Join hosts Irvin and Sophia and special guests Dr. Beatrice Groves, Nick Jeffery, and Louise Freeman as they discuss the upcoming seventh book in the Cormoran Strike series: The Running Grave
In this episode:
- Robinâs green dress is very convincing!
- Linda has big Molly Weasley energy
- Strike will get the Elder Wand of Prosthetic Legs
- Strike is the Teddy Lupin of the series
- How many deaths are we expecting in the book?
- In a world of disgruntled siblings, who has the goat connection?
- Weâre all agreed on the kissing. Itâs happening
Resources:
- The Running Grave: Strike 7, the I Ching and the Yarrow Stalks by Beatrice Groves
- Round Tower Churches and Rowlingâs New Twitter Header by Beatrice Groves
- The Pentagram Idea: What if Cormoran Strike was Originally Intended as a Five-Book Series? by Louise Freeman
- The Ink Black Heart: Parallels to The Cuckooâs Calling by Louise Freeman
- Flips, Pentagrams and Expanded Playlists: Why did the tone we expected in Book 5 wind up in Book 6? by Louise Freeman
- âTroubled Bloodâ Foreshadows Troubled Times by Irvin
For more from our guests and Irvin’s book:
- Beatrice Groves:
- Louise Freeman:
- Nick Jeffrey:
- @gbjeffen on Twitter
- Nick Jeffrey on Hogwarts Professor
- Get Irvin’s book:
The Pubâs Jukebox:
âWe Just Want to Knowâ from Experience Marianas by Rob Rokicki & Sarah Beth Pfeifer
I think it was a great Episode and also my very first đ looking foreward to the Rest. I wanted to tell you that Harry and also Robin didn’t only behave typical gryffindor -brave – both had two reasons not to talk the “authorities”. Robin didn’t want to bother Strike while he worried so much about his aunt. Harry didn’t want to talk to Dumbledore because he had the feeling Dumbledore avoided him. And while Harry of course could have gone to McGonagall, I think the second reason for Harry not telling any teacher is because since a small child he is a victim of abuse. He never told anyone what happend to him at the Dursleys or how they treated him at muggle school. He learned so early in his life that no grown-up is going to stop his pain and while he experienced a lot of help and healing at Hogwarts, it won’t change him fundamentally. And like most victims of abuse, he probably is struggeling to realise that he was actually abused at that moment. And that his abuser was even an official ambassador of the MoM.
I don’t think Robin had that kind of abusive childhood but I think she early learnt not “to make a big fuss”. And she of course constantly wants to prove she is not weak and still learning not to be the Peacemaker all the time.
Thanks, and welcome aboard!
I really like your point – how Harry and Robin approach the “don’t make a fuss” from very different places but get to the same frustrating result.
Thank you:) keep up the nice work
Totally agree about Harry’s ingrained reaction to bullying/injustice. Speaking up can lead to worse bullying because you “went running to a teacher”, so you learn to keep your head down and hope they get bored of you.
(Bearing in mind I’ve only read the first book, and seen some of the tv series, so take what I have to say with a generous helping of salt.)
Given that Strike seems to represent all three of Harry, Ron, and Hermione (not necessarily at the same time), mayhap the Harry-Ron argument will be echoed by his internal conflict(s) and an increase in some form of self-destructive behaviour. Potentially triggered by the suggested revelations about his mother, and how that complicates his worldview.
Now that’s a novel thought! We definitely expect a lot of internal conflict for him in Book 7, since he’s giving up smoking and trying to get in shape and all that… could definitely lead to a conflict between the Strike who wants fries and the Strike who need to lose weight! Well done, especially given your lack of context here đ
I like this. I believe that the Harry-Ron conflict IS internal for both our investigators — their physical feelings (Ron) for each other are currently disconnected from their deep affection – heart-led feelings (Harry) for each other. I predict that the separation will be heightened as the two are physically apart, then – perhaps in the course of a surprise reunion and rescue – insecurities will be exposed and reassurance given, followed by the reconciliation of physical desire and feelings of love and friendship. Their brainy sides are already in sync with each other and with their strong feelings of friendship.
I loved thinking about RG predictions in the context of HP! Also, kudos to the podcasters for assembling such an AMAZING panel of guests! Thank you all!
I have thoughts on just about every minute of the episode. In particular, your discussion of Dobby reminded me of Lucy. Maybe her tears are for her marriage/Greg’s bad behavior. This unhappiness is foreshadowed in Cuckoos Calling when Lucy’s marital home is first described: âA large magnolia tree stood in the front garden of Lucyâs house in Bromley. Later in the spring it would cover the front lawn in what looked like crumpled tissues.â I propose that Lucy is a Dobby figure. This brilliant podcast taught me to think of house elves, with their complete devotion to caring for their families, as a metaphor for women in a patriarchal society. Lucy is the ultimate house elf, devoting her life to self-imposed family obligations and working to achieve the stability symbolized by the domestic ideal. Just as Doby is an innocent who sacrifices himself without question when he gets caught up in a larger war, Lucy may turn out to be an innocent whose marriage will die. Her past with Leda, which certainly may have included sexual abuse that Strike didnât see (more of the âopen your eyesâ theme), could be a large contributor to her marriage problems. Or, maybe Cormoran is right and Greg is just a jerk! At any rate, Lucy is the top contender when I consider who might be collateral damage in the war between men and women.
Thanks for the kind words. Also, WHOA! That is absolutely brilliant. I would really like it if Lucy got more of a story, beyond just “nagging sister,” and this would be one helluva way to do it!
Kathleen – just to say thank you so much for your comment! I am delighted you enjoyed the podcast and I love your point re: Lucy. I’ve always been annoyed by Strike’s dismissal of her (thinking she only ever wants to talk about the PTA…!) though I love the bit when all that is forgotten as she just watches Jack and Strike bonding with the delight of true love. You’re right that she’d be a perfect example of the ‘open your eyes’ theme! And I love your point connecting this with the House Elves – I am completely convinced by Kathryn N. McDaniel’s argument (which she makes in “The Elfin Mystique: Fantasy and Feminism in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series,” in PAST WATCHFUL DRAGONS: FANTASY AND FAITH IN THE WORLD OF C. S. LEWIS. Ed. Amy H. Sturgis (2007)) that the House Elves are making a feminist argument.
[…] discussed these parallel rereads when Nick Jeffery, Louise Freeman and I were generously invited on The Three Broomsticks podcast to chat Running Grave/Deathly Hallows parallels with hosts by Sophia Jenkins and Irvin Khaytman […]
[…] true, I still failed to spot it!). Weâve had an in-depth discussion, as I mentioned yesterday, on The Three Broomsticks podcast of what Running Grave being the seventh book might mean for its parallels with Deathly Hallows and […]