Harry Potter and the HBP (Spoilers)

POSTED BY: airylli
UPDATED: Friday, September 2, 2005 08:21
VIEWED: 19789
PAGE 1 of 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NEXT PAGE

AIRYLLI

Saturday, July 16, 2005 1:09 PM

Just finished the book.

OW.

I'm still incoherent, don't mind me, but...what were the general reactions to the book? I think mine were: I knew he was the HBP, R.A.B. is Regulus, and OW. Not necessarily in that order.

Did anyone else think "J.K. Rowling...you've been reading fanfic" or was that just me?

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

FREMDFIRMA

Saturday, July 16, 2005 3:15 PM

You'll have to skip any reaction from me.

After the last one I've prettymuch concluded that the book series has become an exercise in literary sadism, as in how much abuse can both sides heap on the poor kid before he jumps off a cliff.

If I had recieved such treatment from the "good guys" as ole Harry has, dude, I'd be WORKING for Voldemort by now.

It almost reminds me of the concept of the writers work in the Stephen King book "Misery" - the author did such horrible things to the character because he passionately hated her, not because the story required it.

I've no more intention of shelling out money for more of that, than I do for the aimless and pointless dragged-out (let's squeeze every buck out of it!) 'storylines' of George RR Martin, or Robert Jordans drivel.

Some folks should quit while they're ahead, and too many of em write books nowadays.

-F

AMYGDALA

Sunday, July 17, 2005 5:03 AM

I'm still with-holding judgement, letting it all sink in. But I do have this theory, and I'm curious to see if anyone out there agrees, or if I'm just a bit delusional:

Snape is actually a good guy.

Look, I know that he did something pretty majorly bad, but there are a few things that just make me wonder that this was all part of a plan of Dumbledore's, namely:

- Snape and Dumbledore are overheard arguing about something that Snape doesn't want to do (ie. what he ends up doing).
- Dumbledore's reaction to Snape turning is "Severus, please", not "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!" or anything along the same vein as what he was saying to the other Death-eaters. He could equally be asking Snape to do what they'd agreed to (ie. what he did).
- Dumbledore finally lets Snape have the DADA job, despite knowing that whoever holds that position won't stay longer than a year, suggesting he knows something major was going to happen involving Snape.
- As Snape is running away after doing what he did, his 'taunts' to Harry are actually some pretty damn good advice about what he should be working on as far as magic.
- This one's pretty sketchy, but there's also Snape's hand shaking as he makes the Unbreakable Vow.

Okay, I'll admit I'm still a little lost as to the big grand scheme this is supposed to serve. Yeah, maybe I'm just delusional.

Anyone else hold back on the tears until we hear of Dumbledore peacefully napping in his portrait?

"She was all naked and ... articulate."

AIRYLLI

Sunday, July 17, 2005 7:14 AM

those were some of the same theories i had. i'm mostly chalking it up to denial, but i just can't see snape as a total bad guy. maybe it's the dumbledore in me.

and i do want to know how those portraits work.

i've heard a theory that dumbledore himself is a horcrux, and that is why snape killed him. i don't see how this would quite work, but it's an interesting theory.

----
I swallowed a bug.

www.cafepress.com/airylli

AMYGDALA

Sunday, July 17, 2005 8:43 AM

Nice! Not delusional or folie-a-deux at the very least! Dumbledore as a horcrux? Interesting...but.
Curious about the portraits, too. Not quite so sad if an essence of Dumbledore remains. How useful could the portrait be as far as information and advice?

