Potter continued
In a few months, when it gets cold out, I’m going to wonder where the
summer went and why I didn’t go hiking/biking/enjoying outdoors more.
And I’ll remember how I spent one weekend reading Harry Potter. The
negative side of an obsession.
OK, more Potter. And then I am signing off, taking a walk and going into work.
1. Minor disappointment: While the book dwelt so much on Riddle/Voldemort's past, it barely touched Harry's parents' past. As a Marauder's junky (and I probably need to find more fan fic - good fan fic - on it), I am hungering for more background on Lily, James, Sirius and Remus. I suspect we will get more Snape background in book 7, but I fear that Phoenix might have been Rowling's only glimpse into that past. HBP really sets Harry up as being independent and less reliant on both others and his past, so I don't see Rowling stepping backwards here (the exception might be the need to explain the importance of Lily's eyes - and Dumbledore's correspondence with Petunia). I'm bummed. Also, as a Sirius fan, I'm disappointed we didn't see him at all here - no talking pictures, etc. And nothing about the mirror, even though she suggests there will be in book 6.
2. Deaths. Cedric's I could live with. Dumbledore: classic death of the mentor. Granted, I'm finding it hard to see how the Order of the Phoenix and the magical world can survive without his brilliance, because he was such a knowledgeable wizard. Watching him penetrate that cave - could Harry/Hermione/Ron do magic like that? Can anyone who is left do that kind of magic (aside from Voldemort)? I was less shocked at Dumbledore's death, more shocked at HOW he died. Actually - I think I was most shocked WHERE he died. Hogwarts invaded was, to me, incredibly chilling.
Now Sirius - I'm struggling to figure out why he had to die, because Rowling made it so clear in interviews that she had to kill him off. Yes, Harry grew up after his death. But frankly, he could have matured after that Ministry battle scene even if Sirius had lived. But since the two of them hardly communicated much, even in book 5, I find it hard to believe that Rowling only killed him off so that Harry could carry on without help from a parental figure. I mean, one of the major things that happened in HBP is the way Dumbledore accepted the trio and Harry's reliance on it. Harry can't defeat Voldemort alone. Did Sirius have to die only for that brief, one-page moment in OOTP when Voldemort tried to possess Harry and couldn't, because Harry can love and Voldemort can't? Again, Rowling could have used Harry's love for his parents, for Ron or Hermione, to make this plot point.
My thought here is that Sirius' death has something to do with Snape. Sirius hated Snape and would never see anything good in him, and alive Sirius would taint Harry's opinion of Snape. Plus, if RAB is Sirius' brother, then perhaps Sirius needs to be dead for Harry to figure this one out (and find the unopenable locket that had been in 12 Grimmauld Place).
There will be more deaths in Book 7. Ginny?
3. Snape. HBP can be read two ways. It could be total vindication for the “Snape is evil theory,” which Harry has been arguing since Book 1. That was certainly my first read. Harry is so right in this book, and almost everyone around him (adults) is wrong. Harry has been convinced from the start that Snape is bad, and this book certainly seems to prove that (on the surface). Or, there's the theory that Dumbledore made Snape promise to kill him, that to maintain his undercover spy role he had to be the one to kill Dumbledore. (And, as I've read elsewhere, were Snape and Dumbledore doing a Legilimency thing there on the tower?) Was Dumbledore right about Snape, or did he make a huge error? I can see this playing out either way. It makes sense plotwise for Snape to eventually reveal his true colors and help Harry defeat Voldemort. I certainly like the idea of grayness (i.e., how Anakin turned in ROTS). But if Snape ends up being on the side of good - it's going to take an awful lot for me to accept him that way, after his total and constant mistreatment of Harry. I don't care how “good” his cover had to be, he didn't have to be that mean to Harry. I read someone's thoughts that Rowling might want to say that even “bad” people can work for the good side. But I still hate Snape!
I guess my point is, if Snape ends up helping Harry in the end, I could see Sirius' existence being a problem here, since reckless Sirius would probably kill Snape without a second thought while I think Harry would stop and consider the possibilities (like the way he stopped Peter's death in Book 3).
On the other hand, I'm in denial about Sirius death still, so there.
4. Favorites. One of my all-time favorite parts in this book was where Harry pretends to give Ron the good luck potion. How brilliant! I was so proud of Harry there, because he fooled both Ron and Hermione, something he hasn't often done successfully. Plus, it was such a smart move psychologically.
5. Book 7. I am a little concerned about this one being a quest book. I like that all of Harry's adventures take place within the context of him being at school, the combination of the mundane with the exceptional. I'm a little nervous about the thought of Harry spending the entire book looking for horcruxes instead of studying for NEWTS. But it's hard to imagine him studying for NEWTS now given everything that's happened. Actually, can we imagine Hermione giving up her studies for a quest?
6. Other comments:
Interesting analysis here: www.livejournal.com/users/garlandgraves/3409.html
And comments here: www.livejournal.com/community/hbp_chapters/
7. Yea me. Just before getting the book (actually, before going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which I thought was pretty good), I made a prediction to myself which now I wish I had posted, because it turned out correct. I decided that Snape was going to be made DADA teacher, because if he taught potions Harry wouldn't have him and that just would make for a boring book. It is interesting to note that, yet again, Hogwarts has lost its DADA teacher, since it is highly doubtful that Snape will return next year.
