J. K. Rowling A Biography

Book Description

Based on exhaustive research, interviews with those who know her and a penetrating evaluation of the novels, this is the first full-length biography of one of the most important writers in the world today. She is the creator of probably the best-known and certainly the best-loved character in contemporary fiction; she is also the author of her own escape from an existance on the brink of poverty, with no job and few prospects. On the one hand there is J.K. Rowling, who wrote and continues to write, the Harry Potter novels, a literary phenomenon of both the last millenium, and the new one. On the other, there is Joanne Rowling, a quiet, dreamy, rather shy woman whose brilliance in translating her dreams into prose transformed her own life. The author examines the experiences that not only helped to shape J.K. Rowling, but that led in the end, as in all the best fairy tales, to fame and fortune.

Customer Reviews:

Full of interesting facts...........2004-02-13

I always wondered why someone would use a name that started with initials. This and other interesting facts are explained in this book by Sean Smith about the life of JK Rowling. If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series this book would be an enjoyable read.

Very good for book reports!.......2003-10-13

I read this book for a book report, and found that it was extremely interesting. While a bit dry at times, it got very interesting around the time at which she was getting the book published. I highly recommend this book for Harry Potter fans, and for teenagers needing to read biographies for book reports.

A must for Harry fans!.......2003-01-30

I found this book very entertaining. JK Rowling's life has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride but the downs like her messy marriage and her mother's long term illness made me want to turn the pages all the more to see how it all turned out for her. It's an unpretentious read packed with facts about the author that I had no idea about. You can't always believe what you read in the newspapers! It's fun joining the author in trying to find Harry Potter references in her own life story and this book doesn't take itself too seriously. JK Rowling is a good writer but her own story is a great one. Thoroughly recommended.

An exercise in conjecture.......2002-11-27

If I could give this half a star, I would. The only redeeming value of this book are the statistical citations (i.e. where she was born, where she went to school, etc.). The author is clearly trying to cash in on J.K. Rowling's success by writing a piece of drivel that is reminiscent of the desperation in final essay time in college; lots of padding little substance.

Smith makes giant leaps of logic in trying to detect inspiration from Rowling's life in her novels. These leaps are transparent and many of them seem more unlikely than possible.

I truly hope that either J.K. Rowling writes and autobiography or that she allows an accomplished biographer of some quality to interview her and access some of her old letters and so on. That would be worth a read. This was a waste of my time. Don't waste your money.

Less random nonsense, more biographical info please.......2002-11-11

...

High on padding, low on truly insightful detail, this is a sad attempt at a biography by a man who seems to have only grasped the superficial aspects of the Harry Potter books anyway.

Amazon.com

If you're a Harry Potter fan who knows more about J.K. Rowling than you know about most of your own family, then you won't find much new in this slim, large-type book. But younger kids (and Muggle grownups hoping for some insight into the world of Harry Potter) will learn quite a bit about this phenomenally successful series and its unassuming author.

Divided into roughly three sections, Conversations with J.K. Rowling begins with some fairly general questions about the author's early childhood ("Did you have any pets?"), school days ("Did you watch much television as a child?"), and career ("Can you describe the process of creating the stories?"). The book then follows with an excerpt-assisted overview of the first four Harry Potter adventures (again, great for Muggles), and ends with a smattering of quotes from Rowling's interviews with Larry King, Newsweek, Oprah Winfrey's O magazine, and Entertainment Weekly.

Kids will get a kick out of many of the anecdotes (Rowling can't remember her little sister's birth, just eating the Play-Doh that she was given that day to distract her), while older readers should enjoy more sophisticated insights into her books (like how she decided to write full-time when she still had a daughter to support). Certainly a light (and quick) read, but fun for what it is. (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

The name J.K. Rowling is one that is on the lips of millions of readers worldwide, but before 1997 few people knew the brilliant woman behind the phenomenally successful Harry Potter books. And now, four books into the series, few yet know the real story of Ms. Rowling's childhood and career as a writer. This is the first and only true telling of Ms. Rowling's history because it is in her own words, from her birth in Chipping Sodbury near Bristol, England, to the stories about her favorite and least favorite teachers in school growing up, and to the funny misunderstanding in her first fan letter. It is like a visit with a friend, a friend who has brought you to tears with laughter and told the most enchanting stories you've ever been told.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book for Grades 2-5 .......2006-03-25

I bought this book for my son to use in his book report about J. K. Rowling. It was exactly what he needed! He was able to write a two page report about her life that included interesting facts.

