I’ve been reading a lot of articles in the newspapers lately about the forthcoming Harry Potter book.
Will he die?
Who will die?
We know someone dies, but what if… what if it’s Harry?
I’ve read at least 2 different articles which debate how parents should communicate the deaths of favourite characters, especially Harry, if it should happen.
I’ve read interviews with parents who have said that should Harry die, they will not let their children read the book. I’ve read interviews with parents who said they will use it as an opportunity to discuss mortality with their children.
As a child I was a voracious reader. I started reading Golden Books by myself around 4 and was bored shitless in reading classes in primary school as I had already read the book. I ended up teaching other kids how to read.
I read everything and anything I could get my hands on and nothing was prohibited to me. When I stayed at my grandparents or at my Dads I read whatever I could find.
I read war books, Biggles books, romance novels, National Geographic magazines, encyclopedias, Girl’s Own Annuals and sometimes even Boy’s Own Annuals.
I didn’t really care if it was shit or poorly written.
I read it all.
I was not discriminating or discerning in what I read, some of it I hated, but I read it, because I LOVED reading.
My favourite authors when I was about 12 included Jackie Collins, Enid Blyton, Ruth Park, C.S. Lewis and L.M. Montgomery.
The only thing I ever remember being banned from me was the Virgina Andrews books after Dad happened to walk through the lounge when I was watching the Flowers In The Attic telemovie. It was the scene where the Grandmother whipped the Mother and that was the first time my Dad put his foot down. He was furious and now, looking back at the content of those books; incest, violence and child abuse, I don’t think I would let my child read them… unless I felt they were mature enough to handle it. Also, mainly because they are shit and poorly written.
There were some books that I read time and time again, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, What Katy Did, The Chronicles of Narnia and Seven Little Australians.
They are books that were and still are, my favourites, but it was only today that I realised in most of these books, one of the major characters dies.
Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables
Beth from Little Women
Judy from Seven Little Australians
Aslan in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
All of their deaths upset me, but I never wished that I had not read it.
Yes, I wished they could live, but at the same time, I understood that people, and animals, die.
Even the ones we like.
I do agree that a parent should be aware of what a child is reading, and that, ultimately, it is up to them whether they should be allowed to read certain material. At the same time, I believe that death is an inalienable truth of life.
I understand you want to protect your children from every hurt and pain and misery, but I believe that by allowing them to educate themselves you grant them the ultimate protection.
I’m not a parent, but I am speaking as someones child.
Now, I am going to turn off the tele and laptop and curl up with my hot water bottle and a good book.
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