Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince: preliminary commentary
OMG SPOILERIFIC!!! SPOILERS FOR EVERY IMPORTANT PLOT/CHARACTER POINT BEHIND THE CUTS!!!!
This is really good. JKR has outdone herself in terms of plotting and character development. The plot is complex, but not confusing, it all hangs together, and I didn't see any holes. The tone is exactly right, especially on the ending. Grim (there is a war on, after all) and almost depressing, but tinged with hope. Very nice.
The Horcrux idea is a good one, I think. It works off folkloric tradition of the magic user who stores their life away from their body (cf. Taran Wanderer), so it isn't entirely out of the blue. This is, of course, the thing that was originally in Chamber of Secrets. The diary (Horcrux #1) was not as fully explained then as it is now. The Horcrux plot also serves (besides several quite nice plot devices) the purpose of showing, not telling, how much further Tom Riddle went than any other wizard has ever gone in search of immortality. He didn't just do what other Dark wizards had done, but did more.
On the subject of showing, I very much liked the use of the Pensieve to show, rather than tell, Riddle's story. Nothing ruins a story more than having a declamation by the Wise Old Mentor of the full history of the antagonist. Using the Pensieve got information across quickly, but without the lecture effect. Very nice idea. Ditto the first scene with the Ministers (Prime and Magic, respectively), giving a quick run-down of the events of the early summer in a form that makes perfect sense to have happened.
JKR's greatest gift, that of laying her plot points books beforehand, is very well-done in this book. The Pensieve, the Horcruxes, even Fenrir the werewolf are tied in to previous books.
All in all, a very well-plotted book.
Well, I'm sure we know what JKR 'ships now, don't we? Ron/Hermione, certainly, maybe with Harry/Ginny on the side. I think she developed the pairings well, though some of it was a bit...well, a bit like a fanfic. The bit where Ron and Hermione are snogging other people for the express purpose of making each other jealous, for example. And Harry's feelings for Ginny came on rather suddenly, I thought. Romance is clearly not her strong suit. I did like, though, that Harry brok up with Ginny for her own good. It's the sort of thing he'd do, especially if he really cares for her. Also, it shows JKR is willing to let a good relationship go, if it really would.
I'm still holding out for Trioship, myself. There isn't really that much evidence against it, and a good deal more for it.
Character-wise, I like what she did with Draco. I find I like him a lot more now he's been pulled well and truly out of his depth. He...well, now I can see him being redeemed, if he survives. He's been treated to a short sharp shock, that it's not just a game, and he isn't a killer. He never was, not a deliberate killer, and now he knows it. Seeing Draco weak, really and truly weak, is good for my impression of him. His impression of himself was falling to pieces over this book, and he's much the better for it.
Draco/Moaning Myrtle OTP. Omgtheirloveissocommiserating!
Hmm. Bill/Fleur came a bit out of thin air. I did, though, really appreciate that Fleur showed herself not to be just after a pretty face at the end. It does a great deal of good for the books that the Weasleys and Harry can be wrong about someone. Fleur...I sort of disliked her before, and thought she was flat. This improved her a lot.
All right, Remus/Tonks 'shippers, stop dancing for joy. I can see you, you know. Myself, I don't really...okay, I can sort of see where JKR is coming from, but it just...doesn't...click for me. Among other things, Remus/Sirius is still my Canon OTP, and I can't really...no, I really can't. This is one time I'm going to have to agree to disagree with JKR.
Severus's character development was very nice, though subtle. Most excellent. It was all in the little things (well, the second chapter and little things), but it was very telling, all the same. I think I know him much better now than I did last book, and much, much better than I did the book before. Harry just doesn't get it, though, does he?
I was right. Dumbledore had this 'I have done my Wise Old Mentoring job, now where's that Balrog?' look to him. When, during the book, he was becoming more and more human, letting Harry see more and more of his actual personality, I was sure. When he steps down off his pedestal, that's a sure sign that he's not long for this world.
I may be the only one who honestly, truly believes that Dumbledore was requesting Snape kill him, but I do. The kind of man Dumbledore was would do that. He was probably dying anyway, and he...he wanted Snape to do it, so Draco wouldn't have to. Dumbledore was running an espionage agency. To the last, he wished to ensure that no one who could be brought to his side have their cover broken. I'm sure Snape told him about the Unbreakable Vow he had made, and what, exactly, it was to do. Dumbledore tried to persuade Draco not to kill him, though he must have known he would die anyway. He knew Snape would kill him. That wasn't important. What was important was saving Draco from himself. There was all the difference, to Dumbledore, between having his death used to destroy Draco's soul, and having his death be a necessary casualty in a war they might yet win.
His death was quick, it served his cause, and I think it is what he wanted.
Harry, of course, doesn't see it that way. Bollocks him.
