I've really been enjoying your writing, so don't feel bad for the link bombs!

As far as cancel culture goes, I actually feel pretty similarly to you. I'm definitely no proponent of it, and there's hardly ever been a time in my life where I've refused myself a book, movie, or TV show just because of who was involved in making it. That point of yours about Harvey Weinstein and Woody Allan could hardly be more spot on (I actually just watched the Purple Rose of Cairo and Midnight in Paris in the last week, both wonderful movies).

I'm Jewish, too, and don't see anything inherently anti-semitic in what Rowling did with her goblin depiction. Truthfully, in reading the books recently, the only part that struck me as morally ambiguous was Harry and Ron's attitutdes toward house elves. I'd never actually considered some of your persepctive on that. It's true that it's pretty hard to imagine Rowling would actually have a pro-slavery mentality. And I know that Hermione is supposed to be representative of a young Rowling.

Cho Chang could probably have been more carefully named, but that doesn't make Rowling a racist either, and it's certainly no reason not to enjoy Harry Potter.

Sometimes it feels these day like no essay about Harry Potter is complete without at least a mention of J.K. Rowling and her controversies. I almost feel obligated to speak out against a few of those more contentious points even if they don't personally offend me. God forbid I be cancelled next.

I disagree with some of Rowling's personal beliefs, but none of that has ever amounted to a reason I can't enjoy her work.

I think a lot of the reason I have such a fondness for Harry Potter that I never found for Lord of the Rings just comes down to when I first saw the movies. Harry Potter came out at that perfect age in childhood for me to grow up alongside the characters and be excited about each new movie. Neither star wars, nor the lord of the rings lined up for me in that way. Once I did see them, it was hard for me to be quite as enthralled. I still think what Tolkien acheived in writing lord of the rings was something far more massive than what Rowling accomplished with Harry Potter.

As an adult, my appreciation for these sorts of movies can hinge unhealthily on special effects and visual fidelity. It's sometimes hard for me to be captivated by the same horrors, actions and fantasies that my dad loved growing up. Harry Potter did and still does impress me more in that regard than the lotr movies. I might have actually enjoyed the hobbit movies more than lotr for that reason. Game of Thrones I also loved.

I agree also that Rupert is a bit miscast, but nostalgia has probably tainted my vision a bit there, too. They'll always be one of the greatest cinematic trios in history for me.

Thanks so much for reading and for sending those articles my way! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts. I'm beginning work on a piece for FanFare, so hopefully will have that to you in the next few days!