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< The Library ~ Apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how did you like the play? |
| Owlbait |
 Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 2:55 pm |
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Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 92
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What did you think of the book?
I was a bit surprised to see Jo move to an external viewpoint at the beginning. I even saw where some of that got spoiled ahead of time and was roundly denounced as being bad fanfiction - wasn't even Harry's POV :*)
I was disappointed to see very little new miscellenious stuff. I love the world, maybe even better than the story. I was hoping for boatloads of new items like honking daffodils and fanged frisbees.
Hermione/Ron were so obvious for books it was a yawner, but I was happy to see I was right about Harry/Ginny. Unfortunately their tragic circumstance of having to deny their love will undoubtedly spawn endless drivelfics of the worst sort.
I was hoping to learn more about how magic works, and how the magical world came to be separated from the Muggle one. Perhaps in book 7 - I have the feeling the entire MOM structure is headed for a well-earned collapse.
Dementors are breeding? Why weren't there any in the attack on Hogwarts? Who is guarding Azkaban and why is Lucius still there? He can't really think being there is going to protect him from a pissed-off Voldemort? These don't seem like mysteries deliberately left for book 7 as loose ends. |
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| Alynna |
| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 4:38 pm |
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Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 24
Location: central Maryland
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I do believe Lucius is still in Azkaban because Voldemort's not about to spare resources on someone who screwed up so royally. I don't remember if it was in the book or if someone on the board said it, but Lucius may be safer in Azkaban (a dementor-free Azkaban), than he would be at the Dark Lord's side. Would you want to go crawling back to Voldemort and explain why you couldnt outwit a bunch of kids? If Lucius has any influence left in terms of removing himself from Azkaban, he'd be a fool to use it. The Dark Lord's getting back at him through Draco - no sense Lucius risking his own neck in the bargain. ( I get the feeling he doesn't approve of or love Draco nearly as much as Narcissa does)
Despite seeing the relationships coming, they were still well done. *jups for joy over Tonks and Lupin* This book was the most fun I've ever had reading HP, and there was never really a "yawn" point for me like in the other books. It was good to see Harry grow up a bit, and his "I know Malfoy's up to something" is classic teenage know-it-allness. This was, for me, the most believable book in terms of character action, emotion and attitude. |
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| anita blake |
| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:37 am |
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Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 11
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I'd like to say I really enjoyed this book, but I am STILL in shock about Snape. *feels like burning her Slytherin robes*
Okay, it was a great read, but the cliffy, and a 2-year wait, is going to torture me!
Perhaps the Ron/Hermoine paring was obvious, but it seemed downplayed so that it was not distracting...to me, at least. I thought it was sweet.
So, all in all, I thought it was a good read. This book completely and utterly shocked me! I don't think I've ever read another book that threw me for such a loop. If this book was a rollercoaster, I'd get back in line for another ride. |
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| astronae |
| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:54 am |
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Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 6
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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JKR has definatly moved beyond kids stories! I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone under about 11...The inferi (read zombie) thing was a little over the top - though very cool. The whole "snogging" thing drove me insane and was all a bit obvious but it was never going to be anything but obvious in canon - will still be anxiously awaiting my next dose of SS/HG on Ashwinder though (which I believe is still very possible, although not by me who is terrible at writing - I will stick to reading them I think!)
The plot twists at the end were amazing - my flatmate thought I was having a heart attack when I read Snape AKing Doumbledore - I think I forgot to breath for about a minute! I do like the reedemable Snape idea (although I have never harboured illusions of him being some tragic hero - with the bullying and abuse we have seen I completely understand petty, vindictive Snape) but will accept whatever comes in book 7.
I am curious to read any past Snape fics that come out - More about living in a muggle/magic house or, even further back, how do we conceive that Eileen Prince came to marry Tobias Snape?
Anyways just my two cents worth - Excellent book (as always) and I await book 7 with excitement and a number of my own crackpot theories regarding the plot (I wonder who made the fabulous potion that weakened Dumbledore so much and why, after drinking it, did he immediately call for Snape...) |
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| Owlbait |
| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 2:12 pm |
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Joined: 01 Jul 2005
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I'm finally getting over my shock enough to think more about the other characters a bit.
I heard the rumors that Dumbledore would die in this book weeks ago, of course, so I started thinking what that would mean.
I realized at some point, that whenever anyone in the order discusses a character's loyalties it's always whether they are on "Dumbledore's side". Never whether they are on the side of good, or light or apple-pie.
If that is all the entire conflict represents -- siding with the powerful wizard of your choice and hoping you guessed right -- then the whole story isn't much better than a schoolyard popularity contest.
I think that is why Dumbledore had to go: to show that those on his side are there because they believe in the values he represents, not just out of loyalty to him personally. They will do this by continuing to oppose Voldemort without succumbing to the temptation to use his tactics and become like him.
