|
|
Reviews For Session Transcripts
But I have to tell you that Snape's revenge on Petunia and Dudley really disturbed me--while the part of me that is outraged by what the Dursley's did to Harry is somewhat satisfied that vengeance has been administered, the mother part of me is horrified what was done to Dudley's brain and mind. Part of me admits that in doing so, Severus has returned Dudley to a state of "innocence" that the boy probably never had save for prior to Harry's being dropped off on the Dursley doorstep, but it's still horrifying. I can totally understand Severus wanting to punish Petunia harshly, but Dudley is still a child... The fact that I'm so emotionally disturbed by that scene is a testament to the high quality of your writing, my dear. I like it that you don't have Severus Snape being all light and fluffy like he is with Harry, but still showing the power and ruthlessness of the canon character in the appropriate places. Well done! I'm off to re-read the next chapter (the last one posted to date), and hope that you are able to post another chapter soon. I want to know more about what is happening with not just Harry, but also Hermes, Greg, and the rest of the students whose "session transcripts" you are sharing with us. :)
Author's Response: Yay! You have autistic nephews?
Harry: [He claps his hands together in delight]. Oh! You gives it out to all the Slytherins during the year, and thens you gets real fat during the summers!" Kill me now! I don't know whether I'm laughing or crying but this has been absolutely amazing. I cannot wait. I envy your skill. I shall have to devise a way to steal it. Tell me, do you, perhaps, travel on many trains? -wanders off to plot theft- Author's Response: Plot theft! Ack! Just answer my challenge why don't you!?
I've been enjoying this story very much from the beginning. Your manner of developing your plot is sophisticated - especially considering you do most of it using dialogue/transcripts. I'm glad that you show the session transcripts of mostly all the first years in all the houses - it's an excellent idea, adds realism, and it's really cute to see how gossip circulates throughout the students, and how each of the different students is affected by other students' actions. My one problem: I agree with McGonagall's opinion of Hermes, and unfortunately the section from her point of view did nothing to convince me otherwise. There have always been women who prefer "masculine" activities (Leslie in Bridge to Terebithia, Maggie in The Mill on the Floss, Jo in Little Women), who resist their mothers' attempts to turn them into young ladies. Witness your Hannah Abbott. These women grow up to combine their "womanhood" and their "masculine interests" to create vibrant and unique personalities. When Hermes's personal life was still a mystery to us, I was willing to accept that she might feel like a boy trapped in a girl's body. However, finding out that her big secret is merely that she is really, really a tomboy and her mother really, really wants her to be girly (ok, yes, to a crazy degree) is disappointing. That doesn't make Hermes transgender. That doesn't cut it for me. Furthermore, I find it disturbing that an eleven-year-old decided on her own that she was the wrong gender, even a bright eleven-year-old like Hermes. (Or maybe I'm underestimating Hermes.) I have a hard time believing that children think like that. I also have a hard time accepting that the "good" adults at Hogwarts (McGonagall is clearly the odd, old-fashioned one out) believe the best course of action is to accept this child's decision that though she was born a girl she really is a boy. Not that I believe that breaking her habits, or whatever, is the best way to go. Of course, her underlying feelings need to be addressed, and of course she can go on reading and playing with Lincoln Logs and whatever she likes to do (except if it causes harm to herself or to someone else), and the first year girls should be given special instruction against bullying. The point is that Hermes is HERSELF, even if she likes to do 'boy' things, even if she likes to dress like a boy and keep her hair short, even if she prefers to go by a sexually-ambiguous nickname. Only then will she really be true to her own unique self. Especially since it seems most likely to me that the intensity of Hermes's masculine preferences stems from a deep-rooted issue with her mother. I hope that is what Severus will focus on in working with her. Is there more to the story that I'm missing? Is there more you haven't revealed yet? All of the above is solely my own opinion, and I hope not to offend anyone by it - certainly not anyone struggling with their identity, nor anyone with a loved one struggling with their identity. My thoughts are based on what we know so far of Hermes's background and the construction of her gender. ~ Terri B. Author's Response: It's all right that you agree with Professor McGonagall. :) I'm in partial agreement with almost all of my characters, even Justin. It IS true that the entire story isn't out yet about Granger, but you are certainly entitled to your own opinion in the meantime (or after). The topics that are focused on in this fic (intelligence, social presentation, gender issues etc.) aren't simply cut and dried ideas that are agreed on by the mass public. Now, the opinions represented by the people that make up the usual fanfic audience, they tend to be a little more open towards bizarreness; one would have to be, to get one's mind around some of the fics that are out there currently. :) So does that make you closeminded? Not necessarily. Traditional minded? Maybe. I dunno. It's not my place to put labels on people, which I think this fic is trying to demonstrate. We can label ourselves and we can get labelled, but in the end, is that what really matters? Once more, I don't know. It depends. :P
Did. I mention I really love this story? Lol
Author's Response: Next chapter we shall go back to normal (or relative normalcy)!
Author's Response: Whoo!!! And evil. Sev is definitely evil. But that's why we love him, no? |
|
Powered by eFiction 3.5 |