I still thought I'd share it.
I did a bit of google research to find out more about the Easter Lily tradition. Purity, virtue, life, hope -- those are some of the other words I found associated with the lily, besides the ones I already mentioned. There's also an old tradition that says lilies sprang up and bloomed in the Garden of Gethsamene from the drops of blood that Jesus sweated during his night of agony.
Interestingly, lilies also have significance in non-Christian legends and fables. In Greek mythology, apparently the milk-white lilies are associated with milk from Juno's breasts, hence with motherhood. The lilies were supposed to spring up from droplets of milk (although some of the milk also formed clusters of stars -- hence the name of our galaxy, the Milky Way).
The lily also has a long association with the Virgin Mary. Think of all the annunciation pictures where Mary is holding a lily!
I got most of this, by the way, from the following website: http://www.appleseeds.org/easter-lily.htm
I find all of this very apt for the character of Lily Potter. A loving, courageous mother who sacrifices herself at great cost for the life of her infant son. A woman whose blood plants, if you will, seeds of hope and life. It's her blood flowing in Harry's veins that grants him protection from evil while he is a child. One wonders if that blood, and the life-giving act that shaped him so profoundly before he could even consciously remember, is not what has kept Harry "pure in heart," open and vulnerable to keep loving even in the fact of great suffering. It's that purity, that love, that vulnerability, Dumbledore insists, that are Harry's chief weapons in the war against evil.
And isn't it interesting that Dumbledore himself, Harry's protector and mentor and one of the people who becomes a de-facto parent for Harry when the boy is orphaned, is named Albus? Albus, which means "white." I know the alchemical imagery is an important factor in his name, but it strikes me that it also gives him a deep kinship with Lily.
Now what we're to make of the name Petunia, I'm not sure. It's a much more common, garden variety flower, true...I did a quick look-up of "flower meanings" and discovered that Petunia is associated with anger and resentment. Though apparently sending petunias to someone can indicate to them that you find their presence soothing or calming. Hmm...
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Dear Harry
My dear Harry,
I hope you don't mind if I drop you a note from time to time over the next few months. You see, while I'm awaiting the final installment of your saga, I'm re-reading the first six books. And the more I read, the more I find myself wishing I could impart a few well-chosen words of advice. I'm not as old nor as wise as Dumbledore (in fact, I'm probably closest in age to Molly Weasley...and yes, I'm a Mom) but I can't shake the feeling that you need all the help you can get.
I just finished reading the chapter in Sorcerer's Stone where you and Ron knock out the 12-foot mountain troll that you accidentally locked in the girl's bathroom where Hermione was crying. I have always loved the action in this chapter for the way it began to cement the bonds of friendship between you, Ron and Hermione. And that's my first word of advice to you this evening: remember them. Be grateful for them. And let them help you.
I know from the end of Half-Blood Prince that you already feel grateful beyond words for their offer to go with you on your horcrux hunt. But there's a tiny bit of me that's worried you'll think twice about their offer and try to talk them out of it. Don't. It won't do a bit of good, because they'll just come anyway. Have you noticed how stubborn they both are? And how much they love you? A guy never had better friends, Harry, and you need your friends now.
Notice too, how their skills complement your's. You would never have gotten through many of the things you've had to do over the years without Ron and Hermione. Ron may act a bit daft at times, but when it comes to courage, the well runs deep in that boy (and in his whole family). He's also pretty good at thinking on his feet. Hermione's encyclopedic knowledge and incredible memory are also traits you're going to need. Frankly, you don't have much time to be looking things up in the Hogwarts library anymore...but with Hermione around, you won't need to. She's spent the last six years absorbing it all.
My second bit of advice: Don't judge a book by its cover. I could mean that literally, you know... you've had plenty of practice in mis-judging books. Tom Riddle's diary and the Half-Blood Prince's potions book both leap to mind. But in this case, I'm talking about people. I think you have become a fairly good judge of character over the years, but you've always tended to make snap judgments and to stick by some of your understandings or impressions of who people are -- sometimes longer than merited. You've got to let yourself look deeper than surface impressions. Remember how Neville just looked like a forgetful, scaredy-cat at the beginning? He's turned out to have the courage of a lion -- there's a reason he got put into Griffyndor! (You're going to need Neville!!!) Remember how looney and dreamy Luna seemed? Recall that she outlasted almost everyone in the battle at the DoM, and that her compassion shows acute understanding of the needs and feelings of others.
