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.