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AUGUST 16, 2004 at 10:28 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Various
The author who has been credited with turning on an entire generation of kids (and adults) to reading with her boy wizard series Harry Potter is being considered for an unusual honor: JK Rowling is one candidate for a statue
to celebrate Edinburgh's "modern-day heroes."
"I think its wonderful as she's a huge literary figure who has single handedly re-invigorated the children's market and encouraged so many children to take up reading again," said a spokeswoman for UK book chain Waterstone's. "She has delighted millions with her reading and made so many more authors start writing books for children as well."
But one resident told the city council it was premature to honor somebody still living. "I have nothing against JK Rowling or her writing but I think we have a tradition in Edinburgh of waiting until people have died before we put up a statue to them," he said.
(For fun, I created a mock-up of Jo's potential statue modeled after The Thinker by Auguste Rodin. Click here for the full-size image.)
Rowling's books, which in a study released by the American Library Association are among the most re-read fiction, have sold over 260 million copies worldwide. Others include the Lord of the Rings series, A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Topping the list is Alice Walker's The Color Purple.
The ALA has tried to capture and use the magic created by the phenomenal success of Potter and Rings to keep the public interested in reading. One campaign (see photo above) even includes a photo of heartthrob Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Carribbean) to lure people to their local libraries.
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Witch
Points: 838
jade19357 says:
I think JK deserves this. She has turned around a kinds of kids and adults. I have always been a reader but it was true crime or horror with out JK I would never have tried to read anything new. Thanks JK.
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 10:44 AM EST
Witch
Points: 604
Lady Luna says:
Plus she did all those things for charity! Go Jo!
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 10:50 AM EST
The Dark Knight
Points: 5789
minister for magic says:
She deserves it. But it is going to be tough for her to win!
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 11:13 AM EST
Witch
Points: 587
Kathy Weezly says:
Hmm...My friend would love this article.
For......You know...Lil´Bond.
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 11:14 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
(Moderator)
Points: 1217
shadowlife says:
This loooks really cool. I bet thwey are going to try to sell collectible miniatures every where here books are sold.
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 12:14 PM EST
Squib
Points: 195
The Veil says:
if they're looking for a 'modern day' hero, they HAVE to do someone alive! My modern-day hero isn't some old coot who just died a couple years ago who wrote a book about how to make cabints! It's a young woman who has made mistakes, corrected them her self, and in a few short short years made award winning books, and is continuing to write, and gives much of her money to charities, and is a great parent! FORGET TERDITIONS! BREAK AWAY! MAKE YOUR OWN CITY DEVOTED TO THESE PRINCIPLES! AND THEN BUILD THAT STATUE, FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
sorry, I got carried away
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 12:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 913
Molly the Destroyer says:
Aww, that's great! JKR is just unbelievable, she should win. Yay, go JK!!!!
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 3:00 PM EST
Ravenclaw's Heiress
Points: 3926
PhoenixFire says:
Wow, that's a big honor for JKR. Eh, why wait until she's dead? Let her appreciate this honor while she's living.
Oooo, that's a very nice picture of Orlando...
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 3:46 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 391
sliver_arrows_~.^ says:
I hope Jo wins. CROSS FINGERS EVERYONE!^.~
*(i don't think Orlando Bloom is HOT by-the-way=_=")*
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 4:42 PM EST
Points: 1108
little ray of SuNsHiNe says:
That would be cool for her to have a statue made after her.
But I wonder who the other canidates are.
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 5:28 PM EST
Legilimens
Points: 3013
Extendable Ears says:
I think it's safe to say that JKR's book will stand the test of time - everyone who reads them now will read them to their kids, and they will read them to their kids. So, for that reason I say let the statue be errected. She's the biggest author of our time right now and I think it's safe to say she will remain.
And, that Orlando Bloom poster is absolutely ridiculous. I don't think that he can take any credit for anyone reading the LOTR trilogy - that poster is so cheesy.
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 6:50 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1805
Swimangel57 says:
That's really cool!! I hope that JK gets it! That would be really neat to see!
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 9:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 988
Yami-Tenshi says:
It would be very appropriate to give Jo that honor. I mean, Yes I am going into rammbling mode here, She is the reason I am a writer know! I used to hate with a passion all books! But Harry Potter brought me around and it gave me something that I'm really good at. I love to read know and do it all the time. Jo is the perfect candidate for this.
The Poster thing has been around for a while. Not with Orlando Bloom, but it my school library there are about 5 posters of famous people with a book. Ha, the picture of Bloom isn't bad though.
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 9:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 704
Muggleborn22 says:
Well if anyone deserves it she does! I mean she spread reading world wide! But I still can't get my best friend Liz to read it! AH! I hope she gets the statue she deserves it big time!
MB22
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 10:56 PM EST
St. Mungo's Mental Patient
Points: 41829
Phil_ says:
HAHAHAHA, i love the mock satue, i am glad they came up with the idea if only to see that, it is just to funny....
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 11:00 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1390
you_know_who34 says:
Of course she has got my vote!! She is a pure genius... litterally I mean she has completely lured kids,teenagers and adults into a fantastic world and they havn't wanted to get out because it is just so wonderful. It really is a no brainer!!! JK ROCKS!!! It would really be an honer for her since she is the best writer of our age!!
-Liz-
Posted Aug 18, 2004 at 11:04 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1246
TybaltTheCannibal says:
I hope she wins but it'll be tough! Especially if they're going to go traditional...waiting for someone to die before they're honored when someone who's alive to enjoy the prestige is overlooked. That's just silly, but what can ya do?
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 4:56 AM EST
The Chosen Hobbit
Points: 2447
Enisnitch Baggins says:
I like that mock up picture! And, I also hope win, it's not a sin at all to broke a tradition, is it? Anyway, I hope the picture above isn't orlando, but elijah wood.
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 7:36 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Alessandra says:
*Silently stares at the READ poster from the ALA*
Er...yes. A statue would be nice. I suppose it would bring more tourists, which in the end is what it's all about.
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 9:00 AM EST
Witch
Points: 622
Becky Moody says:
What an honor that would be for her. I must admit, I wasn't really going to read this article but I clicked to see what it was about and when Orlando Bloom's face popped up I read it. But still, JKR deserves that!
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 10:49 AM EST
Weird Sisters Lead Singer
Points: 5747
Annie Potter says:
She definitely is a literary Hero! She got my brother reading her books when he doesn't read at all!!! It's so great that she has created this line of books as it encourages more people to read in general.
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 12:08 PM EST
Squib
Points: 125
SPhinX cHIcK says:
That is REALLY cool!!! She really deserves it too, because she got so many kids to read again!!!! Well done JK!
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 12:25 PM EST
Witch
Points: 579
CurlyHermione says:
I hate to say it but I think the lady is right. Even though Jo has done so much, let someone else get the statue.
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 3:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 532
Ronald_Weasley says:
WOHOOO for J.K.!!!!
Let kill after she finishes the 7 HP books and the encyclopedia thingy so there can be a statue of her.
******Just Kidding*************
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 6:22 PM EST
Witch
Points: 532
Ronald_Weasley says:
WOHOOO for J.K.!!!!
Lets kill her after she finishes the 7 HP books and the encyclopedia thingy so there can be a statue of her.
*********Just Kidding********
OH MY GOD!!!! Orlando Bloom is amazing in this pic but ofcourse not like Rupert!!!!!!!
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 6:26 PM EST
Mrs. Ronald Weasley
Points: 2606
hplover234 says:
I think she should totally win.
She has my vote.
Good luck to her.
Posted Aug 19, 2004 at 7:54 PM EST
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