A decent interview book.......2005-10-25

Lindsey Fraser's Conversations with J.K. Rowling, written for young adults, bills itself as "the only authorized biography of J.K. Rowling." It is in fact not a biography per se. The book is divided into two sections. The first is the text of the author's interview with Rowling, conducted prior to the appearance of the first Harry Potter film (though after the rights to the movie had been purchased by Warner Brothers). (Fraser's book was published in 2000, the year that the fourth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, was released.) In the interview Rowling discusses her childhood and early schooling, her career as, among other things, a teacher, and writing. She occasionally refers to the links between her own life and the world of Harry Potter, telling readers, for example, that Stanley and Ernie from the Knight Bus were named after her grandparents, and that the Weasley's turquoise Ford Anglia was modeled after a high school friend's car. These details may not be revelatory to Harry Potter enthusiasts, but I had not heard them previously.

The second part of the book includes Fraser's brief essay on the world of Harry Potter and another on Goblet of Fire, a discussion which is augmented by snippets from interviews Rowling gave at the time of that book's release.

Good for kids, and at 96 pages of largish print, a very quick read.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

Good for kids.......2005-07-29

This is a great little interview book about J.K. Rowling as a writer. It's great for kids looking for career inspiration and interested in learning about the process of writing.

it was just like a big interview.......2004-08-22

I thought this book was really cool. It was a bunch of questions the J.K. Rowling answered. I thought it was really interesting to learn more about her life before she became famous and how she is now. It was very short and I finished it in like an hour. It's for all people even if they arn't that into Harry Potter. The only problem is I think it is over priced.

it was just like a big interview.......2004-08-22

Average customer rating:

J. K. Rowling (Biography (a & E))
Colleen Sexton
Manufacturer: Lerner Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0822533898

J. K. Rowling: New and Revised: The Wizard Behind Harry Potter

Average customer rating:

J. K. Rowling review
Walk away!
No new information.
"Not the best guide but it gets the job done......"
Nothing new

J. K. Rowling: New and Revised: The Wizard Behind Harry Potter
Marc Shapiro
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312286627

Book Description

Harry Potter is loved throughout the world-so is his creator. Joanne Kathleen (J.K.) Rowling is a true wizard, a woman who has the ability to recall vividly her days as a child and capture those wild, wonderful, difficult times-an ability that helps make her creation, Harry Potter, seem so real. In this revealing look, fans of the Harry Potter series will get to see their favorite author as they never have before. From a child with a wonderful imagination who didn't quite fit in, to a single mother with almost overwhelming responsibilities, the J.K. Rowling story is a wonderful chance for adults and children to enjoy a heartwarming, magical story....together.Inside are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions: * Where did the idea of Harry Potter come from? * What was J.K. Rowling like when she was younger? * What is it like to be J.K. Rowling's daughter? * Which of the characters does J.K. Rowling most identify with? * What was it the Hogwarts Express tour like? * Where does the name "Harry Potter" come from? * What is J.K. Rowling's simple rule about writing? * And much more!

Customer Reviews:

J. K. Rowling review.......2007-09-13

Very informative in regards to the author. I just wish it had been updated to include more recent events. But, I did enjoy getting to know the author a little bit better. I guess dreams do come true!!

Walk away!.......2007-05-17

How I wish I had read some online reviews before picking up this clunker at the Barnes and Noble this week! It would be patronizing and insulting to kids to say this was written for children. Kids who read and understand the Harry Potter books will be far too advanced to find this more than a paperweight. Grammatical errors abound, the author apparently has a very limited vocabulary (he repeats pets phrases two and three times per paragraph) and yes, it is obvious he has never picked up and read a Harry Potter book. How else can one explain the Shapiro statement that wizarding banks are run by owls?!

Give this one a pass.

No new information. .......2007-02-07

All that is in here is what you can find on JK Rowling's website. Only if you have no access to an internet connection, and you haven't read her previous interviews, then this book would be informative to you. Otherwise, save your money.

