J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life

Rolling Thunder · Jul 16, 2009

Begins at 8:00pm eastern time on most ABC channels.

I put the thread here in the event anyone wants to discuss the program afterwards, since it's about a writer.

vixey · Jul 16, 2009

I have a J.K. story...

In 2003, when she was releasing her 5th book, H.P. and the Order of the Phoenix, my family (kids aged 9, 11, 13) happened to be in Edinburough, Scotland. We were headed back to our hotel after dinner at around ten-ish when a white limo pulled up near us on the street. A woman leaned out of the car and waved.

I didn't know until the next day that it was J.K.Rowling!

She was on her way to a midnight book signing at an undisclosed bookstore nearby.

katiemac · Jul 16, 2009

I've got it on, and so far two things have struck me:

1. When asked a few questions ("what quality do you most admire," "what quality do you most despise"), the answers ("courage," "bigotry") match quite clearly to themes in the Potter series. We often discuss here how an author's own opinions and views affect her work.

2. Upon finishing the final book, she said, "Well, some people with loathe it." Understanding, of course, she was happy with the outcome but knowing she would not please everyone. We see this frequently on AW as well.

katiemac · Jul 16, 2009

Two more things:

1. When asked if she was lucky, she said she was "lucky to get the idea."

2. We had a discussion not too long ago on AW about an author's right to have the last word on his/her story vs. the reader's right to accept/ignore information not written in the books. Here's a quote of hers I took from the documentary:

I would like my version to be the official version, even though it's not written in the book. Because it's my world.

Virector · Jul 16, 2009

I watched it. It was wonderful and it inspired me.

I like how she said that in order for some people to love your work, some people have to loathe it. It reminded me that you should NEVER let anyone's ill opinions of your work bring you down. I've also always admired how she poured her emotions and real life experiences into her world and that is part of what makes the Potter books so wonderful to me-- that real, genuine emotional connection that you can feel as you are reading. Much of what I write is a bit 'weak', but I've found that the best pieces of writing I've ever produced were spawned by real pain/anger/joy/depression just as the tragedies in JKR's life seeped into her work.

Matera the Mad · Jul 16, 2009

One of the few times I wish I had one of those box things in my house

katiemac · Jul 16, 2009

Virector said:
I watched it. It was wonderful and it inspired me.

I like how she said that in order for some people to love your work, some people have to loathe it. It reminded me that you should NEVER let anyone's ill opinions of your work bring you down. I've also always admired how she poured her emotions and real life experiences into her world and that is part of what makes the Potter books so wonderful to me-- that real, genuine emotional connection that you can feel as you are reading. Much of what I write is a bit 'weak', but I've found that the best pieces of writing I've ever produced were spawned by real pain/anger/joy/depression just as the tragedies in JKR's life seeped into her work.

Yes, it seemed like she took an entirely healthy attitude to the idea that she cannot please everyone, even (especially) her hardcore fans. I think a lot of us here would do well to remember that.

And it is very obvious, when you look at some events in her life, that those match thematically to the Potter series. The death of a parent, for example, is a particularly strong theme, as are impending death and love. What, again, I find interesting is that she didn't set out to discuss these themes, but retrospectively could see them quite clearly in her writing.

It was also interesting to hear her describe Voldemort - a man who tries to make himself immortal by killing other people. Well, of course that's what he does - but I never quite recognized the character boiled down that way.

Cranky · Jul 16, 2009

I was doing homework and such at the time...anyone know if it's going to re-air?

Virector · Jul 16, 2009

katiemac said:
Yes, it seemed like she took an entirely healthy attitude to the idea that she cannot please everyone, even (especially) her hardcore fans. I think a lot of us here would do well to remember that.

And it is very obvious, when you look at some events in her life, that those match thematically to the Potter series. The death of a parent, for example, is a particularly strong theme, as are impending death and love. What, again, I find interesting is that she didn't set out to discuss these themes, but retrospectively could see them quite clearly in her writing.

It was also interesting to hear her describe Voldemort - a man who tries to make himself immortal by killing other people. Well, of course that's what he does - but I never quite recognized the character boiled down that way.

So true!

She was also asked what she still wants to achieve and her answer was: "I want to get better." That was a very humble thing to say and I admire her for it. I know that a lot of people in this world would be extremely vain if they became the wealthiest author on the planet, but not JKR. She just wants to get better at it and she writes because she loves to.

And for those who missed it, she said that her next book will be a "political fairytale" and she refused to divulge any further details...

willietheshakes · Jul 16, 2009

An interesting aside -- this special was a re-edit, re-dub of a British special that ran about 18 months ago. I think I noticed a few tweaks of the actual film, but what really struck me was the difference in tone and pitch offered by the American dub of the narration. I hesitate to describe it as "dumbed down", but it was certainly less affecting than the original version. IMHO, natch.

Virector · Jul 17, 2009

willietheshakes said:
An interesting aside -- this special was a re-edit, re-dub of a British special that ran about 18 months ago. I think I noticed a few tweaks of the actual film, but what really struck me was the difference in tone and pitch offered by the American dub of the narration. I hesitate to describe it as "dumbed down", but it was certainly less affecting than the original version. IMHO, natch.

The one I watched here on Wednesday (in New Zealand, btw) did not have an American providing the narration or anything, so I think I must have watched the original British special.

*Edit: I just checked the recording on my decoder and it is the original 2007 special.

