Neville Longbottom
Neville Longbottom
Oh my goodness Neville, while I connected with Hermione and Luna in love of books, wit, and oddities; my personal experiences always aligned more with Neville, which is why for the majority of the story I was disheartened to find him not having better luck. Regardless, Neville is the character that teaches us the most in the series showing us how words matter, you need to be your strongest supporter, you should do what’s right regardless of others, and how persistence can make all the difference.
“Stick and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”
False. The constant pressure and negativity from his grandmother, Snape and peers held Neville back. Confidence, kindness, respect for different people’s strengths can make all the difference for the individual and for the world. We know all the example I could go thru, but we see as Neville begins to ignore the taunts of others that he continues to improve.
“If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid”
It took some time, but Neville eventually found himself. While he wasn’t good at potions and his fear of McGonagall held him back in Transfiguration, his love of Herbology eventually led him to a dream career as a Professor who will be the new generations Lupin I’m sure. While he felt down on himself, he didn’t feel bad about what or whom he liked and sought out relationships that he deemed worthy. This success also comes from his showing of persistence (slug club, defeating Voldemort), while not in a zealous way, he constantly tries to better himself and handles rejection well, he also doesn’t give up; even at the end of the first year when Harry, Ron and Hermione say they’re going out he doesn’t let them pass, but vows to stay there blocking them off.
While there is a lot we learn from Neville, what I love the most is how he’s a pure, true, good guy. He’s strong, the ultimate underdog and this is also one of the ways I find myself linked, he’s very moral—always trying to do the right and respectable thing. Even as “a nobody”, he would stand up for others and put others ahead of himself as he told Harry to let him be killed to make sure Voldemort and other’s didn’t get what they want, he also wouldn’t give in during the final battle and showed loyalty and trust in Harry beyond the end. Side point with this, his care with his mother and children who have parents are disabled or impaired, it was beautiful and to show how his grandmother was the opposite was very crucial, she might not have known who her son was, but she recognized this sweet boy and I love how he cherishes the wrappers she gives him.
Neville is the character I have the most “what/if” about
What/If he was in Hufflepuff (added points in letting us know a Hufflepuff so it doesn’t have the reputation it does); he also would have had a better connection with Professor Sprout (if that's possible)
What/If he had been closer to Harry, Ron and Hermione earlier on. I get that they were the core 3, but they didn’t even hang out with him as much as I feel they should have, and even when they did it became: Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville, Luna and Ginny.
Of course, the biggest, What/If is if Voldemort had chosen him instead of Harry, who would he have been? Harry would have been the same if he lived with his Aunt and Uncle, or just like James, if he ended up with Sirius (eck)
More Posts from Jjayolsen and Others
Deangelo
Deangelo’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Three: The Inner Circle
When he brings up positive changes as negative changes in his (first) conference room meeting post-Michael:
The he plans to leave the office at 5pm
That the company will send Darryl to business school, full ride
He’s getting Toby a new chair
Ice Cream Thursdays
Deangelo’s Second Worst Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Two: Goodbye, Michael
When he cuts out two huge corners of the cake, eats one with his hands, and then leans in close to yell “No!” at the cake.
Deangelo’s Best Line: Michael’s Last Dundies
When he see’s Meredith’s place and tells Michael “This reminds me of Katrina”
DeAngelo’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Three: The Inner Circle
His fake juggling routine
The Harry Potter film series
Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter
Of course the Harry Potter films are a big deal to me, how could they not be. To get into each one could be a bit much—so I’ll just go with the highlights. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, ha, it wasn’t until just after the troll was knocked out that I stopped yelling at the screen (yes, in the movie theatre) that it had it wrong—how we didn’t get kicked out I have no idea. This is also funny because the first three films, and especially the first two, are the ones that were able to most closely represent the books before too much started happening where a good portion had to be cut.
The fourth and fifth films, the fourth being highly regarded as the WORST of the franchise, had some major issues. For starters, they cut out the most both time wise and important detail wise. The fact that Harry Potter was able to start such a feminist revolution without Hermione’s organizations of SPEW represented in the films shows just how otherwise kickass these stories were. I hope if they could go back they’d split or extend the 4th film—focusing less on the ‘action!’ of the tasks and more of the changes starting to occur as they were realizing something was going on, but not yet what. While the fourth film was the worst in the franchise by far, no one can ever rightfully deny that the scene of Harry’s return with Cedric’s body truly captured the turning point of the series, while Harry has known death and loss for a long time this year and this moment is when he really begins becoming a man and stepping up to the challenges bestowed upon him.
The 7th year of Harry Potters’ education, or what was supposed to be, split between the 7th and 8th films was done pretty well. The last two films sort of encompass all the series had to offer; drama between Ron and Hermione, the friendship between Harry and Hermione and Ron and Harry separately, the trip to Gringotts brought me back to their more youthful adventures then there are the adult aspects of Neville’s and Draco’s development and the finale of Harry and Voldemort standoff with some beloved life lost that blanketed the series.
Best Parties
1. Benihana Christmas: Season Three, Episode Ten
2. Launch Party: Season Four, Episode Three
3. Email Surveillance: Season Two, Episode Nine
4. Kelly’s day-late birthday party: Lecture Circuit Part One
5. Dwight Christmas: Season Nine, Episode Nine
6. Christmas Party: Season Two, Episode Ten
7. The Dundies: Season Two, Episode One
8. Booze Cruise: Season Two, Episode Eleven:
9. Cocktails: Season Three, Episode Seventeen
10. Season Five, Episode Nine: Frame Toby (Whatever party got Michael to go back to the annex and see that Toby had returned )
His movement, his story, his heartbreak, everything. This was just so beautifully done and moving. You cannot hate him or this speech
Dementors
"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them....get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you...you'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.’
