The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

[Alfonso]

I think that a 8 year old would not understand it. Maybe as Dwight said in the Office "Phyllis, sorry - penises on the brain."

[Roxy]

I also think that Dumbledore's commentary is what basically made the book, especially since I'd already read Amazon's summaries, so none of the stories were really new to me. My favorite line had to be the one where he mentions Lucius Malfoy as Voldemort's Favorite Death Eater.

[Jane]

Re: the clarification of the term "warlock"

I really liked that she wrote about this. I always wondered what the term meant in the HP world too.

[A]

Hi, Roxy!!! Happy early birthday!!!!

I think I glossed over the Three Brothers a bit, having already read it, knowing the significance, and having heard a similar story (so much so that reading it in HP7 was like de ja vu)

Let's face it, I liked them all, even the abrupt ending to The Warlock's Hairy Heart. I liked the element of grotesque.

[Jane]

David wrote: "I thought it was too short. I would've loved more stories."

I really think it was too short. I think it needed at least 10 tales. Plus I wanted more to do with possible truths (like the Three Brothers story).

[David]

I was wondering if the Warlock was going to introduce vampyrism.

[Alfonso]

Jane wrote: "Re: Horklunps.

Now I remember what I meant about language (notes from above). For some reason, I felt that some themes in the stories were meant for much more mature than the HP age group, whic..."

Which themes Jane?

[Roxy]

I loved the new fictional books she mentioned, especially The Hairy Heart: A Guide to Wizards Who Won't Commit.

[David]

Jane wrote: "David wrote: "I thought it was too short. I would've loved more stories."

I really think it was too short. I think it needed at least 10 tales. Plus I wanted more to do with possible truths (li..."

I think that the short length provides encouragement that people will read the footnotes and commentary. Unlike Watchmen where I skipped over the literary supplements.

[Roxy]

Alethea wrote: "Hi, Roxy!!! Happy early birthday!!!!

I think I glossed over the Three Brothers a bit, having already read it, knowing the significance, and having heard a similar story (so much so that reading it..."

Thanks! :D

[A]

I don't think a re-reading of the HP series would be necessary to get the Tales. I think a fair familiarity with the rules (and as you said, JKR doesn't break them--only professes through Dumbledore that the Tales are folklore, teaching stories, and sometimes depart from "real" wizarding rules to prove a point.

[Jane]

Alfonso wrote: "Which themes..."

The Horklumps, the cutting out the heart (Hairy Heart), plus I think the language (especially in Dumbledore's commentaries) are a little step up in diction than Harry Potter.

[Alfonso]

Alethea wrote: "Hi, Roxy!!! Happy early birthday!!!!

I think I glossed over the Three Brothers a bit, having already read it, knowing the significance, and having heard a similar story (so much so that reading it..."

I like that Wizards did not change that story much. Dumbledore had mentioned that they had censored some of the pro-muggle stories.

[Alfonso]

David wrote: "I was wondering if the Warlock was going to introduce vampyrism."


?

[Jane]

Roxy wrote: "Lucius Malfoy as Voldemort's Favorite Death Eater"

That's my favorite line too!

[Roxy]

Alethea wrote: "I don't think a re-reading of the HP series would be necessary to get the Tales. I think a fair familiarity with the rules (and as you said, JKR doesn't break them--only professes through Dumbledor..."

I thought that was interesting in itself, that even wizards have their own make-believe stories that really could never happen even with all their magic.

[Jane]

David wrote: "I was wondering if the Warlock was going to introduce vampyrism."

Huh?

[A]

Yes, ewwww! The heart-cutting-out-part. I nearly burst out laughing at the drawing too--it was sad but also so earnestly rendered that it came out a little funny to me. Also it was like, 3 am and I didn't want to wake up the whole building.

[Roxy]

You know which drawing I really liked? The one of the horse, it looks pretty to me.

[Jane]

Alethea wrote: "Hi, Roxy!!! Happy early birthday!!!!"

I would've taken a picture of your Happy Birthday cauldron cake, but I couldn't bake it because my house would've set fire because I couldn't see in the dark.

[Alfonso]

I like that there was a comment in the beginning about how even those with magic could not control what is going on, like those in Sleeping Beauty and other muggle fairy tales.

[Alfonso]

Roxy wrote: "You know which drawing I really liked? The one of the horse, it looks pretty to me. "

so do I. I liked some of the illustrations.

[David]

I was wondering if the feral Beastly heart had developed some kind of blood lust. Of course in the text which I don't have with me because I did not come to online book club prepared it says that it was more of a normal I'm killing you with a knife to remove your heart killing.

