This is really sad, if it's true-

[mary_j_59]

Publisher's Weekly tweeted this. I hope Rowling will speak out against it; that might make some difference.

But really, kids old enough to read the Potter books ought to be able to tell the difference between fantasy and reality! One wonders how long this has been going on, and whether it's happening in other countries?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jhRNCtp8zTsk87bk5fe4cj6gQDIQ?docId=CNG.d38937404101e4d7e98cb91a23a3c053.721

Comments

[professor-mum.livejournal.com]

Well, not *everything* is Jo's fault. Whatever happened to personal responsibility or thinking for one's self? Unfortunately the story plays right into the quasi-religious and always sanctamonious HP haters camp.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Um - well, I don't like HP very much anymore. But I'd never blame Rowling for the acts of crazy or irresponsible fans! Still, I think it wouldn't hurt for her to speak out against this even more strongly than she already has.

[professor-mum.livejournal.com]

I watched a little bit of the HBP movie last night on HBO and it thought it was amusing that I had to reach into the recesses of my brain to pull up facts that I used to be able to reel off. Agree --- Jo could say something. I just don't like the 'dark magic' angle of the article because it brings out the crazies who are dying to shout "see, see...HP does lead to witchcraft". It's just not true for 99.9% of readers, and if it does spark an interest in the topic practioners are surely to be disappointed when they cannot levicorpus the school bully.

[nemesister.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I think she already said something about owls not really being pets years ago. Had nothing to do specifically with India back then... So I doubt anyone's really listening.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Probably true. And, as I said above, no one could blame her for this. But she could still speak out about it. It wouldn't hurt to try!

[sionna-raven.livejournal.com]

Things like that happen every time animals are featured in popular movies. Rescues have been flooded with unwanted dalmatians after the Disney movie; St. Bernhards became fashionable, after 'Beethoven' etc.
With wild animals this is surely worse. A clear statement against it from JKR and WB is the least they can do.

I remember the reaction of the German children's book author Cornelia Funke (Inkheart; Thief Lord), when she was informed that a group of girls formed a gang and bullied their classmates under the names of her series 'Die Wilden Hühner (Wild Chicks)'. Funke not only addressed it at her website, but met with the victims and the bullying girls and forbid the use of the name. She said it is totally unacceptable that her books should be used as inspiration for such behaviour by so-called fans.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Well, that makes me like Funke more! I do think a strong response by an author, when her books are being misused, can be helpful.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Years ago Rowling wrote something on her site about this - see Owls. But I doubt those kids (and their parents) read Rowling's site.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

You're right about that, I'm sure. But couldn't the publisher say something in the Indian press? (and sorry for the delay in responding.) As I said, I don't blame Rowling for this at all - I may reasonably blame her for writing bad books, but not for anything her fans do! I just think she ought to speak out against this sort of misinterpretation - also for the reason Professor-Mum has noted above.