I hate Snape. Why am I spending so much time thinking about this plot point?
OK, more Potter. And then I am signing off, taking a walk and going into work.
1. Minor disappointment: While the book dwelt so much on Riddle/Voldemort's past, it barely touched Harry's parents' past. As a Marauder's junky (and I probably need to find more fan fic - good fan fic - on it), I am hungering for more background on Lily, James, Sirius and Remus. I suspect we will get more Snape background in book 7, but I fear that Phoenix might have been Rowling's only glimpse into that past. HBP really sets Harry up as being independent and less reliant on both others and his past, so I don't see Rowling stepping backwards here (the exception might be the need to explain the importance of Lily's eyes - and Dumbledore's correspondence with Petunia). I'm bummed. Also, as a Sirius fan, I'm disappointed we didn't see him at all here - no talking pictures, etc. And nothing about the mirror, even though she suggests there will be in book 6.
2. Deaths. Cedric's I could live with. Dumbledore: classic death of the mentor. Granted, I'm finding it hard to see how the Order of the Phoenix and the magical world can survive without his brilliance, because he was such a knowledgeable wizard. Watching him penetrate that cave - could Harry/Hermione/Ron do magic like that? Can anyone who is left do that kind of magic (aside from Voldemort)? I was less shocked at Dumbledore's death, more shocked at HOW he died. Actually - I think I was most shocked WHERE he died. Hogwarts invaded was, to me, incredibly chilling.
Now Sirius - I'm struggling to figure out why he had to die, because Rowling made it so clear in interviews that she had to kill him off. Yes, Harry grew up after his death. But frankly, he could have matured after that Ministry battle scene even if Sirius had lived. But since the two of them hardly communicated much, even in book 5, I find it hard to believe that Rowling only killed him off so that Harry could carry on without help from a parental figure. I mean, one of the major things that happened in HBP is the way Dumbledore accepted the trio and Harry's reliance on it. Harry can't defeat Voldemort alone. Did Sirius have to die only for that brief, one-page moment in OOTP when Voldemort tried to possess Harry and couldn't, because Harry can love and Voldemort can't? Again, Rowling could have used Harry's love for his parents, for Ron or Hermione, to make this plot point.
My thought here is that Sirius' death has something to do with Snape. Sirius hated Snape and would never see anything good in him, and alive Sirius would taint Harry's opinion of Snape. Plus, if RAB is Sirius' brother, then perhaps Sirius needs to be dead for Harry to figure this one out (and find the unopenable locket that had been in 12 Grimmauld Place).
There will be more deaths in Book 7. Ginny?
3. Snape. HBP can be read two ways. It could be total vindication for the “Snape is evil theory,” which Harry has been arguing since Book 1. That was certainly my first read. Harry is so right in this book, and almost everyone around him (adults) is wrong. Harry has been convinced from the start that Snape is bad, and this book certainly seems to prove that (on the surface). Or, there's the theory that Dumbledore made Snape promise to kill him, that to maintain his undercover spy role he had to be the one to kill Dumbledore. (And, as I've read elsewhere, were Snape and Dumbledore doing a Legilimency thing there on the tower?) Was Dumbledore right about Snape, or did he make a huge error? I can see this playing out either way. It makes sense plotwise for Snape to eventually reveal his true colors and help Harry defeat Voldemort. I certainly like the idea of grayness (i.e., how Anakin turned in ROTS). But if Snape ends up being on the side of good - it's going to take an awful lot for me to accept him that way, after his total and constant mistreatment of Harry. I don't care how “good” his cover had to be, he didn't have to be that mean to Harry. I read someone's thoughts that Rowling might want to say that even “bad” people can work for the good side. But I still hate Snape!
I guess my point is, if Snape ends up helping Harry in the end, I could see Sirius' existence being a problem here, since reckless Sirius would probably kill Snape without a second thought while I think Harry would stop and consider the possibilities (like the way he stopped Peter's death in Book 3).
On the other hand, I'm in denial about Sirius death still, so there.
4. Favorites. One of my all-time favorite parts in this book was where Harry pretends to give Ron the good luck potion. How brilliant! I was so proud of Harry there, because he fooled both Ron and Hermione, something he hasn't often done successfully. Plus, it was such a smart move psychologically.
5. Book 7. I am a little concerned about this one being a quest book. I like that all of Harry's adventures take place within the context of him being at school, the combination of the mundane with the exceptional. I'm a little nervous about the thought of Harry spending the entire book looking for horcruxes instead of studying for NEWTS. But it's hard to imagine him studying for NEWTS now given everything that's happened. Actually, can we imagine Hermione giving up her studies for a quest?
6. Other comments:
Interesting analysis here: www.livejournal.com/users/garlandgraves/3409.html
And comments here: www.livejournal.com/community/hbp_chapters/
7. Yea me. Just before getting the book (actually, before going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which I thought was pretty good), I made a prediction to myself which now I wish I had posted, because it turned out correct. I decided that Snape was going to be made DADA teacher, because if he taught potions Harry wouldn't have him and that just would make for a boring book. It is interesting to note that, yet again, Hogwarts has lost its DADA teacher, since it is highly doubtful that Snape will return next year.
I hate Snape. Why am I spending so much time thinking about this plot point?