Potter continued

[slyvermont]

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.

Comments

[jedishampoo]

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!

This is interesting, seeing it from the POV of someone else. Snape has been my favorite character since I read the first book. He was the ONLY grey character, that I saw. Yeah, he's been pretty darn nasty to Harry and sorta slimy-chummy when it comes to the Slytherins, but ::should say this quietly for fear of being beaten up:: I've always thought Harry was a bit of a twerp... I feel for Harry, really, but to me he's not the most interesting character...to me he's sort of the vehicle whereby we're getting the rest of the story. Despite the fact that his name's on all the book covers. ;)

I've always seen him as someone who does exactly what his mentors tell him NOT to, eighty percent of the time, and that annoys me. ;) Snape calls him on it more than anyone else, freely, and without Dumbledore's or McGonagall's gently chiding affection coloring his nasty little judgments. It makes it interesting, for Harry, to say the least.

One reason I liked OOTP was that scene in Snape's pensieve when Harry realizes that his father wasn't a perfect, glowing personality... but had been a snarky little teenager with a mean streak (something Harry inherited slightly). Yeah, Snape was nasty, but I thought here he's an even more interesting character. He hates Harry Potter with searing passion because of (a) his parents and (b) how he ruined Snape's life by defeating the Dark Lord the first time, yet he still keeps saving his life.

Mere conjecture here, personally I think Snape will be necessary to defeating Voldemort in the end but don't think he'll will survive the next book... he has been too nasty to Harry to earn his everlasting trust or friendship. But I am sure looking forward to seeing it unfold! :)

[slyvermont]

It is interesting to see other people's perspectives, isn't it? If it weren't for the Internet, I would assume that everyone hated Snape as much as I do. Really, reading HP now is like one big book group, or like thousands of people taking a literature class together (hmm, I may do a whole LJ entry on that alone).

Anyway, perhaps I am overly sensitive to abuse. I was teased a lot in middle school, and I see both Snape and Draco as bullies. Then, as a teacher, I get really riled about Snape's teaching techniques.

I can appreciate your perspective, but my first read was that Snape was evil, bad, evil through and through. As for Harry -- he really is a typical boy, doing lots of snotty things, but I still really like him. I probably identify most with Hermione, and will be most upset if she gets offed in book 7.

And I agree, it is doubtful that Snape will survive book 7.