How can a book possibly hurt you? I will tell you how.......?

Question

just stand still........... WHACK!!!!! (oohh right upside the head. That had to hurt!!)

If certain religious groups start poo pooing about the latest Harry Potter news about Dumbledore being gay, I swear I will have an aneurysm!! Get a grip people. It is a fabulous book series with a wonderful message. I will be proud to have my children read it, and I still believe in god. Imagine that!

Answer 1

I agree with you 100%. I am sure there will be those who will no longer want or allow their children to read the books, I am not one of those.

Really, it is only part of the backstory of the world JKR created. Throughout the series, we know Dumbledore as a tireless and seemingly single-minded fighter against Dark Wizards (at least from Harry's perspective; we do have to remember that Albus is also a great teacher, an alchemist, and important theoretical Wizard--remember the tools and instruments he made himself). But how did Albus become that way?

We learn much about this in DH, with Arianna's story, Aberforth's story and the story of the friendship between Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald. In reading DH, it was clear that Grindelwald seduced Dumbledore on a number of levels; intellectually, ideologically, and, by JKR's new revelation, emotionally. We don't know if that seduction was sexual as well, and I'm not sure it is important for us to know.

The revelation completes the picture for us of a man who felt betrayed, injured by one he loved, ashamed at how far he went from rational thought and behavior, how far he really was from what he thought he was.

The up shot is that we now know more completely Dumbledore's motivations for fighting Dark Wizards--his shame at his own tangential contribution to Grindelwald's career, his reluctance to fight him, and, when Voldemort rose, his determination to not to repeat his prior mistake of inaction and to fight Voldemort from the start.

So in summery, It was part of the way JKR viewed Dumbledore and understood him. I don't think it was something that would have come out voluntarily--more likely something that would have made a scholarly article 50 or 60 years from now after she was gone and literary scholar had access to her full notes (assuming she left them to be investigated).

BTW, there is some inkling of this in DH, where Rita Skeeter talks about devoting a chapter in her book about Dumbledore to the Dumbledore/Harry relationship. This is not to say that there was anything improper--but that JKR did put out a hint.

wl

Answer 2

Huzzah!
If you look around Books and Authors, or the Answers in my profile, you might notice that it's not "certain religious groups," with the poo poo issue. It's hordes of individuals, swarming like fire ants. Lots of poo poo.
Also, fortunately, several non-pooers.
Seriously, I am befuddled that there was no uproar about Aberforth and a goat - and that was written into the books. Then this stuff. . .

Answer 3

Those who burn the books - are actually contributing to J.K. Rowling's wealth, because they have to buy the books, right? That little ironic fact always makes me laugh.

But people do take it too seriously. It's fiction. Have fun. Enjoy it.

I'll make sure my children read it and watch the movies.

Answer 4

i really don't know and idont want to give you the wrong answer so try and ask Roberta

Answer 5

Only people who are consumed by paranoia and fear should have a problem with it. (And those are people with serious problems, anyway.)