July novel-reading

[garran]

A fairly predictable pattern, this month.

J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (reread)
Lois McMaster Bujold, The Sharing Knife: Legacy
Steven Brust, Dzur
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (reread)
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (reread)
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (reread)
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (reread)
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Gene Wolfe, The Shadow of the Torturer

On a nearby subject, I wanted to ask: which, if any, of the Hogwarts houses do the people reading this who have also read the books feel kinship with? Actually, what I wanted to ask was, "Do I have any friends who don't self-identify as Ravenclaw?" but before I got around to it I found somewhere* where a Windsor House acquaintance had described themselves as a Gryffindor. I'm still interested in whether Ravenclaw is as popular as it seems to be, though, based on its disproportionate favour among people I know who have told me that they think they'd be in a particular of the houses, so I'm especially interested in folks who feel inclined toward one of the other three. (Don't worry, we can still hang out!)

(* Okay, so it was their facebook page. I feel embarrassed to publicly admit that I'm using facebook now, but I guess it means that I can muse about it in public later.)

If any spoilers for the final book appear in my comments I will edit the post to mention them. Since I know that there is at least one person reading this who hasn't got to it yet and cares if they're spoiled, it would be cool if commenters could also clearly mark that spoilers are coming up if there are any, in case I don't get there in time. Edit: Some moderate spoilers have appeared, so far only in comments that are marked with warnings in the subject line. The earlier books, of course, are spoiled with impunity.

I finally duct taped the armrests to my computer chair. That's going to be so much better.

Comments

[vorkon.livejournal.com]

Well, I did say I was oversimplifying it, didn't I? But either way, athletic ability has nothing to do with why I picked that description. Hell, the Gryffindor team lost for several years in a row before Harry showed up. What I was talking about was the role they play in the school's miniature model of society. They're the charismatic, popular kids who pretty much "run" things.

Also, one thing I've definitely learned since I joined the Marine Corps is that the "dumb jock" stereotype is really quite overplayed. It's not that there isn't SOME truth to it, but for the most part we geeks have taken a few bad experiences and attributed them to an entire class of people, many of whom do not deserve it. Also, can you really say that if the geeks had the "power," they'd treat anyone any better? No matter who they are, high school students are the vilest, most wretched scum humanity has ever produced. If you do associate the jock mentality with bullying however, well, who in Hogwarts were ever worse than the Marauders? They were all Gryffindors.

Besides, even if athletic ability were a factor, quidditch is a special case, since it also relies on magical ability. It would be like going to your average high school and setting up a jocks vs. geeks swordfighting match. The jocks might have some advantage, simply because they're stronger and more aggressive, but many of the geeks are so enamored with swordplay, and jave probably done a few LARPS here and there, so they'd match the jocks' usual advantage in skill and ability. Kinda' like that. But that's irrelevant, because like I said, quidditch isn't why I gave the Gryffindors the "jock" label in the first place.

But either way, whether you like my analogy or not, my main point remains. Comparing the Gryffindors to the Ravenclaws is just... O_o I had several arguments I wanted to make on that front, but Garran already either made, or at least touched upon all of them, so I didn't want to waste my time repeating him. But really, what similarities do you see between the two houses, other than the fact that Hermione could be either? I can't think of any.

[opt513.livejournal.com]

It's not just Hermione that could have been either, she's just the most frequently mentioned. Nearly any of the Weasley children could have done well in Ravenclaw if not for the fact that a Weasley getting sorted into any house other than Gryffindor would be like a Black or a Malfoy not being in Slytherin. Not impossible, but why would they want to? If a child has their heart set on or against a certain house before they even step through the door, I think it's pretty clear where they're going to end up.

As for Ravenclaw students that could have been Gryffindors, I don't think anyone will deny that Luna fits that description. In my mind, she is still the consumate Ravenclaw, while still being a person who could have gone either way.

[vorkon.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll agree with you that Luna could go either way, but the Weasley kids? No way! MAYBE Percy. Maybe. But Ron has to be the single least intellectual wizard I've ever seen, Bill strikes me as a little too adventuresome to sit around in an ivory tower studying all day, and Ginny would probably get fed up with the all-talk-no-action girls spending all their time gossiping. And the twins? Damn. Not only would they be bored out of their minds, but they pretty much epitomize the Gryffindor ideal of using your magic to accomplish something, rather than for its own sake. I mean, I can't imagine a Ravenclaw actually dropping out of Hogwarts to go into business for themselves, can you?

Re: More Spoilerish

[opt513.livejournal.com]

Well, the thing that catches me about Ron is that he actually starts showing some intelligence near the end of the book there. Maybe a lot of it is Hermione rubbing off on him at last, but I think he could have made it there. Ginny strikes me as being nearly as clever as Hermione in her own way, and the twins' natural talent at magic would earn them respect in Ravenclaw even if their propensity for making trouble would do the opposite.

I never saw the Gryffindor way as "using magic for practical purposes" so much as "standing up for what's right", which is a field where intentions seem to matter as much as results. Way back in the first book, Dumbledore gave Neville 50 points for standing up to his friends and getting knocked aside.

I should also point out that seeking knowledge for its own sake doesn't make the Ravenclaws at all reluctant to use that knowledge. They stood with the Gryffindors when it came down to it, after all.

[masamage.livejournal.com]

Ron's closer to being a Hufflepuff.

More Spoilerish

[vorkon.livejournal.com]

Also?

I'd be willing to bet that if Rowling ever does give into the allure of more money and continue the series, Albus Severus will end up in Slytherin. And if not, I'm pretty sure that any fanfic that doesn't put him there won't be worth reading.

And no, that's not JUST so the crazy Yaoi chicks can write about the AS/S pairing.

Re: More Spoilerish

[opt513.livejournal.com]

No, I don't see that happening. A.S. may have traits that would make a good Slytherin, but he has already made his choice: he's set dead against it. He may not end up in Gryffindor, but there's no way he'll be a Slytherin.

His sister on the other hand... who knows?