"Not the best guide but it gets the job done......".......2006-06-25

Overall this book was a pretty fair source for the basic facts on Miss Rowlings life and career. However, as the book progressed it became very obvious that the author knew very little about the books themselves. He suuggested that owls run gringotts bank, and called cho cang cho chan. As other reviewers have already mentioned he also made a flaw on Miss Rowlings birthday. I know every one is human, therefore prone to flaw, but the lack of editing was noticeable. There was some pretty good pics, and lots off fascinating tid bits, but perhaps could use a bit more editing.

Nothing new.......2006-01-22

The writing style leads me to believe that this book is written for older elementary school age to middle school age children, so thankfully it was a quick read. The entire book is just a piecing together of interviews. Marc Shapiro has never interviewed J.K. Rowling himself. So there wasn't anything new or all that interesting in the book if you've read the interviews JKR has given over the years.

Shapiro also does a very lazy job of updating the book by just tacking on new material every couple of years to the end.

Overall, it was a disappointment.

Muggles and Magic: An Unofficial Guide to J.k. Rowling and the Harry Potter Phenomenon

Average customer rating:

A great and easy read!
Interesting HP Resource
No such edition exists.
Great resource book!
An incomplete and lop-sided guide to the world of Harry Potter

Muggles and Magic: An Unofficial Guide to J.k. Rowling and the Harry Potter Phenomenon
George W. Beahm
Manufacturer: Hampton Roads Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1571745424

Book Description

With more than 50,000 copies of the first two editions in print, the popular Muggles and Magic has been substantially revised and updated to feature more exciting, up-to-the-minute information, including a photo essay on the famous Harry Potter-themed retail store, Whimsic Alley; a first-hand account of J.K. Rowling's celebrated August 2006 book reading in New York (with full-color photos); a new section on Harry Potter fans, with an article written by Steve Van Ark, webmaster of the Harry Potter Lexicon and popular speaker at Harry Potter conventions. Edward Kern, author of The Wisdom of Harry Potter (Prometheus Books, 2003) contributes the new introduction. Including this third edition of Muggles and Magic, George Beahm has written more than twenty books, including Passport to Narnia (Hampton Roads, 2005, ISBN 1-57174-465-7) and Fact, Fiction, and Folklore in Harry Potter's World (Hampton Roads, 2005, ISBN 1-57174-440-1

Customer Reviews:

A great and easy read!.......2007-05-03

I very much enjoyed this third edition of 'Muggles and Magic', and it's great to have a new, up to date issue! I disagree with reviewers who have written, 'This material is all available elsewhere'; that may be the case, but why spend hours searching for it in other volumes, websites or magazines (who has time for that??) when it's all been gathered together for you here? Mr Beahm has taken the time to compile an extensive volume which gives many interesting insights into the world of HP, the thoughts of J K Rowling and even the HP fan base and their activities! If you want a manual which covers all topics related to HP - books, collectibles et al - then this is the book for you! Kirk's illustrations are wonderful and they, together with some great photos, bring extra entertainment to the pages.

Interesting HP Resource.......2007-01-21

I'll admit that I initially bought the book because I'd heard the fan trips were highlighted in it. And when I received the book, was delighted and tickled to find a group photo that I'm in (and it's clear enough to see everyone) was in the book! How cool is that? (Though it's too bad one of my friends got cut out due to poor cropping...and the 2005 group shot was in with the 2004 trip...but we let George know that after meeting him. :) He's very nice.)

The book is interesting in its own right but at times is a little hard to follow. It doesn't seem to be in any particular order.

Having said that, I'm still glad I got the book.

I've also had the pleasure of listening to George Beahm (and illustrator Tim Kirk) speak and they both signed my book. They are both incredibly interesting to listen to, and even if you don't favour this book, give the others by George Beahm a go.

No such edition exists........2006-12-28

I am the author and this edition doesn't exist -- it never has. At one point, there was a plan to issue a run in hardback for libraries, but that plan was never put into effect. So don't go looking for a hardback edition of this book through used booksellers because you'd be searching in vain.

PS: Amazon.com's policies require that the author "review" his book by giving it from 1 to 5 stars. I believe the author should have his say about his own book on Amazon, but there should be an option to write about it without having to give it a ranking. It has nothing to do with being a "curious bit of self-promotion" (as one reader put it) because there's nothing curious about it, and it's bad self-promotion besides. Amazon is forcing the issue and what can any author do except give himself the benefit of the doubt?

