Just as I sat down to write this, I saw a new Variety report that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has “jumped the $100 million mark in its first 24 hours.” More millions made from the imagination from J.K. Rowling, yet if there’s one thing you came away with after watching the documentary J.K. Rowling: A Year In The Life, it’s probably something along the lines of, “Jolly good for her.”
Rowling has long seemed one of the best sorts of literary superstars: hard-working yet unafraid to express the pleasure she takes in her success; possessor of, as she said in this film, a “short fuse” but also full of sly humor when she speaks. A Year In The Life was shown in Britain in 2007, and was overseen by novelist-filmmaker James Runcie. I’m still not quite sure if I don’t believe the scenes of her typing the last words of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows weren’t re-staged for the camera crew, but even if they were, who cares? What came across was a complicated, likable person, a writer who has worked very hard and, to judge from some of the questions Runcie put to her, still does.
There’s no reason, for example, for Rowling to have to answer whether she believes in God, especially when her response is a slightly tortured, tentative, “Yeeeees,” as though she was trying to re-convert to her original faith right in front of us. But that’s one reason she’s so charming: unpretentious (with a fondess for expensive high heels), blunt (she hasn’t had any contact with her father “for a few years”), and emotional. Runcie knew what he was doing when he saved the last bit — a visit to the small apartment where she wrote the first Potter book and she began quietly weeping, saying that her life had been “very hard” and this was the place where she turned her life around.
The bestselling author she reminds me of most is Stephen King, in the sense of being enormously popular, prolific, and wealthy, and also down-to-earth and a force for good in the popular culture. She’s generous with charity; she speaks her mind about social issues she’s passionate about (though she was careful not to attempt any proselytizing during this prime-time hour). No recluse, probably a good cook (that birthday cake she was making for one of her kids looked yummy), and at work, she said, on “a political fairy tale.” Jolly good for her. And, therefore, for us.
Did you watch? What did you think?
I’ve been a Harry Potter fanatic for over 10 years. This was truly touching, and I did have to say jolly good for her. She loves what she does, and what she does she’s good at. She deserves every success she gets, monetary or otherwise.
harry potter has been my life. and i still love it.
this woman is fantastic. she is an inspiration and a true role model. oh how i wish all celebrities were like her ^.^
harry potter has been my life. and i still love it.
this woman is fantastic. she is an inspiration and a true role model. oh how i wish all celebrities were like her ^.^
harry potter has been my life. and i still love it.
this woman is fantastic. she is an inspiration and a true role model. oh how i wish all celebrities were like her ^.^
harry potter has been my life. and i still love it.
this woman is fantastic. she is an inspiration and a true role model. oh how i wish all celebrities were like her ^.^
I tohught finding this would be so arduous but it’s a breeze!
Loved the bit where she asked if she could be “drunk & disorderly” when faced with the awesome task of signing autographs for the 1700 faithful who attended the midnight launch reading of Deathly Hallows! Pour that lady a drink for staying for seven hours to complete the task.
And who didn’t feel empathy when she disclosed she felt at her most fraudulent – like a 13yr old girl being asked her opinion in a room full of adults – when surrounded by people soliciting her views on Harry Potter theme park ideas! She obviously feels odd being looked at as the Oracle from time to time.
And finally, she looked so pained about leaving the Harry Potter story where it was, telling the director to stop it – after lovingly writing out all the names of next generations (and teasingly noting that she was most interested in Harry and Ginny’s second son). As much as we’d would love for her to continue on, she deserves a break and to write new things, like that upcoming political fairytale.
I thought it was good but entirely too short. A year in the life of JK rowling can be boiled down to a mere 43 minutes? I highly doubt that, and I felt slightly short-changed, as if much more rich footage sits idle somewhere waiting for a packaging deal. If not, then I felt that was just too concise to qualify as a documentary worthy of being with rowling at some of the most important moments in her recent career.
I will read anything she writes. I watched this, and I was touched. That political fairy tale sounds intriguing.
Thanks for posting this review. The storm knocked out our dish so I didn’t get to see the documentary I’ve been waiting a year to see.
Thanks for the review and the comments. A storm in the area knocked out our dish so the documentary I’ve been waiting a year to see, I didn’t get to see.
There’s only one legitimate place I’ve found to watch it, the rest seem like scams :-/ You can see it over here though: http://jjpeg.com/watch28015.html
It takes a minute to load but after that it’s good to go
The documentary was very powerful, not only because she was candid while recounting her story, but because – like her books – her life makes you believe that an “ordinary” person can save the world. That is exactly what she has done for thousands of people who needed an epic journey in which to escape, a story that would renew their faith that great works of art can still be written. I cried when she did. She deserves all the joy and success that she has. 17 years! Wow.
I thought the new harry potter movie was nasty, go vote in the official poll!! tinyurl.com/pottervote
I agree that summing the year of JK Rowling up into those few moments did leave me feeling short changed. I would like to have seen an extended version.
I have never read one of her books. I am intrigued with her, the writer. After hearing of the ‘dementors’ and other metaphors in her books I have a desire to find out more.
The moments with her sister reminiscing with old photos and embarrassed about their “fringe” was heartfelt and a pleasure! She is an amazing lady with an incredible imagination.
You need to read the books. You are truly missing out on just how amazing this world is,
It was wonderful tribute, but I agree, too short. I wonder if the original BBC doc was longer? A year in under an hour? But it did encompass the highlights. And made me cry!
I am a huge fan, and as a mom and writer I consider her an inspiration and amazing role model. I recommend teh books to everyone, especially anyone who ever converses with children.
@Marciasheart I certainly hope you read and enjoy!
(ps- this is about the author not the film!)