Today's coined word: Literothanatophobia

[dianeduane]

Or, "The fear of death in literature."

A British book retailer plans to set up a counseling hotline for all heartbroken fans of Harry Potter, in case he dies in the much awaited next book.

As a former psychiatric professional, I can kind of see the point.  ...But I do start wondering, sometimes... Are human beings actually less robust, more fragile, than they used to be -- or are we just being encouraged to believe we are? 

And I remember clearly the resilience and fortitude of my younger patients as compared to the so-called "adults". The kids were endlessly more pragmatic and better at handling pain than the grownups. Any bets on the percentage of over-eighteens who wind up being counseled, as opposed to the under-eighteens?...

Comments

[the-lone-jen.livejournal.com]

I blame this trend, as I do all things, on the Advent of Leisure time. People ahve to much time to think on these things rather than just cry their river, build a bridge and get over it. And I say that as a person who wept openly when they killed Tasselhoff Burrfoot in Dragons of Summer Flame, and every damn character that died in the Young Wizard's universe. I don't think less of myself for that empathy, but I would definitely expect someone to smack me if I let it control my life.

[(Anonymous)]

Hmmm, YW universe.

Did DD miss a publicity stunt by not setting up a counselling line for Wizard's Dilemma? Well, no, probably not.

This reminds me of when I was 7-8 and would read a Robin Hood book continuously, starting again at the beginning as soon as I finished it. Robin dies in the book - of old age. I can imagine JKR killing off Harry through old age, at the end of a chapter or two describing his long and happy life.

-- Peter Murray