Which brings me back to Severus. Funny how that happens. Love him, or hate him, he is a key character, crucial and intriguing. I am going to continue to believe that he is loyal to Dumbledore -- and in his case it may be exactly that: personal loyalty rather than loyalty to Dumbledore's ideals. I am certain that loyalty will transcend Dumbledore's death - most especially since Snape was forced to be the one to kill him. His honor will force him to continue to aid the order and Harry, which might not have been the case if Dumbledore had died another way.
I'm very curious to see how that will play out in book 7. |
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| cdrose1 |
| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 3:33 pm |
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Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 1
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Greetings everyone!
Just in case you can't place me  I am a dedicated fanfic reader, but I don't write, and I've never yet posted to the forum boards. So, no, you were right - you couldn't place me 
I've yet to start a second, close read-through of HBP, but I did have some random thoughts after my quick-read.
JKR can TELL a story. And it should be all about the story. Right?
Very seldom has Ms. Rowling been so one dimensional as to have her characters be absolutely right about what they witness. Seeing ain't always believing, and witnesses rarely describe what they saw flawlessley. So why should she start now?
There are so many 'off-camera' scenes in HBP - the Bones and Vance murders, the AD/SS argument, Draco's 'project'....I'm sure you can come up with a few. What information did we NOT get because Ms. Rowling does not use an omnipotent narrator to tell her story?
I've pretty well always been convinced that Dumbledore undertsands (understood) that you must fight with whatever it takes to defeat an enemy who has no moral or ethical bounds. I can easily believe he saw more advantage to his death than not, and so, manipulated Snape into fulfilling his Unbreakable Vow. After all, AD did ensure that Harry wouldn't be able to stop Snape from doing it with his petrificus totalis, didn't he?
I'm thinking JKR rarely has a 'what you see is what you get' thing going on and, consequently, we will get a resolution to the Snape thing in Book 7. Whether each of us likes or doesn't like how she resolves it!!
Last random thought, and one I haven't bumped up against anyone else talking about yet. Love, and its power, has been a huge main and sub-textual theme in every book. The end of HBP shows that even eith the Dementors loose, things not looking well for Our Heroes and the Order, the power of love still exerts itself - Bill & Fleur, Lupin & Tonks, Ron & Hermione, Neville & Luna?. Then we have noble Harry breaking up with Ginny. Hmmm, his mother's love protected him once, wonder what kind of power first true love might hold? Anyone?
Thanks for sticking with me through the babble! |
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| Pace |
| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:16 pm |
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Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 43
Location: Cologne (Germany)
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Your love argumentation reminded me of a series I read a few years ago (the Neschan-Triology by Ralf Isau, although I doubt you know it; it's not even well known in Germany where it was first published). In this series, the 'hero' defeats evil with his gift of 'true love' - no, he does not grab the evil lord and hug him senseless, he defeats him through his refusal to fight the evil lord through violence. Instead, he 'surrenders' his weapon to him and awards him with a pure white (magical) rose, the sign of true love.
I don't expect anything like this in Harry Potter, but I think the tenor is the same. Dumbledore is convinced that love is the highest power there is and he has laid the foundation for Harry to realize this too. The question is: how can you get rid of a megalomaniac through love? |
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If it's not chocolate I'm not interested. |
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| Two Methyloctane |
| Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:05 pm |
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Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 96
Location: Calgary, Canada
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Slip him a love potion into his drink...
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**In Snape We Trust**
"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire |
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| kereneluz |
| Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:50 am |
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Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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I loved the book as a whole,but dosent it bother anyone that the Golden Trio are dropping out of school to look for Horcruxes????(Assuming come Sept. the school will open).  I love Snape no matter what!  |
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| Sparrow |
| Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 4:32 pm |
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Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 13
Location: The Wheat Fields of Kansas
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| Hmmm, Voldy hopped up on a love potion? I almost feel sorry for Nagili . |
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Hurt heals, chicks dig scars and glory is forever. KKJ |
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| Sparrow |
| Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 4:33 pm |
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Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 13
Location: The Wheat Fields of Kansas
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| Hmmm, Voldy hopped up on a love potion? I almost feel sorry for Nagini:twisted: . |
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Hurt heals, chicks dig scars and glory is forever. KKJ |
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| Verity Brown |
| Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:06 pm |
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Joined: 14 Mar 2005
Posts: 150
Location: Midwest USA
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kereneluz wrote: I loved the book as a whole,but dosent it bother anyone that the Golden Trio are dropping out of school to look for Horcruxes????
As a parent and former educator, yes, that did bother me. I'm holding out hope that by the time September rolls around, something will get them back in school. I think that actually turning the Golden Trio into dropouts, if that's what happens in book 7, is going to disturb a lot of teachers (and parents). Here we have a set of books that have encouraged countless children to become serious readers. For this series to end by advocating leaving school early.... Not a pretty picture.
Verity |
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I still have implicit faith in Severus Snape. Now more than ever. |
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