The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J K Rowling

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J K Rowling is a cute addition to the Harry Potter library but probably best appreciated by those who are die hard Potter fans. With clever commentary by Professor Dumbledore, the book is still rather slender. A quick read. Each tale offers a moral which Rowling, as Dumbledore, feels compelled to explain to the reader. I think I’m grateful that the brothers Grimm and Andersen did not feel the same compulsions but I found the concept amusing.

It puts me in mind of J R R Tolkien’s The Tolkien Reader (an out of print book I’ve held onto with a vengeance) which adds flavor to the whole Middle Earth milieu without actually adding any content. Not a bad thing, per se, but not necessary.

The problem I have is that I wonder if Rowling isn’t milking the (cash) cow for all it’s worth. It is common knowledge that Tolkien had already accumulated volumes of notes, stories, ideas, and details for his creation before his brilliant Lord of the Rings was published. And perhaps this is true also of Rowling. I remain unconvinced however. What redeems this book from being an excuse to make more money is that the profits from the sales go to her charity, Children’s High Level Group.

Frankly, I respect that. She could write sweet little nothings for the rest of her career and donate all of the money to her charities for the rest of my life, live off the Harry Potter residuals, and I would think it’s great. Why not? She doesn’t have to push herself to write something brilliant. She’s done her part for the young adult literary community. I guess it helps that I don’t expect her to write anything brilliant or profound. Just fun. Which is what this book is: fun. Nothing more. Nothing less. And sometimes that’s enough.