It is with our introduction to Dementors that we really feel inside JK Rowling, even for those who dealt with depression, the aspect of it being temporary and out of ones control made the connection difficult--but is becoming more accepted overtime. While some stories show us new worlds, and other stories draw connections from different worlds to our own, others open our eyes to living a better life and all the different ways stories and books and conversations, sometimes we read to find ourselves as we look for ourselves in others. This is one of the best examples, of how JK connected us and brought us forward within ourselves as those right next to us. Her ability to openly and honestly portray pain, loneliness and loss are some of the most crucial elements that people needed to feel connected with in order to survive.
"You do care" said Dumbledore "You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it"--and we did, we have survived
Youth Climate Strike
Similar to the March for Our Lives a year ago, students will leave their classrooms again today across the US, joining students from over 100 countries around the world who have already marched, begging their elders, to work to leave some of the world behind for them to thrive with.
Image: Climate Change: Youth climate strikes to take place in more than 100 countries. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/14/youth-climate-strikes-to-take-place-in-almost-100-countries-greta-thunberg
While there are many issues that plague every generation, this generation sees themselves shook with the idea that they might not even have a chance to survive as more data shows that the deadline to save the human races’ existence on the planet is just getting closer, and closer. While the declining health of the planet has been an issue for decades, and the ignorance of facts behind it are baffling, the students and youth really are doing everything they can to keep it on individuals minds and are seeing growing victories from lawsuits against their governments, the growing vegan and vegetarian movements, and bans on single-use plastic. Looking at the map above this is a growing movement and my only hope, the only hope is that others get out of their way: in political office, in corporations, and the ridiculous online bullying older people think will impact the younger generation.
PS--if none of the 16 marches planned in New Zealand occurred, you have our deepest sympathies and understanding. Whether blocked by the lockdowns or just needing to be at home with those you love, stay safe.
Books for ourselves
It is important to remember that books are not always about just telling a story. Books can show us how others live--whether they be Stormtroopers, drug addicts, slaves or someone that has another different story from all the ones that are different from us.
Yes, we learn about people from their stories, but it doesn’t have to stop there. In understanding one’s life and one’s struggles--we can choose to act, we can choose to push forward, we can choose to help, we can choose to learn more.
In 15 days it’s Halloween, in 16 days it’s a day of really cheap candy and chocolate, and in 21 days you have the power to vote and make the world how you think it should be. But I hope that’s not your one day of using your voice, your power and the power of listening to someone else’s story. You may not have the best or easiest life, everyone struggles but “a rising tide lifts all boats”--be that tide, raise the condition for everyone
Tom Riddle
Tom Marvolo Riddle, oh boy.
What did we learn from him? About love, courage, bravery, compassion? ahhhhh. No one can say he had an uneasy childhood, and we don’t know if Harry had discovered his magical capabilities one his own without supervision, how he would have ended up or the choices he would have made. But I would believe that it wouldn’t be too different as it is our choices, not chance or circumstance that shows us who we are.
Relating to him more as with other, previous, erroneous leaders it did always astonish me how the Death Eaters just followed him even thou they all knew him and themselves were less “pure blood” than they were. It ALSO drew me crazy that no one fighting him (except Dumbledore of course) would call him Tom, that would drive him CRAZY and knock him off his game, but, oh well.
While again I’m not sure about the hypothesis that he couldn’t love because he was conceived under a love potion, I do agree that he really didn’t understand love. So while I agree he probably didn’t love Bellatrix, I do think he cared and admired her, or at least appreciated her loyalty to him.
Happy New Year loves, please resolve to not be like Tom in the new year, and to do your best fighting your demons.
PS We did get reminded about not too much plastic surgery (hahaha) and with a final annoyance, with all his evil deeds, I am most upset about the timing of Tom Riddles return as Lord Voldemort as it’s influence on Hermione Granger. While I think she should be with Ron, once Lord Voldemort had returned she could not continue any real relationship with Victor Krum as she would focus on the second Wizarding War, she would have gotten to be her own (Princess Belle) great role model. What a GREAT role model as the girlfriend of a Quidditch star: a reader, someone for equal rights for “half breeds”, and a Muggle Born which already had upset Igor Karkaroff.
Oooooo THE HORROR
This week is apparently Banned Books Weeks and this year, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (pretty much the point of books in MY opinion) released the top 11 books so far calculated as the most banned in 2018. (1) (2)
George by Alex Gino*
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller*
Captain Underpants series, written and illustrated by Dan Pilkey*
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier*
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
Skippyjon Jones series, written and illustrated by Judy Schachner
The Absolutely True diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten*
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan*
It’s important to note that six of the eleven books (asterisked above) were challenged or banned because of LGBTQIA+ content. As books are meant to open your mind and bring you connection, the hateful reasons behind banning books remind us why PRIDE and representation are so important. This is especially true when looking at the statistics from the Trevor Project, that have found that LGB youth contemplate suicide 3x the rate of heterosexual youth and are 5x as likely to attempt. (3)
Going more off the serious side I cannot understand how a same-sex couple was the only reason listed as people’s issue with Captain Underpants. Seriously? I always thought they were stupid so I stopped trying to read them after a few but with everything else I remember finding (now the word I would use) distasteful, it was not any non-heterosexual relationships. What complete horsecrap.
(1) https://bannedbooksweek.org/11-challenged-and-banned-books/
(2) https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/22/us/banned-books-week-2019-trnd/index.html
(3) https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/facts-about-suicide/
