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masterofmystery · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2008, 08:33 PM

We told you back in April that J.K Rowling would write an excerpt for The Birthday Book, which will commemorate the Prince of Wales' 60th birthday; the proceeds from it will benefit the The Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts. An excerpt from her contribution can now be found online here. It is accompanied by an illustration from Quentin Blake of Harry in the forest, which can be seen here.

Jo talked about the scene in The Forest Again chapter from Deathly Hallows, and how significant it was in the series and for her:

Quote:

I admit that, at first glance, the extract I've chosen for The Birthday Book might not seem particularly celebratory, given that it has for its subject my hero walking to what he believes will be certain death. But when Harry takes his last, long walk into the heart of the Dark Forest, he is choosing to accept a burden that fell on him when still a tiny child, in spite of the fact that he never sought the role for which he has been cast, never wanted the scar with which he has been marked. As his mentor, Albus Dumbledore, has tried to make clear to Harry, he could have refused to follow the path marked out for him. In spite of the weight of opinion and expectation that singles him out as the "Chosen One", it is Harry's own will that takes him into the Forest to meet Voldemort, prepared to suffer the fate that he escaped sixteen years before.

The destinies of wizards and princes might seem more certain than those carved out for the rest of us, yet we all have to choose the manner in which we meet life: whether to live up (or down) to the expectations placed upon us; whether to act selfishly, or for the common good; whether to steer the course of our lives ourselves, or to allow ourselves to be buffeted around by chance and circumstance. Birthdays are often moments for reflection, moments when we pause, look around, and take stock of where we are; children gleefully contemplate how far they have come, whereas adults look forwards into the trees, wondering how much further they have to go. This extract from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is my favourite part of the seventh book; it might even be my favourite part of the entire series, and in it, Harry demonstrates his truly heroic nature, because he overcomes his own terror to protect the people he loves from death, and the whole of his society from tyranny.

The Birthday Book can be bought at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Source: The Leaky Cauldron

rellybelly · 11-13-2008, 08:42 PM

I agree with her. This is very intersting.
I like that part most too. At that part I remember crying histerically and then I through the book across the room and was so upset, casue I thought he was going to die! lol
I have learnt a lot from the books. Even on life itself. She has been a great influence in my life.
First to post!

EmmaRiddle · 11-13-2008, 08:48 PM

I remember reading this chapter, blubbing the entire way through. I had thought Harry would die, I even sort of wanted him to, but once I got to this chapter, I realised how heartbreaking that notion was.

Ginny GL · 11-13-2008, 08:53 PM

Quite interesting.

LunaticLady · 11-13-2008, 08:53 PM

Given how realistic and "normal" Harry is throughout the books, he might even be too heroic there. I mean, could anybody really act like that? I doubt it.

masterofmystery · 11-13-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

I mean, could anybody really act like that?

Readers may be able to relate to Harry because of how normal he is at times, but he's also been through extraordinary circumstances, which should be put into consideration when figuring out whether or not he would act like that in the forest.

Zoe · 11-13-2008, 09:02 PM

I agree with her. I remember reading through that chapter not being able to put it down. I always had this "When is Harry going to die?" question in my head throughout the book and then BAM! there it is. But I am pretty glad that Harry died, but he came back through the sacrifice he had made. You can learn a lot of life lessons from Deathly Hallows, as well as the other books as a whole.

LunaticLady · 11-13-2008, 09:08 PM

I'm not saying it wasn't in-character or anything, it's just not my favourite part.

Slytherin Fox · 11-13-2008, 09:15 PM

I thought this was one of the most important parts of the book, if not the single most important part. You could tell that Harry was making a really huge decision when he was walking through the forest, and Jo's description of what was happening was one of her best ever, and you know that everything that happened up to that point all hung on what was about to unfold, and Harry's decision. Good choice!

French_December · 11-13-2008, 09:28 PM

I love the drawing. It looked like something Roald Dahl came up with.

