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AUGUST 10, 2006 at 2:09 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
The two nights of Harry, Carrie and Garp at Radio City Music Hall in New York City last week had most of us in attendance scribbling notes, sneaking photos and reflecting. Unfortunately that meant we didn't have the complete, exact text of what JK Rowling said in response to fan questions... until now.
What follows is a transcript of the second night's highlights, courtesy MSN Video, with pregnant pauses, sighs, laughs and cheers intact (it's unknown if the first night's video will be made available, but you can read those highlights
courtesy Veritaserum):
Though the event each evening was kicked off by actress Whoopi Goldberg, we're skipping right ahead to JK Rowling's segment:
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Academy-Award winner Kathy Bates!
[applause]
Bates: Thank you... thank you very much. Thank you and good evening. Tonight, our next author... [cheers]... makes her much-anticipated return to the United States, the first visit in six years. And that may explain why at this moment I feel sort of like Ed Sullivan as he was about to introduce The Beatles. [...]
But this moment seems somehow bigger. Because with Pottermania, JK Rowling has managed to pull off a feat that no one ever thought possible: Transforming an entire generation of children into wild, screaming, frenzied fans... of books.
Let's not forget that Harry Potter arrived on our shores at a perilous moment in time. Just when it seemed that technology had infiltrated every last aspect of our lives, most at risk were our children. Between PCs and Playstations, modems and multiplexes, we were in danger of losing an entire generation to the ravages of ADD.
Then, along came an author who tamed the cacophony with a whisper. With words on a page, JK Rowling lured kids away from the screens and into the quiet of their rooms, and took them to places where Google does not go.
With each thick book that they conquered, children gained the confidence to take on the next. The Harry Potter books that collected on shelves were showcased like trophies. And in the months they waited for the next installment, something else amazing happened to these new readers: They became re-readers, devouring again and again the same book for pleasure they had rushed through the first time just for plot.
Of course, in our entertainment age, it was inevitable that a book and a hero as popular as Harry would make his way from the book back to one of those screens. There were those who feared that the special effects of a movie would put an end to the reign of the book, and that children would rather watch a pre-imagined world of wizards than conjure up their own from a page. Instead, Harry's legions went eagerly to the movies, and then faithfully back to their books. That's how we know that JK Rowling's spell was not-so-easily broken; that the magic she conjures turns children into readers for life.
Fan question and answer segment:
Question: If you could bring one Harry Potter character to life, other than Harry, who would it be?
Rowling: Personally, although it's a really tricky one... Hagrid... if I could have anyone. Because I think we'd all like a Hagrid in our life, liability though he often is. It would be really great if I met a fundamentalist Christian, to say, "Would you like to discuss the matter with Hagrid?"
[cheers]Question: In Half-Blood Prince, Aunt Petunia is said to be oddly flushed when Dumbledore announces that Harry will be returning only once more to Privet Drive. Does this mean that Aunt Petunia harbors a hidden love or fondness for Harry and the connection he provides her to the wizarding world?
Rowling: That's an excellent question. And like all the best and most penetrating questions, it's difficult to answer. But, I will say this: There is a little more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye. And you will figure out what that is in book 7.
Question: I absolutely love your books. I'm not a big reader, but your books make me want to read, and that makes my mom happy. She loves your books too. In your recent interview, you hinted at two main characters dying, and possibly Harry Potter too. Would Dumbledore be considered one of the main characters, or do we have the chance to see him in action once again. Since he is the most powerful wizard of all time, and Harry Potter is so loyal to him, how could he really be dead?
[JK sighs... audience cheers]
Rowling: [laughs] I feel terrible! The British writer Graham Greene once said that every writer had to have a chip of ice in their heart. Oh no... I think you may just have [ruined?] my career. I really can't answer that question, because the answer is in book 7. But... you shouldn't expect Dumbledore to do a Gandalf. Let me just put it that way. I'm sorry.
Author Salman Rushdie introduces himself and son. JK applauds with audience and says: "I'm not sure this is fair. I think you might be better at guessing plots than most. But off you go."
