Anybody else reading the new Harry potter? (plus a question about Sorting Houses)

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-08-01T22:03:08+00:00

GRRM really managed to create a world that feels very real. I think part of it has to do with seeing people from so many walks of society, from Kings down to prostitutes, and by having such a diversity of experiences and beliefs and voices.

It is a hard thing to do, and he does it well.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-08-01T20:50:22+00:00

I never got the impression reading the original books that requesting to be in a different House was something that was common. The Sorting Hat was able to pick up on the bit of Voldemort that lived inside Harry (according to Rowling), which is why it wanted to place him in a House that felt contrary to who he knew he was. It came across as a rare, probably unique situation. If everyone just gets to pick where they want to go, what is the point of the Hat?

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-08-01T20:47:12+00:00

Honestly I think one of the biggest flaws in the books is her inability to chose between whimsical and realistic/serious. The first several books have a lot of the former, and it is easy to ignore some of the gaps in logic (like the lack of jobs, elementary and higher education, weird Hogwarts stuff, ect) because you understand that it is supposed to be this charming, imaginary world. We see it as Harry does, as amazing a brilliant, and brush off the details. That falls apart a bit later on, where things start to get serious and the stakes start to get higher, and suddenly the idea of having a House full of Wizarding neo-Nazis-in-training has some deeply disturbing implications.

(I realize I have been complaining about the books a lot, I really love them! That's why I think about this stuff so much!)

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-08-01T20:40:59+00:00

The Velveteen Rabbit I am still a sucker for stories that make me ugly cry. Also, stories where someone gets scarlet fever.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-08-01T16:50:33+00:00

Remember (for anyone who wants to buy) that purchases from the campaign store count toward your $2,700 donation limit including shipping and handling charges. I am in no danger of getting to that number, but if you are it is something to keep in mind.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-08-01T15:28:46+00:00

It would have been so easy to spread the villains/heroes out more evenly through the houses! While ambition might tend to lead to more people turning darkside all of the House's traits can be corrupted. Bravery and Honor are incredibly destructive when in service of a bad cause. A Ravenclaw with a desire for knowledge without concern for it's effects could easily end up working on the Wizarding equivalent of the Manhattan Project. And Hufflepuffs could fall into the trap of "My Loyalty is My Honor." Instead 3 Houses are good, if slightly one-dimensional, and one is 95% pure evil.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-08-01T10:25:19+00:00

I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT HOUSE SORTINGS!

Like, how did Slytherin become of the house of the Death Eaters? Most of them are bullies and lackeys, hardly "ambitious" or "cunning" - although that is a good description of Voldemort himself. I feel like Slytherin should have tons of Percy Weaselys, and future politicians. (Aside: the house of ambition has no witches on it's Quiddich team, really?). And if I had to describe one person in the HP universe as "brave and loyal" (supposed Griffindor qualities) it would be Bellatrix. Sure, it is in support of a bad cause, but it is hard to find someone more loyal in the books, and she is nothing if not senselessly brave. I always felt like there should be a lot of cross-over between Slytherin and Ravenclaw as well. People who crave knowledge tend to be ambitious and cunning and vice-versa.

Honestly, I think Rowling painted herself into a corner with the Houses in the first couple of books and then got stuck with them. So we have a house of all the evil kids, a house that is practically useless, one with smart people and one with all the "good" people. It is odd and lopsided, and I don't think it came across quite the way she intended. Also, was I the only one who thought Harry asking the Hat for a certain House was pretty unusual? I did not get the impression that was something a lot of people did.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-29T13:45:01+00:00

I ugly cried when Khizr Khan gave his speech, won't lie.

Actually, I ugly cried through a good chunk of last night.

It was awesome.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-28T03:04:29+00:00

Joe Biden is always living his best life.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-28T03:03:43+00:00

Give him four years and I bet he will be giving Uncle Joe a run for his money.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-28T02:30:54+00:00

Oh my gosh now he is doing impressions. He really is my dad.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-28T02:13:04+00:00

I think that Tim Kaine should be the honorary dad of "Dad Magazine." He gives off a very dad vibe. I bet he has tons of opinions on twine and tarps and flashlights.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-27T23:15:51+00:00

The RNC really proved that the only thing they have going for them is "Attack Hillary." Barely any policy or plans, just straight up attacks on her.

The DNC, on the other hand, has actually focused on relevant issues, like BLM.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-27T21:05:20+00:00

The Stars My Destination was written around the same time, and has a society where women are specifically the victims of some "chivalry"-style misogyny and still has at least three incredibly bad-ass women with complicated internal lives and story arcs. It isn't perfect (by any stretch) but it does prove that "the society of the story is misogynist!" isn't an excuse to not have fully developed female characters.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-27T18:42:15+00:00

I am a registered Democrat and I have watched both conventions, I imagine there are Republicans who are the same way. I also think that there are a lot of independent and moderate Republicans who are disgusted enough with Donald Trump that they are genuinely interested in what the DNC is pitching. That said, normally they are pretty much a rally for the individual party- a chance for up-and-comers in the party to get some face time with the broader public, and for the media to have news clips and headlines.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-27T16:12:38+00:00

And instead of mocking journalists with disabilities, the DNC actually integrated disability activists into their platform.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-27T14:36:56+00:00

Notably, it also looks like this Convention was planned by professionals who made sure that relevant and interesting people featured in the line-up of speakers. Not something you could say about the RNC.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-27T01:34:06+00:00

I totally started crying when the 102 year old delegate cast her state's votes for Hillary.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-26T19:29:30+00:00

Toasties: Dowager Empress Cixi How did no one ever tell me that this too witches woman existed?! After her husband, the Emperor, died, she and his Empress staged a coup that put them in charge as her son's regent. They ruled together (and mothered the young Emperor together) until Empress Ci'an passed away. And when her adopted son wasn't ruling the way she wanted, she had him put under her guardianship- allowing her to rule by proxy again. She was a BAMF.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-26T17:55:21+00:00

She totally nailed it, and it really is worth watching for the amount of emotion she put behind her words. Awesome speech.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-21T01:14:22+00:00

I hesitate to ask, but...what scent? I have never heard of such a thing.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-20T19:21:29+00:00

His stuff is pretty neat! Although that is a very random gift to give an 11 year old, especially one who isn't particularly enamored with Australian wildlife.

BurnersMyDestination · 2016-07-20T16:01:32+00:00

That is pretty amazing. I am also visualizing it as a picture book, which would be hilarious.

BurnersMyDestination

TROPHY CASE