Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

The uncancellable JK Rowling

62 replies

SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 11:20

Just been reading about the virtual Back to Hogwarts stuff planned for Sept 1st and it's made me think about the few bits I've read over the last couple of weeks.

In spite of the TRA / woke central demands that she be cancelled, there has been:

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has been re-released in China and is on course to break the 1billion dollar mark, making it one of a handful of films to do so.
  1. A new Studio Tour type park opening in Japan, with sets and props like the one in London.
  1. Digital Back to Hogwarts planned, with various cast members taking part, and donations being taken for Lumos, in an attempt to keep the normal crowds of fans from King's Cross station on September the first.
  1. H&M launched a Harry Potter clothing range, loads of it sold out in days (I know because I was trying to order things from it!).

Will be interesting to see the sales figures for the next Strike novel... But it doesn't seem like she's being hit hard in the pocket Grin. I'm delighted.

OP posts:
VirginiaComet · 20/08/2020 22:40

I loved HP and quite liked the Casual Vacancy but I honestly didn't love TBD Stroke novels. I actually found the relationship between him and the female lead (is she his secretary? It's been a while) something of a worn out sexist trope. Disappointing.
(Sorry if that's too off topic)

CivilCervix · 20/08/2020 22:29

@SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito

Oh and I've just seen that the new Mina Lima illustrated HP and Philosopher's Stone book is being released in Oct this year too GrinGrinGrin.
MinaLima's work is beautiful, it's just perfect for HP.
doubleshotespresso · 20/08/2020 22:00

I'm delighted too. She's been so incredibly dignified in the face of some pretty horrific and ignorant abuse. I applaud her on many levels

drspouse · 20/08/2020 21:53

I ❤️❤️❤️ those Black Milk clothes. Very much not my lifestyle or body type...

Original poster
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 21:07

Oh fab, I've not read the books yet but I liked the TV series.

OP posts:
xsquared · 20/08/2020 20:52

The new Strike BBC adaptation is in in a couple of weeks.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 20/08/2020 18:44

I'm a dab hand at feeling the lego mini figure blind bags, not sure if it would be frowned upon now with corona.

Original poster
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 18:20

Oh and I've just seen that the new Mina Lima illustrated HP and Philosopher's Stone book is being released in Oct this year too GrinGrinGrin.

OP posts:
BettyFloop · 20/08/2020 17:37

The Warner Bros Studio Tour have opened up the Making of Harry Potter at Leavesden again too. Doing a (socially distanced) roaring trade by all accounts.
Most people don't care about bloody twitter Grin

ScrapThatThen · 20/08/2020 17:29

Blackwell's have been excellent for online book ordering, and Hive is also a good option that supports local book shops.

ThePankhurstConnection · 20/08/2020 17:20

@StillRunningUpThatHill

DS and I are so excited about the minifigs. We had our bag-feeling skills honed to a fine art with the last batch and managed the whole set.
I am so amused by you both feeling the bags.
ThePankhurstConnection · 20/08/2020 17:19

@KingOfDogShite

Can’t wait for the new Strike book next month.
I am very excited about this. Its been a while since I was excited about a book coming out - probably the sequel to The Handmaids Tale was the last one.

Good for JK Rowling as it should be her work speaks for itself and I will always respect and have a soft spot for her for speaking up for women and using the platform she has and not backing down.

Original poster
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 16:38

Just seen Vue are reopening cinemas - with the entire Harry Potter film series. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 15:36

@SheWhoMustNotBeHeard I pre-ordered The Ickabog from Waterstones. There were a fair number of whingers in the comments on their FB post about it but outnumbered by people telling them to zip it, which was good.

OP posts:
GunsAndShips · 20/08/2020 15:23

Nearly 9yo DS and I are bag-feeling ninjas!

We have a permanent HP Lego diorama in our snug and it grows and grows. We haven't got the astronomy tower yet but have all of the other Hogwarts sets and scenes. The tra furore merely strengthened our commitment.

SheWhoMustNotBeHeard · 20/08/2020 15:22

Where are everyone buying/pre-ordering the books from? I don't want to buy from Amazon if I can help it.

StillRunningUpThatHill · 20/08/2020 15:13

DS and I are so excited about the minifigs. We had our bag-feeling skills honed to a fine art with the last batch and managed the whole set.

Original poster
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 15:07

Excellent, Guns. Not seen that one but not massively into Lego in the Vimes household.

OP posts:
GunsAndShips · 20/08/2020 14:35

Lots of HP Lego minifigs announced this week. Massive positive reaction on social media and desperation to buy versus a couple of declarations that they'd never buy them because JK is a bigot pro women's rights. It was heartening.

BlackWaveComing · 20/08/2020 14:02

There is something very suspect about readers who think they somehow own the book/s and characters created and written by someone else.

There is something very juvenile about not being able to accept that the work is always written by individuals with supposed flaws, and that you'll be bloody well reading nothing if you apply purity tests to authors! It's a real foot-stomping vibe. Well, get over it. Literature is created by women and men in the real world, and sometimes you disagree with them. You gonna boycott All The Books? Because damn, I could find something problematic in just about any author who published up until about the last minute, and maybe even then too.

People need a good dose of Lionel Shriver to get all the nonsense out of their system.

Original poster
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 12:48

Argh bold fail and posted too soon!

The minimal likes on that post show what most of us suspect - loads of people think the accusations of transphobia are bollocks but don't want to put their head above the parapet.

Adult & child bestsellers list - without a Harry Potter title - would be amazing. Fingers crossed!

Trying to separate the books and author is all very well in your head, but in the real world the money still goes in her pocket. If they want to restrict themselves to fan fiction from here on in, more fool them.

OP posts:
Original poster
SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito · 20/08/2020 12:44

I do however take heart from the fact that whenever she posts she normally gets 40-50 likes. On this one she's had only 7.

I think that speaks volumes.

OP posts:
Siablue · 20/08/2020 12:43

Oh I am so looking forward to the digital back to Hogwarts. It looks amazing and more people will be able to take part than in previous years.

With the Ickabog and the new Strike novel coming out she could top the adult and children’s bestsellers charts at the same time.

BlackWaveComing · 20/08/2020 12:42

I've got the next Strike book on pre-order...can't wait!

Horizons83 · 20/08/2020 12:42

I am glad about this, but also I think there are a number of HP fans who want to separate the books/films from the author. I am sure in other areas they would just cancel but they just can't face it here because their fandom is so strong.

The attached pic was posted on Facebook by one of my friends.. we met in a HP fan group.. she is also a university professor specialising in transgender issues.

Needless to say I am a coward and have not commented on this. I do however take heart from the fact that whenever she posts she normally gets 40-50 likes. On this one she's had only 7.

The uncancellable JK Rowling