I'm heartened by your growing sense of pity (if not downright empathy) for your schoolboy nemesis, Draco Malfoy. Even Malfoy can change, Harry. Remember how he wavered and lowered his wand on the tower with Dumbledore? Don't underestimate the possibility that even some of the people you've thought of as enemies may turn out, in the end, to want to help you fight your much larger enemy. That's all I'll say about that -- for the moment.
If love is the power you have that Tom doesn't -- and I'd take Dumbledore's word to the bank on that one -- then look around and see who loves you. Lean on those folks, and don't underestimate their desire to help you in your darkest hour. You need them, not only the strength of their love, but their accumulated grit and wisdom and humor and stubbornness.
I hope you don't mind if I drop you a note from time to time over the next few months. You see, while I'm awaiting the final installment of your saga, I'm re-reading the first six books. And the more I read, the more I find myself wishing I could impart a few well-chosen words of advice. I'm not as old nor as wise as Dumbledore (in fact, I'm probably closest in age to Molly Weasley...and yes, I'm a Mom) but I can't shake the feeling that you need all the help you can get.
I just finished reading the chapter in Sorcerer's Stone where you and Ron knock out the 12-foot mountain troll that you accidentally locked in the girl's bathroom where Hermione was crying. I have always loved the action in this chapter for the way it began to cement the bonds of friendship between you, Ron and Hermione. And that's my first word of advice to you this evening: remember them. Be grateful for them. And let them help you.
I know from the end of Half-Blood Prince that you already feel grateful beyond words for their offer to go with you on your horcrux hunt. But there's a tiny bit of me that's worried you'll think twice about their offer and try to talk them out of it. Don't. It won't do a bit of good, because they'll just come anyway. Have you noticed how stubborn they both are? And how much they love you? A guy never had better friends, Harry, and you need your friends now.
Notice too, how their skills complement your's. You would never have gotten through many of the things you've had to do over the years without Ron and Hermione. Ron may act a bit daft at times, but when it comes to courage, the well runs deep in that boy (and in his whole family). He's also pretty good at thinking on his feet. Hermione's encyclopedic knowledge and incredible memory are also traits you're going to need. Frankly, you don't have much time to be looking things up in the Hogwarts library anymore...but with Hermione around, you won't need to. She's spent the last six years absorbing it all.
My second bit of advice: Don't judge a book by its cover. I could mean that literally, you know... you've had plenty of practice in mis-judging books. Tom Riddle's diary and the Half-Blood Prince's potions book both leap to mind. But in this case, I'm talking about people. I think you have become a fairly good judge of character over the years, but you've always tended to make snap judgments and to stick by some of your understandings or impressions of who people are -- sometimes longer than merited. You've got to let yourself look deeper than surface impressions. Remember how Neville just looked like a forgetful, scaredy-cat at the beginning? He's turned out to have the courage of a lion -- there's a reason he got put into Griffyndor! (You're going to need Neville!!!) Remember how looney and dreamy Luna seemed? Recall that she outlasted almost everyone in the battle at the DoM, and that her compassion shows acute understanding of the needs and feelings of others.
I'm heartened by your growing sense of pity (if not downright empathy) for your schoolboy nemesis, Draco Malfoy. Even Malfoy can change, Harry. Remember how he wavered and lowered his wand on the tower with Dumbledore? Don't underestimate the possibility that even some of the people you've thought of as enemies may turn out, in the end, to want to help you fight your much larger enemy. That's all I'll say about that -- for the moment.
If love is the power you have that Tom doesn't -- and I'd take Dumbledore's word to the bank on that one -- then look around and see who loves you. Lean on those folks, and don't underestimate their desire to help you in your darkest hour. You need them, not only the strength of their love, but their accumulated grit and wisdom and humor and stubbornness.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The UK Cover Is Posted Too
You can check it out here at the Leaky Cauldron.
And we thought there was something ominous about the US cover...check this one out! The UK art has always been less subtle and "gives away" more of a story moment. It's interesting art too though, reminds me a bit of a comic book.
