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“Reading, Writing, Rowling” Episode 5: “Writing Magic: New Insights from Lev Grossman’s Interview with J.K. Rowling in 2005”

by Amy Hogan · December 11, 2017

Discover new information about J.K. Rowling’s writing process, her intentions with the Harry
Potter story, and her commentary on other fantasy writers in Episode 5. In this episode, we talk with special guest Lev Grossman, a book critic and fantasy writer, about his interview with Rowling just before Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hit the bookstores.

“Reading, Writing, Rowling” Episode 5: “Writing Magic: New Insights from Lev Grossman’s Interview with J.K. Rowling in 2005”

Join Katy McDaniel and John Granger, along with guest Beatrice Groves (Literary Allusion in
Harry Potter), for a fascinating conversation with The Magicians author Lev Grossman. Hear
about Rowling’s thoughts on C.S. Lewis and J.M. Barrie, the gender dynamics of children’s
literature (and Harry Potter, in particular), and balancing the writing life with motherhood.

We discuss Rowling’s explanation of fans’ most hated plot holes (like Harry’s failure to use the mirror
to check on Sirius in Book 5) and whether she is responsive to fan critiques. Lev Grossman also shares his own thoughts on writing fantasy and how his stories respond to Rowling and other authors. His allusions in the Magicians trilogy reference both Western literary tradition and popular culture so as to situate his stories more clearly in the present day. Are his novels a subversion of modern fantasy novels, including Harry Potter? Listen and learn!

We’d love to hear your thoughts via email (readingwritingrowling@gmail.com) or Twitter (@ReadWriteRowl), so please join the conversation!

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MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

In the world of wizard currency, there are 29 bronze Knuts to a silver Sickle and 17 Sickles to a gold Galleon. In Muggle money, a Galleon is worth about £5, but exchange rates can vary.

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