Other random thoughts on no. 6:

- relationshippy stuff kind of thrown together and basically annoying. While the pairings were expected and not unwelcome, really hated how they came about.
- Harry sacrificing his relationship with Ginny to keep her safe: trite and kind of sexist. I know he doesn't tell Hermione to rack off, but she's kind of become one of the lads.
- the end really hammered home how much luck and Dumbledore have had to do with Harry's victories over Voldemort thus far. Will be interesting to see how the final confrontation is portrayed - does Harry all of a sudden gain some serious magical skills, or is it once again solely down to luck and the power of love?
- tracking down the remaining horcruxes and defeating Voldemort are a lot to fit in to one final novel, especially if just finding/ destroying the one horcrux was enough to ruin Dumbledore's arm.
- is Harry really never going back to Hogwarts? Very sad. Will miss Quidditch.
- will also miss Fawkes. Favourite character by far.

She was all naked, and ... articulate.

FRAY101

Sunday, July 17, 2005 9:34 AM

I'm holding on to the theory that Snape is, well OK, if not good then ultimately on Harry's side. Maybe Dumbledore (stifles a sob) knew he was already dying (he could certainly have communicated this to Snape), by making it seem that Snape had actually killed him then he could continue working undercover.

Also, perhaps he was trying to prevent Draco from doing something which would send him down the dark side for good (let's face it, Draco is a nasty little bully and like all bullies, a coward. But is he truly evil?).

Overall I thought it was a marked improvement on the last novel - although have to admit I kept thinking "this is going to be a nasty film!". However it struck me last night how disappointing it was that Ron & Hermione were so busy sulking or snogging that they made no contributions whatsoever to the main plot - where was the teamwork that helped them so much in the past?

Not sure about the Harry/Ginny thing either - guess I still just think of her as that little girl in Chamber of Secrets! I suppose she is only one year younger than Harry but somehow it didn't seem right to me.

Surely Harry will go back to Hogwarts - the whole point of there being 7 books is that there are 7 terms. I'm sure he'll go back - please!

I just wish I'd reread Book 5 first as I'd forgotten so many details - guess I'll go read it now!

_____________________________________

Visit the Browncoats' Photo 'Verse at http://disneypix.tripod.com/photoverse

Over 100 Serenity screencaps now available at www.destinything.com.

www.cafepress.com/fireflyclass
www.cafepress.com/destiny2 (Wonderfalls)

EMMA

Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:21 AM

Fray, as always I am with you (except the bit about Book 5 - it is my 2nd fave).

- Snape is definitely a good guy as is Malfoy (I like the earlier summary by Amygdala thread about the Snape plotline)
- What happened to all of the other characters? Hagrid, Grawp, Luna, Neville, the Order? Are they to disappear in obscurity - they did in this book?
- Where was the plot?

All in all I am very disappointed, there was far too much relationship stuff and not enough action.

Book 7 better resolve all of the little threads she has built - the next book must be vast to fit everything in.

PS I started sobbing when Hagrid didn't believe Harry and pretty much didn't stop until the last 3 or 4 pages.

extremely dimensionally transcendental

FRAY101

Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:30 AM

Have just gone back and read Amygdala's post properly - jeez, had totally forgotten about the argument between Snape and Dumbledore. Excellent point - actually all excellent points.

Actually ventured onto a Harry Potter forum last night to check out people's reactions - most seem to agree that Dumbledore could not have been mistaken about Snape.

Also, that RAB is Regalus Black. Any other theories there? (none from me I have to confess! Just hope it is an existing character and not a totally new one for Book 7. There are already too many characters to keep track of!).

_____________________________________

Visit the Browncoats' Photo 'Verse at http://disneypix.tripod.com/photoverse

Over 100 Serenity screencaps now available at www.destinything.com.

www.cafepress.com/fireflyclass
www.cafepress.com/destiny2 (Wonderfalls)

AIRYLLI

Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:37 AM

I kind of liked the relationship stuff. Well, to clarify, I loved both Remus.Tonks and Ginny.Harry; to both, I said "FINALLY!". :P And the bit about Madam Pince and Filch was quite amusing. The bit about Ron and Hermione being non-essential also struck a chord with me, though. This book was just...different from the other ones. And not just darker or tenser or generally more upsetting. I feel like something changed, or possibly it lacked something. Anyway, here is part of an email I wrote just after finishing the book:

"OW.

