Brenna meets J.K. Rowling

[vaneramos]

The morning I left for New York, waiting in the airport, I saw a Globe and Mail cover story about J.K. Rowling. The headline referred to her outing of Dumbledore—first I had heard about it—so I bought a copy. Mostly the story was about a reading she had given in Toronto to hundreds of students. I thought, "Too bad Marian and Brenna didn't get a chance to go," and set the paper aside.

Back home on Monday I called both girls, got to speak to Brenna, and caught up on news. I told her about my trip, and asked about school.

Now in grade nine, she seems to have found her niche. Her new school looks like Hogwartz. She likes her teachers and classmates, and although she is not boarding there, tends to stay late to join social and extracurricular activities. I was afraid her old school hadn't taught good enough work habits, but it sounds like she is carrying on diligently. I'm relieved that the move and transition have gone well for her.

Then I asked, "Did you hear the news about J.K. Rowling?" (Meaning the outing of Dumbledore.)

But Brenna started babbling excitedly: "You mean that I got to see her?" (She had forgotten to tell me.)

Students at her school had to write why they should be chosen to meet the author, and the best answers went into a lottery.

("What did you write?" I asked. "Nothing much," she replied: "I used my persuasive powers.")

She and three other students were chosen to travel to Toronto and hear J.K. Rowling read from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was the chapter where Ron comes back. Brenna liked how she used different voices in the dialogue. There were 850 kids, and after the reading a pile of 850 books was brought out for her to sign. Brenna felt sorry for her.

"So did you get to meet her?"

"Sort of. We lined up to get our free copies of the book. When I went up I said, 'You must be tired.' And she said, 'Always.'"

Comments

[paulintoronto.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful story. Your children strike me as rather wonderful, I must say.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

They are! And it was nice to see you last night. :-)

[bixie.livejournal.com]

wow, that's great! that's really neat that she got to attend the reading. :>

it's a funny coincidence of timing; I was just thinking the other day about how surreal it must be for early readers who attended a reading, bought a book, and got it signed by her to look back on those days from this distance, when you'll never see a 'jk rowling reading at the local chapters' announcement again, and don't stand a chance of getting an author autograph outside of selective events. and there goes your daughter being one of the lucky attendees in the new model!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, and from my standpoint it was funny because I don't often have time and opportunity to glance at newspaper headlines, but I saw that one and wished my daughters could have been there!

[twillhead.livejournal.com]

Wow... Brenna is certainly perspicacious beyond her years. I wonder where she gets that from?? ;-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting question, because I don't consider myself especially empathetic, or good at putting myself in other people's shoes. Neither is Brenna's mother. ;-)

I guess it's just an innate part of who she is.

only slightly tongue in cheek

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

OO, I am so jealous of Brenna! I may be mildly snarky about Rowling's books from a literary standpoint, but as a librarian I have nothing but praise for an author who can, single-handedly, get so many kids to read books of that length.

(and she's also turning out to be a remarkably interesting sounding young woman, even filtered through the justifiably biased LJ of her daddy. I should quite like to meet both of them. Oh, and you too.)

Re: only slightly tongue in cheek

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, because Rowlings' writing continually strikes me as mediocre. But goodness gracious, can she ever weave an intriguing story!

I hope we'll have an opportunity to meet someday.

[ghostsandrobots.livejournal.com]

Best story ever. :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Hehe thanks. The neat thing about your comment is that I think Brenna is an excellent storyteller (so in a way I am only transcribing). She recounts the funniest things about people and events, and of course her glimpse at the reality of Rowlings' life is also touching. I suspect her wit places her in good standing with her peers. Any writer would be lucky to have her as a daughter.

I hope life is treating you well. I've spun into a far orbit from LJ, but surely we will get caught up sooner or later.

[(Anonymous)]

what a thoughtful girl!

[missprune.livejournal.com]

Drat! just trying to comment on what a thoughtful girl she is, but i didn't notice i was logged off.....

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it was you!