HBP SPOILERS
Jul. 16th, 2005 06:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
labellementeuseI have totally read it. XD XD XD XD
Um, so thoughts, loosely sorted, not particularly thoughtful.. :P
The book as a whole
Simply, I think this was very much a return to the pre-OotP books. Or, perhaps, I think that fandom interpreted OotP radically differently, and it will need to be dramatically reconsidered in context of the series.
Okay, okay, I totally, totally loved it. Way more than OotP. OMG. *squees a bit cheerfully* I thought the pacing was really excellent, actually, it didn't drag at all- it's a slimmer book than OotP and I actually think it's better for it.
How I think the fandom's going to take it... well, I don't know, really. I'm surprised at how little interHouse dialogue and action was shown; surprised, and disappointed, because I really thought they had a good thing going with the DA and I'm sad that that's been lost, that the spirit of interHouse unity has been lost with the aforementioned return, stylistically and content-wise, to the earlier books. Actually, along with that, we also lost our perspective of the Wizarding World outside Hogwarts in many ways- although I loved the bits with Rufus and Harry, and with the Muggle Prime Minister. :P
Also, sadly, I think we've kind of lost some of the complex characterisation... Snape (on whom, more later) was in many ways the most complex character and, clearly, that has been totally lost.
Harry through the book was a lot happier, which I'm really pleased about.
I thought there were some really accurate representations of social interactions between teenagers- not just shippingwise, but in general.
I liked most- all- of the introduced characters.
I wish we'd seen a little more of Minerva McGonagall.
Overall? It was a real delight to read, and not just because I've been waiting so long...
Major Plot Points/Events
SNAPE. EVIL? OMG WTF BBQ *BLOWN AWAY*.
I really didn't see that coming.
Yeah.
um.
I don't think I can really verbalise my feelings about this, except I am really incredibly surprised and impressed that she managed to pull this off- I am disappointed in that it means we've kind of lost the idea that there can be unpleasant people on the Side of Good, but I don't want to gfive the impression that I didn't love this book, and even this twist, because I do. Hooboy.
Also him teaching DADA! Which should have been our big clue that he was evil (if he really is... I'd like to hold out hope for his redemption but...) It's ALWAYS the DADA teacher.
The memories/Horcruxes (sp? it's upstairs) thing was really cool. And interesting when you consider this has been in the background of the whole series, that she knew this way back when she was writing Chamber.
Dumbledore's death... really sad, yes, but also fulfilling. I really liked the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore in this book. I really liked Dumbledore as well, which I never really have before-![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sixth_light suggests that in many ways this book is profoundly about Dumbledore making mistakes and being made human, and yet I find that at the end of this book I admire and respect Dumbledore much more than I did at the end of all the other ones, and not because of his death.
Weren't we supposed to find out something startling about Lily? Because we, like, totally didn't.
Shipping
Harry/Ginny: Totally awesome! I'm a convert. ^^ I was surprised at hot quickly it went but I thought it was quite an accurate surface portrayal of being a teenager.
Ron/Hermione: YEAH! XD I thought this was adorable Even the Ron/Lavender. I confess I'm a little surprised we didn't have even a snog by the end of the book, but oh well. I really liked "I was going to ask you to the Christmas Party but I can ask (x person, I forget) if you'd prefer!" "No, I wouldn't." [said Ron quietly]
Remus/Tonks... *sigh* I saw it coming from at least half-way through the book, so at least I was prepared (the big tipoff, for me, was the bit where Harry sees Tonks and she's like "Have you heard from any of the Order?" and he's like "No" and she's like "omg my life is over." I think this happens just before or after Remus mentions he hasn't been able to write because he's been underground. I thought that was fairly obvious so I'm surprised Lucy didn't pick it; she reckoned it came as a (pleasant, for her) bolt from the blue at the end.)
So I'm not totally happy about this, because I just do not like Remus/Tonks. I'm sorry, to me it smacks of- heh, new word- a very heterosexist worldview whereby characters achieve happiness only through a heterosexual relationship. This is not just a consequence of my shipping Remus/Sirius, I will add. It reminds me a lot of A Merchant of Venice although this may be helped along by the fact that my course reader for the Shakespeare course has a whole essay on reading TMOV with a non-heterosexist viewpoint, and the consequences of heterosexist direction.
I really liked Harry making friends with Luna! :) I hope we see more of Luna and Neville.
Finally: I liked the conclusion, because I like Harry depending on Ron and Hermione. I hope Luna, Neville and of course Ginny also help Harry Defeat Voldemort (tm). I am not a huge fan of the lone hero.
I finished it ten minutes after it went on sale in teh States. Heh.
Um, so thoughts, loosely sorted, not particularly thoughtful.. :P
The book as a whole
Simply, I think this was very much a return to the pre-OotP books. Or, perhaps, I think that fandom interpreted OotP radically differently, and it will need to be dramatically reconsidered in context of the series.
Okay, okay, I totally, totally loved it. Way more than OotP. OMG. *squees a bit cheerfully* I thought the pacing was really excellent, actually, it didn't drag at all- it's a slimmer book than OotP and I actually think it's better for it.
How I think the fandom's going to take it... well, I don't know, really. I'm surprised at how little interHouse dialogue and action was shown; surprised, and disappointed, because I really thought they had a good thing going with the DA and I'm sad that that's been lost, that the spirit of interHouse unity has been lost with the aforementioned return, stylistically and content-wise, to the earlier books. Actually, along with that, we also lost our perspective of the Wizarding World outside Hogwarts in many ways- although I loved the bits with Rufus and Harry, and with the Muggle Prime Minister. :P
Also, sadly, I think we've kind of lost some of the complex characterisation... Snape (on whom, more later) was in many ways the most complex character and, clearly, that has been totally lost.