OW OW OW OW OW.

I totally knew he was the HBP. I mean honestly, Harry is just so thick sometimes.

Did you see R.A.B. and think "Regulus"? Because I know I did. Interesting idea someone had thought: the "A" could be "and", as it is a lot easier to get the locket with two people.

Somewhere in there, I was thinking, "Ms. Rowling, you've been reading fanfic." And that's not about the relationships; about just some of the general plot things. But I'm pretty sure I think the book was brilliant. I just have to get over the trauma first...

Harry and Ginny: FINALLY. Same for Remus and Tonks. Every mention of Sirius made me really upset, as did every single thing from the second Harry talked to Trelawney and found out it was Snape that overheard the prophecy.

Ron's stupid. So's Hermione. Scrimgeour's a prat. So's Percy. For some reason, the thought that Harry was one of the Horcruxes popped into my head, but I'm pretty sure that's the exhaustion talking. There were some definite shoutouts in there, I just can't remember them right now. I'm pretty sure there was a reference to the Azkaban movie, as well.

Snape, Snape, Snape...I'm still not convinced he's wholly evil. I don't know why. But still...OW. I can't believe that happened. Although it's been a rumor ever since those pesky bets placed in Britain...

I cannot believe Umbridge is still alive.

I want more of Gred and Forge. And more Charlie. Bill was interesting until he got engaged to Fleur. I like their engagement, but...well, we'll see. Line that cracked me up: "I am good-looking enough for the two of us, I think."

The Vane girl was stupid, silly, and a delightful waste of my time. I hope she chokes on her potions.

I was halfway through the second chapter when I pronounced suddenly, to the great amusement of my cousin, "This is not going to be a happy book." I hate that I was right. Or maybe I don't.

I'm pretty sure one of the characters, can't remember who; maybe a memory, death, or a portrait, but the last name was "Smith" and I immediately linked him/her to the prat Zacharias. Also, the sallow-faced, oily haired portrait towards the end definitely seemed to be linked the Snape.

I've heard Tobias Snape before. I feel like I'd heard Scrimgeour's name too, but I could be hallucinating.

I knew Malfoy didn't have the balls. Stupid Death Eaters. May they all be eaten alive by maggots and fire ants.

Amelia Bones! Man...

Fawkes! Now I'm REALLY upset...

I saw this book as playing a similar function as "Becoming Part I"; major set-up for what's to come. That's not to say that enough didn't happen...

Double negatives make me dizzy. I hate J.K. Rowling. And I want to give her a hug. Evil, brilliant woman.

My incoherence isn't my fault. I place all blame on the Prince."

There's just something about this book that I can't figure out. It just didn't..grip me like the previous books. Well, a lot of parts did, but as a whole, I just found it more difficult to read. I think parts of Phoenix were even easier than this; HBP didn't have parts like Fred and George flying off from Hogwarts to balance some things out. I almost felt as if I'd entered fanfic land, especially with year 7 potentially not being at Hogwarts. But again, I think that may be because all of this is setup for book 7. And Rowling definitely has a thing with hands...too much Star Wars, methinks.

I had more thoughts, b

EMMA

Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:47 AM

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

My blog has a review/gripe of the book but here are a few extra bits just as side-thoughts.

It was very strange but I kept expecting Dumbledore to be somebody else taking polyjuice - he just didn't read like Dumbledore. I also got the impression that this book was only about Harry and none of the other characters mattered (except who they were snogging). Plus, JK disappointed me because she announced beforehand that it would answer a lot of questions - but for me, it didn't. Even the Horcruxes were easy to guess.

All in all it was just wrong and I hope the last book is written properly and is back to normal. I was so excited about the book and now I just feel a bit let down.

extremely dimensionally transcendental

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NEXT PAGE