Rushdie: Until the events of volume six, it was always made plain that Snape might be an unlikable fellow [JK: uh huh], but he was essentially one of the good guys [JK: uh-huh] [audience: 'yes!' and cheers]. [JK: I can see this is the question you all really want answered.] Dumbledore himself had always vouched for him [JK: yes]. Now we are suddenly told that Snape is in fact a villain and Dumbledore's killer [JK: uh-huh]. We cannot, or don't, want to believe this [JK laughs]. Our theory is that Snape is in fact still a good guy [JK: right], from which it follows that Dumbledore can't really be dead, and that the death is a ruse, cooked up between Dumbledore and Snape, to put Voldemort off his guard, so that when Harry and Voldemort come face-to-face [audience and JK laughs], Harry might have more allies than he or Voldemort suspects. So: is Snape good or bad? [JK laughs and audience cheers] In our opinion, everything follows from it.
Rowling: Well, Salman... your opinion, I would say, is right. But I see that I need to be a little more explicit... and say that Dumbledore is definitely dead. And I do know there's an entire website that's name is DumbledoreIsNotDead.com, so I imagine they're not happy right now. But I think I need.... You need... All of you need to move through the five stages of grief [audience and JK laughs] and I'm just helping you get past denial. So, I can't remember what's next, it may be anger, so I think we should stop it here. Thank you.
Question: As a librarian, I would first like to thank you for attracting so many students (and adults as well) to reading. Since the Harry Potter series will be unfortunately ending, what does the future for you, and for your readers, hold? Do you have something planned, to keep the anxious students and adults, waiting to be release?
Rowling: I thought you were going to attack me for Madame Pince, and I would like to apologize to you and any other librarians present here today. My get-out clause on this is always: If they'd had a pleasant, helpful librarian, half my plots would be gone. Because the answer invariably is in a book, but Hermione has to go and find it. If they'd had a good librarian, that would've been that problem solved, so, sorry. I have a shorter, mercifully, book for, I think, slightly younger children, that's half written, so I may go back to that when Harry's done. I think I'll need a short mourning period though, you'll have to allow me a short time to get past Harry.
Question for Stephen King: ... what kinds of scary stories keep you up at night?
King: I'll tell you what. I think our idea of what scares us changes as we get older. [...] As a young person, one of the scariest things I ever read was Lord of the Flies. [...] Sometimes you get surprised into fright. When I picked up the Harry Potter books, I was not prepared for the depth of some of the frightening passages in there. Frankly, I was surprised by how scary the deatheaters were. [...] I try to keep up with the competitors. The deatheaters are good... [JK: "I scared Stephen King." SK: You scared Stephen King. Yeah. I hope you're proud of yourself!" JK: "Oh, I'm very proud of myself!"]
Question: What is the one question your fans have never asked you, and should have?
Rowling: Oh, God... How can I answer that? I can think of a couple of things that give away the ending of book 7. Having got this far... having got sixteen years down the line, I kind of feel that would throw it away. For me, anyway, having put the effort in. I think that I've been asked excellent questions, it's just that the final book contains a couple of pieces of information that I don't think you could guess at. I'm sorry... You see, people think that it's all so fixed in my head. It's not that obsessively plotted out. For example, this afternoon I believe I changed my mind on the title of book 7. Having been quite convinced that I had the title, I suddenly thought, "No, that would be better, wouldn't it?" in the shower just before coming out here, so... But you know what, I'm not going to tell you either version, because... [audience moans]. Oh, come on! Now really! Have I not given you enough? I gave you Aunt Petunia, I told you Dumbledore is really [JK moves finger across her neck in swift motion]. So, I am trying to give something to you. I suppose it's that question. Everyone's really pleased you asked that question. It's me who's let everyone down, not you.
Question: If you were to have dinner with any five characters from any of your books, who would you invite, and why would they be on your list?
Stephen King: Any five characters, from any of my books? Honey, I'm eating alone. [...] I would eat with Harry, Hermione and Ron. [...] I can think of other people's characters I'd eat with.
Rowling: I'd take Harry to apologize to him... Um, I'd have to take Harry, Ron and Hermione [King: sure]. I would... this is... [King: Hagrid, take Hagrid]. See, I know who's actually dead. [King: Pretend you can take anyone.] Pretend I can take anyone? Well then I would definitely take Dumbledore... I'd take Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, Hermione... and... [audience shouts out suggestions] um, Hagrid. I'd take Hagrid, yeah.
