# Will you buy the new J.K. Rowling novel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200 "2012-09-29T02:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/21 "2012-09-29T18:56:47Z")
I voted no, I will not buy it. A copy is on hold for me at the library, though. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/22 "2012-09-29T19:21:52Z")
I will also not buy it, but get it from the library. She’s got a heck of a tough act to follow. I am going to have to make a conscious effort not to compare it to HP, but like or dislike it on its own merits. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/23 "2012-09-29T20:02:48Z")
Just read the first ten pages or so online…awful, awful writing. ---
**Author:** ![nomdenet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@nomdenet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nomdenet)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/24 "2012-09-29T20:17:19Z")
Her humour has always been derivative and obvious, at least to people who grew up in the UK. “Privet Drive”, in “Little Whinging, Surrey” - yeah, we get it, mundane, small-minded surburbia[sup]\*[/sup]. It’s like something from a Two Ronnies sketch, except the Two Ronnies knew that it was just a sketch. She also has a tin ear for real-life names. Dickens got away with it by making up ridiculous but memorable and euphonious names for his characters. Rowling just falls back into cosy fantasies of Englishness, with her Barry Fairbrothers and Neville Longbottoms, and indeed the name Harry Potter itself. - she in fact mixes up two tired old jokes, because “Little Whinging”, “Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh” and so on are stereotypical names for remote villages rather than the type of suburban sameness that the Dursleys inhabit.[/size] ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/25 "2012-09-29T21:09:59Z")
> [@nomdenet](#): > > She also has a tin ear for real-life names. Dickens got away with it by making up ridiculous but memorable and euphonious names for his characters. Rowling just falls back into cosy fantasies of Englishness, with her Barry Fairbrothers and Neville Longbottoms, and indeed the name Harry Potter itself. I find this an odd complaint-- not neccessarily an untrue one, just an arguably somewhat unfair one. Writing a series that started with Children’s books, and about a somewhat quirky subsection of England (the Wizarding World), why shouldn’t the names be cosy fantasies of Englishness? * * * I won’t buy the new novel because I buy very few novels. I may or may not read the new novel–since the main attraction is Rowling, and this is a new direction for her, it’s not obvious that I would enjoy it. But I might–I have reasonably varied tastes in literature. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/26 "2012-09-29T21:46:25Z")
No, I am a Harry Potter fan. I’ll wait for the inevitable movie. ---
**Author:** ![nomdenet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@nomdenet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nomdenet)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/27 "2012-09-29T21:48:19Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > I find this an odd complaint-- not neccessarily an untrue one, just an arguably somewhat unfair one. Writing a series that started with Children’s books, and about a somewhat quirky subsection of England (the Wizarding World), why shouldn’t the names be cosy fantasies of Englishness? Because the hook is supposed to be that that Harry Potter and the Dursleys and so forth could be real. But in fact they’re unconvincing caricatures with cliched names. Rowling doesn’t make them seem real. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/28 "2012-09-29T21:53:08Z")
> [@nomdenet](#): > > Because the hook is supposed to be that that Harry Potter and the Dursleys and so forth could be real. But in fact they’re unconvincing caricatures with cliched names. Rowling doesn’t make them seem real. It’s almost like they’re living in a fantasy world or something. ---
**Author:** ![nomdenet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@nomdenet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nomdenet)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/29 "2012-09-29T22:06:20Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > It’s almost like they’re living in a fantasy world or something. Well, as I have already opined, the hook is that that Harry Potter and the Dursleys and so forth could be real. That’s the appeal. If it was just “Wizard School in Fantasy Universe”, I don’t think it would have been as big a hit. That’s been done several times before, Earthsea and what have you. Harry potter really emphasised the “Muggle” angle, and I guess that that is its success. As well as timing, marketing , and pure dumb luck. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/30 "2012-09-29T22:18:17Z")
I like the HP books and movies, for what they are. I don’t think they’re meant to feel really ‘real,’ and they don’t. I assumed the names, among other aspects, were meant to be gentle caricatures. Rowling had some great concepts, and some decent plotting, but can’t be counted a great writer. I can’t imagine buying or reading a non-HP work from her, barring stunning reviews. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/31 "2012-09-29T22:26:09Z")