The details here are intriguing. We have our trio together, clearly fighting against the enemy. Harry's got a superhero look about him. There's what looks like a dragon's horde of treasure at their feet, and flying all around them. (Any horcruxes there? There are golden cups, anyway...) I get the sense they're being sucked into that circle behind them, like it's some sort of vortex, but that's just an idea.
And I am going to have to rescind my earlier first impressions of the US cover art :-) because I just saw the back cover, also posted at the Leaky Cauldron, which gives us an expanded view of the front cover image.
Harry is clearly on his feet, not flying. He and Voldemort appear to be having a rather public showdown (don't those look like shadowy people in the stands behind them?). Harry is clearly waiting for something -- my new guess is that he has "accio-ed" something and is waiting for it, or is waiting for Fawkes to swoop down with a weapon. I like the latter idea, but would bet it's the former -- note that Voldemort (and it's definitely Voldemort, you can see his long bony fingers and those red slits for eyes under his hood) is also gesturing like he's waiting for something or has accio-ed something.
And note: THEY'RE BOTH WANDLESS. Which could lead us to what seems like a predictable conclusion, that they're waiting for their wands. EXCEPT we know that they can't fight conventionally, with their brother wands -- unless they knowingly choose to deal with priori incantatem, which is a bit hard to believe. Or unless Voldemort has a new wand, and everybody knows about it, including Harry -- remember Ollivander had disappeared as of book 6, and no one really knew where he'd gone or whose side he was on. Even if you believe Ollivander to be a good guy, there is the possibility that he was coerced into tweaking Voldemort's wand or creating a new one altogether.
OK, I've ranged far afield from what's actually available in the cover art. Over to you, Erin -- eagerly awaiting your thoughts!
Edited to add: if you "click to expand" the US back cover image, there are other interesting details. The broken stone or wooden object -- some sort of dais or table? (Made me think of the Stone Table in Narnia, on a smaller scale.)
And we thought there was something ominous about the US cover...check this one out! The UK art has always been less subtle and "gives away" more of a story moment. It's interesting art too though, reminds me a bit of a comic book.
The details here are intriguing. We have our trio together, clearly fighting against the enemy. Harry's got a superhero look about him. There's what looks like a dragon's horde of treasure at their feet, and flying all around them. (Any horcruxes there? There are golden cups, anyway...) I get the sense they're being sucked into that circle behind them, like it's some sort of vortex, but that's just an idea.
And I am going to have to rescind my earlier first impressions of the US cover art :-) because I just saw the back cover, also posted at the Leaky Cauldron, which gives us an expanded view of the front cover image.
Harry is clearly on his feet, not flying. He and Voldemort appear to be having a rather public showdown (don't those look like shadowy people in the stands behind them?). Harry is clearly waiting for something -- my new guess is that he has "accio-ed" something and is waiting for it, or is waiting for Fawkes to swoop down with a weapon. I like the latter idea, but would bet it's the former -- note that Voldemort (and it's definitely Voldemort, you can see his long bony fingers and those red slits for eyes under his hood) is also gesturing like he's waiting for something or has accio-ed something.
And note: THEY'RE BOTH WANDLESS. Which could lead us to what seems like a predictable conclusion, that they're waiting for their wands. EXCEPT we know that they can't fight conventionally, with their brother wands -- unless they knowingly choose to deal with priori incantatem, which is a bit hard to believe. Or unless Voldemort has a new wand, and everybody knows about it, including Harry -- remember Ollivander had disappeared as of book 6, and no one really knew where he'd gone or whose side he was on. Even if you believe Ollivander to be a good guy, there is the possibility that he was coerced into tweaking Voldemort's wand or creating a new one altogether.
OK, I've ranged far afield from what's actually available in the cover art. Over to you, Erin -- eagerly awaiting your thoughts!
Edited to add: if you "click to expand" the US back cover image, there are other interesting details. The broken stone or wooden object -- some sort of dais or table? (Made me think of the Stone Table in Narnia, on a smaller scale.)
Oh That Beautiful Cover!
I'm so glad Erin posted the cover to the seventh book! Thanks, Erin! :-) I've been a bit out of the news loop when it comes to the HP world in the past couple of weeks, so this is the first glimpse I've had of it. I was going to leave a comment, but it's been so long since I've had a chance to post here, I thought I'd go ahead and post and provide my first impressions.
