Lady Rowling?

Missi She is a writer even if you don't like the genre. I for one am glad she got an honour, your honour and lets face it all of us would be made up to have the sort of sucess she has had. Your just gettin stir crazy! Me old southen bow! Have you been foud guilty yet? Bet you get well into it Missi

I have to agree with old Missi. One cannot but acknowldge the tremenduous success JK has had and it is great to see kids switching off the TV to read, but an honour for doing it? I personally do like any of the HP books and do not find her work either original or posessing any literary merit other than the sharp eyed ability to rip off other peoples ideas and plaguarise (wrong spelling probably) some great books and truly inventive authors. Whether you love or hate people like Tolkien, his work was wildly creative and used elements of ancient folklore and norse myth etc, which he duly sited amongst his influnces, JK however simply sees other's great ideas and mulches in it with her own trite self'knowing 'stories', then cashes in on it without any recognition of the influences or sources from which she stole. Picasso once said that all great artists steal from others...well at least he was honest about it. [%sig%]

Creeky, it's not that I don't like the genre, I've never read a damn thing she's written (except for the 2000 identical titles I've seen in shop windows). I also don't have a problem with describing her as a writer, my problem is doling out lordships or medals to someone who has written a successful book. Big deal. I'm sure there are people who have done unsung deeds that are far worthier than she. I wouldn't give them to pop-singers, actors, footballers or businessmen either. Now I come to think about it I wouldn't give 'em to anyone.

My friend Sarahs husband spent a year in sierra leone putting his life on the line to help kids stay alive. Hes getting an MBE, and whilst I am not a fan of the honours system, I am right proud of him... it's people like that that deserve recognition isnt it?

Yep, but, sadly, the world jus' don't work like that... If it did, Bush wouldn't even be allowed in this country.

I agree with every word you say Liana, but as Elfy says, it doesn't work that way. Your friends husband is a 'nobody' in the eyes of the press and TV people. He's most likely 'GOD' to those he's saved, but then he probably never did what he did hoping for a poxy medal, but because he is a humanitarian doing what he could. He's worth a hundred Paul McCartneys.

I am trying to see your point Missi, "but" isn't giving the gongs away to the relief worker and Rowing rewarding their merit? Isn't the honour system moving more toward a meritocracy than the old "I marry your daughter and become King" type Robber Barron’s state? Or you became “Sir or Lady” something if you held the right job for three years or more? So I think we are making progress, and if you take it away you end up like the States where your status is your bank balance! That's even worse isn't it? If anything I think we should be giving more away. My wife awarded me an IOB, irascible old bugger. Mind you I am not the only one with that title! Possibly one other I can think of.....................? Umm, now who could that be on ABC!

oh no mississippi you can't get away with that one.... Of course I totally share your cynicism about the bunch in Downing Street but J K Rowling deserves every award going for her extraordinary achievement.... It doesn't matter if you don't like her style of writing, some people don't, the point is tens of millions of people around the world have been totally enchanted by it....that means whether you like it or not her work has an extraordinary merit and quality that deserves to be recognised.... in an age when TVs and PCs rule she has singlehandedly managed to transfer millions of kids' noses from electronic screens to the printed page...have you any idea what an amazing feat that is...surely we as aspiring writers have to applaud her for that.... what's more she has handled her success in a thoroughly dignified and self-effacing way...and has done her best to minimise the exploitative potential of the Harry Potter phenomenon.... And, by reviving interest in literary fiction, particularly among the next generation, I suspect she has made it a little easier for the likes of you and me to get our work published....

Goatee dear boy, popularity is no indication of quality, to wit, The Sun, Eastenders, The Sport, Jeffrey Archer, Coronation St.... I could go on ad infinitum. At best she's a popular modern day Enid Blyton. I accept that popularity keeps them entertained down on the farm, but to be elevated?

If anyone has to get these honours, good question in itself, then I'd certainly give one to the woman that got my playstation / TV addicted children reading books again. It wasn't hype that created the Potter phenomenan either. My daughter cottoned on to them around book two and it was largely through word of mouth; the hype came later. The quality in the writing comes from fitness for purpose. If you've read the books you'll see that what Rowling uses is description, setting scenes one after the other; a perfect medium for wee minds that are used to being fed on a diet of visual images.

I agree - in a way - but the award should really go to Philip Pullman who writes better books with incredible imagery and story lines that are in no way repetitive. There is something different in each of his books. Marvellous stuff!

Missi me old mate, all those examples of popularity you give are non-starters, by comparison with the global phenomenon that is JKR and HP... Fact is there has never been anything remotely like this, her popularity transcends anything that has gone before....she is simply in a different league...and you don't get to be like that by fluke or hype..... What is so remarkable compared to all those other examples is that her appeal crosses so many barriers...of age, gender, sexual orientation, creed, language, nationality, social class...it's that which suggests to me there is genuine quality there and an extraordinary literary ability... And if that wasn't enough, there's all the millions of pounds she's earned for Britain through royalties from books, films, games etc, and all the positive publicity HP generates for all things British and undoubtedly the tourism that it attracts...you'd have to be very churlish (or perhaps jealous?) to say she isn't worthy of every single award we can throw at her....

Why should any bloody writer get elevated? It makes a mockery of any bloody award.

I can't stick Harry Potter but it IS great to see children reading fat books again.

I'm anti-honours anyway.