Omfg. This, I wasn't expecting. I had always pictured Snape as having nothing in the world but purity of blood and his own efforts to win him a place--but he did have that. The idea of him as a half-blood...actually, it fits quite well, only I wasn't expecting it and have to revise my thoughts. It would explain why he sneered at Muggle-borns, the one rung on the ladder lower than he was, and why, at the same time, he was so determined to make it by his own efforts. In addition, it gives another reason for Voldemort to recruit him. Muggle father, witch mother, determined to carve a place for himself and not caring what he had to do along the way...yes, I can see what Voldemort might have seen in him, don't you?
Aside, of course, from the fact that Snape was clearly the best Potions student in the year, all praise of Lily notwithstanding. To be capable of refining the potions in the book while studying them is...exceptional. I have always pictured him as good at Defense Against the Dark Arts (his favorite subject), Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, and anything in general where his intense powers of concentration and analysis could come to the fore.
I like the idea of Harry learning from Snape without meaning to, without knowing what he was doing. It's the only way Harry could ever learn a tenth of what Snape knows. Quite good for them both. I wonder on whom Snape used the 'Sectusempra' curse, and whether he knew what it would do when he did. I expect he did know. He wouldn't try anything until he knew exactly what it could do. I wouldn't be surprised if he cursed himself as a test subject.
All told, very nice handling--I suspected it of being Snape when I saw the book (who else do we know who could have developed all those variations?), but I couldn't be sure until nearly the end.
Poor Snape. Imagine how he must have felt, having his own spells used against him. No wonder he hated James so. That must be the ultimate in betrayal, when your creations attack you.
I do, indeed, need to make some adjustments to the family tree. One, Phineas Nigellus needs to be placed firmly as paterfamilias of the House of Black. I'd had him as a maternal relation, which I now realize will not do. Also...do you think Molly might have been named for her aunt? Is it too unlikely? You see, I'd chosen Molly to be short for Muriel, which is apparently the name of the children's great-aunt.
I am gratified to note that my choices of name were so accurate. Augusta, Neville's grandmother's name, appears in the masculine as well as a second name. I also noted an Octavius, as well as other Roman names, in the book, all of which are fine companions to my Julius, Lucia, Julia, and Livia.
I must change my mind about Blaise's parentage now--a pity. He'd been going to be the son of one of Regulus's friends, adopted after their deaths by his present parents. Unfortunately, that simply won't do any more. His mother (adopted mother, that is) must be...well, not one of the Regulus crowd at all, I think, and certainly not poor Fenella Weaver. A Deianira, perhaps? Could one go so far as to call her Clytemnestra? What classical name truly suggests a woman who (almost certainly) murdered seven husbands? Julia Augusta? No, that would be too many Augustas. Livia might be nice, queen of poison. Agrippina, if I could manage. Clodia, after Catullus's Lesbia? That might do.
Talking of the Regulus!verse, JKR has just made me love her absolutely to pieces. I, personally, do not doubt that the 'R.A.B.' whose note is in the fake Horcrux was, in fact, Regulus Atilius Black (why Atilius? The consul from whom I derive his story was called Marcu Atilius Regulus), who, after having resolved to leave the Death Eaters for whatever reasons, stole the Slytherin Horcrux and fled. He lived long enough to destroy it before he was murdered, of that I am sure. Recall that, while Karkaroff survived his flight by a year, Regulus lasted only a few days. Why would that be, unless Voldemort put his full attention on destroying him immediately? The mention of Regulus in that context is suggestive, at the very least. And...R.B.? How many R.B. do we know? Are there any others?
I doubt extremely that Regulus was as in over his head as Sirius thought he was. They all were, but Regulus, it seems, had presence of mind enough to strike a very strong blow at the Dark Lord before he died. Why am I sure Regulus succeeded in destroying the Horcrux? If he hadn't, Voldemort would never, never have left the note in the fake locket. It is proof that he is fallible, that someone could take a thing from him that he had guarded so closely. If Regulus had failed to destroy it, the note would have been an irrelevance, the delusion of a foolish child, and Voldemort would have laughed before discarding it. As it is, the note and the fake locket remain, tokens that not even Voldemort is invincible.
The fic is just easier than ever. I must put some thought into how Regulus got past the wards on the Horcrux. It will be glorious. I applaud JKR for giving me this. My devotion to the obscure characters is rewarded.
I wonder how Salazar would feel if he knew that his locket was being used for such a purpose? I wonder even more whose portraits were in the locket, once upon a time.
Also, from chapter two: To the rest of the world, you may be Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, but to your older sister, you will always be just Cissy. Hee.
I have nothing much else to say, except that this is really good work. In my view, the best yet. Harry isn't so excellent, but he quits the ANGST WOE ALL CAPS, and the plot is elegant. Much love.
