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I read somewhere recently that JKR had said in an interview, or it may have been the Q&A thing she did when she got the James Joyce award that:
'my American publishers wanted Harry and Ron to hug at the end of each book but I said 'No, they're British, it would have to be life and death or football'.
On a side note was it Bill Shankley who said 'Football's not a matter of life and death - it's much more serious than that.'? No matter. Anyway back to the point.
I have two questions about this hugging thing. Firstly, Why? Why would they hug at the end of each book? Because they were saying goodbye for the holiday? See how British I am I can't imagine that happening at all.
And secondly, Why? Why would her American publisher want them to hug? I know Americans (and indeed every other nationality on earth) are supposed to much more touchy feely than us buttoned up Brits but do American boys aged 11 to 16 really hug each other goodbye? Really? Boys? Although thinking about when I used to watch the OC I seem to remember Seth and Ryan doing quite a lot of that 'manly bear hug with a back slap' thing and they were supposed to be 17 in the first series. I still can't imagine 11year olds doing that though.
'my American publishers wanted Harry and Ron to hug at the end of each book but I said 'No, they're British, it would have to be life and death or football'.
On a side note was it Bill Shankley who said 'Football's not a matter of life and death - it's much more serious than that.'? No matter. Anyway back to the point.
I have two questions about this hugging thing. Firstly, Why? Why would they hug at the end of each book? Because they were saying goodbye for the holiday? See how British I am I can't imagine that happening at all.
And secondly, Why? Why would her American publisher want them to hug? I know Americans (and indeed every other nationality on earth) are supposed to much more touchy feely than us buttoned up Brits but do American boys aged 11 to 16 really hug each other goodbye? Really? Boys? Although thinking about when I used to watch the OC I seem to remember Seth and Ryan doing quite a lot of that 'manly bear hug with a back slap' thing and they were supposed to be 17 in the first series. I still can't imagine 11year olds doing that though.
