Beyond Belief
So, I've finished the book. I've just passed the book on to my hubby, who snatched it up eagerly, so I'm left with nothing but my thoughts. Without the book in front of me, I'm not going to be able to throw out many quotes. I'm rather shell-shocked now anyway. So first I thought I'd post about what we were right and wrong about.
Fair warning - MAJOR spoilers abound here! If you haven't finished the book, go away!
1) The Scarcrux theory.
I was wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Those of you who have been saying for two years that Harry's scar contained a bit of Voldemort's soul just proved me terribly wrong! I've been rolling my eyes at that theory all this time, thinking that there was no possible way JKR would set Harry up for a suicide. But I was wrong!
It just seemed impossible. It would mean Dumbledore had either been terribly wrong - something I seriously doubted. Or it would mean that Dumbledore was manipulative and had treated Harry as a tool. Or, as Snape put it, "as a pig to be slaughtered." Did I get that quote right?
As it turned out, I was wrong about that, too. Sort of. Dumbledore did set Harry up. But it wasn't because he's a manipulative, evil bastard. Oh, he's flawed - we learned that. But he knew very well that Harry would not die. While we're on the subject:
2) The "Dumbledore's a saint" theory.
Okay, I never would have put it like that. But I've been very defensive about Dumbledore and hated to see fanfics turn him into someone twisted and cruel in his manipulative schemes. Now, though, I understand better. Many of us who have been saying for years that Harry needed to learn that the world is not black & white; that there are shades of gray. We were saying that in relation to Slytherin House - specifically Snape & Draco. But what I, at least, missed entirely was that this also meant that we'd have to accept flaws in Dumbledore.
If Snape isn't all bad, then Dumbledore can be not entirely good. If Snape could make mistakes and be redeemable, than so could Dumbledore. I understand much better what JKR was trying to say there.
3) That's a house elf on the Bloomsbury book cover.
Nope! We were dead wrong, there! It turned out to be Griphook! How surprising was that? Whoever said that they looked to be in a Gringott's vault, chasing after the cup, was correct, though!
4) Harry will be fighting the battle behind the veil.
Another one on which I was dead wrong! Harry was behind the veil, in a sense, but not in the way I expected. And he definitely didn't fight a battle there. I'm absolutely in awe of the cover art we have on the Scholastic book, though, now that we know what it meant! More on that below...
I know I was wrong on several other theories, but those were the two that first came to mind. On the other hand, we were right about some, too!
1) The Tiara/Horcrux theory.
It was in this group that I was first introduced to this theory, and I've always loved it. In fact,
dolphinluv2783 reminded us about this one again just 2 days ago! Kudos to her for being completely right! Did you cheer, as I did, when that one was identified?! I was definitely thinking of you at that moment!
2) Ollivander's been kidnapped because of the priori incantatum.
We discussed this theory way back in
book6thoughts, but I don't remember if we ever got to it here. We've thrown this theory around a lot, though. How cool that it turned out to be true! And do you remember recent conversations we all had about how Harry felt nervous around Ollivander - how he wasn't sure what to think about him? How interesting to see JKR repeat that when Harry and Ollivander were talking in this book! It's nice to know we picked up on something real, and weren't reading into things too much.
3) Harry's face reflects hope and victory on the Scholastic book cover.
Woo-Hoo! I was right! I thought for sure that the cover was depicting the moment of victory! That's why I chose "I still believe in Hope" as the quote I used in this icon. Also, remember how we said it looked like he was reaching out to catch the snitch? How cool was it that she made reference to his seeker's skills as he snatched the wand?
4) Ron, Hermione and Ginny will all live.
I was so sure of that! I'm so, so, so happy that she didn't kill them off! We'll have to have a post here discussing our reactions to all those terrible deaths, but for now I'm just elated that the trio + Ginny survived. I knew she wouldn't take away "his best source of comfort!"
