Rowling sees Red: Gingerism in the Harry Potter books...

J.K. Rowling has been identified (by me at least) as a redhead. I think her usual media appearance, as a blond, is assisted by peroxide.

Perhaps her natural hair colour explains why the Harry Potter books are filled with gingers. The main family in the Potter saga (featured far more than Potter's relatives) are the Weasleys; and every single one of them is ginger.

Ron Weasley is relegated to second place (or third, behind brainy Hermione) in the Potter triumvirate. Although he seems to be an excellent chess player (as seen in The Philosopher's Stone) and a fairly good Quidditch keeper (as you can read about in The Half Blood Prince,) he is generally portrayed by Rowling as something of a coward and a mummy's boy. He's certainly viewed as less intelligent than Harry (who got better scores than him in their OWL exams.)

Although he comes through in the end, throughout the entire Harry Potter saga it's clearly suggested that Weasley is the weakest link in Harry's chain.

For that reason, I suspect the colour of Ron's hair was a deliberate choice by Rowling to illustrate his sidekick status. Ginger hair is typically used in fiction to identify characters who are weaker or more awkward than their more socially acceptable blond or brunette peers.

Likewise, the Weasley family (note how close the word Weasley is to Weasel) are poor and socially inferior wizards, coming from pure blood stock but generally at the receiving end of other Wizard's scorn (Mr Weasley, for example, seems to be the only poor employee of the Ministry of Magic.) What better way to instantly illustrate this than make the entire family ginger?

I don't think Rowling intends to portray any 'ginger' character in a negative light because of the colour of their hair (although treacherous Mundungus Fletcher is described as having red hair.) I think she simply took an accepted social stereotype (the nerdy ginger) and borrowed it for the occasion.

Rowling more than makes up for it, though. In the books, the Weasleys are portrayed as brave and loyal friends to Harry. The Weasley family pretty much adopts him and makes Potter feel one of their own. Ginny Weasley, Harry's love interest, is obviously ginger haired, but she's still portrayed as beautiful and attractive in the later books. (Sadly not the films, so far.)

In many ways, Rowling has done a world of good by portraying redheaded people in such a positive light. It's certainly done great things for the actor who portrays Ron Weasley on screen. Rupert Grint is now a bona fide ginger sex symbol.

In addition to that, J.K. Rowling acknowledged what ginger people go through living in England in her latest book. One scene in The Deathly Hallows particularly grabbed me. Ron, Harry and Hermione escape a team of Death Eaters (the baddies) and arrive in the middle of London late at night. While looking for a place to hide, a bunch of drunk muggles yell out to Hermione: "Oi! Ditch ginger and have a pint with us!"

Something I've experienced many times!

In fact, 'Ginger' is also used as derogatory term for Ron and his family throughout the books, both by muggles and members of the wizarding community (the evil ones, anyway.)

Considering that the Harry Potter series is so popular and important, it's really nice to see an issue that I feel passionately about brought to the attention of millions of readers. Whether it'll make much difference or not, I couldn't tell you. One thing's for sure, though. Ron Weasley and his family have really done their bit to finally make ginger cool.

Okay. Maybe not cool. But at least a little cooler.

Harry Potter and the Long Awaited Climax

So I've finally done it. Last night, I finished reading the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga and went to bed with a smile on my face. About two hours later there was a thunderstorm and I woke up convinced that Lord Voldemort had come to get me!

Mild coronary aside, The Deathly Hallows was an an immensely satisfying reading experience. I finished the three-inch thick book in about three days, which is probably slightly slower than the average Potter fan (but some of us Muggles have to work, you know!)

Hallows opens up right in the thick of things. Much like the last movie adaptation, The Order of the Phoenix, you'll be completely lost if you're not already familiar with the characters and events of the last six novels. Even I had to double check certain characters and their back stories on Wikipedia to refresh my memory - and I've read the whole lot.

The lack of introduction works in Rowling's favour, though. Within the first few pages the reader gets caught up in a fiery aeriel chase which sees two of Harry's famous companions shot down in flames. From that point on, it's impossible to put the book down. In pretty short order, Rowling shows us that the rules have changed and nobody in the Potter universe is safe this time around.

