BOOK DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

[cmere]

“I’ll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle,” said Sirius. “But…well…think about it. Once my name’s cleared…if you wanted a…a different home…”

Some sort of explosion took place in the pit of Harry’s stomach.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in 1999-fifteen years ago! Book Three left many of us

Comments

[cmere]

Sirius Black is after Harry? Black is Harry’s godfather? Black ISN’T the bad guy? Peter Pettigrew IS the bad guy?? Peter Pettigrew is Scabbers??? Hermione is using a time turner to take 3000 classes at the same time???? How was your ride on the plot twist rollercoaster? Did you see any of it coming?

[author_by_night]

It took me a re-read and a half, as I mentioned above. Then I kept re-reading PoA because I loved it so much. :P I really wish I'd written my reactions down somewhere, because that's all I can remember, as I read the book back when it was first released.

[philstar22]

I kind of suspected that there was something else to the story with Sirius. Pettigrew as Scabbers, though, I did not expect. I love it when books surprise me.

[author_by_night]

I think, had I not been a fantasy virgin at this point*, I probably would've figured there was more to Sirius. I was already an avid reader by the time Harry Potter came around, but used

*The only fantasy/sci fi thing I was into was the Prydain Chronicles, and even then mostly The High King because we read it in school, and the only mysteries I read were Nancy Drew books and Baby-Sitter's Club mystery specials, so the "bad guy is actually good!" trope evaded me completely.

[drinkingcocoa]

I didn't see any of it coming. Very, very satisfying. :-)

No, wait, I did see one thing coming. The utterly perfect way that Hermione was right about who sent the Firebolt to Harry and the stunning way it called back to Jane Fairfax's piano from Emma. In both instances, you know deep in your gut who sent it and you have no idea how or why you know.

[reallycorking]

I love that parallel between Jane Fairfax's piano and the firebolt! Awesome comparison :O

[reallycorking]

I saw none of it coming and was stunned at how well everything fit together like a glove in the end.

[moreteadk]

I didn't see much any of it coming, except a hope against hope that there wouldn't be time travel involved with Hermione being several places at once and especially with Harry thinking he had seen his father. I kept hoping they'd given her a clone instead or something. The whole thing with Sirius and Scabbers and who killed who and whatnot, that all blindsided me. I'm not sure I really understood it fully at the first read through. And that was even in translation to my own native language! O.o

[ladysugarquill]

NONE OF IT. IT WAS AWESOME.