Page 2 | JK Rowling came to Filia 2023 and it was emotional

Ndd135632 · 2023-10-15T13:59:59+00:00

She is a legend of our time for all women. She spoke about the rape crisis centre she has funded and many other things.

BillyOwen · 15/10/2023 19:07

The subterranean nature of The Arches (the venue for Filia) gives off bunker room vibes. I can’t help but imagine the women coming out into the daylight, energised, empowered and ready to get things moving. Wonderful.

CrossPurposes · 15/10/2023 19:58

EmpressaurusOfCats · 15/10/2023 18:22

What was it like when people realised she was there? Did the room explode?

Yes.

CrossPurposes · 15/10/2023 20:03

Waitwhat23 · 15/10/2023 15:58

I too would love to know if the talks were filmed and will be available to watch if anyone knows?

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https://x.com/rowlinglibrary/status/1713550243646640399?s=20

We were asked not to record it on our phones but it might be available at some point.

https://x.com/rowlinglibrary/status/1713550243646640399?s=20

MargotBamborough · 15/10/2023 20:17

GrainneWail · 15/10/2023 16:55

I'm on a plane, with 2 early twenties women behind me talking about JKR and what an absolute "legebag badass" she is and how they feel sorry for Julie Bindel (also a legend in their view) getting overshadowed 😁

Edited

Oh this is so heartening.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 15/10/2023 20:17

Great to hear this. Women need as much collaboration & celebration as possible. The onslaught on us and our identity is relentless with a never ending stream of new Victorian regressive misogynists trying to stop our fundamental right in a democracy - to meet and talk.

TheseCowsAreSmall · 15/10/2023 20:19

How fantastic!! I have total FOMO.

SpiderMaam · 15/10/2023 20:19

Please tell me that JK admitted to being a secret Mumsnetter?

PonyPatter44 · 15/10/2023 20:20

That sounds amazing. I have checked the website, there are no tickets for 2025 on sale yet.... keep your eyes open, wimms.

MargotBamborough · 15/10/2023 20:20

This probably sounds really stupid but I have a little dream that one day I might spot JKR at the airport or in a restaurant or something and pluck up the courage to go and say hello and thank her for everything she's done.

IamSarah · 15/10/2023 20:21

I cannot believe that was the one bit of Filia I missed 😭😭😭

I really hope there is a recording.

GrainneWail · 15/10/2023 20:28

MargotBamborough · 15/10/2023 20:17

Oh this is so heartening.

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I was earwigging for the whole flight, and I enjoyed it greatly. They decided JKR at Filia was "major Dumbledore energy" even if they weren't sure "the second wavers" would actually know who she was??? 😁That said, they were also well versed in Maya's experiences and judgements and Julie B's long and impressive track record in the field, so they are no slouches themselves.

The woman sitting me was a clear veteran of the second wave and was so lovely chatting to them as we were disembarking, reassuring them that "her friend Julie" knew and was very happy about JKR's attendance. It was a really fantastic couple of hours all in, almost as good as being there myself.

MargotBamborough · 15/10/2023 20:31

GrainneWail · 15/10/2023 20:28

I was earwigging for the whole flight, and I enjoyed it greatly. They decided JKR at Filia was "major Dumbledore energy" even if they weren't sure "the second wavers" would actually know who she was??? 😁That said, they were also well versed in Maya's experiences and judgements and Julie B's long and impressive track record in the field, so they are no slouches themselves.

The woman sitting me was a clear veteran of the second wave and was so lovely chatting to them as we were disembarking, reassuring them that "her friend Julie" knew and was very happy about JKR's attendance. It was a really fantastic couple of hours all in, almost as good as being there myself.

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Fantastic. It's anecdotes like this about young people which make me hope that not all is lost.

RealFeminist · 15/10/2023 20:33

THINGS AT FILA ARE FAR WORSE THAN I FEART

lanadelgrey · 15/10/2023 20:43

Fantastic session preceded it too. It was a truly amazing climax to the whole conference. And it ended with a version of Auld Lang Syne - sadly I lost my paper with the words on. I hope someone else will be able to add them.

Waitwhat23 · 15/10/2023 20:46

lanadelgrey · 15/10/2023 20:43

Fantastic session preceded it too. It was a truly amazing climax to the whole conference. And it ended with a version of Auld Lang Syne - sadly I lost my paper with the words on. I hope someone else will be able to add them.

This version?

JK Rowling came to Filia 2023 and it was emotional

Feministwoman · 15/10/2023 21:03

It was fab to be there, and SUCH a privilege.

I was in the first few rows right in front of the stage. The affection between the three of them on the stage was palpable.

And Jo and Julie would make a formidable comedy double act!

Feministwoman · 15/10/2023 21:04

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 15/10/2023 15:45

She was so wonderful. Funny, warm, passionate, angry - just everything. And so knowledgeable and intelligent too. She really is a very special human being. It was especially lovely to see the warmth of her personal relationships with so many of the women in the room - she’s truly genuinely wonderful. Every minute was magical.

This!

Precipice · 15/10/2023 21:09

RealFeminist · 15/10/2023 20:33

THINGS AT FILA ARE FAR WORSE THAN I FEART

Indeed, some women were sitting in the overflow rooms to the side and only saw JKR on a screen that cut out a few times.

AutumnCrow · 15/10/2023 21:26

IamSarah · 15/10/2023 20:21

I cannot believe that was the one bit of Filia I missed 😭😭😭

I really hope there is a recording.

Ah, bummer!

Do you know what, though. Because of MN and FiLiA and women talking, I know who you are and that you are an amazing woman. Are you still raising funds? I'll look for it.

INTERNETEXPL0RER · 15/10/2023 21:38

IamSarah · 15/10/2023 20:21

I cannot believe that was the one bit of Filia I missed 😭😭😭

I really hope there is a recording.

Sorry I don’t think there’s any recordings, anyone who had made one “ by accident “ was asked to delete it.

MargotBamborough · 15/10/2023 21:44

@GrainneWail Thinking about it, it's quite remarkable that two women in their early 20s would use a phrase like "major Dumbledore energy".

I think we take the success of Harry Potter so much for granted that it seems completely normal to us now. But Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in 1997, which may well have been before they were even born. I'm struggling to think of many books published before the mid 80s that I could just use as a cultural reference like that and expect everyone to know what I was talking about. At a push, I'd expect people to know what I meant if I referred to Narnia, someone being down the rabbit hole or through the looking glass, or Elizabeth Bennett or Mr Darcy. Maybe Cathy and Heathcliff although I hated Wuthering Shites.

She's joined the ranks of those classic authors well within her own lifetime and now she's changed genre and is writing another bestselling series whilst also saving feminism.

What a queen.

Appalonia · 15/10/2023 22:10

It was such a fabulous surprise, everyone was on their feet, it was truly awesome and gave everyone such a boost! I was so so thrilled to have been there.

BingBongSong · 15/10/2023 23:54

I was there and the atmosphere was electric. She is so humble, articulate and sincere. What an amazing surprise.

There were hearty belly laughs at mention of The Guardian and "he who must not be named" 😂. Beira's Place has helped around 170 women already.

Appalonia · 16/10/2023 00:00

One thing she said was that she spoke out 18 months later than she had intended to, due to someone else ( a family member?), until they said, they didn't want to be the reason why she wasn't. So she was obviously aware of this for a long time.

BingBongSong · 16/10/2023 00:11

She mentioned you @IamSarah and asked where you were in the audience!

No mention of MN but it is referenced in her latest Strike novel!