writing

In modern novelists, we ask for observations of life that ring true, and yet feel fresh. No different from what Alexander Pope wanted when he said that the best writers write "what oft was thought but never so well expressed."

JK Rowling is often praised as a children's writer, and often praised for her explosive action and intricate plotting, but the fact is that she turns in her fair share of fine observation too.

Any writer could say:

'Safe flight, then,' said Harry and he carried her to one of the windows; Hedwig took off into the blindingly bright sky.

But Rowling adds just a few words:

'Safe flight, then,' said Harry and he carried her to one of the windows; with a moment's pressure on his arm, Hedwig took off into the blindingly bright sky.

That moment's pressure, and we really feel what it's like to have an owl take off from our arm.

Any writer could describe the dead-tired and emotionally drained group of people sitting around the table as Arthur Weasley lies in the hospital between life and death:

Fred fell into a doze, his head lolling sideways on to his shoulder. Ginny was curled like a cat on her chair, but her eyes were open; Harry could see them reflecting the firelight. Ron was sitting with his head in his hands, whether awake or asleep it was impossible to tell. Harry and Sirius looked at each other every so often....

Rowling shows us what those looks between Harry and Sirius feel like:

Fred fell into a doze, his head lolling sideways on to his shoulder. Ginny was curled like a cat on her chair, but her eyes were open; Harry could see them reflecting the firelight. Ron was sitting with his head in his hands, whether awake or asleep it was impossible to tell. Harry and Sirius looked at each other every so often, intruders upon the family grief....

Could Updike have written that better?