Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Before I really start, let me just say that I loved loved loved this book. It brigthened my Sunday and Monday :) This is probably best documented in the fact that I read it so fast. And 8 hours..or maybe 10 hours for me...is fast... I only read that fast if I enjoy the book. The pacing was far far better than in OOTP, which was dragging in the beginning.
I found it interesting that JK deviated from ber usual way of storytelling in the beginning. Usually, it's Harry who sums up what happened before and introduces it, sort of... this time it was the nameless prime minister. I think it's interesting that she deviated from it.
It all felt different from the previous books, mainly because there were less classes talked about... just two Defense about the Dark Arts classes, no transfiguration classes.. it felt weird... all was potions and there was also far less trio action. I get it that basically it was because a) Hermione and Ron weren't speaking for parts of the book and Harry had the time he usually had with Ron and Herimone with Dumbledore. That said, I loved the romance stuff. I know people had loads of misgivings and that there were big blow-outs between shippers.. Thing is, there was a point when I thought Harry and Hermione could be a cute couple, however anyone who think that Ron and Hermione were not hinted at in the book, seriously haven't read it right. Or chose to not read certain parts. It's not a betrayal to them, it's the vision of the author which was always there.
Besides, there is a German saying called "Was sich liebt das neckt sich", which basically means..who love each other tease each other and that one is so true for Hermione and Ron. Besides, it creates a great dynamic and loads of tension and passion.
Oddly enough..I loved the Harry/Ginny parts and I didn't think I would like that pairing. No I read a review stating all the romances were rushed and that..imo... is total bullshit. For Lupin and Tonks I can just say, we barely see them and it is totally possible that they started something even in OOTP. And for Harry/Ginny, there were signs and besides, do you even remember romances in Highschool? Most of them are sudden and th feelings just popping up and it was all very fast. Very very fast. As for JKR jumping on the ships and pairing eveyone off...Yeah..it's true, however, remember what Dumbledore said on several occasions in all the books. The most powerful weapon against the Dark Arts.. is LOVE.
I loved that this book had a little bit for everyone... I cackled for all the slashers when I rwad the lines, Harry Potter is obsessed with Draco Malfoy. It was highly amusing. I find it weird that JKR insists that Draco is a onedimensional bad guy. He's not. He's a fully feldged out three dimensional character and she made him that. She gave him motivation and emotion and so much more. He's a guy who isn't good, but there is a lot of room for redemption.
Now to Snape, let's just say I still don't believe that he is bad guy, even after reading it. I will try and explain later.
I read the part where dumbledore dies in the train. I screamed. Next to Remus Lupin, Dumbledore is my favorite HP character. I love that he is wise and that he helps people by only giving hints and that way letting them find solutions on their own. He alsways seems to know and anticipate everything. It was a shock that he died. Cos he was an equal to Voldemort and was Harrys strongest supporter. That said, I think he knew it was gonna happen even in the beginning of the book.
He knew it.
And there ais proof.
Because he wanted to have Harry know everything about Tom Riddle and find out about the Horcruxes.
Because he wanted to have Harry uncover Slughorns memory as fast as possible.
But most importantly, because he assigned Snape to the position of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher.
He knew, and it is stongly hinted in the book, that after he refused to give Voldemort the position of DA teacher, that the Dark Lord hat cursed the position, so that a teacher would only have the position for one year and not more. That's why Dumbledore hadn't given the position to snape before this year. Because he knew that snape would have to leave the school then, cos he had to, cos that was his plan. Snape killed Dumbledore, yes and Dumbledore pleaded. But Dumbledore wasn't pleading so that snape would spare him. He knew he was dying. He was plading with snape to kill him as they had agreed upon.
Remember that scene, where Snape and Dumbledore are seen arguing. Later Dumbledore tells Harry he trusts Snape. But why would they be arguing. It is never explained. Which is why I think that snape told Dumbledore he didn't want to kill him and that is what they were arguing about. I also think that the only reason snape made the unbreakable vow in the first place, was because he already knew of Dumbledores plan back then.
Besides, Snape must have known that Harry had used his potions book when he used his spell on Malfoy, but he never did anything about it. If he realyl hates Harry all that much and wants him to suffer, diem or else, why didn't he say anything. Harry clearly cheated.
kia_ora planted something in my head while we were talking HP on monday and it makes sense, that the message in the locket had been from Regulus Black. I kind of let that idea roll in my head and it is entirely possible. Maybe he took Kreacher with him or someone else... it is possible. He did state in the note that he would be dead by then. Maybe this is how he died and not because Voldemort killed him.
What I also loved about this book, is how JKR's vision is coming together. I just love the continuety. There are several instances in the book where is just hit me.
This would also imply that one of the Horcruxes would be in the Black house, anways, I'm already excited about the nxt wook. Such a shame it is going to be the last. :( Anyways, I hope...even though Harry said he won't go back to Hogwarts, that this won't be the case. Harry Potter without Hogwarts would be bad. But who knows, maybe after Dumbledores death, there won't be a Hogwarts. Anyways, I cannot wait. Tell me what you think and link me to your own reviews if you have some.