Reading time: Three hours and a quarter. This one is shorter than the last, but I think my read time has improved as well.
This is really good. JKR has outdone herself in terms of plotting and character development. The plot is complex, but not confusing, it all hangs together, and I didn't see any holes. The tone is exactly right, especially on the ending. Grim (there is a war on, after all) and almost depressing, but tinged with hope. Very nice.
The Horcrux idea is a good one, I think. It works off folkloric tradition of the magic user who stores their life away from their body (cf. Taran Wanderer), so it isn't entirely out of the blue. This is, of course, the thing that was originally in Chamber of Secrets. The diary (Horcrux #1) was not as fully explained then as it is now. The Horcrux plot also serves (besides several quite nice plot devices) the purpose of showing, not telling, how much further Tom Riddle went than any other wizard has ever gone in search of immortality. He didn't just do what other Dark wizards had done, but did more.
On the subject of showing, I very much liked the use of the Pensieve to show, rather than tell, Riddle's story. Nothing ruins a story more than having a declamation by the Wise Old Mentor of the full history of the antagonist. Using the Pensieve got information across quickly, but without the lecture effect. Very nice idea. Ditto the first scene with the Ministers (Prime and Magic, respectively), giving a quick run-down of the events of the early summer in a form that makes perfect sense to have happened.
JKR's greatest gift, that of laying her plot points books beforehand, is very well-done in this book. The Pensieve, the Horcruxes, even Fenrir the werewolf are tied in to previous books.
All in all, a very well-plotted book.
Well, I'm sure we know what JKR 'ships now, don't we? Ron/Hermione, certainly, maybe with Harry/Ginny on the side. I think she developed the pairings well, though some of it was a bit...well, a bit like a fanfic. The bit where Ron and Hermione are snogging other people for the express purpose of making each other jealous, for example. And Harry's feelings for Ginny came on rather suddenly, I thought. Romance is clearly not her strong suit. I did like, though, that Harry brok up with Ginny for her own good. It's the sort of thing he'd do, especially if he really cares for her. Also, it shows JKR is willing to let a good relationship go, if it really would.
I'm still holding out for Trioship, myself. There isn't really that much evidence against it, and a good deal more for it.
Character-wise, I like what she did with Draco. I find I like him a lot more now he's been pulled well and truly out of his depth. He...well, now I can see him being redeemed, if he survives. He's been treated to a short sharp shock, that it's not just a game, and he isn't a killer. He never was, not a deliberate killer, and now he knows it. Seeing Draco weak, really and truly weak, is good for my impression of him. His impression of himself was falling to pieces over this book, and he's much the better for it.
Draco/Moaning Myrtle OTP. Omgtheirloveissocommiserating!
Hmm. Bill/Fleur came a bit out of thin air. I did, though, really appreciate that Fleur showed herself not to be just after a pretty face at the end. It does a great deal of good for the books that the Weasleys and Harry can be wrong about someone. Fleur...I sort of disliked her before, and thought she was flat. This improved her a lot.
All right, Remus/Tonks 'shippers, stop dancing for joy. I can see you, you know. Myself, I don't really...okay, I can sort of see where JKR is coming from, but it just...doesn't...click for me. Among other things, Remus/Sirius is still my Canon OTP, and I can't really...no, I really can't. This is one time I'm going to have to agree to disagree with JKR.
Severus's character development was very nice, though subtle. Most excellent. It was all in the little things (well, the second chapter and little things), but it was very telling, all the same. I think I know him much better now than I did last book, and much, much better than I did the book before. Harry just doesn't get it, though, does he?
I was right. Dumbledore had this 'I have done my Wise Old Mentoring job, now where's that Balrog?' look to him. When, during the book, he was becoming more and more human, letting Harry see more and more of his actual personality, I was sure. When he steps down off his pedestal, that's a sure sign that he's not long for this world.
I may be the only one who honestly, truly believes that Dumbledore was requesting Snape kill him, but I do. The kind of man Dumbledore was would do that. He was probably dying anyway, and he...he wanted Snape to do it, so Draco wouldn't have to. Dumbledore was running an espionage agency. To the last, he wished to ensure that no one who could be brought to his side have their cover broken. I'm sure Snape told him about the Unbreakable Vow he had made, and what, exactly, it was to do. Dumbledore tried to persuade Draco not to kill him, though he must have known he would die anyway. He knew Snape would kill him. That wasn't important. What was important was saving Draco from himself. There was all the difference, to Dumbledore, between having his death used to destroy Draco's soul, and having his death be a necessary casualty in a war they might yet win.
His death was quick, it served his cause, and I think it is what he wanted.
Harry, of course, doesn't see it that way. Bollocks him.
