To think JK Rowling is a fabulous human being

[TheAdventuresoftheWishingChair]

I just came across her book, 'Very Good Lives' which is all about overcoming adversity. I think it's so important that successful women talk about the times they've failed and how success is about pushing past that. I'm reading it just at a time I need to hear that message. I can definitely recommend buying a copy if you are in need of a boost or have some pennies to spend on something nourishing.

I was also looking into her charity, Lumos, and I had no idea just how much she was trying to help disadvantaged children. I love that she's putting her money and position to good use.

The term 'national treasure' generally makes me want to poke my own eyeballs out with a rusty kitchen utensil but AIBU to say she is an utter treasure and we are lucky to have her. She makes the world a better place.

That's all!

Agreed!

I agree, she pays taxes too! I didn’t know she’d written a book about adversity. I’ll look it up.

Yes!

Some time ago some people published a kind of failure (deferred success) CV...

To show kids I think especially that grit and determination are important as well as ability...

Yes and she stayed here. She didn’t scarper to Monaco for tax reasons.

Plus she got my son who is a reluctant reader reading. ❣

Agree, she is great! And stands up for women’s rights. Wonderful role model.

Yes, I think she's an excellent role model for girls too.

You'll get some strong YABU's here because JKR has been getting an absolute pasting over on Twitter during recent months for her stance on Trans women (and I wouldn't presume to know enough to make a judgement for or against, to be honest).

I agree re her books getting children interested in books - DS14 switched from struggling to focus on reading to working his way through her HP books in a little under a month when he was younger. For that alone I love her a little.

We're 100% in agreement with you OP but it seems 22% disagree

I wonder why she hasn't been made a dame or a baroness. Maybe she turned it down?

I read something that explained how she had given away so much of her fortune, that she had 'lost' her billionaire status. Apparently that's incredibly hard to do!
I'm also eternally grateful for making my dcs childhood extra magical, they are older teens now but we still have such fond memories of their love of Harry Potter!

She's a gem!

This transparent attempt to get people to unknowingly or knowingly praise someone who has just now openly stated her anti-trans stance is really gross.

JKR's commitment to paying taxes and her charity work is very admirable and as someone personally affected by MS I am extremely grateful to her for her work in that area (and have even told her so in person). Nothing can take away from that. But like all people she is multi-faceted and using her huge platform of followers to promote ideas which endanger the lives and wellbeing of trans people is pretty disgusting. And her timing in doing so was staggeringly wrong.

She’s a lovely and talented woman.

She's fantastic

She's wonderful. Her platform to be heard on women's rights is so important when people in other careers can't speak freely.

She’s currently being slated online for taking issue with the phrase “people who menstruate” and the erasure of women which is related to such phrases. I’m glad she’s sticking her head above the parapet and shouting out for women. I love her.

@peachgreen

This transparent attempt to get people to unknowingly or knowingly praise someone who has just now openly stated her anti-trans stance is really gross.

JKR's commitment to paying taxes and her charity work is very admirable and as someone personally affected by MS I am extremely grateful to her for her work in that area (and have even told her so in person). Nothing can take away from that. But like all people she is multi-faceted and using her huge platform of followers to promote ideas which endanger the lives and wellbeing of trans people is pretty disgusting. And her timing in doing so was staggeringly wrong.

Absolutely agree. I love Potter a bit toooo much for a woman of my age lol, but what she’s said is abhorrent.

She is amazing and brave.

I agree OP, I think she's fantastic.

She is great.

How is sticking up for women anti- trans?

She amazes me - I wish I was half the woman she is.

openly stated her anti-trans stance is really gross

Give over. She's "openly stated" that there's already a good word for "people who menstruate". That doesn't make her anti trans - just factual.

P.S. the word is woman/women.

I’ve never been so let down by anyone in my life. Ten years ago I thought she was wonderful. I still think she has done many wonderful things. But between the transphobia, the antisemitism, the subliminal racism and the attempts to gain credit for retconning into her novels diversity that was never there when she wrote them, she has single handedly dismantled her own legacy in my opinion.

I'm not keen on the whole Harry Potter thing, but admire JKR as a person, especially the way she stands up to transactivist bullies. Love the way she forced Dr Harrop to publicly apologise to her.

A truly wonderful woman who is not only a brilliant role model but writes characters who are too. She is brave, intelligent, caring and insightful. I am more than a little bit in love with her.