Harry Potter Book 8? ***potentially spoilerific of the entire HP series***

[lisac77]

I count myself lucky that my whole family is full of HP fans. Naturally the HP series has been a hot topic for us for the last few days.

At lunch today we were reviewing the plot and across the board we agreed that we enjoyed the 7th book, but the end left us all hanging.

One of the biggest "hanging threads" was the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione never finished their education. We all felt that there was a possibility that there is room for an 8th book with the main characters completing their educations and tying up all those other loose ends.

So I put the question to you all... what is your take on this? Is there room for an 8th book, completing the story with "the 7th year at Hogwarts?"

[lisac77]

I'll go first... I think there is. I think it would be a huge marketing coup for the publishers, and I'm sure that the possibility exists.

Thing thing that tipped my hand on this issue was an interview I saw with the "continuity editor" for Scholastic. She went on and on about how they guided the tone of the story, made sure everything made sense, etc.

I don't think the editors would have intentionally let her end the story in such a sloppy manner unless there was a chance for her to write another one.

I have mixed feelings about this, though. On the one hand, I think the potential is there for another book about the magical world, but it would be essentially fluff.

On the other hand, I would love to see some closure for all the characters. That would make me happy as a reader.

I am a stickler for a good ending, and that epilogue was just awful. I can't see that piece of tripe as the end to this great series.

[mamamillet]

See I am thinking prequel rather than present day stuff. I would like to hear more about the history. Of how things came to be. But, if she did right another current one, I would read it

[lisac77]

Originally Posted by mamamillet

But, if she did right another current one, I would read it

I think that's what they are going for. It's a standard series tactic... leave the readers hanging so they'll be begging for more.

[Mom4tot]

Originally Posted by mamamillet

See I am thinking prequel rather than present day stuff. I would like to hear more about the history. Of how things came to be. But, if she did right another current one, I would read it

I was thinking of stories about the individual chararcters.. Snape, Lily and Petunia or even Sirius?

[ColoradoMama]

I'd love to see her write a book about Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Huffelpuff, Salazar Slytherin, and Godric Gryffindor!

[waiting4it2snow]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

I'd love to see her write a book about Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Huffelpuff, Salazar Slytherin, and Godric Gryffindor!

That would be fabulous. I would love to read about that... but again, there could be very, very long entries about these four in Hogwarts, A History , which she just HAS to write. Right?? RIGHT??

[Seeking Refuge]

I think she glossed over Teddy Lupin's growing up years because if there is another set of books, they will be written about Teddy and his years at Hogwarts with Harry and crew only playing distant supportive roles.

Almost every question I had at the end of the book was about Teddy.

[lisac77]

Well clearly, history books, prequels, etc. were always fair game, not dependent on the end of the series.

I'm specifically talking about writing book 7 with the possible intention of wrapping it all up in a different book, which would be the last one.

[moonfirefaery]

I would love another book containing answers, maybe in the form of short stories--who cares, just tie up the loose ends!

[Shantimama]

I love the idea of a prequel!

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge

I think she glossed over Teddy Lupin's growing up years because if there is another set of books, they will be written about Teddy and his years at Hogwarts with Harry and crew only playing distant supportive roles.

I can see that - that would be cool.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by lisac77

I'm specifically talking about writing book 7 with the possible intention of wrapping it all up in a different book, which would be the last one.

I wouldn't like that. What would they fill a whole book with now that LV is gone?

A series of short short stories might work, or an "encylcopedia of characters" that doesn't even attempt to get into drama (and possibly do it badly) but just give narrative details from her notes that never made it into the books.

I'd even be happy if she updated her website with this info and didn't actually get it all published.

I think the best way to "complete" the series would be to write stories about the next generation, and fill in a few details about Aunts Hermione and Ginny and and Uncles Harry and Ron in the process.

[Sleeky_Meerkat]

I would love to see a prequel...or a few prequels. I was hoping for more background info on James's side of the family in the 7th book...but got little. What happened to James's parents? Did he ever have brothers/sisters? How did he manage to get Lily to marry him?

Also, I'd love a book going back to the founding of Hogwarts.

I don't think I'd enjoy a book about the future. It would just seem "fluffy" and indulgent just to have a book about the new kids at Hogwarts with Harry and gang as parents.

[simonee]

Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge

I think she glossed over Teddy Lupin's growing up years because if there is another set of books, they will be written about Teddy and his years at Hogwarts with Harry and crew only playing distant supportive roles.

Almost every question I had at the end of the book was about Teddy.

An adult novel about Teddy's "snogging" would be interesting

[tiffer23]

I think books on Teddy could be good. Harry and his family, plus R&H and their family, would be in them but not the main focus. Hmmm.

[Stayseeliz]

JKR says she'll probably write an encyclopedia. Major spoiler warning!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/19935372/

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by Sleeky_Meerkat

I would love to see a prequel...or a few prequels. I was hoping for more background info on James's side of the family in the 7th book...but got little. What happened to James's parents? Did he ever have brothers/sisters? How did he manage to get Lily to marry him?

JKR said in an interview somewhere that James was an only child, born late-in-life to "older parents." That explains why he was so rich (and had so much to pass down to Harry) and why he was so spoiled. His parents died of natural causes/old age. It appears that he didn't have any aunts or uncles or cousins that he was close to.

I don't think it takes rocket science to figure out how James and Lilly fell in love. It might take an endocrinologist though (ie, hormones. )

[accountclosed3]

i don't think that the ending was sloppy, though i do feel that the epilogue (19 yrs later. . .) was unnecessary.

an 8th book would dishonor the hero's journey narrative arc. it can be argued that the epilogue does this also, but i'll set that aside as a sentimental need that we have as humans to know "and then he lived happily, ever after."

an 8th book would be one without conflict, now those things that have terrorized harry and the wizarding world have been defeated. we do not need to know any more about harry, other than that he truly became himself, a vibrant, autonomous being. this is the end of the story. this is the hero's arc.

this is the joy and beauty of harry. not what he became after, not whether or not he went back to hogwarts.

it wasn't a slopping ending (though it could be argued that the epilogue was unnecessary). it was the sort of ending that these stories have. they always finish with "and the evil was destroyed. they put their lives back together and lived happily ever after."

that's the point, we're not 'meant' to know 'after' because 'after' is individual. these stories are meant to instruct us, not just to entertain. it's the journey to overcome one's problems that is important here. harry's accomplished that, and his story inspires us to do that within ourselves.

an 8th book does nothing but keep us from our journey, situate us in sentimentality, and provide fluff to avoid our own hero's journey.

and, from the publishing industry, it's a money-making ploy. I love harry, brilliantly, but i wouldn't read an 8th book. harry inspired me to find the horcruxes, to hold the hallows without greed, and to face death and live with clarity, hope, and self knowledge.

what more do i need? what would another trip to hogwarts truly give me that would be greater than this?

[lisac77]

Originally Posted by zoebird

it wasn't a slopping ending (though it could be argued that the epilogue was unnecessary). it was the sort of ending that these stories have. they always finish with "and the evil was destroyed. they put their lives back together and lived happily ever after."

But that's the thing... we never saw them put their lives back together! We went straight from "Voldemort is dead" to "19 years later..." It didn't flow... it didn't give us any sort of closure.

I think the potential is there. However, I'm not sure Rowling is interested in writing another novel.