Bear in mind these are *very* first impressions: my immediate thoughts upon looking at the cover. I haven't read anybody else's thoughts (except Erin's astute-as-always observations) and I've no clue yet whether or not most HP fans are reacting favorably. Though I confess I will probably treat myself to some time over at the HogPro boards later this week, just to hear the buzz!
My first impression was favorable. I didn't immediately think orange (though you're right, it's pretty orange!) I thought of gold. The first thought of gold, and the immediate first impression that Harry's arm was raised gave me a quick first thought of victory. So that was a positive reaction.
Upon a second look, I too thought the wall behind Harry looked like a coliseum or some sort of ruin. That gave me an ominous feeling, but perhaps it's because I've been reading some on ancient Christian martyrs (so my first thought was Harry against lions or other fearsome creatures, or dying like a martyr)...
But then I looked again. It *could* be a stadium, and I have a sense that Harry's arm is raised not so much in triumph as in seeking. There's something about this picture that has a major quidditch look about it. I agree with Erin -- it's hard to tell if he's standing or flying -- but this picture almost looks like Harry is poised to snatch the golden snitch.
Now that's interesting if it's at all accurate. All of the other Scholastic book covers have given us a glimpse of a scene, usually an important scene, in the story. It's hard to imagine any scenario where Harry could wind up playing Quidditch in book 7 -- and I don't think that they would just give us a symbolic cover (they never have before) although how symbolic that would be! Harry at the end of his quest! Harry snatching at victory! (We hope!)
Oh my. I am officially excited.
Bear in mind these are *very* first impressions: my immediate thoughts upon looking at the cover. I haven't read anybody else's thoughts (except Erin's astute-as-always observations) and I've no clue yet whether or not most HP fans are reacting favorably. Though I confess I will probably treat myself to some time over at the HogPro boards later this week, just to hear the buzz!
My first impression was favorable. I didn't immediately think orange (though you're right, it's pretty orange!) I thought of gold. The first thought of gold, and the immediate first impression that Harry's arm was raised gave me a quick first thought of victory. So that was a positive reaction.
Upon a second look, I too thought the wall behind Harry looked like a coliseum or some sort of ruin. That gave me an ominous feeling, but perhaps it's because I've been reading some on ancient Christian martyrs (so my first thought was Harry against lions or other fearsome creatures, or dying like a martyr)...
But then I looked again. It *could* be a stadium, and I have a sense that Harry's arm is raised not so much in triumph as in seeking. There's something about this picture that has a major quidditch look about it. I agree with Erin -- it's hard to tell if he's standing or flying -- but this picture almost looks like Harry is poised to snatch the golden snitch.
Now that's interesting if it's at all accurate. All of the other Scholastic book covers have given us a glimpse of a scene, usually an important scene, in the story. It's hard to imagine any scenario where Harry could wind up playing Quidditch in book 7 -- and I don't think that they would just give us a symbolic cover (they never have before) although how symbolic that would be! Harry at the end of his quest! Harry snatching at victory! (We hope!)
Oh my. I am officially excited.
The Seventh Cover Revealed!
So I was browsing around MSN today, and I happened upon an intriguing announcement. The cover of the long-awaited seventh Harry Potter book is no longer a mystery! It's orange, which I've always found to be an ominous color, associated with fire and dying grass and leaves and Halloween. Not that any of these are necessarily bad, but... I don't know, I've always gotten a rather unfriendly vibe from orange. So it seems like an appropriate color for a book in which a great many bad things are expected to happen. Otherwise, the cover reveals little. Harry looks like he's in some sort of colosseum or something, unless it's an odd angle of Hogwarts. We only get him from the waist up, so it's not entirely clear if he's walking or hovering high above the ground on a broomstick. I wonder if it might be the latter, since flying is probably Harry's most prominent skill, and maybe in the seventh book he will have an opportunity to use it for something much more important than Quidditch. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Leprechauns!
Goodness, has it been a month already? That'll be amended soon. But for now... Hooray for leprechauns! They're such mischievous little blighters; their cheeky nature comes across at the Quidditch World Cup - "The leprechauns had risen into the air again, and this time, they formed a giant hand, which was making a very rude sign indeed at the veela across the field." - and later when their gold disappears before a disgruntled Ron's eyes. I'm trying to think of other mentions in the books and none are springing to mind, but I would think that the Weasleys might make a big deal out of St. Patrick's Day. I wonder how they would celebrate it...
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