Remember that the primary reason for this event was to raise money for Doctors Without Borders and The Haven Foundation, which we will profile in the near future.
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Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1384
Mrs.Oddment-Tweak says:
I love transcripts. But I'm definatly going to watch the whole video when I have the time.
It's like, an hour long!
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 6:49 PM EST
Half-Blooded Fooch
Points: 2447
fooch48 says:
Cool interview. Too bad we couldnt find out more! It seems like everyone asks the same questions, and we find the same answers!
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 6:50 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1841
Remmy4193 says:
Wow i like how the pics from the event were posted right there intead of on a link!
Those screens above Jo are huuuge!
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 6:54 PM EST
Witch
Points: 852
nejicanspin says:
Everyone has to know what happens. She must be pressured so mush with all these questions.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 7:08 PM EST
Haldir's Horcrux
Points: 6268
Corvis says:
HAHAH I still love the line about scaring Stephen King. That was too funny. I hope the event did well to raise money for the charity, it's a great cause.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 7:11 PM EST
Professor
(Moderator)
Points: 1180
Vermin Jerky says:
Thank you, ZealForHP and 1USHPFN, for agreeing with me. Not to mention the other people who also picked it up. I'm not surprised I'm not the only one who saw what JKR may have let slip. It's actually pretty astonishing how that worked out. I have to wonder whether JKR knew what she was making her statement sound like.
I'm still pretending I'm not worried about Hagrid, but I am glad to have some (possible) reassurance about Harry, Ron & Hermione.
As I said here on HPANA directly after reading the chapter Birthday Surprises in HBP, Ron's near-death experience made me realize something. Even though I don't really count any of them as my favorite characters, the trio are our protagonists. As far as deaths go, I've resigned myself to losing anyone, anyone, other than Harry, Ron or Hermione.
And I know there's plenty of people who will disagree with me on that, but I really feel that they're the ones who, for the sake of the integrity of the story, have to be off-limits.
Which, in spite of Hagrid (who comes in fourth on my please do-not-kill list) makes this last statement of JKR's pretty welcome to me.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 7:53 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1229
sapphire260 says:
WOW!! Did someone remember all of that????
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 7:57 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1437
allilau says:
Wow, that's so uncanny. It's very interesting to red of JKR's influeneces and such when writing. When she mentioned Lord of the Flies I got such a suprise, currently at (work) we are doing the opera of the 'actual' story that Lord of the Flies is based on (shipwreck Batavia) talk about sychronicity.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 7:58 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2572
Roswelladdict says:
Dude that is so cool. I so wish I could have been there. But I guess this is just as good and I can enjoy it and pretend to have been there all along.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 8:27 PM EST
Witch
Points: 566
lupinsgal24 says:
Great reading. Must have been nice to see it in person. They are the best writers around. Now, about book 7...
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 8:42 PM EST
Professor
(Moderator)
Points: 1180
Vermin Jerky says:
Well, Thestral Eyes, someone chose the right house. Cynicize much? (Don't correct me, there's no verb form of cynic.)
Of course JKR dodges questions! Do you expect her to reveal half of her important plot points before the book is out? Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. Who wants to line up at midnight to buy a book from which they already know the important details? Nobody does!
And you don't want to know any more than anyone else, because it would totally ruin the rush you get the first time reading something we all anticipate as much as a new edition of the series. And consider: this is the last one. The last chance to get that rush.
Imagine how you'd feel if JKR had said, (just for the sake of argument) "Well, Voldemort dies and Harry wins. Snape helps him do it, but snuffs it in the process. Harry's scar is one of the Horcuxes. Petunia Dursley was Dumbledore's secret lover, and Dudley is really a wizard. Neville kills Bellatrix, and his parents are released from the enchanment that made them go insane. Ron proposes to Hermione, and they go on to marry and have even more kids than Arthur and Molly. But you're going to have to read the book to see what becomes of Wormtail!"
In case you haven't caught on, if she just spilled, it would suck. Which is why no author does it, and JKR never will, either.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Tammyant, I had a feeling someone would eventually take what JKR said to mean that Harry dies, even though she said his name before she began inviting people who die to dine with her (in case you don't follow, my first post is on the first page of comments.)
