Review from A. T. Ross
Here’s yet another positive review of The Lord of the Hallows from goodreads.com. A. T. Ross wrote:
A. T.’s review
rating:
bookshelves: literary-study
status: Read from April 08 to 10, 2010
This little book proved to be a wonderful introduction to some of the Christian themes and symbols in the Potter novels. There is a danger in being friends with John Granger, and that is in assuming that all the symbolism in the Potter books have already been discovered, and one of my chief criteria for a book examining the Harry Potter series is that it add something new to our collective knowledge of them. This book met and surpassed that criteria. If you’ve read Granger, there will be some overlap, but not a whole lot and there is a lot of great stuff here that hadn’t even occurred to me. I thought I knew most of what there was to know about name origins, but Roper’s explanation of Dumbledore’s name (for instance) was simply fantastic. Her use of Medieval bestiaries and tapestries, not to mention her interpretation of Horcruxes and Rowling’s clear use of Arthurian legend, just made the book that much better.
There were only two flaws to the book. The first flaw was that as you read and come to a brilliant insight, a hundred more examples of what she is talking about spring into your mind. For instance, in the chapter on the belief in God in Harry Potter, she makes a valid point, but I would have wanted mention of other instances, such as all the instances of characters, specifically Harry, praying. And there is a fantastic moment in HBP (p. 271) when young Voldemort is mock praying, only he is worshiping himself.
The only other flaw is that the book is only 109 pages, and that I didn’t want it to end that soon.
My response to A. T. Ross:
Thank you for the positive review. I really loved what you wrote about my book. As for the chapter on belief in God in Harry Potter, an author named Nancy Solon Villaluz has written about every instance of a character “praying” in the series, so I didn’t want to write about what she has already described in her book, “Does Harry Potter Tickle Sleeping Dragons?” And with regards to John Granger, I’m a HUGE fan of his work. When I read his first book on Harry Potter several years ago, I began keeping a journal of my own interpretations of the symbolism in the series, predictions about what would happen in the final three books, and a lot of detailed research notes. I didn’t plan on writing a book though. A week after Deathly Hallows was released I was asked to fill in as a guest lecturer at a local SF/F convention at the last minute. I used my notes to put together a one-hour lecture that was received with cheers, a few tears, and a standing ovation from an audience of about 200 fans. “You should write a book,” was what I heard for the rest of the day, so I started writing one.
I have actually written a lot more on Rowling and C. S. Lewis since The Lord of the Hallows was published. I’ll be presenting my paper on Harry Potter and Narnia at the Infinitus 2010 Harry Potter Symposium in Orlando.
I’m glad that you enjoyed the book. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Denise Roper
A. T.’s review
rating:
bookshelves: literary-study
status: Read from April 08 to 10, 2010
This little book proved to be a wonderful introduction to some of the Christian themes and symbols in the Potter novels. There is a danger in being friends with John Granger, and that is in assuming that all the symbolism in the Potter books have already been discovered, and one of my chief criteria for a book examining the Harry Potter series is that it add something new to our collective knowledge of them. This book met and surpassed that criteria. If you’ve read Granger, there will be some overlap, but not a whole lot and there is a lot of great stuff here that hadn’t even occurred to me. I thought I knew most of what there was to know about name origins, but Roper’s explanation of Dumbledore’s name (for instance) was simply fantastic. Her use of Medieval bestiaries and tapestries, not to mention her interpretation of Horcruxes and Rowling’s clear use of Arthurian legend, just made the book that much better.
There were only two flaws to the book. The first flaw was that as you read and come to a brilliant insight, a hundred more examples of what she is talking about spring into your mind. For instance, in the chapter on the belief in God in Harry Potter, she makes a valid point, but I would have wanted mention of other instances, such as all the instances of characters, specifically Harry, praying. And there is a fantastic moment in HBP (p. 271) when young Voldemort is mock praying, only he is worshiping himself.
The only other flaw is that the book is only 109 pages, and that I didn’t want it to end that soon.
My response to A. T. Ross:
Thank you for the positive review. I really loved what you wrote about my book. As for the chapter on belief in God in Harry Potter, an author named Nancy Solon Villaluz has written about every instance of a character “praying” in the series, so I didn’t want to write about what she has already described in her book, “Does Harry Potter Tickle Sleeping Dragons?” And with regards to John Granger, I’m a HUGE fan of his work. When I read his first book on Harry Potter several years ago, I began keeping a journal of my own interpretations of the symbolism in the series, predictions about what would happen in the final three books, and a lot of detailed research notes. I didn’t plan on writing a book though. A week after Deathly Hallows was released I was asked to fill in as a guest lecturer at a local SF/F convention at the last minute. I used my notes to put together a one-hour lecture that was received with cheers, a few tears, and a standing ovation from an audience of about 200 fans. “You should write a book,” was what I heard for the rest of the day, so I started writing one.
I have actually written a lot more on Rowling and C. S. Lewis since The Lord of the Hallows was published. I’ll be presenting my paper on Harry Potter and Narnia at the Infinitus 2010 Harry Potter Symposium in Orlando.
I’m glad that you enjoyed the book. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Denise Roper
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