HP and the Half-Blood Prince Review Page
I think it would be nice to have a central place where we could put all the media reviews, our own reviews, and confirmations of spoiler information people like Roxy were kind enough to post in the first place. I haven't pre-ordered the book (an action I'm bitterly regretting now, caught up in the HP fever as always!) and I just hope Mira will will have nothing against starting a thread for people who want to spoil the rest of us. ;)
If you've read the book... please come tell us unlearned ones which spoilers are right and which are wrong!
So without further ado... spoilers ahoy in both the text and comments!
A book review from Darren Waters (from BBC News) who began posting his impressions of the book since he got his mitts on it at midnight is up here! It's a mixed review, to say the least. Though he states that the conclusion of HPaHBP is exciting (conclusion = death of Dumbledore, presumably) and sets up an excellent battle ground for the last book, the middle of the book was (surprise surprise!) a long slog that mainly revisted ideas we've all analyzed a million times before. I was hoping JKR would be able to pull up a few new tricks to surprise us in the 6th book besides the (pretty obvious actually) death... but I suppose that was too much to hope for in the long run.
A bit of the more interesting information given by the review:
1. Draco Malfoy is given more screen-time in the novel and what he's up to becomes a burning plot question.
2. Severus Snape's loyalty is yet again distrusted (for good reason too, if we can believe yet other spoilers...)
3. We learn more about the history of Lord Voldemort, which brings me hope that he won't be quite as Crazy Evil Overlord-esque in this book as he was in the past 5...
A review from Calendar Live.
1. The new Minister of Magic (after Fudge is sacked) is Rufus Scrimgeour. Your guess is as good as mine.
2. I'm sorry I ever doubted you on how disgusting the Weasley Twins could be, Roxanne. "Why are you Worrying about You-Know-Who? You should be worrying about U-No-Poo - the constipation sensation that's gripping the nation." Rowling wrote that, all right.
A review from The Hindu.
1. Cornelius Fudge gets sacked as the Minister of Magic in the first chapter. (Good God, what took them so long?!)
2. Dumbledore himself picks up Harry from the Dursleys this year mid-way through summer-- which I suppose explains why the Dudleys aren't present in the new book mcuh. (He wants Harry to "pursue that flighty temptress, adventure" with him. Perverted come-on much? No wonder he later uses Harry to seduce a new Potions professor!)
If you've read the book... please come tell us unlearned ones which spoilers are right and which are wrong!
So without further ado... spoilers ahoy in both the text and comments!
A book review from Darren Waters (from BBC News) who began posting his impressions of the book since he got his mitts on it at midnight is up here! It's a mixed review, to say the least. Though he states that the conclusion of HPaHBP is exciting (conclusion = death of Dumbledore, presumably) and sets up an excellent battle ground for the last book, the middle of the book was (surprise surprise!) a long slog that mainly revisted ideas we've all analyzed a million times before. I was hoping JKR would be able to pull up a few new tricks to surprise us in the 6th book besides the (pretty obvious actually) death... but I suppose that was too much to hope for in the long run.
A bit of the more interesting information given by the review:
1. Draco Malfoy is given more screen-time in the novel and what he's up to becomes a burning plot question.
2. Severus Snape's loyalty is yet again distrusted (for good reason too, if we can believe yet other spoilers...)
3. We learn more about the history of Lord Voldemort, which brings me hope that he won't be quite as Crazy Evil Overlord-esque in this book as he was in the past 5...
A review from Calendar Live.
1. The new Minister of Magic (after Fudge is sacked) is Rufus Scrimgeour. Your guess is as good as mine.
2. I'm sorry I ever doubted you on how disgusting the Weasley Twins could be, Roxanne. "Why are you Worrying about You-Know-Who? You should be worrying about U-No-Poo - the constipation sensation that's gripping the nation." Rowling wrote that, all right.
A review from The Hindu.
1. Cornelius Fudge gets sacked as the Minister of Magic in the first chapter. (Good God, what took them so long?!)
2. Dumbledore himself picks up Harry from the Dursleys this year mid-way through summer-- which I suppose explains why the Dudleys aren't present in the new book mcuh. (He wants Harry to "pursue that flighty temptress, adventure" with him. Perverted come-on much? No wonder he later uses Harry to seduce a new Potions professor!)