Despite being set over the course of a year, the book moves at a blistering pace. Harry and his most loyal companions, Ron and Hermione, set out to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes; the secret objects that guarantee his immortality. As their quest reaches it's bloody conclusion, Harry begins to realise that his fate is inextricably linked to Voldemort's. But even as he comes to terms with his gloomy destiny, things unwind in a way not even the powerful Dumbledore could have foreseen.

This is J.K. Rowling's best book by far - although it would be nothing without the preceding six works. Through those books, she introduced us to an enormous cast of colourful characters, all of whom we know and care about. That makes the peril they face in the final book really effective. We share Harry's concern for his friends and mentors and grieve with him when they perish - and plenty of them do come to a sticky end. It makes the danger that much more effective because nobody knows what will happen. Nobody's safe - especially not Harry himself.

As Harry has grown up, so has Rowling's style of writing. Beyond the rip-roaring adventure of The Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling also presents us with an interesting back story to Dumbledore - Harry's mentor and the powerful headmaster of Hogwarts. In the past six books, he's always been seen as a wise old man. As Harry gets closer to the secrets of Voldemort's powers, he discovers startling evidence that suggests Dumbledore wasn't always the wise and beneficent figure that Harry considered him.

Lies, propaganda, spin and betrayal are all powerful elements in both Voldemort's and Dumbledore's grand plans. As Harry approaches his destiny, he starts to wonder if he's really the late Dumbledore's hero - or just his unwitting pawn.

The climax of the book - a thrilling battle at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - ties up the loose ends of the past six books and answers many of the mysteries we've been scratching our heads about.

How does it end? Who lives and dies? Well, to answer those questions, you'll have to read the book yourself. I will tell you one thing... Despite the enormous hype regarding The Deathly Hallows, Rowling manages to conclude the epic tale of Harry Potter in immensely satisfying style.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

766 pages. Over 250,000 words. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is far and away J.K. Rowling's biggest work - and there's an awful lot of adventure packed between those pages.

Which must have made adapting the novel for the screen very difficult for 'Potter' Newcomer Michael Goldenberg. But he managed it, cramming Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry into a neat two hours and twenty minutes.

The result is the darkest and most thrilling chapter of Harry's adventures yet. But be warned. From the moment the film begins, you're going to be thrown headfirst into thick, gooey Potter Lore and a familiarity with the characters and events of the previous three films is essential.

The theme of the movie is government conspiracy, featuring a crooked Minister for Magic attempting to cover up claims that the evil Lord Voldemort has returned. He attempts to accomplish this by installing an agent, the fiendish Dolores Umbridge, into the staff of Hogwarts.

Umbridge is played brilliantly by Imelda Staunton, who portrays her as blend of Margaret Thatcher and Hyacinth Bucket. But the pink and girlish facade doesn't disguise her megalomaniacal ambitions. When she starts enforcing 'security' with draconian student 'regulations,' you can see director David Yates is enjoying bringing J.K. Rowling's broad criticism of post 9/11 government to the screen.

The secondary theme to the movie deals with Harry's relationships, both with his Godfather, Sirius Black (indulgently played by Gary Oldman, clearly rehearsing for a Doctor Who audition) and evil Lord Voldemort, who seems to be developing a powerful and dangerous mental bond with Harry.

This bond becomes the crux of the plot, which leads to a blistering battle in the heart of London's Ministry of Magic and pits Dumbledore and Harry against a truly scary Voldemort, played with relish by a noseless Ralph Fiennes.

The frenetic pace of the film leaves the audience a little breathless at the end - and as hard as Goldenberg tries, important details have to be glossed over in favour of pacing. However, the final product is a deeply satisfactory movie and a wonderful adaptation of what some consider to be J.K. Rowling's best book.

NB - I'm not sure whether it was deliberate or inadvertant, but the funniest scene of the movie was when African auror, Kinglsey Shacklebolt (played by imposing British actor George Harris) watches Dumbledore escape the clutches of the Ministry in a stunning explosion of supernatural pyrotechnics.

"You may not like Dumbledore," he tells Minister Fudge in a deep, rich, 70's Blaxploitation movie style voice, "but you got to admit, the man has style."