[Jane]

Alethea wrote: "I don't think a re-reading of the HP series would be necessary to get the Tales. I think a fair familiarity with the rules (and as you said, JKR doesn't break them--only professes through Dumbledor..."

I think if someone (like Nancy) who didn't read the books and just based what they knew from the movies, they would've been a little lost.

[Roxy]

Jane wrote: "Alethea wrote: "Hi, Roxy!!! Happy early birthday!!!!"

I would've taken a picture of your Happy Birthday cauldron cake, but I couldn't bake it because my house would've set fire because I couldn't ..."

Aww, that's sweet. What IS a cauldron cake anyway?

[Jane]

The removing of the heart reminds me more of Dragonheart (you know the best dragon movie ever).

[Roxy]

I also liked the bit that was pointed out in the introduction about the women in these tales as well. Something about them not being the type to sit around to be rescued, unlike the women in most Muggle fairytales.

[Alfonso]

I thought that it was a little out of character in the commentary that Dumbledore mentioned that he was one of the world's most brilliant wizards. Pg. 17 of the first story.

[Jane]

Re: Cauldron cake
It's whatever you think it is. =) I imagined a mini molten cake with licorice handles.

Re: David "online book club"
This is not an online book club except for today =(
We'll have the Harry Potter stuff in January.

[Alfonso]

I like some of the insults hurled at pro-Muggle witches and wizards. Like Dunglickers and Scumsuckers.

[Jane]

I like the vampirism thing; I get what you're saying now.

I was hoping there would be a story about vampires... but if I remember correctly, the only time vampires are mentioned is during a Slug Club party in Bk 6.

[Alfonso]

They could of added some stories about werewolves.

[Jane]

I have to admit that I'm really impressed about the illustrations. I didn't know she could draw.

[David]

Alfonso wrote: "They could of added some stories about werewolves."

They? Or She. She who is Rowling.

[A]

Jane, thanks for reminding me I don't have a copy of Dragonheart. (distracted, shopping... I'm back!)

Fonso, I think Dumbledore does it twice! It's a footnote like, "Such as myself" or something. I should go get my book.

[Alfonso]

David wrote: "Alfonso wrote: "They could of added some stories about werewolves."

They? Or She. She who is Rowling."

Rowling or the bard

[A]

Jane wrote: "I have to admit that I'm really impressed about the illustrations. I didn't know she could draw. "

I didn't know that either. I like the Fountain of Fair Fortune drawing of the group walking along, they remind me of old-school, medieval church "pole people" style drawings.

[Jane]

The bard is one person... so He?

[Alfonso]

Alethea wrote: "Jane, thanks for reminding me I don't have a copy of Dragonheart. (distracted, shopping... I'm back!)

Fonso, I think Dumbledore does it twice! It's a footnote like, "Such as myself" or something...."

Just something small, it does not fit with his character. I think that he knows he is a bad ass, but he doesn't have to say it.

[Jane]

Re: Pg 40: the banning of wizarding books

I felt that this commentary was hitting a little close to heart with Rowling.

[Alfonso]

Jane wrote: "The bard is one person... so He?"

You mean Shakespeare Jane?

[Jane]

Did she also do the Harry Potter drawings in the book?

[Roxy]

Yeah, he does the "Such as myself" footnote twice, which I found funny, but not really out of character. I think it's around Half-Blood Prince that shows a little bit of Dumbledore's ego peaking through, though I always think it's hilarious when that happens.

[Roxy]

What kind of name is Beedle anyway?

[A]

I think you're right, Jane. Although didn't people turn around eventually and go, oh! we see Christian values, there they are, it's ok now. I know because until Bk 7 came out Jason's little cousin Marissa wasn't allowed to even watch an HP movie trailer... she had to avert her eyes.

[Jane]

I like the Fountain Fair Fortune drawing too.

[Roxy]

Jane wrote: "Did she also do the Harry Potter drawings in the book?"

For this book, yeah she did.

[A]

I think Mary GrandPre does all the official HP drawrings.

[Alfonso]

Roxy wrote: "Yeah, he does the "Such as myself" footnote twice, which I found funny, but not really out of character. I think it's around Half-Blood Prince that shows a little bit of Dumbledore's ego peaking th..."

It has been a while since I went through the books. I think that their is a time in the 5 book that he mentions his arrogance when it comes to Voldie.

[Roxy]

Alethea wrote: "I think you're right, Jane. Although didn't people turn around eventually and go, oh! we see Christian values, there they are, it's ok now.

What, because of Harry's ressurection?