(no subject)
I read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince from about 9 A.M. on Saturday to about 2 A.M. Sunday morning. I did not read straight through - I had to take hours worth of breaks due to family and friends being over my house.
First of all, I am still in shock that Snape killed Dumbledore. Snape was my favorite character, and I defended him completely. I never EVER saw that coming. I had to read the scene like five times before it started to sink in. At first I was just furious with Snape, and I startd to hate his guts. Then the denial set in, and that's where it stands now. Perhaps Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him? I mean, it doesn't seem like Dumbledore to plead for his life, does it. Maybe it's part of some larger plan of his or something. It all seems so odd. Dumbledore trusted Snape SO much despite everything and everyone questioning him about it. Of course it's totally possible that Dumbledore was just being totally too trusting and got himself killed in the end because of it, but I really hope that is not the case. That would completely take away from Dumbeldore's character, I think. Unlike some other people though, I think Dumbledore is definitely dead. And I was sobbing at the end of the book. Not just *crying*, but sobbing. And I was very deeply disturbed upon finishing it.
Then there was the whole factor of the 'unbreakable curse' that Snape entered into...he had to kill Dumbledore for Draco or die. Would he really enter into that unless he really was still a Death Eater? Who knows.
Some people were complaining about Hermione's character in this book, and how they couldn't believe she got mad at Harry over the potions thing, or that she would get mad at Ron over the whole Lavender thing. I could totally see that stuff! She loves Ron, so it's only natural to be jealous of Lavender! And Harry was cheating with the potions thing, which Hermione never goes for. I really liked the trio in this book, and I liked Harry's character more than ever. He is really starting to grow up.
The pairings. First of all, I love Ron and Hermione. I wanted them to get together most of all. But it's okay. I'll wait. Harry and Ginny did not surprise me TOO much. I like that pairing too, and I wasn't surprised at the end where Harry kinda dumped her over the whole Voldemort thing. And Tonks and Lupin? Ugh, I hate that one. It took me by surprise. But whatever. Oh, and I still don't like Fleur at all, even though I admire what she said at the end. And poor Bill.
Speaking of poor Bill, that freak Greyback better die a painful, painful death in the last book, that sick freak.
And on the subject of Draco Malfoy...another one of my favorite characters...Dumbledore was right on when he said Draco was not a killer. He's not. He couldn't do it. I don't think Draco really supports Voldemort. He kept saying that if he didn't do it Voldemort would kill his whole family. I think that's the only real reason why he did it at all. For goodness sake he was CRYING IN THE BATHROOM over it! Yeah! Draco! Draco has always been a coward. He's a bully, but he's not a killer. It creeped me out that Dumbledore knew Draco was trying to kill him but let him stay in the school anyway because he didn't want Draco to die. Weird.
And I honestly don't see how the gang could possibly return to Hogwarts next year. But we'll see what happens.
I knew the Half-Blood Prince was Snape. I just did. Especially when it was all in a potions book. And I was also shocked Snape finally got the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.
Another thought...Dumbledore hasn't always been the best judge of character, has he? He hired Lockhart as a teacher for one thing. And he didn't realize Moody, one of his good friends, was an imposter all year. Just something to think about, I guess.
And the note in the locket? I stared at those initals for a bit when I first read it, but I couldn't think of any names. This was also at like 1:30 in the morning. Buzz around the 'net shows that most people, myself included, seem to think R.A.B is Regulus Black, Sirius' younger brother. We'll have to wait and see if that's true.
Overall, I really highly enjoyed the book.
First of all, I am still in shock that Snape killed Dumbledore. Snape was my favorite character, and I defended him completely. I never EVER saw that coming. I had to read the scene like five times before it started to sink in. At first I was just furious with Snape, and I startd to hate his guts. Then the denial set in, and that's where it stands now. Perhaps Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him? I mean, it doesn't seem like Dumbledore to plead for his life, does it. Maybe it's part of some larger plan of his or something. It all seems so odd. Dumbledore trusted Snape SO much despite everything and everyone questioning him about it. Of course it's totally possible that Dumbledore was just being totally too trusting and got himself killed in the end because of it, but I really hope that is not the case. That would completely take away from Dumbeldore's character, I think. Unlike some other people though, I think Dumbledore is definitely dead. And I was sobbing at the end of the book. Not just *crying*, but sobbing. And I was very deeply disturbed upon finishing it.
Then there was the whole factor of the 'unbreakable curse' that Snape entered into...he had to kill Dumbledore for Draco or die. Would he really enter into that unless he really was still a Death Eater? Who knows.
Some people were complaining about Hermione's character in this book, and how they couldn't believe she got mad at Harry over the potions thing, or that she would get mad at Ron over the whole Lavender thing. I could totally see that stuff! She loves Ron, so it's only natural to be jealous of Lavender! And Harry was cheating with the potions thing, which Hermione never goes for. I really liked the trio in this book, and I liked Harry's character more than ever. He is really starting to grow up.
The pairings. First of all, I love Ron and Hermione. I wanted them to get together most of all. But it's okay. I'll wait. Harry and Ginny did not surprise me TOO much. I like that pairing too, and I wasn't surprised at the end where Harry kinda dumped her over the whole Voldemort thing. And Tonks and Lupin? Ugh, I hate that one. It took me by surprise. But whatever. Oh, and I still don't like Fleur at all, even though I admire what she said at the end. And poor Bill.
Speaking of poor Bill, that freak Greyback better die a painful, painful death in the last book, that sick freak.
And on the subject of Draco Malfoy...another one of my favorite characters...Dumbledore was right on when he said Draco was not a killer. He's not. He couldn't do it. I don't think Draco really supports Voldemort. He kept saying that if he didn't do it Voldemort would kill his whole family. I think that's the only real reason why he did it at all. For goodness sake he was CRYING IN THE BATHROOM over it! Yeah! Draco! Draco has always been a coward. He's a bully, but he's not a killer. It creeped me out that Dumbledore knew Draco was trying to kill him but let him stay in the school anyway because he didn't want Draco to die. Weird.
And I honestly don't see how the gang could possibly return to Hogwarts next year. But we'll see what happens.
I knew the Half-Blood Prince was Snape. I just did. Especially when it was all in a potions book. And I was also shocked Snape finally got the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.
Another thought...Dumbledore hasn't always been the best judge of character, has he? He hired Lockhart as a teacher for one thing. And he didn't realize Moody, one of his good friends, was an imposter all year. Just something to think about, I guess.
And the note in the locket? I stared at those initals for a bit when I first read it, but I couldn't think of any names. This was also at like 1:30 in the morning. Buzz around the 'net shows that most people, myself included, seem to think R.A.B is Regulus Black, Sirius' younger brother. We'll have to wait and see if that's true.
Overall, I really highly enjoyed the book.