Professor Trelawny in Harry Potter

[hiddenmnetter]

I've been listening to HP on audiobook and have just noticed something:

Loads of trelawny's prophecies come true- she predicts the "lightning struck tower", she predicts the "Grimm" (even if it was actually Sirius) (not to mention her legit prophecies).

Am I wrong?

Melj you might just be my favourite person on mn

JK Rowling is such an amazing writer. She wove so much into those books. Very intelligent woman.

She's not an amazing writer- certainly not as far as HP is concerned, but I think she would be if she weren't rushing to meet deadlines and having to churn out massive books every 2 years on a specific date.

I think when you read them back to back (like I just did) it is clear that at times she didn't know where the hell she was going with the plot development which is a shame- there are dozens of pages of seemingly important stuff that turns out to be completely irrelevant, sentences thrown in that make you think "ha! here is a major twist" that dwindles into nothing and not just loopholes, but actual errors- there was a massive thread last year with all the plot "wtfs?"

Not a criticism of her, or of Harry Potter, I adore both. But I bet she's quite frustrated too that she produced what will undoubtedly be the best selling book series ever in the history of the world, but will not go down in history as a "great writer". When actually, she is. When she's given time. (I loved how absolutely perfect all her names were, people, spells, places- her imagination is wonderful)

I have only read one of her Strike novels so far, but I imagine now she's more in control of her writing, it will just get better and better.

Part of that is the immensity and detail of the world she created though. Had they been simpler there would have been less room for error. The strike books are ok, but without the joy and wonder of the HP books. I don't remember being as invested in the plot or characters.

She's not an amazing writer

Erm... OK

Ok, well perhaps she is more of an amazing storyteller.

Absolutely an amazing storyteller- and an exceptionally intelligent woman (and I like her politics too!)

But as a writer?

This is an article which our students read as part of developing lit crit thinking- it sums up what I mean. Guardian Article

Her characters' stand-alone speeches/soliloquies though are brilliant- Dumbledore in particular. Ron's one-liners are perfect (I think she writes "Ron" better than any of her other characters- with Bellatrix and Kreacher a close second) I use one of Dumbledore's speeches (along with Steve Jobs and Earl Spencer) when my students have to think about persuasive writing.

Don't get me wrong- I adore the books- and cried more than once during my recent re-read.

I agree - amazing story teller and world builder, not a great writer. Doesn't mean that the books aren't brilliant

I love Ron.

Another prediction she gets right - on Christmas Day she says Lupin isn't going to be with them for long, and sure enough he leaves at the end of the year. Although given that Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers ALWAYS last a year, that's a pretty damn safe prediction.