Harry Potter: Reactions and more
I finished.
First, Caroline. She called from Belize: she arrived safely, and is stuck at the airport waiting for the rest of her team to arrive before they head to the monkey sanctuary. She switched airplanes at Newark, made it through customs, and bought a phone card, all fine.
Amazingly enough, she called when she and I were about 10 pages apart in the book. She said she never put it down, while waiting on lines, etc. I had a wonderful conversation with her about it.
Spoilers ahead
Caroline and I reacted remarkably similar to the book. We loved it, and savored every minute, every page. She said what I had been thinking - that as much as she wants to know what happens, she wants the experience of reading this book to never end, because after this one, there is only one more book to read when we don't know the end.
I could have read this book straight through, but I did take several breaks. I realized exactly what she said, and knew that I had to stop reading and think a little about what I read. I wanted to postpone the inevitable ending, because the next time I read the book I won't have the same level of suspense, of mystery, the glorious pleasure of not knowing.
She also said that a lot of people won't like this book, something I hadn't thought about because I was loving it so much. Turns out she's right.
I hope she's okay when she gets to the end. Because the end is very upsetting, and she's alone. I needed to talk to people (thankfully knitress, maiasaura and I were able to speak on the phone for awhile).
Another thing that Caroline and I agreed on is that this book is dramatically different from the others. The writing is different. The characters are different. The plot is different. The tensions are different. It was as if the others books were on a pendulum, and it just changed direction. I like the change, but I could see where others wouldn't.
Some of my reactions.
First, most strongly, this is no longer a kids' book. This is not a book that kids under 12 are going to enjoy. I know that when Caroline was 10, I would have read the first few books to her, and then we would have stopped, and waited until she was older (we actually did that for another series about a protagonist who started as a 10-year-old and then aged). I think this book does a good job of focusing on what 16-year-olds tend to focus on (relationships); although I am disappointed to see that at least two of Caroline's friends -- jirina and evilbearhunter -- didn't love it.
I agree very strongly, though, with what my favorite fan fic author (madlorivoldmort) said in her live journal, both her immediate review and reactions to others' comments. Shipping was there, but it was not the focus of the book. It was a happy diversion to the real story. The relationships were treated like teenage relationships, and not lifelong pairings (I know some of my friends feel differently, but so be it).
I loved this book because of Harry's character development, his relationship with his teachers and peers, the way he's turned into a talented wizard and a good friend. I love the way Harry has become his own person, the way he took charge as Quidditch coach, talked back to Snape and Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic whatsisname, handled the Hermione and Ron stuff. I feel that way about Caroline sometimes, when she does something really amazing. Watching a kid grow up and become a real person is very satisfying. I feel we've seen Harry do that here.
I loved this book because I didn't spend it wondering how Harry was going to be tortured by Umbridge or by dragons or by Voldemort. This book was about Harry's internal growth, and not how Harry fights battles physically. The book has some amazing lighthearted moments, some very amusing scenes, some absolutely hysterical lines. I think it captured the day-to-day life of the sixth years very well. Although, I did realize about 3/4 of the way in that something really really really bad was going to happen, and that we were being lulled into a false sense of security.
Because the ending is quite horrible. The scene when Harry makes Dumbedore drink the potion was beyond words, it was so horrifying. That Harry was able to apparate them back … When Snape uttered the death curse, I screamed. Out loud. I think I cried for the rest of the book.
Knitress maiasaura and I spoke for awhile about all the possibilities, and there are many, and I'm not going to go into them here and now. Why did Dumbledore have to die? I realize that the clues were all there all along, that in their lessons Dumbledore told Harry all he knew, so there was no more information he could impart to Harry.
I didn't think that Dumbledore was going to survive, so it surprises me that I am so surprised, and so upset. I didn't suspect as I was reading that Snape was really acting on Dumbledore's directions - that's knitress's idea, but I see that others are also believing that (and that RAB is Regulus Black is also a widespread theory already). That Snape was a double agent is clear. Where his loyalties lie is not clear. I assume we will know that in the end. I hope for Harry's sake that Snape is also Dumbledore's man. Because I am not convinced that Harry can win in the end without Snape's support (as their battling in the end showed, Snape is a powerful wizard). Harry has many strengths, but I'm not sure he's an experienced enough wizard to beat Snape or Voldemort in a one-on-one battle.
The Tonks/Remus pairing, or the Fleur/Bill pairing, didn't bother me at all. It was white noise that didn't distract me from the main story. I don't read these novels for the relationships, especially the relationships of minor characters. As I said before, these are teenagers. How many high school romances end up in marriage, or should end up in marriage? That given, I thought Ron and Lavender were hysterical. Harry/Ginny - whatever. Cute, but I didn't see lifelong passion there. (cyndisuesue, don't throw things at me!) Again, I bow to the genius of madlorivoldmort.
On first read, I think this book will rank number two, after Azkhaban. I may reread it many times, although I may stop at the point where Harry and Dumbledore go on their adventure. I'm not sure how many times I will want to read that part again.
I have many many questions. I end with this one. Dumbledore said that as a wise man, when he makes a mistake they are particularly big ones. He clearly made some major mistakes in Phoenix that he tried to rectify in this book. Did he make a major mistake in HBP? Or is book seven going to prove that his actions were actually wise ones?
