(no subject)

[leia131]

Don't ask me what reminded me of this, because answering that question will be long, tedious, and reveal my utter geekery, but I was thinking about Wizard's Hall tonight.

Wizard's Hall is a book written by Jane Yolen, about a young blond lad who is suddenly shipped off to school to learn to become a wizard. His two best friends at school are a red-headed boy and a black girl. (Her name is Tansy. For some reason I remember that, but not the boys' names.) 

At the climax of the book, the main boy... Thornmallow, that's his name, (or something like that) defeats Nettle, (the big bad evil wizard), who used to be at the schol but left for many years and (in)conveniently comes back just when the one kid who can defeat him is there. A defeat, I might add, that Thornmallow only accomplishes by breaking every rule in the Hall.


I distinctly remember that the first time I read Harry Potter, all I could think of was Wizard's Hall, and the obvious similarities. (And yes, WH was published long before HP.) Yet somehow, I forgot all about this book until tonight.


Now, I love Harry Potter. We all know that. And the books are quite different, what with HP being seven books and having hundreds of characters, and what with the dying and all, but... Well... I think it's the red-haired best friend that gets me. Wizards and evil guys who once were good (hellooooooo Anakin!) are common enough, but red-headed best buds? With freckles? (Although, and given, I haven't read WH in about 10 years, if I recall correctly, the WH kid does not have a personality that resembles Ron's. So it's just a cosmetic thing.)

 

What is my point here? I don't know. I guess it's: has anyone else read Wizard's Hall? I'd like a second opinion.











P.S. Expect more HP posts soon.

Comments

[jurisfiction16.livejournal.com]

Hate to spoil your scheming, but my geekery is about to come into play.
BRACE YOURSELF!
*!Meg-GONN grips chair for dear life!*
That's better.
Now, JKR openly admits that Ron Weasley is based on an old legendary figure named Running Weasel. In the legend, he was a redhead who had a yellow rat as a Familiar. Ummm, Scabbers much?
Also, today is Harry Potter/JKR's birthday. My friend, Corey, and I used to have a geeky tradition on 7/31 that we would do everrrrrrrry year. I don't want to over-whelm you with my sheer nerdness, so I'll tell you one day when it won't be put down in writing.
P.S. I bought you a really cooooool b-day gift. It's something you said you wanted, and I think we'll get some good use out of it next year. I still don't know if we can do the b-day thing this summer. I'm the bank's bitch. I work CONSTANTLY. Fo' realz, yo.
I'll look into it further.

[leia131.livejournal.com]

Eh, we'll be back at school, freaking LIVING TOGETHER in less than a month. We can exchange presents then.


As for Ron... I think I heard that somewhere. Maybe Jane Yolen read the same legend?

[jurisfiction16.livejournal.com]

Fuck Jane Yolen.
Long live JRK!!!!!!!!




(I just keeeeding.)

(Partially.)

MISS YOU! I think we're going to go at some point and look at our room, if it's open, and take measurements. I'll keep you abreast.
Yes, I just wanted to say 'abreast.'