So much more to reflect upon, but my head is pounding after hours of practically non-stop reading. Feel free to start your own posts here, folks! I can't wait to see your reactions to some of the most amazing moments in the book. Do you feel that, as Jo promised, you now know "Everything"?
Fair warning - MAJOR spoilers abound here! If you haven't finished the book, go away!
1) The Scarcrux theory.
I was wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Those of you who have been saying for two years that Harry's scar contained a bit of Voldemort's soul just proved me terribly wrong! I've been rolling my eyes at that theory all this time, thinking that there was no possible way JKR would set Harry up for a suicide. But I was wrong!
It just seemed impossible. It would mean Dumbledore had either been terribly wrong - something I seriously doubted. Or it would mean that Dumbledore was manipulative and had treated Harry as a tool. Or, as Snape put it, "as a pig to be slaughtered." Did I get that quote right?
As it turned out, I was wrong about that, too. Sort of. Dumbledore did set Harry up. But it wasn't because he's a manipulative, evil bastard. Oh, he's flawed - we learned that. But he knew very well that Harry would not die. While we're on the subject:
2) The "Dumbledore's a saint" theory.
Okay, I never would have put it like that. But I've been very defensive about Dumbledore and hated to see fanfics turn him into someone twisted and cruel in his manipulative schemes. Now, though, I understand better. Many of us who have been saying for years that Harry needed to learn that the world is not black & white; that there are shades of gray. We were saying that in relation to Slytherin House - specifically Snape & Draco. But what I, at least, missed entirely was that this also meant that we'd have to accept flaws in Dumbledore.
If Snape isn't all bad, then Dumbledore can be not entirely good. If Snape could make mistakes and be redeemable, than so could Dumbledore. I understand much better what JKR was trying to say there.
3) That's a house elf on the Bloomsbury book cover.
Nope! We were dead wrong, there! It turned out to be Griphook! How surprising was that? Whoever said that they looked to be in a Gringott's vault, chasing after the cup, was correct, though!
4) Harry will be fighting the battle behind the veil.
Another one on which I was dead wrong! Harry was behind the veil, in a sense, but not in the way I expected. And he definitely didn't fight a battle there. I'm absolutely in awe of the cover art we have on the Scholastic book, though, now that we know what it meant! More on that below...
I know I was wrong on several other theories, but those were the two that first came to mind. On the other hand, we were right about some, too!
1) The Tiara/Horcrux theory.
It was in this group that I was first introduced to this theory, and I've always loved it. In fact,
dolphinluv2783 reminded us about this one again just 2 days ago! Kudos to her for being completely right! Did you cheer, as I did, when that one was identified?! I was definitely thinking of you at that moment!
2) Ollivander's been kidnapped because of the priori incantatum.
We discussed this theory way back in
book6thoughts, but I don't remember if we ever got to it here. We've thrown this theory around a lot, though. How cool that it turned out to be true! And do you remember recent conversations we all had about how Harry felt nervous around Ollivander - how he wasn't sure what to think about him? How interesting to see JKR repeat that when Harry and Ollivander were talking in this book! It's nice to know we picked up on something real, and weren't reading into things too much.
3) Harry's face reflects hope and victory on the Scholastic book cover.
Woo-Hoo! I was right! I thought for sure that the cover was depicting the moment of victory! That's why I chose "I still believe in Hope" as the quote I used in this icon. Also, remember how we said it looked like he was reaching out to catch the snitch? How cool was it that she made reference to his seeker's skills as he snatched the wand?
4) Ron, Hermione and Ginny will all live.
I was so sure of that! I'm so, so, so happy that she didn't kill them off! We'll have to have a post here discussing our reactions to all those terrible deaths, but for now I'm just elated that the trio + Ginny survived. I knew she wouldn't take away "his best source of comfort!"
So much more to reflect upon, but my head is pounding after hours of practically non-stop reading. Feel free to start your own posts here, folks! I can't wait to see your reactions to some of the most amazing moments in the book. Do you feel that, as Jo promised, you now know "Everything"?