I found it interesting that JK deviated from ber usual way of storytelling in the beginning. Usually, it's Harry who sums up what happened before and introduces it, sort of... this time it was the nameless prime minister. I think it's interesting that she deviated from it.
It all felt different from the previous books, mainly because there were less classes talked about... just two Defense about the Dark Arts classes, no transfiguration classes.. it felt weird... all was potions and there was also far less trio action. I get it that basically it was because a) Hermione and Ron weren't speaking for parts of the book and Harry had the time he usually had with Ron and Herimone with Dumbledore. That said, I loved the romance stuff. I know people had loads of misgivings and that there were big blow-outs between shippers.. Thing is, there was a point when I thought Harry and Hermione could be a cute couple, however anyone who think that Ron and Hermione were not hinted at in the book, seriously haven't read it right. Or chose to not read certain parts. It's not a betrayal to them, it's the vision of the author which was always there.
Besides, there is a German saying called "Was sich liebt das neckt sich", which basically means..who love each other tease each other and that one is so true for Hermione and Ron. Besides, it creates a great dynamic and loads of tension and passion.
Oddly enough..I loved the Harry/Ginny parts and I didn't think I would like that pairing. No I read a review stating all the romances were rushed and that..imo... is total bullshit. For Lupin and Tonks I can just say, we barely see them and it is totally possible that they started something even in OOTP. And for Harry/Ginny, there were signs and besides, do you even remember romances in Highschool? Most of them are sudden and th feelings just popping up and it was all very fast. Very very fast. As for JKR jumping on the ships and pairing eveyone off...Yeah..it's true, however, remember what Dumbledore said on several occasions in all the books. The most powerful weapon against the Dark Arts.. is LOVE.
I loved that this book had a little bit for everyone... I cackled for all the slashers when I rwad the lines, Harry Potter is obsessed with Draco Malfoy. It was highly amusing. I find it weird that JKR insists that Draco is a onedimensional bad guy. He's not. He's a fully feldged out three dimensional character and she made him that. She gave him motivation and emotion and so much more. He's a guy who isn't good, but there is a lot of room for redemption.
Now to Snape, let's just say I still don't believe that he is bad guy, even after reading it. I will try and explain later.
I read the part where dumbledore dies in the train. I screamed. Next to Remus Lupin, Dumbledore is my favorite HP character. I love that he is wise and that he helps people by only giving hints and that way letting them find solutions on their own. He alsways seems to know and anticipate everything. It was a shock that he died. Cos he was an equal to Voldemort and was Harrys strongest supporter. That said, I think he knew it was gonna happen even in the beginning of the book.
He knew it.
And there ais proof.
Because he wanted to have Harry know everything about Tom Riddle and find out about the Horcruxes.
Because he wanted to have Harry uncover Slughorns memory as fast as possible.
But most importantly, because he assigned Snape to the position of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher.
He knew, and it is stongly hinted in the book, that after he refused to give Voldemort the position of DA teacher, that the Dark Lord hat cursed the position, so that a teacher would only have the position for one year and not more. That's why Dumbledore hadn't given the position to snape before this year. Because he knew that snape would have to leave the school then, cos he had to, cos that was his plan. Snape killed Dumbledore, yes and Dumbledore pleaded. But Dumbledore wasn't pleading so that snape would spare him. He knew he was dying. He was plading with snape to kill him as they had agreed upon.
Remember that scene, where Snape and Dumbledore are seen arguing. Later Dumbledore tells Harry he trusts Snape. But why would they be arguing. It is never explained. Which is why I think that snape told Dumbledore he didn't want to kill him and that is what they were arguing about. I also think that the only reason snape made the unbreakable vow in the first place, was because he already knew of Dumbledores plan back then.
Besides, Snape must have known that Harry had used his potions book when he used his spell on Malfoy, but he never did anything about it. If he realyl hates Harry all that much and wants him to suffer, diem or else, why didn't he say anything. Harry clearly cheated.
kia_ora planted something in my head while we were talking HP on monday and it makes sense, that the message in the locket had been from Regulus Black. I kind of let that idea roll in my head and it is entirely possible. Maybe he took Kreacher with him or someone else... it is possible. He did state in the note that he would be dead by then. Maybe this is how he died and not because Voldemort killed him.
What I also loved about this book, is how JKR's vision is coming together. I just love the continuety. There are several instances in the book where is just hit me.
This would also imply that one of the Horcruxes would be in the Black house, anways, I'm already excited about the nxt wook. Such a shame it is going to be the last. :( Anyways, I hope...even though Harry said he won't go back to Hogwarts, that this won't be the case. Harry Potter without Hogwarts would be bad. But who knows, maybe after Dumbledores death, there won't be a Hogwarts. Anyways, I cannot wait. Tell me what you think and link me to your own reviews if you have some.