I agree with what Jo said. It's up to us to decide what to do with our future.

griffin_girl · 11-13-2008, 11:50 PM

I also like the illustration. it reminds me of those in the Roald Dahl books.

Nattie · 11-14-2008, 12:02 AM

I did love this part also. I just defined not only Harry as a character, but just where the bok was going to go after then. I would say this was my second favourite part of the series (the first being the Kings Cross scene, just the simple dialogue between Dumbledore and Harry as friends and equals was fantastic).

I remember reading it and just not being able to put it down, just feeling the lump in my throat when the resurrection stone was being used. I could just feel Harry's legs like they were my own feeling like lead, and it's like you could only hope that you would have the courage in the circumstances to make such a heroic decision.

I think it is a wise choice for the book and a worthy charity.

Anony_Miss · 11-14-2008, 12:21 AM

I disagree, I think that's a great choice! Such a powerful moment in the book and the whole series. And a wonderful picture to add to it!

EmmaRiddle · 11-14-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddiej

Readers may be able to relate to Harry because of how normal he is at times, but he's also been through extraordinary circumstances, which should be put into consideration when figuring out whether or not he would act like that in the forest.

I would imagine Harry is very acceptant of his own mortality, having dealt with death frequently in his life. Where many people are scared of it, he's probably come to terms with it being an inevitable part of life.

Quote:

It looked like something Roald Dahl came up with.

That's who Quentin used to illustrate for.

bubbles355 · 11-14-2008, 12:42 AM

this is pretty cool liked the pic

*Tommehbell* · 11-14-2008, 02:43 AM

Well throughout history we have seen normal people that are thrust into the world's spotlight and they have to make the same choice that Harry did. They came to a fork in the road where they could have been selfish and done what they wanted to do or they could have put themselves aside and do what was best for humanity. Look at all that Queen Elizabeth the first did for her country in spite of the desire to marry and have someone to love her. Look at Ghandi, he made the might of the entire UK to contend with and he was able to stand up and say he was fighting for the right of his people. Martin Luther King Jr. had the whole US system to fight against and he stood up and said I am going to fight and keeping on fighting. Margeret Sanger said she was going to fight for women's rights and she was not going to take no for answer.

You have tons of examples of people putting their fellow man's needs before their own in the face of danger and yes even death.

I think that excerpt that she choose was totally brilliant and then her explanation as right on point. Man I would give anything to sit at her feet and pick her brain. Just when I think that I'm silly or crazy for loving these books and for having JK as one of my fav authors she says something like that and it just makes me want to call everyone else crazy for not loving her creativity and her mind the way that I do.

Lily Evans · 11-14-2008, 03:15 AM

WOW!! I love that part, one of my fav (oh! yes I've more than one) I cried too!! And then I realized how important was harry in my life hahahaha

RedheadQueen · 11-14-2008, 04:36 AM

I love how she compared Harry's fate to that of a prince! So true!! I love that part, but the battle between Voldy and Harry at the end are my favorite!!

BR1TN3YY · 11-14-2008, 05:47 AM

Definatly one of my favourite parts. Great illustration.

half_blood_prince · 11-14-2008, 06:18 AM

awwe thats so sweet, i love the drawing.

LunaticLady · 11-14-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmmaRiddle

I would imagine Harry is very acceptant of his own mortality, having dealt with death frequently in his life. Where many people are scared of it, he's probably come to terms with it being an inevitable part of life.

That is a very good point I hadn't thought of.
(Also, one reason, many people (me included) are afraid of death might be that they feel like they haven't done/ accomplished anything in life. -Harry definetely wouldn't have that feeling.)

HarryThePotter · 11-14-2008, 02:05 PM

Wow, that was really interesting!
The drawing is brilliant.

ebony_wandson · 11-14-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmmaRiddle

I remember reading this chapter, blubbing the entire way through. I had thought Harry would die, I even sort of wanted him to, but once I got to this chapter, I realised how heartbreaking that notion was.

What Em said.