That said, if an author does write a book, he usually feels (as I do) that he's given it his best effort and, at least, in his mind it should rate pretty high on the scale. As to what you can believe on an Amazon review, I have always felt a professionally written review (from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY or LIBRARY JOURNAL) is always fair and impartial, and usually consistent, whereas fan "reviews" (in fact, opinions) vary wildly and are therefore suspect.

Great resource book!.......2006-07-02

I like this book a lot, and I am dis-heartened to read all
the unfavorable reviews about it. it's a great general
resource book on the Harry Potter phenomenon.

I like having all this information at my finger tips in book
form. The book is divided into clear concise sections, and
has a wealth of information within each of them.

I especially like the merchandise section. I like to know
what products are out there. there is even a web-site guide
so you know where to go to find all the latest news at the
biggest and best HP sites around.

what this book is not is a theory book. it doesn't delve into
what things might mean in the books or films, it sticks simply
with the facts of the Harry Potter fandom.

there is a ton of information and trivia about JK Rowling
herself, along with a lot of great quotes and pictures.
as well as photos of some of the big Harry Potter events
around the world.

I find it a great resource to have around, and a lasting
tribute to the Harry Potter Phenomenon.

An incomplete and lop-sided guide to the world of Harry Potter.......2005-12-08

As an adult fan of the Harry Potter series, I am fascinated by Ms. Rowling and her talent as a writer which brought this magical world to life. When I purchased 'Muggles and Magic,' I looked forward to reading more about the author and the pop culture surrounding this phenomenon.

After reading Beahm's publication, I have to say that I'm disappointed. Essentially, this book is a collection of articles highlighting Harry Potter/J.K. Rowling facts that have been featured elsewhere. (I.e. newspapers, magazines, online, etc.) While some of the articles have good information about Rowling, there were times where reading them made me feel uncomfortable. I wondered how Ms. Rowling, a famously private person who is not afraid to speak up to defend her character, would feel about the clippings that delve into her painful past. She makes a point to dissuade such stories on her personal Web page, and reading them in this "fan" book seemed more like reading gossip than fact.

Other articles in the book simply have fraudulent and outdated information that Beahm hasn't bothered to research and update, such as that Dan Radcliffe has bowed out of all of the films after 'Goblet of Fire' (he hasn't, and is telling the press he's signed on for 'Order of the Phoenix'), and that J.K. Rowling's Web site doesn't feature a F.A.Q. (it does, here: http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/faq.cfm).

Another problem I had with this book was the higgledy-piggledy way it seems to have been put together. There's no real rhyme or reason to the selections, and the collection doesn't flow but rather jerks, such as from an article about owning owls as pets to another about Joanne's involvement in a cancer charity.

Beahm is clearly a fan and I can tell he had fun putting this little book of Potter/Rowling odds and ends together. Had a little more research been done and a bit more time spent on fashioning the information together, this would be a fleshed-out companion worthy of the world of Harry Potter.

Average customer rating:

J. K. Rowling
Great Book for Kids

J.K. Rowling (Blue Banner Biographies)
Ann Gaines
Manufacturer: Mitchell Lane Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1584153253

Book Description

Joanne Kathleen Rowling (a.k.a. J. K. Rowling) had always wanted to be a writer. In fact, she never knew what else she wanted to do with her life. She wandered from job to job before she thought up Harry Potter and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was ecstatic when Bloomsbury Press offered to publish her book for a few thousand dollars. But the success of the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone took everyone by surprise. Since then she has gone on to publish four more books in the series with another one on the way. Faced with almost overnight fame and fortune, Jo (as she likes to be called) still stays grounded. She readily admits that the most important thing to her is spending time with her husband and raising their children. This is an unauthorized biography of J. K. Rowling. It has not been approved nor endorsed by J. K. Rowling.

Customer Reviews:

J. K. Rowling.......2007-01-04

I bought this book for my 3rd grade students to use in conjunction with our reading the biography of Helen Keller. I also wanted my students to get an understanding for the "author process." The students enjoyed learning about a favorite author, they were able to understand the language of the book, they could read it by themselves, and they could relate to how they feel about producing a finished piece of writing.

Great Book for Kids.......2004-08-18

I really liked reading this book about the author of the Harry Potter books. It tells how she got the idea for Harry Potter. Great pix in the book, too.