I don't think her imagining apologizing to Harry has anything to do with the end of Harry's life, and everything to do with the misery she's written into it. Being orphaned, raised by horrible people, nearly being killed repeatedly beginning at age one, being tortured, and watching a friend, his godfather, and his mentor all die.
JKR has plenty to apologize to Harry for without having to kill him, too.
_________________________________________________________________________________
No, the bean, you're not the first one to suggest Hagrid's fate. Actually, I was, although I'm still pretending I don't believe that. For the moment, I'm sticking with the idea that she also suggested that Harry, Ron and Hermione survive. I hope that we are wrong about Hagrid, though.
_________________________________________________________________________________
AragornsLady, that's something I've been wondering about. Whether Hagrid is one of the two she mentioned who is snuffing it, in place of someone who got a reprieve. In which case, I wonder who is surviving in Hagrid's place.
I'm not going to be able to pretend I didn't notice anything about Hagrid much longer, am I?
_________________________________________________________________________________
JKR didn't mention Lord of the Flies, allilau, Stephen King did. "King: I'll tell you what. I think our idea of what scares us changes as we get older. (...) As a young person, one of the scariest things I ever read was Lord of the Flies."
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 8:51 PM EST
Witch
Points: 501
Breaza says:
Thank you so much!! I really enjoyed reading that interview. She didn't give away too much, as usual, but we do now know for sure that Dumbledore is dead. Hmm...I wonder what she's got planned for Aunt Petunia?
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 9:26 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
Moonlight Lady says:
!!! Is Hagrid going to die in the seventh book??? Because when Stephen King said "Hagrid, take Hagrid" Rowling said, "See, I actually know who's dead." Only after Kind said, "Pretend you can take anyone." did she pick Hagrid. DON'T DIE HAGRID!!!
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 9:43 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
Oh god this one is way too long, im gonna have to sit down and read this whole thing in a bit.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 9:47 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2079
kermittounette says:
This is so cool! She has a lot of humor and I think she's one of the great author I just read into my young life. I hope she'll keep writting books after the Harry Potter era. (Yes she said she would)
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 9:57 PM EST
Harry's Mental Advisor
Points: 19432
Smileyradcliffe says:
That was alot to read. but had some answers... not to much
:)
smiles..
peace
love
happiness
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 9:58 PM EST
Squib
Points: 121
FreetheElves says:
Yay! Im glad the transcript is finally up! I remember most of what she said that night but there were a few things I missed so this is good. This is very good.
:) Allison
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 9:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 893
Divadancer4life says:
She looks so gorgeous!! good questions all the lucky people wgo got to ask them!
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 10:51 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3239
Tenshi says:
I keep thinking there's more to one of those questions... but can she think that fast to cover up her thoguhts and keep a clever trail for us to follow?
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 10:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 852
WitOfHermione says:
These authors are amazing. Im watching the video right now from the first night and its smashing! Its really neat to see how the authors interacted on stage!
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 11:04 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 354
Ron&Hermione-forever says:
I'm going to print the questions and answers because some of the answers say a lot of things.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 11:13 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3239
Tenshi says:
Sorry for the double post!
By the way, FreetheElves, I love your avie! Super mega cute! =D
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 11:15 PM EST
Witch
Points: 639
Harry(the 4th champion) says:
Nice transcript!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I just wish Jo could have told us more about book 7!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait much longer!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENES!!!!!!!!
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 11:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 914
hp-luver says:
Wow! That's a lot of reading! But it was totally worth it! Those are really good questions and great answers.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 11:42 PM EST
Comedy Princess
Points: 3398
Ginevra M. Weasley says:
CAN BE SPOILER...
WOW...very interesting piece of information!!!...you know what...I understanded that Hagrid is dead (she is going to kill Hagrid??)...I am not sure but can be.
Posted Aug 10, 2006 at 11:49 PM EST
Witch
Points: 797
magically delicious says:
Thank you so much for posting this! Jo always has a lot of charm and grace when speaking with others. I love that about her, it makes any interview/reading really enjoyable even to read.
I think she's made some pretty good hints about things here (whether on purpose or not) but like some others have said, I'd almost rather know NOTHING about book 7 before I get my hands on it. Of course I'm that cat and curiosity is that thing beating me up.
Posted Aug 11, 2006 at 12:23 AM EST
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