now that i've absorbed things a bit...
More thoughts.
"Oh there you are, Albus," he said. "You've been a very long time. Upset stomach?"
"No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines," said Dumbledore. "I do love knitting patterns."
Dumbledore was all over the place, which judging by the cover we could have expected. It was in such contrast to OoTP where he was a silent observer until the big battle. But we needed him - Harry needed him - and I was glad we got a bit of that spunk before the end. And oh, how we got answers. It felt like we were on one giant, fast paced fact finding mission. He seemed to be mentoring and preparing Harry for things to come more so than before. I really liked the change in their relationship and Harry's openness with not only Dumbledore, but also with Ron and Hermione. It really showed a new maturity in him (which others have also mentioned). I fully expected more brooding and depressed!Harry at the beginning, but he surprised me (in a good way) in coming to terms with everything and accepting what had happened and preparing for what lay ahead (Harry acknowledging "the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to death and walking into the arena with your head held high" is so important to his readiness for the final showdown). I did like the take charge Harry. Especially the OMG shippy!squee moment. But focusing not on the fangirl moments and instead on the actual relationships, it just was...right. To me it was evident in the last chapter - we had the glimpse of Ron and Hermione comforting each other and Harry and Ginny knowing and understanding one another that spoke volumes.
The fact of Dumbledore's death didn't shock me so much as how it happened. I did expect him to die, but I did not in my wildest imagination think of that turn of events! I honestly sat there with my mouth hanging open in surprise for a good minute before continuing on to the next chapter.
And as for Snape - grrr. I'm really torn between taking what happened at face value and the possibility that there is more to the story. There has to be more to the Unbreakable Vow. Perhaps.
Snape being the HBP didn't surprise me. I was open to any possibility going into the reading, but as soon as 'small cramped handwriting' came up in the description of the writing in the book I knew it had to be his.
The Slug-guy? Yeah, still undecided. I really enjoyed Harry's mental image of him as a spider on his web.
The end was just - wow. What an amazing lead in to the next book.
I find it interesting that we're again left with no DADA teacher (didn't see that switch coming, either). My thought before reading included the feeling that if Snape did get the position it would in year seven but now... One wonders if we really won't be back at school for the next book. Hmmmm. Just sayin'.
Things that amused:
U-No-Poo
Phlegm
Crabbe/Goyle cross-dressing
Celestina's song:
Oh, come and stir my cauldron,
And if you do it right,
I'll boil you up some hot strong love
To keep you warm tonight.
Dumbledore's visit to the Dursleys
TeenIdol!Harry
Ron eating love potion chocolates
Roonil Wazlib
and many more!
Is it wrong that I am still highly giddy from reading?
"Oh there you are, Albus," he said. "You've been a very long time. Upset stomach?"
"No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines," said Dumbledore. "I do love knitting patterns."
Dumbledore was all over the place, which judging by the cover we could have expected. It was in such contrast to OoTP where he was a silent observer until the big battle. But we needed him - Harry needed him - and I was glad we got a bit of that spunk before the end. And oh, how we got answers. It felt like we were on one giant, fast paced fact finding mission. He seemed to be mentoring and preparing Harry for things to come more so than before. I really liked the change in their relationship and Harry's openness with not only Dumbledore, but also with Ron and Hermione. It really showed a new maturity in him (which others have also mentioned). I fully expected more brooding and depressed!Harry at the beginning, but he surprised me (in a good way) in coming to terms with everything and accepting what had happened and preparing for what lay ahead (Harry acknowledging "the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to death and walking into the arena with your head held high" is so important to his readiness for the final showdown). I did like the take charge Harry. Especially the OMG shippy!squee moment. But focusing not on the fangirl moments and instead on the actual relationships, it just was...right. To me it was evident in the last chapter - we had the glimpse of Ron and Hermione comforting each other and Harry and Ginny knowing and understanding one another that spoke volumes.
The fact of Dumbledore's death didn't shock me so much as how it happened. I did expect him to die, but I did not in my wildest imagination think of that turn of events! I honestly sat there with my mouth hanging open in surprise for a good minute before continuing on to the next chapter.
And as for Snape - grrr. I'm really torn between taking what happened at face value and the possibility that there is more to the story. There has to be more to the Unbreakable Vow. Perhaps.
Snape being the HBP didn't surprise me. I was open to any possibility going into the reading, but as soon as 'small cramped handwriting' came up in the description of the writing in the book I knew it had to be his.
The Slug-guy? Yeah, still undecided. I really enjoyed Harry's mental image of him as a spider on his web.
The end was just - wow. What an amazing lead in to the next book.
I find it interesting that we're again left with no DADA teacher (didn't see that switch coming, either). My thought before reading included the feeling that if Snape did get the position it would in year seven but now... One wonders if we really won't be back at school for the next book. Hmmmm. Just sayin'.
Things that amused:
U-No-Poo
Phlegm
Crabbe/Goyle cross-dressing
Celestina's song:
Oh, come and stir my cauldron,
And if you do it right,
I'll boil you up some hot strong love
To keep you warm tonight.
Dumbledore's visit to the Dursleys
TeenIdol!Harry
Ron eating love potion chocolates
Roonil Wazlib
and many more!
Is it wrong that I am still highly giddy from reading?