J. K. Rowling: A Biography (Unauthorized Edition)

Average customer rating:

When You Are Done Reading ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.....
I Love This Book!
Nothing new in this book - very disappointing
A Harry Potter Fan
Up-to-date and Accurate

J. K. Rowling: A Biography (Unauthorized Edition)
Connie Ann Kirk
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0313322058

Book Description

The unprecedented popularity of the Harry Potter books took the publishing world by storm and captured the imaginations of readers around the world. This unofficial biographical study of J. K. Rowling invites fans and critics alike to take a close look at the person behind the phenomenon, the facts of her life as a writer, and the extraordinary success of an ordinary woman. This detailed book explores both the critical acclaim and the controversies surrounding Rowling's books and the characters, who seem to have found a life of their own. Chapters take the reader from Rowling's early childhood in England through her school years, friendships, and early influences, tracing her family life, her travels and personal relationships, and the development of her career as a writer. The Harry Potter books are carefully considered against the backdrop of the fantasy genre and are also situated within the broader framework of popular culture. A bibliography provides reviews, critical articles, biographical sources, and related Web site information. A timeline highlights the events of Rowling's life and career. Other appendices cite the many awards her books have received around the world. Also included are lists of her special literary and humanitarian interests.

Customer Reviews:

When You Are Done Reading ORDER OF THE PHOENIX............2003-07-12

......read this book about the great writer, J. K. Rowling! I like how she played guitar and drew pictures, besides doing her writing. The author of this biography says that J. K. Rowling and Harry Potter are like the Beatles. From what my parents say about them, I think so, too. Then I heard on the webcast interview from London that J. K. Rowling's favorite group is the Beatles--so, it's like this author knew that already! You'll love this book if you like Harry Potter and J. K. Rowling. I love the names of the fungi in the Forest of Dean. If you grew up there, maybe you'd have J. K. Rowling's imagination, too! She read lots of books, too, which figures, doesn't it? This book tells more about the books she read than any other book I've seen about her. Over the summer, I'm going to write a letter to J. K. Rowling using her addresses in the back of this book. This book is packed with information! Buy it and read it!

I Love This Book!.......2003-07-12

Most of the books about J. K. Rowling are either too young for me or are just gossip about her. This book tells me about her life and her writing and about Harry Potter in a way I like. It's for older kids and adults. It's the most up-to-date book about J. K. Rowling on Amazon. There is a lot of information in the back, too, like addresses where to write to her and addresses for the charities she's involved with. It has pictures in it, too. I got this book as a gift, since my dad knew I would already get Order of the Phoenix. I love this book! I love J. K. Rowling and Harry Potter! I recommend this book to everyone who loves J. K. Rowling and Harry Potter like I do!

Nothing new in this book - very disappointing.......2003-07-03

I bought this book and Sean Smith's biography of the same name as I love the Harry Potter books and wanted to find out more about the author, who seems to be quite private and doesn't reveal much about herself. There is no new material in Kirk's book - in fact she has taken a lot of the information from Smith's book which came out 2 years ago so you may as well just buy that one!

If you buy this book thinking you'll read something new, don't bother.

A Harry Potter Fan.......2003-06-18

My mom and I both read this book while we were waiting for Harry Potter #5 to come out. It has some things in it I've never heard of before about Ms. Rowling. My mom said she thought the Forest of Dean near where Ms. Rowling grew up sounded like a magical place and maybe that's where some of her ideas came from. We loved the names of the mushrooms they have there! We liked this book a lot and recommend it to any Harry Potter fans out there who would like to know more about the author. It's also the most up-to-date biography we know of--it even mentions her new baby!

Up-to-date and Accurate.......2003-04-18

This book is very informative and provides a clear way of undrstanding parts of J.K. Rowling's life. It is by far the most accurate and up-to-date biography of J.K. Rowling.
I give this book 5 stars because of its accuracy and the fact that this book is the most up-to-date biography of J.K. Rowling.

Average customer rating:

J. K. Rowling (People in the News)
Bradley Steffens
Manufacturer: Lucent Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1590189639

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J. K. Rowling (Children's Authors)
Cari Meister
Manufacturer: Checkerboard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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J. K. Rowling (Library of Author Biographies)

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J. K. Rowling (Library of Author Biographies)
William Compson
Manufacturer: Rosen Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0823937747

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