HP 20th anniversary reread, chapters 10 & 11
Anyone notice this chapter that there's another PoV slip in it?
Where Ron levitate the troll's club and we hear his perspective on what that was like? Yeah, it took me twenty years to realise that too.
Anyway, backing up a bit, I'm kind of amused these days by the prevalence of pumpkin juice in the wizard of world because pumpkins ... aren't really that common around here. I mean, just try and get a pumpkin outside of Hallowe'en. It's just about impossible.
Maybe they've all been squirrelled away by those magical folk. :p
This is also the chapter we get formally introduced to Quidditch, and I have to say, I definitely entertained the fantasy of flying most unrealistically. Not because it's actually impossible, but because if it were possible, I would be terrified. I can only manage heights when I'm confident of what's holding me up, and I'm not sure a broomstick would fall into the category of things I feel sure about. I think I just like the idea of wind and speed (duh--I just do my flying over water :p)
I actually find the focus on Quidditch one of the drawbacks of the wizarding world. I suppose the population is just too small to support alternate fan bases for other organised sport (and of course there's Quodpot in the States) but surely they could have had magical gymnastics or flying boat races or exploding cricket (imagine the wickets exploding if you hit them!) The idea that there's only the one organised sport if you're so inclined makes me sad.
I know I complained a bit about the focus on Quidditch last chapter, but the sport itself isn't the problem (maybe the single-minded devotion of the population to it ... but then I feel that way about football, too). Quidditch is a brilliant invention.
This also makes for a nice fast paced chapter to listen to while running. Just sayin'.
One thing I love about Quidditch is that it gives a very explicit nod to the fact that sport ... actually involves a great deal of luck. Yes, it takes great skill and talent and an immense load of practice, but when you come down to it, luck has to be on your side as well (assuming the playing field is peppered with experts who have trained their lives away). And with one Snitch, JKR captures that beautifully.
I can see why the Slytherin would be bitter with the Gryffindor win. Quite honestly, it was a matter of luck for Harry to get the Snitch. And they're kids, who probably haven't quite appreciated yet that you have to take the rolls of fortune in the game as they come. Kind of the way you roll in life as well, I suppose. Hard work and skill don't always pay off. Sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time. And if it happens to be when you're plummeting to the ground on an out of control broomstick, I guess you just take it when you can.
Now, how did this descend into a philosophical discussion?
Small side note. How on earth is Hagrid's hut laid out so that he can actually watch the game, even with binos, from down there--likely a fair distance away, too?