Churlish? Jealous? I don't actually do either Goatee, and she already gets the rewards you say she deserves in the form of ridiculous quantities of cash.

But maybe, Missus, for some people, cash isn't everything, eh?

I was awarded a DCM once but it wasn't to my advantage. Creeky, I don't think 'merit' is the right word. I believe some form of 'recognition' for humanitarian effort is fine but for being a 'lovey' or a scribbler? Most people have done a few things in their lives that benefited others, things they had no need to do, but I doubt they did them for gain or fame. I don't actually see anything wrong with being a republic myself and in many ways the American formula beats the a.rse of ours, though I do see some redeeming factors here. *scratches head and tries hard to think of one, knowing that I'm going to be deluged with a list thereof soon*

Well you should know Andrea that I am one of them.

I too am no fan of the honours system, but given that we have them, I'd like to see them go to people who have really done something good for the country or the human race....and JKR unquestionably qualifies on both counts.... The truth is she probably has no desire for such things given that she has already been given the greatest award of all, global adulation by zillions of children and not a few mums and dads....

Yes but to make her nobility means she gets to sit in the house of lords and has a BIG say in legislation that affects us all. I'm damned certain that her ability to write a story has nothing to do with that.

In my experience most writers have quite reasonable (ie non-right-wing) views and certainly nothing she has said or done to date suggests otherwise....it would be great if one of our kind had a voice in parliament, especially when it's a voice a lot of people will listen to... Also, I don't mean to be unkind but most of the people in the Lords look a bit grim, it would be nice to have someone young and good looking for a change.....

OK, I ain't gonna argue the toss with you.

Wow, that's a first. I've bludgeoned mississippi into submission....

I think it was your last post that did it Goat.. I was kind of with you up until then. I do think some recognition for her work is due, but not the one she's getting...

But Liana, isn't it true that in the political hierarchy we writers are right at the bottom of the heap. Parliament is full of lawyers and estate agents and administrators but there are precious few "day job" literary writers... I just think it would be refreshing to have our kind of person in such a prominent position...even if she hasn't got any power, I am sure a lot of attention will be paid to what she has to say.... I could be wrong and she turns out to be a hang 'em and flog 'em conservative - after all Enid Blyton mounted a campaign in favour of capital punishment - but somehow I don't think so....

Yes.. Im wondering however, how you think that she would look different from all the others who look "a bit grim"?

Don't kid yourself Goatee, you haven't bludgeoned me anywhere, the simple truth is I really don't give a s.hit about the topic, I started it because I thought it might get others going and I might join in at some point. I love the way you use terms such as 'our kind' and 'we writers'. You automatically include those here in the 'professional author' bracket. I find that a little bit presumptuous but maybe you're right. Apart from that I find your assertion that it would be refreshing to have the likes of Larph, Stufart, Dicko or myself in the upper house to be so ludicrous it defies imagination. They are bad enough now without making things worse. can you imagine a serious piece of legislation being considered and Larph stands up and says, ' Foxhunting! You? Smashing. x Larph' To which Stufart would reply, 'What would you boring bastards do without me to enlighten you?' And so on and so forth. In any case why should an overpaid writer be any more qualified for an honour than a plumber of a dustman?

On the contrary, it sounds like high entertainment mississippi...I'd tune in to those live broadcasts every night...you and Ralphie savaging each other with ever more outrageous insults would quickly become compulsive viewing.... But I agree with you we ought to have every trade and profession represented...and that should include at least one popular literary writer... As for Liana's point, all I was getting at was that from a male perspective JKR seems a lot more nubile than some of her future House of Lords colleagues....

Is being nice to larph on your list? :-p

I'm off out into the world of Perry Mason now, Chelmsford Crown Court calls. I might be gone some time.

What are you on about, Goat man? Lady Huffingham of Trumpington is a right smashing old corker and no mistake!!!!

Have to say that I'm with Missi on this one - stripping out any argument about her literary merit, I'm not sure why the State feels the need to reward people who are already very lucratively rewarded for their profession. If it is only a token then it is a token the very rich don't really need and if it actually carries some significance and weight and power, then it ought really to be going to people who will use that power wisely. I.e they are picked for their ability to consider the issues and not because they have been knocking round in West End plays and Oscar-nominated movies for donkeys years, or have worked out how to hold a guitar and play it. And though I happen to be on the side of the political spectrum that Goat seems to occupy, I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to say "reasonable i.e non right wing" - as Orwell has pointed out, there are as many evil tyrants who occupy the left. There are hundreds of thousands of reasonable people whose views do not accord with mine...

Sorry Elfy, I'm a lot of things but a masochist ain't one of 'em. I'd rather slam my dick in a door than massage that wankers ego. Yes I know it's the witching hour, my insomnia is running riot tonight.

I was of course being ironic when I made that comment Andrew, but I can see it doesn't necessarily come across like that in the cold light of day.... so just for the record....I believe there are reasonable and unreasonable people on all sides of the political spectrum, and in my view most of us often manage to be both at the same time.... right that's it then...sadly, I can hear the gardener returning after his long lunch break and I have to climb back into the flowerpot before he discovers my absence....see you around....Goat loves you....

Tell me about it, I've only just woken up. :-)

I agree. I don't like the Harry Potter books, neither do my kids, but it is good to see children willingly going into bookshops and asking for them as presents. Anyone who raises literary awareness in young and old deserves recognition

I hope you're not accusing me of being simultaneously reasonable Goatee.