Omfg. This, I wasn't expecting. I had always pictured Snape as having nothing in the world but purity of blood and his own efforts to win him a place--but he did have that. The idea of him as a half-blood...actually, it fits quite well, only I wasn't expecting it and have to revise my thoughts. It would explain why he sneered at Muggle-borns, the one rung on the ladder lower than he was, and why, at the same time, he was so determined to make it by his own efforts. In addition, it gives another reason for Voldemort to recruit him. Muggle father, witch mother, determined to carve a place for himself and not caring what he had to do along the way...yes, I can see what Voldemort might have seen in him, don't you?
Aside, of course, from the fact that Snape was clearly the best Potions student in the year, all praise of Lily notwithstanding. To be capable of refining the potions in the book while studying them is...exceptional. I have always pictured him as good at Defense Against the Dark Arts (his favorite subject), Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, and anything in general where his intense powers of concentration and analysis could come to the fore.
I like the idea of Harry learning from Snape without meaning to, without knowing what he was doing. It's the only way Harry could ever learn a tenth of what Snape knows. Quite good for them both. I wonder on whom Snape used the 'Sectusempra' curse, and whether he knew what it would do when he did. I expect he did know. He wouldn't try anything until he knew exactly what it could do. I wouldn't be surprised if he cursed himself as a test subject.
All told, very nice handling--I suspected it of being Snape when I saw the book (who else do we know who could have developed all those variations?), but I couldn't be sure until nearly the end.
Poor Snape. Imagine how he must have felt, having his own spells used against him. No wonder he hated James so. That must be the ultimate in betrayal, when your creations attack you.
I do, indeed, need to make some adjustments to the family tree. One, Phineas Nigellus needs to be placed firmly as paterfamilias of the House of Black. I'd had him as a maternal relation, which I now realize will not do. Also...do you think Molly might have been named for her aunt? Is it too unlikely? You see, I'd chosen Molly to be short for Muriel, which is apparently the name of the children's great-aunt.
I am gratified to note that my choices of name were so accurate. Augusta, Neville's grandmother's name, appears in the masculine as well as a second name. I also noted an Octavius, as well as other Roman names, in the book, all of which are fine companions to my Julius, Lucia, Julia, and Livia.
I must change my mind about Blaise's parentage now--a pity. He'd been going to be the son of one of Regulus's friends, adopted after their deaths by his present parents. Unfortunately, that simply won't do any more. His mother (adopted mother, that is) must be...well, not one of the Regulus crowd at all, I think, and certainly not poor Fenella Weaver. A Deianira, perhaps? Could one go so far as to call her Clytemnestra? What classical name truly suggests a woman who (almost certainly) murdered seven husbands? Julia Augusta? No, that would be too many Augustas. Livia might be nice, queen of poison. Agrippina, if I could manage. Clodia, after Catullus's Lesbia? That might do.
Talking of the Regulus!verse, JKR has just made me love her absolutely to pieces. I, personally, do not doubt that the 'R.A.B.' whose note is in the fake Horcrux was, in fact, Regulus Atilius Black (why Atilius? The consul from whom I derive his story was called Marcu Atilius Regulus), who, after having resolved to leave the Death Eaters for whatever reasons, stole the Slytherin Horcrux and fled. He lived long enough to destroy it before he was murdered, of that I am sure. Recall that, while Karkaroff survived his flight by a year, Regulus lasted only a few days. Why would that be, unless Voldemort put his full attention on destroying him immediately? The mention of Regulus in that context is suggestive, at the very least. And...R.B.? How many R.B. do we know? Are there any others?
I doubt extremely that Regulus was as in over his head as Sirius thought he was. They all were, but Regulus, it seems, had presence of mind enough to strike a very strong blow at the Dark Lord before he died. Why am I sure Regulus succeeded in destroying the Horcrux? If he hadn't, Voldemort would never, never have left the note in the fake locket. It is proof that he is fallible, that someone could take a thing from him that he had guarded so closely. If Regulus had failed to destroy it, the note would have been an irrelevance, the delusion of a foolish child, and Voldemort would have laughed before discarding it. As it is, the note and the fake locket remain, tokens that not even Voldemort is invincible.
The fic is just easier than ever. I must put some thought into how Regulus got past the wards on the Horcrux. It will be glorious. I applaud JKR for giving me this. My devotion to the obscure characters is rewarded.
I wonder how Salazar would feel if he knew that his locket was being used for such a purpose? I wonder even more whose portraits were in the locket, once upon a time.
Also, from chapter two: To the rest of the world, you may be Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy, but to your older sister, you will always be just Cissy. Hee.
I have nothing much else to say, except that this is really good work. In my view, the best yet. Harry isn't so excellent, but he quits the ANGST WOE ALL CAPS, and the plot is elegant. Much love.
Reading time: Three hours and a quarter. This one is shorter than the last, but I think my read time has improved as well.