Episode 36: How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Harry Potter

Enjoy a special bonus mini episode of our show about how we’re “holding on to Harry Potter.”  Katy and Emily talk with MuggleNet’s Laurie Beckoff about how to navigate our love of Harry Potter with new revelations from J.K. Rowling that challenge what we thought we knew. Laurie explains her theory that the wizarding world extends beyond the books and has become a common language for our culture, an idea she expressed in her article “Holding on to Harry Potter.” Laurie connects us with the “death of the author” literary idea, and Emily makes comparisons to H.P. Lovecraft, J.R.R. Tolkien, and (of course) Star Wars. We may sometimes feel the Disillusionment Charm has been cast on us with new tweets from the author and by developing, as readers, a stronger critical perspective on the series. Nevertheless, we discuss how each of us still holds close the themes and values that first made us love the books.