Lisa Cox · Jul 17, 2009

I watched this when it originally aired and loved it. It really inspired me. One bit that sticks out is when she's asked how much money she has, and she says something like, "Oh, lots! Just not as much as people think." The honesty there made me smile.

All in all, it was a brilliant documentary. They showed her in some very unguarded moments -- like when she and her sister were sitting around the fire with some wine, discussing family. The docu was touching in places, thought-provoking in others. I like that she still gets nervous when doing public appearances, and still thinks to fall back on her old crutch (smoking). That she wants to 'get better'. That she's not going to retire -- at the core of it, writing is her passion. She's not become complacent since Potter came and went.

She's still 'one of us', despite the astronomical success.

And she types faster than anyone I've ever known!

Virector · Jul 17, 2009

lisamarie84x said:
And she types faster than anyone I've ever known!

You can say that again! I thought I was the only one who noticed how fast she was typing!

errantruth · Jul 17, 2009

DAYUM! Does anyone know when it's gonna re-air? Or if it's on Youtube... Grrr!

Until I find out, I must live it vicariously through your discussion about it

swvaughn · Jul 17, 2009

I missed it cuz I was at the theater, watching Half-Blood Prince. Ironic, huh?

trocadero · Jul 17, 2009

I just watched it on youtube. Maybe it was the Brit version because it was uploaded in June. I think her own story is as fascinating and magical as Harry Potter's. It was a great insight into her past and how she thinks. SPOILER WARNING The moment near the end where she visits where it started was so moving. How bizarre it must have been to see her old bedroom, with someone else's copies of her books on their bookshelf. Great stuff.

CaroGirl · Jul 17, 2009

I watched it when it originally aired and loved it. She's passionate, intelligent, ambitious and still, somehow, humble about her success. Good for her for following her dream and finding gold at the end of her rainbow.

Shadow_Ferret · Jul 17, 2009

What? I missed it? Oh drat.

katiemac · Jul 17, 2009

willietheshakes said:
An interesting aside -- this special was a re-edit, re-dub of a British special that ran about 18 months ago. I think I noticed a few tweaks of the actual film, but what really struck me was the difference in tone and pitch offered by the American dub of the narration. I hesitate to describe it as "dumbed down", but it was certainly less affecting than the original version. IMHO, natch.

Ugh, I knew it had aired before and knew they'd tweaked it. I was watching it and thought the narration was positively stupid (sorry Elizabeth). The actual interview, however, was interesting. I'd like to see a copy of the British broadcast.

lilyanaalantar · Jul 17, 2009

errantruth said:
DAYUM! Does anyone know when it's gonna re-air? Or if it's on Youtube... Grrr! Until I find out, I must live it vicariously through your discussion about it

it's on youtube

bettielee · Jul 17, 2009

I missed the first 15 minutes! Only, I was confuzzzled, because I do remember a show where she went back to where it all began, and I think it was a different, much smaller flat, and much less nicely furnished and painted.

I wonder if this is where she finished (because I know she had gotten a better job at some point before she finished) and the other apt I remember seeing was where she STARTED. I distinctly remember her being in the kitchen and saying how much nicer the flat was now, that they had redone it, and I didn't hear her say that. (I thought it was kind of her to make that point -we had all heard what a dump she had lived in, but didn't want to put down the current tenant's house!) The reason it stuck out to me, was because she was SOBBING last night, and I don't remember her crying.

katiemac · Jul 17, 2009

bettielee said:
I missed the first 15 minutes! Only, I was confuzzzled, because I do remember a show where she went back to where it all began, and I think it was a different, much smaller flat, and much less nicely furnished and painted.

I wonder if this is where she finished (because I know she had gotten a better job at some point before she finished) and the other apt I remember seeing was where she STARTED. I distinctly remember her being in the kitchen and saying how much nicer the flat was now, that they had redone it, and I didn't hear her say that. (I thought it was kind of her to make that point -we had all heard what a dump she had lived in, but didn't want to put down the current tenant's house!) The reason it stuck out to me, was because she was SOBBING last night, and I don't remember her crying.

She finished writing in a hotel room somewhere, which they showed in the documentary; she wasn't crying then. She'd definitely already moved out of her flat where she started at that point - the books had been on the shelves for 8 years or so. Maybe it was a difference in the US vs. UK versions - if that was one of the tweaks.

bettielee · Jul 17, 2009

No, I don't mean where she finished the 7th book, I mean where she finished the very first book. She was crying when she was in the apt in last night's version, and she wasn't in the one I saw before.

katiemac · Jul 17, 2009

Ahh, gotcha. Couldn't tell you, then.

What a trip, though, to go back and see your old apartment with your published books sitting on the shelf?

HelloKiddo · Jul 17, 2009

katiemac said:
We had a discussion not too long ago on AW about an author's right to have the last word on his/her story vs. the reader's right to accept/ignore information not written in the books.

I missed this thread. Could somebody point me in the direction I need to go to find it?

I thought Rowling came off very well in the documentary. Ordinarily I can't stand her (sorry guys,) but I found her only mildly annoying in this interview. Mostly pleasant, in fact.

Another thing I noticed: During her seven-hour book signing (Oi!) she was drinking champagne and talking about getting blitzed while signing books for a bunch of little kids. That is a marked difference between the US and Britain. If a children's author behaved like that during a book signing here in the US there would be protesters and outrage. Outrage!

J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life

C'est la vie!

Five by Five

Five by Five

The only one

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Five by Five

The only one

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

The only one

The only one

adrift

Living the dream

Court Jester

Five by Five

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Five by Five

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Five by Five

bemused observer