YA Book Council discussion

UPDATE 12/7: since there are over 100 comments on this post, please scroll down and click to the next page to read all comments.

It's official: The Council members of YABC have chosen The Tales of Beedle the Bard as our December Official selection. I can't seem to remember who was the first to suggest it, so the credit will have to go to the members who attended the last meeting (Roxy, Alethea, David, and me).

This is where we'll post our discussion minutes and do our Live Blogging. Alethea will post comments as we say it during our meeting and anyone can respond. Feel free to post any questions you want to discuss about the book here. You can also respond to any of the questions before or after our meeting. Usually, we would save responses for the meeting, but since the book's not released yet, it can't possibly do any harm. =)

My first question was about a Beedle the Bard audio... is there one? I want to hear Jim Dale! I've been trying to buy up all the ones he's read because I'm feeling nostalgic.

I don't see one available! But I saw a Monster Book of Monsters plush toy.

Yay, I'm excited about The Tales of Beedle the Bard for December. I think it's on everyone's to-read list. Good choice!

By the way, I'm E.M. & I found this group through Study Buddies. I'm not local, so I can't participate in the physical activities, but I'm glad to join in discussions with other YA lovers/stalkers/booksellers/wannabe writers. :o)

Welcome, E.! Gee you look familiar... ;-) jk

I just hope my amazon-exclusive one comes before the meeting! I hope they did a better job on that than the hardcover boxed set.

I am SO excited! Even though I should be preparing for Finals, I'm spending more time developing HP games to go with the book release.

I wonder why Scholastic didn't think to put out an audio. Maybe it has something to do with the profits going to charity?

Alethea, I think you should bother Amazon about sending it on time. I received my Ranger's Apprentice 5 about 3 weeks after it was released even though I pre-ordered!

Will the live blogging be at 12/7 @ 7:30 pm PST? Just trying to clarify for other timezoners.

Oh, Alethea I hope you get your book. I'm always too anxious to wait on the mail for a pre-release. I bite the bullet, wait in line, & pay the higher price to get it in the store on the street date. **I think I might have an instant gratification problem** Ahem.

So is anyone going to re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to refresh? I've been thinking about it. But since this novel is independent of the series it shouldn't matter, right?

E. Yes, 7:30 Pacific (We're in California)-- so that's a different time for you, right?

I thought about re-reading Deathly Hallows, but I wouldn't have time to finish before the meeting, so I'll probably just read the chapter that contains the Bard story. I think the stories are independent, but for some reason I feel that there'll be a few subtle references to the series. I'll probably have to go back and look for clues. Maybe there's a story about some characters that we're not too familiar with. I don't know... Speculation anyone?

Yes, I'm on CST so that would be 9:30 for me. That's not too late though.

You're probably right about the subtle references. It'll be cool to see if she links them if at all.

I'm not going to have time to re-read. I'm confident the Roxana Living-Book of Harry Potter Minutiae will a handy reference enough for me at the meeting ^_^

Ha! That's exactly what I was thinking... Roxy, the walking HP encyclopedia.

On another Harry Potter topic: Have you guys seen the new trailer?

NO! Where's the new trailer to be found??? I can't wait for the Beedle book - and yes, I should reread the final book - I don't remember much of it at all. ;)

Yes I have seen the Trailer! I am very excited to watch this next Harry Potter movie. It looks good. I was thinking of rereading the books too, it's been a while. I only remember the major summary. You can find the trailers at: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809791...

Oh yes! I saw it as a preview to Twilight on Thursday night. It was the highlight of the film.

Wow - that was intense! Just saw the trailer - thaks for sharing the link!

Jen

For Sunday's discussion:

In which I thought were interesting and want to know what you think:

the clarification of the term "warlock"

Dumbledore's commentaries

I probably have to reread it again, but what's with the shoe in "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot"?

Pg 40: the banning of wizarding books

pg 57: Hector Dagworth-Granger; any relations?

pg 83: "born not created", muggles and the magic of the wand

JKR and sticking with her own rules (like with talking Animagi)

pg 97: no matter how many times I think about it, I'm still impressed with the detail about the invisibility cloaks--mainly from HP7

Stylistically, age group, interest level: same as HP?

After reading, did you guys think that someone would have to reread the books to know what's happening?

Favorite story?

I checked my mailbox today... alas, no Beedle Super Expensive Special Edition. :( Shipping estimate says it will arrive on about the 10th. Oh, well. I'll post pics!

The shoe in "the wizard and the hopping pot" is to prevent it from making the annoying clanking sounds when it gets all upset because the pot has a BRASS foot.

I don't have a copy of the book in front of me cause Nancy bought it from Amazon and we didn't get it yet. So I read it at the bookstore... I had to in time for the discussion.

The in person group discussion has been cancelled but a few people are logged online to still discuss "Tales of Beedle and the Bard." Sorry for any inconvenience.
Is anyone on?

Hi!!

I just got home from work and dinner w/ Jason's parents (long story short: emergency, trauma, drama, had to commit to dinner, skip over boring details--back to the Beedle!)

I loved the Hopping Pot story, I think that's my second favorite next to The Fountain of Fair Fortune.

I really liked the stuff about Ms. Bloxam's mangled, mollified, marshmallowey versions of the Tales.

And though Tom thought the Dumbledore commentary boring and unnecessary, I loved it--craved it, even! Although I agree with him, she should have written more Tales!!!

My favorite story was of Babbity Rabbity. I like that it talked a bit about the animagi.

Yay! My internet is finally back on.