Harry through the book was a lot happier, which I'm really pleased about.
I thought there were some really accurate representations of social interactions between teenagers- not just shippingwise, but in general.
I liked most- all- of the introduced characters.
I wish we'd seen a little more of Minerva McGonagall.
Overall? It was a real delight to read, and not just because I've been waiting so long...
Major Plot Points/Events
SNAPE. EVIL? OMG WTF BBQ *BLOWN AWAY*.
I really didn't see that coming.
Yeah.
um.
I don't think I can really verbalise my feelings about this, except I am really incredibly surprised and impressed that she managed to pull this off- I am disappointed in that it means we've kind of lost the idea that there can be unpleasant people on the Side of Good, but I don't want to gfive the impression that I didn't love this book, and even this twist, because I do. Hooboy.
Also him teaching DADA! Which should have been our big clue that he was evil (if he really is... I'd like to hold out hope for his redemption but...) It's ALWAYS the DADA teacher.
The memories/Horcruxes (sp? it's upstairs) thing was really cool. And interesting when you consider this has been in the background of the whole series, that she knew this way back when she was writing Chamber.
Dumbledore's death... really sad, yes, but also fulfilling. I really liked the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore in this book. I really liked Dumbledore as well, which I never really have before-
sixth_light suggests that in many ways this book is profoundly about Dumbledore making mistakes and being made human, and yet I find that at the end of this book I admire and respect Dumbledore much more than I did at the end of all the other ones, and not because of his death.Weren't we supposed to find out something startling about Lily? Because we, like, totally didn't.
Shipping
Harry/Ginny: Totally awesome! I'm a convert. ^^ I was surprised at hot quickly it went but I thought it was quite an accurate surface portrayal of being a teenager.
Ron/Hermione: YEAH! XD I thought this was adorable Even the Ron/Lavender. I confess I'm a little surprised we didn't have even a snog by the end of the book, but oh well. I really liked "I was going to ask you to the Christmas Party but I can ask (x person, I forget) if you'd prefer!" "No, I wouldn't." [said Ron quietly]
Remus/Tonks... *sigh* I saw it coming from at least half-way through the book, so at least I was prepared (the big tipoff, for me, was the bit where Harry sees Tonks and she's like "Have you heard from any of the Order?" and he's like "No" and she's like "omg my life is over." I think this happens just before or after Remus mentions he hasn't been able to write because he's been underground. I thought that was fairly obvious so I'm surprised Lucy didn't pick it; she reckoned it came as a (pleasant, for her) bolt from the blue at the end.)
So I'm not totally happy about this, because I just do not like Remus/Tonks. I'm sorry, to me it smacks of- heh, new word- a very heterosexist worldview whereby characters achieve happiness only through a heterosexual relationship. This is not just a consequence of my shipping Remus/Sirius, I will add. It reminds me a lot of A Merchant of Venice although this may be helped along by the fact that my course reader for the Shakespeare course has a whole essay on reading TMOV with a non-heterosexist viewpoint, and the consequences of heterosexist direction.
I really liked Harry making friends with Luna! :) I hope we see more of Luna and Neville.
Finally: I liked the conclusion, because I like Harry depending on Ron and Hermione. I hope Luna, Neville and of course Ginny also help Harry Defeat Voldemort (tm). I am not a huge fan of the lone hero.
I finished it ten minutes after it went on sale in teh States. Heh.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-07-17 02:04 am (UTC)Dumbledore's weakened. Enough pain would surely kill him in that state, and yeah, they're scared, but surely there'd be something vengeful too? Plus, as Snape retreated, he not only didn't fight, he cut Harry off before he could finish any of the unforgivable curses.
Other possibilities - Dumbledore knew he had to die a) because Harry has to meet Voldie as an equal and he can't do that with Dumbledore at his back to rely on, b) because he has to be sure that the final confrontation takes place outside Hogwarts, where the collateral damage would be all those kids. Snape knows he has to kill him for that reason, and hates it.
Bull. There is nothing that says at the end of a children's book all the adult characters have to be in a romantic relationship, that is only a consequence of our attitudes in society and also in fantasy fiction.
This I agree with, 100 percent. I guess I just like the combination - you don't, fair enough - and Harry does need some kind of light stuff happening, some promise that happiness is possible, and Bill & Fleur aren't close enough to him for that to be enough, maybe.
I wouldn't dislike Harry/Ginny if it wasn't so obvious and so neat.
Other thoughts - Snape being the half-blood prince, and declaring it so openly, goes directly contrary to what the death eaters are all about. He seems to be proud of his muggle blood. Not sure what that means, but it's interesting.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-17 02:08 am (UTC)No, Crucio doesn't kill, because look at the Longbottoms. Pain doesn't actually kill you, it's the things that cause the pain that do. Maybe it would make him black out, but Crucio seems to stimulate the pain centre in the brain, I don't think that would kill you. And, as I say, the Longbottoms were certainly weakened.
Hmmmm. *thoughtful*
Half-blood.
Date: 2005-07-18 04:23 pm (UTC)I'm not sure he was proud, at least not at that point in his life when he wrote in the book and was at that time contemplating joining (or he'd possibly already joined) the Death Eaters. He may have chosen to identify with his mother's maiden name because she was the witch in the family. By calling himself the Half-Blood Prince he was ignoring the side of his bloodline that made him a Snape, and was choosing to identify entirely with his mother.