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Anne Murphy's avatar

Thank you so much for all the work you are putting into doing these - I am so enjoying the discussions. I am an enormous fan of both the Potter and Strike novels and it's so interesting to hear your thoughts about the connections between them.

I also love your lake and shed introductory film and and the music - was that specially written?

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Nick Jeffery's avatar

Thank you, Anne! I am (very much) not musical, so the music is just purchased from a stock audio company. I am very glad you like the intro though, the idea was John's, but it was my first video editing attempt.

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Aurore ⚢'s avatar

I like the music too!

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Aurore ⚢'s avatar

Really love Jo’s words about the “thousand petty humiliations and hardships” associated with poverty. Lacking important things - too little food, rationing medications, etc - goes without saying.

It’s not just that you have to suffer from being unable to heat or cool your house, or being unable to buy all the medications you’re prescribed, or having to rely on expired items from the local food pantry. It’s about being treated like a criminal and a worthless, lazy piece of shit. Both indirectly, by many in the media and in the minds of the public, and directly, by Centrelink (or whatever your social security department is called). All for being in circumstances beyond your control, which are already miserable. I’m a disability pensioner and it truly is hell, as Nick described.

I think Jo’s experience of the Kafkaesque way social security systems tend to treat citizens is reflected in the Muggle Born Registration Commission “hearings”.

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Nick Jeffery's avatar

That's a great parallel!

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Zossima's StoryStack's avatar

I could listen to Harry Potter literary alchemy for days!

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