You know, a lot of people have commented on JKR's habit of "telling instead of showing"

[conuly]

And they're right, this is a big flaw in her writing (among other things, I suspect it's part of the reason those books are so damn thick...)

However, there is at least one thing I've noticed she didn't quite do, and I was a bit impressed at it as it'd slipped under my radar. On the other hand, I do tend to be late to these things, so maybe everybody's noticed it already and I'm the last one to know.

I've discovered that, like movies, bad fanfic is better than good. I like bad movies, and I like bad fanfic. I do not admit to watching bad movies or reading any fanfic, though.

Anyway, one of the bad fanfics I was most definitely NOT reading mentioned Harry "biting his nails nervously". Out of all the things I could've picked on in that fic, this upset me the most.

"Harry doesn't bite his nails when he's nervous! That's completely unlike him!"

*blinkblink*

What?

So I stopped to think. Why was this upsetting me so much. Well, clearly I couldn't remember any character ever biting his or her nails, but it was easily possible I'd just overlooked it. And I felt so strongly about this... And then it hit me. Harry doesn't bite his nails because when he's worried, he pushes back his hair.

JKR has actually managed to avoid saying this directly. He doesn't just randomly straighten his hair, there's always a reason in the back of his mind for doing it, but I think the reason is just a half-hearted rationalization of his nervous habit.

It's really set up from the beginning. I really *am* impressed, because otherwise I don't think the first two books are connected to the later ones at all. But from the beginning, his uncle yells at him for his messy hair. At one point, it's all shaved off except the bangs to cover his scar.

And then in book three he nervously pushes back his hair to cover his scar when he's worried he'll be recognized, and in book five we see his father, very different from him, much more confident, deliberately rumpling up his hair - a complete contrast to our friend Harry.

*shrugs*

I don't have the books handy, but I think there's more of it around.

So, am I just really late to grasp the obvious?

Comments

[snale.livejournal.com]

I could be wrong here, but hear me out. I seem to remember Harry pushing his hair down to cover his scar not just when he's generally nervous, but specifically when he wants to remain anonymous. He's often tried to avoid being recognized, and he knows the scar is a dead giveaway. He's even gone so far as to tell people his name is Neville (the Knight Bus). I think he pushes his hair over his scar when he's trying to avoid being "the famous Harry Potter" for a little while.

[conuly]

See, I don't have the books here to check, but I'm pretty sure I've seen him start to do this a bit for general nervousness too.

But I can't check! Waaa!

[snale.livejournal.com]

Argh! Me neither! Well, it'll be a project for tonight, if I get a moment... :)

[little-spyke.livejournal.com]

First let me say I have not read all 5 books. I did read the first 3, and retained them. I read the fourth quickly, but do not recall it with any detail. I have book 5, but wish to read book 4 again before I proceed.

But as far as your point, I did not grasp that either. At least, not in any way that was obvious to me. I think the reason behind this is simple. "JKR's habit of 'telling instead of showing'" is very pronounced in the first 2 books. It's there even in the third, but maybe not quite as obviously. I think it has to do with the age range of the market audience the books were intended for. The first two were written for older children, who are not yet comfortable enough in retention skill to pick up on subtle clues. I think as the books grew in popularity, she began to alter he writing style to appeal to a more mature audience, but still tell a good story to children.

I may be way off base here, or just pointing out the obvious, depending on how you see it. But I do think you will find more of the subtle "that wasn't spelled out for me" occurrences as you move forward in the series.

[snale.livejournal.com]

I could be wrong here, but hear me out. I seem to remember Harry pushing his hair down to cover his scar not just when he's generally nervous, but specifically when he wants to remain anonymous. He's often tried to avoid being recognized, and he knows the scar is a dead giveaway. He's even gone so far as to tell people his name is Neville (the Knight Bus). I think he pushes his hair over his scar when he's trying to avoid being "the famous Harry Potter" for a little while.

[conuly]

See, I don't have the books here to check, but I'm pretty sure I've seen him start to do this a bit for general nervousness too.

But I can't check! Waaa!

[snale.livejournal.com]

Argh! Me neither! Well, it'll be a project for tonight, if I get a moment... :)

[little-spyke.livejournal.com]

First let me say I have not read all 5 books. I did read the first 3, and retained them. I read the fourth quickly, but do not recall it with any detail. I have book 5, but wish to read book 4 again before I proceed.

But as far as your point, I did not grasp that either. At least, not in any way that was obvious to me. I think the reason behind this is simple. "JKR's habit of 'telling instead of showing'" is very pronounced in the first 2 books. It's there even in the third, but maybe not quite as obviously. I think it has to do with the age range of the market audience the books were intended for. The first two were written for older children, who are not yet comfortable enough in retention skill to pick up on subtle clues. I think as the books grew in popularity, she began to alter he writing style to appeal to a more mature audience, but still tell a good story to children.

I may be way off base here, or just pointing out the obvious, depending on how you see it. But I do think you will find more of the subtle "that wasn't spelled out for me" occurrences as you move forward in the series.