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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: 935
fizzingwhizbees says:
I definitly think she should be honored but i think after her death would be you better becuase she is a brilliant mind and who knows what else she would do. but if the statue isnt put up till she dies may it be a long long time.
Posted Aug 16, 2004 at 11:50 PM EST
Honeydukes Princess
Points: 6925
Wakko says:
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.. ORLANDO BLOOM IS SOOOOOOOOOO HOT!! I just love him.. haha if THAT doesn't attract people's attention, I just dont knwo WHAT WILL!!! I'd go anywhere even the library for him!! muahha.. =D
good luck to JKR, I think its a bit much though, a statue???
Posted Aug 16, 2004 at 11:56 PM EST
Unspeakable
Points: 3920
stocco says:
JO Rowling IS MY HERO! I LOVE THE BOOKS AND I THINK THAT SHE'S CHANGED A GENERATION OF CHILDREN WITH THE BOOKS. SHE IS TEH COOLEST!!!!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:03 AM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
Thats cool, that they have considered her for a statue. I think she deserves its more than most authors out there today. She has made a big impact on the world, kids and adults alike. She has changed my life, that for sure. Shes got my vote!!!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:06 AM EST
Mrs. Percy Weasley
Points: 2762
FairyPrincess says:
That's totally cool that she is being considered for a statue. She absolutely deserves it, she has got this new generation into reading again, not a lot of authors could say that.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:07 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1542
Supreme Mugwump says:
That is a really nice picture of Orlando Bloom. That would be so cool if she won. ANd she deserves it.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:07 AM EST
Goddess
Points: 3987
Banshee_05 says:
Great news! I really hope she wins. The honor is great but dunno how she'll react to a statue, though. Maybe a donation to some worthy organisation or a start of a foundation named after her's more of what she'd prefer.
Hey, Dan Radcliffe SHOULD be on one of those READ posters, too!!!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:07 AM EST
Squib
Points: 175
half_blood_royalty says:
That's cool! But like what the particular resident has said, it's quite weird to honour a living person... But it's true that JK Rowling has become a heroine in mamy's heart! Me included! Hope that the book 6 would come out soon and rock the 'muggle' world. Way to go JK Rowling!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:23 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 16
Accio~Life! says:
I also admire her for her writing abilities, and she certainly is a bit of a "hero" , but I still wouldn't build a statue... Hmm... I don't know...
Maybe it's because I generally dislike the idea of building statues of people (no matter if alive or dead), even if they are heroes... I think you can honor a person in a different way, too. In Jo's case, that would be by reading her books instead of staring at a statue... Well, at least that's what I do to honor her... ;)
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:25 AM EST
Professor of Astronomy
Points: 3288
Prof Aurora Sinistra says:
Wow... a statue.. that must be an honor... and who cares if they make it while she's still alive... I think she deserves the honor of it. She's a genius and really encouraged us all to read!!! Congrats to Jo!!!!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:26 AM EST
Squib
Points: 154
MrsGrint says:
She is definitely the best and most well known writer of our generation. That would be so cool if they honored her with a statue Because it would be there for a very long time.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 12:46 AM EST
Squib
Points: 175
hermione~granger says:
She definitely deserves the statue, I they should put up a statue of someone alive rather than dead.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 1:06 AM EST
Slytherin Green Fairy
Points: 3210
The Slytherin says:
Tahat would be great. She should totally win!!!! And I think it's sound like a great honor!!! Hmmm,,,, very good for her!!!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 1:08 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2286
Terri Boot says:
Good luck, JK! I hope you get it! You totally deserve it!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 1:10 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 305
qwatnee says:
YAY! My dream has finally been realized - Harry Potter and Orlando Bloom all in the same story - HAHAHA! :P But yeah It think that the statue is a great honor! I was just thinking the other day how most people don't get to see this kind of fame for their books in their own life time - how extraordinarily luck she is to be apart of it while she's still with us! :D And she deserves every minute of it! I think it's a horrible thing to say she should die first before they put her statue up!!! Personally, I feel like the entire world benefited from her magical story-telling abilities; she should have a statue in EVERY library EVERWHERE! :D :D
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 1:19 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1772
MelancholyMarie says:
Wow, what an honor! She totally deserves it. I hope she wins. Go, JK!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 1:30 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 463
Lamo the Mel says:
Good for her! Although, knowing how she is, she would probably rather the money be donated to one of the many charities that she contributes to. And this rubbish about waiting for them to erect the statue after her death...PAH!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 1:38 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1018
Peitouche says:
I don't think it's such a great idea. I love JK and the books as much as the next fanatic, but I don't consider her a "hero." She's wonderful, has done many great things for the world, but I reserve "hero" status for other deeds.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 1:48 AM EST
Squib
Points: 111
pureblood prince says:
the orlando bloom thing is unusual but effective. that's great! Congrats again to JK!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 2:02 AM EST
Points: 466
sillyxjuney says:
J.K is the best writer out there!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 2:03 AM EST
Princess of the Heliopaths
Points: 5276
Ginny Weasly says:
Well she's already my hero!! I think that she is the most creative and special person that has ever lived...along with JR.Tolken. She diserves it!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 2:04 AM EST
Head of Gryffindor House
Points: 3725
Professor McGonagall says:
Well JK is great of course but having a statue of herself is kind of weird. I agree with the resident who told the city council it was premature to honor somebody still living. OH well, if she likes it that's good i guess.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 2:57 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 483
Gemmy says:
She completely deserves it - I think the best writer in the world. Better than Louisa May Alcott or Gunter Grass or any of those other writers, they can't draw you it a stroy so much that you would rather read their book than eat ice-cream or make a world so believable to it's readers that I actually cried whe, at age 11, I didn't receive a letter in the mail inviting me to Hogwarts! GOOD WORK JK!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 3:06 AM EST
Student
Points: 216
SingingLass says:
Oh, I think that would be wonderful to have her honored in that way! Anyone who can inspire children to read(huge books to boot) in an age dominated by computers, video games, and media....deserves that kind of recognition. I suspect JK's book will be cherished and read for generations to come....no reason to wait until she dies, yeash.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 3:12 AM EST
Points: 218
Rodevon says:
I think it's a little weird for her to get a statue so soon. It didn't say anything about when they would set up a statue did it? They could at least wait until she finished the Harry Potter series, or when she retired. Then when she's old and officially "done" with her work, she'll have a nice statue of her to remind her of how she brought good for all of us.
I think she's capable of doing a lot more to really deserve that statue. Let her finish first.
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 3:50 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4040
Dan's no.1 fan 4ever says:
JK is my hero. She always will be and desereves this more than anybody else possibly could!
Posted Aug 17, 2004 at 4:02 AM EST
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