Definitely going to read it so I said Yes, and a Harry P fan in the poll. But since I have been unemployed I have re-discovered the library. Loving the way it’s changed with technology. I can place a hold on the book I want online and they email me when it comes in. The county where I live shares books so if my local township (in NJ) one doesn’t have it, they get it from another. I can see a list of all the libraries that have it. Most I’ve had to wait for a book I want to read is 2 weeks because there are so many copies within the network. And, oh yeah, our township has a bookmobile that comes once a week to the development where I live in case I didn’t feel like going to the bricks & mortar. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/32 "2012-09-29T23:01:55Z")
> [@nomdenet](#): > > Well, as I have already opined, the hook is that that Harry Potter and the Dursleys and so forth could be real. That’s the appeal. If it was just “Wizard School in Fantasy Universe”, I don’t think it would have been as big a hit. That’s been done several times before, Earthsea and what have you. Harry potter really emphasised the “Muggle” angle, and I guess that that is its success. As well as timing, marketing , and pure dumb luck. OK, I see where you are coming from better now, although I’m not sure I agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/33 "2012-09-30T00:14:09Z")
I liked Harry Potter but I mostly read nonfiction and don’t follow specific fiction authors, so her next book is just going to be another in a sea of fiction books that don’t interest me. Reading its description on Wikipedia doesn’t remedy that at all. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/34 "2012-09-30T00:50:58Z")
No. Sounds like a miserable story. I like adventure, not misery. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/35 "2012-09-30T08:00:55Z")
I wasn’t sure, but the reviews actually convinced me. I like black humor, and it sounds like a book I would enjoy. The fact that it’s J.K. Rowling and I’m really curious what she’s done tips it over the line to a yes. I may wait a while, though then again I may just go ahead and get it. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/36 "2012-10-01T20:41:38Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > I wasn’t sure, but the reviews actually convinced me. I like black humor, and it sounds like a book I would enjoy. The fact that it’s J.K. Rowling and I’m really curious what she’s done tips it over the line to a yes. This. I bought the Kindle version on Thursday. (Also, I’m 41 and I did read – and enjoy – all of the Harry Potter books.) I haven’t gotten very far into it yet, and am still meeting the cast of characters. So far, though, it’s a decent read. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Eel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/977dab/32.png) [@Old\_Eel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Eel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/37 "2012-10-02T03:15:02Z")
I will get it when it’s available used. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/38 "2012-10-02T03:31:27Z")
I find Rowling to take imaginative stories and write them in dull ways. Her prose has always felt flat to me. I have essentially zero interest in her next book - I might read it if I notice a copy available for digital download from my library. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/39 "2012-10-02T05:00:35Z")
I bought it the other day (30% off at Barnes and Noble) and I’m about 100 pages in. I’m enjoying it so far, though she’s still setting up the huge cast of characters and I’m still having a little trouble telling some of the adults apart (it’s clear that she cares more for/about her teenage characters). I’m a Harry Potter fan, and I think any kids who read this book expecting more of the same are going to be heartily disappointed. (I did find it amusing, though, that one of the horrific cases a child protective services rep remembers while doing a home visit was a family who locked their stepson in a cupboard for 5 days). ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200/40 "2012-10-02T14:29:39Z")
I’m not a fan of HP and I will not buy this book. I’ve seen some less-than-stellar reviews for it so far. My wife, on the other hand, did read all the HP books (although she’s not fanatical about them) and I asked her if she’d buy the new JK Rowling novel. She literally did respond, “who’s that?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-buy-the-new-j-k-rowling-novel/636200.md?page=3)