A Teenage Harry Potter Fan Says Goodbye
By Julian Bennett Holmes, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 10/25/2007
J.K. Rowling wrapped up her Open Book Tour on October 19 at Carnegie Hall; we asked a 16-year-old fan who attended the event and has grown up with the series to share his impressions of the evening.
I first read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in second grade. I was the second person I knew who read it. At the time, I had no idea it would make history.
I was enthralled. It became my favorite book ever—until the second one came out. I’ve read each book in the series at least 10 times, poring over them again and again looking for clues. No other series could even come close for me. I really was taken in by how detailed the world of Harry Potter was, and by how each time I reread one of the books, I would uncover fascinating new details.
So J.K. Rowling’s reading at Carnegie Hall last Friday night was, at least for me, a fitting close to one of the biggest parts of my childhood. It was also likely the last Harry Potter event ever, which meant that I got to witness a bit of history—the end of the biggest book series of all time.
I filed into Carnegie Hall just before 7 pm, when the event was scheduled to begin. Fortunately, I had an awesome view of the stage, which was set with only an ornate velvet throne and a small table.
Suddenly, a voice came over the PA. Everyone became silent.
“Please welcome to the stage.... Keith Olbermann, of MSNBC.”
What?! A man in a suit walked onto the stage, and introduced himself. Why was a newscaster from MSNBC here? He began to speak about Harry Potter. He tried to be funny, he tried to capture his audience, but talking to hundreds of Harry Potter fans, just before an appearance by their idol, must have been like trying to entertain people with a Little League game just days before the World Series.
Once his speech came to a close, the hall fell silent. It was like waiting for the results of an election.
And then J.K. Rowling walked onto the stage, to standing applause from every single one of the children and adults in attendance. She tried to begin speaking, but she couldn’t get through more than one or two words without being cut off by the thunderous applause.
Seeing her for the first time was incredible. Here, sitting on the stage, was the woman who wrote the most amazing books ever. It was striking how friendly and comfortable she seemed, as if she was a seasoned speaker, not a writer.
Finally, the hall became quiet again. Rowling told us she was about to read something that she had never read before in public, and then began to read from Chapter 19 (“The Silver Doe”) of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
She read the section where Harry meets Ron again in the forest, and then they walk back to the tent together. Ron and Hermione fight, but then become friends again.
I couldn’t have wished for a better part to hear. It was alternatingly tense and hilarious (when she read Ron’s line “and then I heard you, coming from my pocket,” even she had to take a break to laugh for a minute or two along with the audience).
When Rowling reads, she doesn’t exactly use different voices for the different characters—not like Jim Dale, at least—but she does sort of use different styles and inflections, so that each character has an audible personality.
 Rowling, signing books at Carnegie Hall. |
The questions were of two varieties: those that asked clarification or new information about plot points from the books, and those that concerned Rowling herself.
One question straddled the line, and it was my personal favorite: “What is one question you hoped no one would ask you before the seventh book came out? And please answer that question.”
Rowling replied that she was glad that no one had ever asked her what Dumbledore’s wand was made out of, because the truth—elder—would have given away a major point from Deathly Hallows.
She then went on to some more questions. We learned that Neville ended up marrying Hannah Abbott (who became the new landlady of The Leaky Cauldron). We also learned that Ron couldn't actually learn to speak or understand Parseltongue—he's just good at reproducing sounds, and since he was present when, in their second year, Harry said "open" in Parseltongue, Ron could remember what it sounded like, and then reproduce that sound.
Then came the most interesting question of the night: “Did Dumbledore ever find love?”
And the answer? “I’ve always thought of Dumbledore as gay.”
It was probably five minutes before the applause and laughter died down, so she could continue. As it turns out, Dumbledore was in love with the wizard Grindlewald, which is why it was so significant when Dumbledore defeated Grindlewald later.
As a reader, I can’t say I was completely shocked by this. I wasn’t expecting it, either, but looking back, I feel like I should’ve known. What else could cause Dumbledore to join such an evil wizard? And what else could cause him to never love again?
I really appreciate how she didn’t need to tell this point in the books. It just goes to show how massive the world of Harry Potter is, and how it can’t all be said in seven books. (Which is partly why I’m so excited for the Harry Potter Encyclopedia.)
Rowling then took a few more questions from the audience, before announcing that she had time for three questions from randomly selected audience members. This went swimmingly, until someone’s name was called from up in the third balcony. The audience waited patiently, until, five minutes later, the out-of-breath questioner, who had run all the way down, finally reached the microphone. Unfortunately, all this was for naught, as her question was so uninteresting I won’t bother relaying it.
After that, Rowling geared up for what was likely one of the largest book signings in history. She walked down from the stage and sat down at a table, with a mountain of books behind her. I didn’t stay for the whole signing (it was scheduled to take over an hour), but I witnessed the factory-like speed with which the books were signed. There were around 10 people on the floor, moving people along the line and passing down the books, almost like an assembly line. Apparently she was having trouble with her elbow earlier in the week (keep in mind she signed 1600 books that morning, and thousands more earlier in the week), so she kept a pillow under her arm.
As I left, I realized how lucky I was to be able to attend the last Harry Potter event in history, and just how awesome it was. Hearing a book read by the author is pretty amazing—especially if it’s a Harry Potter book! Nothing could have made this event better.
I’m going to reread the entire series again, now that I know how it all ends, but rereading isn’t the same anymore. It’s not quite as appealing, now that I’m not looking for clues, trying to figure out how it will end.
But I can still appreciate them for the great novels that they are, and that will never change.
Julian Bennett Holmes is a student at the Brooklyn Free School.