First, Caroline. She called from Belize: she arrived safely, and is stuck at the airport waiting for the rest of her team to arrive before they head to the monkey sanctuary. She switched airplanes at Newark, made it through customs, and bought a phone card, all fine.
Amazingly enough, she called when she and I were about 10 pages apart in the book. She said she never put it down, while waiting on lines, etc. I had a wonderful conversation with her about it.
Spoilers ahead
Caroline and I reacted remarkably similar to the book. We loved it, and savored every minute, every page. She said what I had been thinking - that as much as she wants to know what happens, she wants the experience of reading this book to never end, because after this one, there is only one more book to read when we don't know the end.
I could have read this book straight through, but I did take several breaks. I realized exactly what she said, and knew that I had to stop reading and think a little about what I read. I wanted to postpone the inevitable ending, because the next time I read the book I won't have the same level of suspense, of mystery, the glorious pleasure of not knowing.
She also said that a lot of people won't like this book, something I hadn't thought about because I was loving it so much. Turns out she's right.
I hope she's okay when she gets to the end. Because the end is very upsetting, and she's alone. I needed to talk to people (thankfully knitress, maiasaura and I were able to speak on the phone for awhile).
Another thing that Caroline and I agreed on is that this book is dramatically different from the others. The writing is different. The characters are different. The plot is different. The tensions are different. It was as if the others books were on a pendulum, and it just changed direction. I like the change, but I could see where others wouldn't.
Some of my reactions.
First, most strongly, this is no longer a kids' book. This is not a book that kids under 12 are going to enjoy. I know that when Caroline was 10, I would have read the first few books to her, and then we would have stopped, and waited until she was older (we actually did that for another series about a protagonist who started as a 10-year-old and then aged). I think this book does a good job of focusing on what 16-year-olds tend to focus on (relationships); although I am disappointed to see that at least two of Caroline's friends -- jirina and evilbearhunter -- didn't love it.
I agree very strongly, though, with what my favorite fan fic author (madlorivoldmort) said in her live journal, both her immediate review and reactions to others' comments. Shipping was there, but it was not the focus of the book. It was a happy diversion to the real story. The relationships were treated like teenage relationships, and not lifelong pairings (I know some of my friends feel differently, but so be it).
I loved this book because of Harry's character development, his relationship with his teachers and peers, the way he's turned into a talented wizard and a good friend. I love the way Harry has become his own person, the way he took charge as Quidditch coach, talked back to Snape and Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic whatsisname, handled the Hermione and Ron stuff. I feel that way about Caroline sometimes, when she does something really amazing. Watching a kid grow up and become a real person is very satisfying. I feel we've seen Harry do that here.
I loved this book because I didn't spend it wondering how Harry was going to be tortured by Umbridge or by dragons or by Voldemort. This book was about Harry's internal growth, and not how Harry fights battles physically. The book has some amazing lighthearted moments, some very amusing scenes, some absolutely hysterical lines. I think it captured the day-to-day life of the sixth years very well. Although, I did realize about 3/4 of the way in that something really really really bad was going to happen, and that we were being lulled into a false sense of security.
Because the ending is quite horrible. The scene when Harry makes Dumbedore drink the potion was beyond words, it was so horrifying. That Harry was able to apparate them back … When Snape uttered the death curse, I screamed. Out loud. I think I cried for the rest of the book.
Knitress maiasaura and I spoke for awhile about all the possibilities, and there are many, and I'm not going to go into them here and now. Why did Dumbledore have to die? I realize that the clues were all there all along, that in their lessons Dumbledore told Harry all he knew, so there was no more information he could impart to Harry.
I didn't think that Dumbledore was going to survive, so it surprises me that I am so surprised, and so upset. I didn't suspect as I was reading that Snape was really acting on Dumbledore's directions - that's knitress's idea, but I see that others are also believing that (and that RAB is Regulus Black is also a widespread theory already). That Snape was a double agent is clear. Where his loyalties lie is not clear. I assume we will know that in the end. I hope for Harry's sake that Snape is also Dumbledore's man. Because I am not convinced that Harry can win in the end without Snape's support (as their battling in the end showed, Snape is a powerful wizard). Harry has many strengths, but I'm not sure he's an experienced enough wizard to beat Snape or Voldemort in a one-on-one battle.
The Tonks/Remus pairing, or the Fleur/Bill pairing, didn't bother me at all. It was white noise that didn't distract me from the main story. I don't read these novels for the relationships, especially the relationships of minor characters. As I said before, these are teenagers. How many high school romances end up in marriage, or should end up in marriage? That given, I thought Ron and Lavender were hysterical. Harry/Ginny - whatever. Cute, but I didn't see lifelong passion there. (cyndisuesue, don't throw things at me!) Again, I bow to the genius of madlorivoldmort.
On first read, I think this book will rank number two, after Azkhaban. I may reread it many times, although I may stop at the point where Harry and Dumbledore go on their adventure. I'm not sure how many times I will want to read that part again.
I have many many questions. I end with this one. Dumbledore said that as a wise man, when he makes a mistake they are particularly big ones. He clearly made some major mistakes in Phoenix that he tried to rectify in this book. Did he make a major mistake in HBP? Or is book seven going to prove that his actions were actually wise ones?