HBP reflections (with spoilers)
First impressions under the cut.
Overall, I liked it. I liked it in the way I liked PS and CoS -- in that unreflecting, this-is-a-really-good-read sort of way. Interesting, as I didn't expect to like it at all.
I can only assume all this is because OotP killed the real lurve for me. Stone Dead. So I wasn't so painfully invested in HBP. And I was well spoiled, so knew to expect the worst.
Chapters:
After the Burial was absolutely delightful.
The Cave was very, very dark indeed. Pun not intended.
Characters:
Harry -- much better for (almost) losing the capslock and had matured nicely, partly thanks to
Dumbledore -- still like him, I'm afraid. Manipulative tendencies and all. And not just because of the final interaction with
Snape -- oddly, this is the book that convinced me that Snape will be the saviour of all. Even though he was more in the background here; though not so much as was
Remus -- I hardly knew ye. How I loathed that sentence, 'I must be grateful'. Too old... too poor... to dangerous... too gay for
Tonks -- has passed her Mary Sue mantle on to
Ginny -- takes the prize for the single most annoying character in the book, even more annoying if possible than
Molly -- how I hate you, Molly. Always have, always will.
The new characters were good, especially Slughorn, though I would have liked more Luna.
Shipping news:
Overall, there was just too much of it, and I thought the war/romance balance was out of kilter.
Ron/Hermione -- can we all spell 'dysfunctional'? Whoo!
Harry/Ginny -- thank God that's over. I foresee reconciliations keeping fanficcers warm for years to come, though.
Bill/Fleur -- 'ow ai 'ate zat stupeed mock Frainch acksant zat Fleur eez forced to speek een. Beel on ze ozzer 'and deed not open eez mouth. An' az for zee 'ug weeth Molly at zee end -- zut alors!
Remus/Tonks -- What can I say? Two characters in denial about their own sexuality never made a good basis for a ship. But what do I know? Bugger all, obviously.
Overall, I liked it. I liked it in the way I liked PS and CoS -- in that unreflecting, this-is-a-really-good-read sort of way. Interesting, as I didn't expect to like it at all.
I can only assume all this is because OotP killed the real lurve for me. Stone Dead. So I wasn't so painfully invested in HBP. And I was well spoiled, so knew to expect the worst.
Chapters:
After the Burial was absolutely delightful.
The Cave was very, very dark indeed. Pun not intended.
Characters:
Harry -- much better for (almost) losing the capslock and had matured nicely, partly thanks to
Dumbledore -- still like him, I'm afraid. Manipulative tendencies and all. And not just because of the final interaction with
Snape -- oddly, this is the book that convinced me that Snape will be the saviour of all. Even though he was more in the background here; though not so much as was
Remus -- I hardly knew ye. How I loathed that sentence, 'I must be grateful'. Too old... too poor... to dangerous... too gay for
Tonks -- has passed her Mary Sue mantle on to
Ginny -- takes the prize for the single most annoying character in the book, even more annoying if possible than
Molly -- how I hate you, Molly. Always have, always will.
The new characters were good, especially Slughorn, though I would have liked more Luna.
Shipping news:
Overall, there was just too much of it, and I thought the war/romance balance was out of kilter.
Ron/Hermione -- can we all spell 'dysfunctional'? Whoo!
Harry/Ginny -- thank God that's over. I foresee reconciliations keeping fanficcers warm for years to come, though.
Bill/Fleur -- 'ow ai 'ate zat stupeed mock Frainch acksant zat Fleur eez forced to speek een. Beel on ze ozzer 'and deed not open eez mouth. An' az for zee 'ug weeth Molly at zee end -- zut alors!
Remus/Tonks -- What can I say? Two characters in denial about their own sexuality never made a good basis for a ship. But what do I know? Bugger all, obviously.