Ugh, that was annoying. I'd had most of my response written out then Firefox crashed. So, starting over. Oh yes, I don't half-ass things (if you pardon the term). To be honest, I'm not that familiar with Judy Blume, so I can't really comment on how closely Harriet's situation relates. I just wanted it to be frank, and make Harriet "real" in that sense. It is something all teens go through, regardless of their interests. And figuring me readership was going to be a bit on the older side anyway, I decided to go with it. That said, there are lines I'm not going to cross, given the rating, so nothing will get too explicit but I won't pretend it's not there or only express it via a "crush" as with Harry/Cho. It was a long time ago, but I was that age once myself, and I remember it well. My friends and I always talked about girls... Always. I'm not bragging, just admitting frankly. That always irked me slightly about Harry in the canon. I think JK worked a little too hard to make him an "everyman." And I understand that angle, it allows the reader to project their own self onto the character easier, and thus be "relatable" that way. I didn't want that for Harriet in writing this however, I wanted Harriet to be "real." She's not a "blank slate" for everyone to impose themselves on to, she's a living, breathing person (in effect, anyway). She can be empathised and sympathised with. So, that helps me I think in not being afraid to "go there."
Is it bad of me to admit that your reaction to that is exactly the reaction I wanted everyone to have? Haha.
Comment on The Adventures of Harriet Potter: Year 3
Nemily on Chapter 2 Sat 11 Apr 2015 12:47PM UTC
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