I think I was really tired when I read the Hopping Pot story. I don't think I quite understand why the father would tell his son "I hope you wouldn't need this" about the shoe. I think I should read it again.

My favorite was the Three Brothers (obviously), but I really like Babbity Rabbity because I thought it was really funny. And like Alfonso, I also like the commentary about the animagi.

The thing with the animagi that I most liked was the fact that JKR didn't break her own magic rules about the whole talking thing.

oh yeah, if you don't understand what I meant with my whole load of nonsense above, those were just notes I took while reading.

I really liked the Fountain of Fair Fortune as well. I'm a big supporter of you being in charge of your own fortunes.

I think the Dumbledore commentary WAS the book. It gave so much more depth to the stories and tied them into the great HP series.

Babbity Rabbity was interesting too, the discussion of animagi is always interesting.

Hope you had a good dinner.

I thought at times Dumbledore's commentaries were a tad boring-- but like I said, I was really tired when I read the book. I liked how the commentaries weren't just gibberish and it read like how Dumbledore would have actually wrote them. It made sense and gave me a taste of what the Encyclopedia will be like. It's similar in style to the Magical Beasts and Quidditch Through the Ages books.

I haven't read the Magical Beasts and Quidditch through the Ages books.

The only commentary that I thought was a little boring was the one relating to "The Fountain of Fair Fortune."

My electricity went out by the way for those of you who didn't know that was the main reason I canceled the meeting. .. And I had this whole thing planned out too! With roast chicken, sausage stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, cauldron molten cake, licorice wands, butterbeer (even non-dairy butterbeer!)... and we were going to play Harry Potter DVD game and make wands and drink potions.

aww man that sounds awesome! How did your electricity go out?

Jane wrote: "My electricity went out by the way for those of you who didn't know that was the main reason I canceled the meeting. .. And I had this whole thing planned out too! With roast chicken, sausage stuf..."

Jane, hold that thought! I hope we can do the whole thing some other time--anyway aside from the family emergency I had, I couldn't find my cape, and I forgot my Time-Turner at home. sigh.

I think the father in the Hopping Pot story was implying that he would need the slipper if the Pot was being annoying. Which would only happen if the son was refusing to help all the townspeople. So I think he was trying to make sure the son was going to carry on his good works, but he knew if the guy didn't that the Pot would take core of that problem!

I loved the illustration of the warty pot spewing slugs. Priceless.

The Magical Beasts and Quidditch Through the Ages books were also ones made for charity like Beedle the Bard -- and the way they're written is as if JKR assumed the identities of the wizard writers themselves. There's a lot of historically-like stuff in both books. It reads a little like a history book sometimes too. But still interesting all the same. Borrow it from me the next time you're in town.

Jane wrote: "The Magical Beasts and Quidditch Through the Ages books were also ones made for charity like Beedle the Bard -- and the way they're written is as if JKR assumed the identities of the wizard writers..."

I see, sure will.

In the commentary of the Warlocks Hairy Heart, I think that it is interesting that Dumbledore makes a comment about his maiden aunt Honoria calling off her engagement. He writes in that it was "rumored that she actually discovered him in the act of fondling some Horklumps" Horklumps- are pink, bristly mushroom-like creatures. Since she had made the comment that Dumbledore was gay, I thought that his comment made it sound like he was fondling a penis like creature. Just an interesting thing I noticed.

Suzy wrote: "aww man that sounds awesome! How did your electricity go out? "

Those MP city jerks were doing maintenance. It was out for 8 hours! My mom was walking through the hall holding a candle. (Bubu (my dog) was so happy we were all home.) If I wasn't in my final week of school I would've welcomed it and just read books, but I really needed my computer to finish homework. Oh well, since there's no meeting, I'll have time to finish it tonight.

Fantastic beasts and where to find them

haha it does sound very dirty... that is interesting.

Jane wrote: "Suzy wrote: "aww man that sounds awesome! How did your electricity go out? "

Those MP city jerks were doing maintenance. It was out for 8 hours! My mom was walking through the hall holding a c..."

That sucks. Good thing you have extra time now to catch up. Good Luck on Finals!

In fantastic beasts and where to find them the description gives you the impression of a penis and pubic hair. I don't know why this is interesting to me. I just think that it is odd having Dumbledore add that commentary. Maybe he is implying that his aunt found out that her suitor might be gay and that is why she called it off.

I did think that was hilarious about the Horklumps. What would Dumbledore have thought of SuperBad? I'd like to think he'd laugh his beard off.

So, age-wise, do you think a street-smart 8 or 9 year old would get a sufficient laugh out of a Horklump joke, or would they be left scratching their heads?

Alfonso wrote: "Fantastic beasts and where to find them
"

Yes. That's that right title, not Magical Beasts.

Alfonso wrote: "In fantastic beasts and where to find them the description gives you the impression of a penis and pubic hair. I don't know why this is interesting to me. I just think that it is odd having Dumbled..."

only you would bring that up Alfonso.

I thought it was too short. I would've loved more stories.

Alethea wrote: "I did think that was hilarious about the Horklumps. What would Dumbledore have thought of SuperBad? I'd like to think he'd laugh his beard off.

So, age-wise, do you think a street-smart 8 or 9 yea..."

I hope it went over their heads...too young to know exactly what they were referring to. It was quite hilarious.

I think I'm tied between the Warlock's Hairy Heart and The Tale of the Three Brothers for my favorite tale. (Also, hi guys!)

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, which makes sense if they're modeled after the Grimms, Hans Anderson, or Aesops. It gives it a much more realistic quality as myth/tales.

I think I like the happy ending of the Fountain tale.