HP read at last

[intertext]

Okay, I'm a slow reader - just can't gulp down a book at one sitting the way I could when I was twelve :) She (JKR) has a way of making the last few chapters of a book redeem
everything that has gone before, but I found this whole book much
tighter and generally more sophisticated - perhaps that's the "post
9/11" effect that people are talking about, or just a reflection of the darker, more mature tone of the book, or the characters. Certainly an improvement on 5 and I can't wait
for 7. Still too many adverbs, and even two episodes of using capital letters
to indicate shouting is two too many. And I wish (don't flame me!) I
liked Harry better. Everyone in the book (except Snape and Harry's obvious enemies) telling me how wonderful Harry is isn't enough to sell me on him, I'm afraid. I love Snape. Snape is cool; can't wait to find out how it's all going to turn out...
I'm going to weigh in with my ideas on some of the
central controversies. I think Dumbledore set up his death and it was planned with Snape. He (Dd) was so adamant at the end about Harry
sending for Snape - twice at least, I think telling Harry that he MUST
get Snape, not anyone else. He (Dumbledore) knew what was going on
(Malfoy's plot etc) and did nothing to stop it... I'm on the side of
the "Snape is not evil" brigade. Not just because I am an Alan
Rickman fan :) I'm not quite sure why Dd had to die - something of
the Obi Wan Kenobi "If you strike me down I will be more powerful than
you ever imagined"? Or just, as some have suggested, clearing the way
for Harry, or sending him power in some way... ?? I don't think I buy
the phoenix being reborn idea - JKR has said that characters once
dead, stay dead. But there is the fact that Harry has that phoenix feather in his wand... but then, so does Voldemort...

One thing that puzzles me, though, is why, with all Dd's research, he
didn't know all along that the locket wasn't the real locket, which
makes that whole trip into the cave kind of a waste of time unless it
not was actually for the Horcrux(sp?) thingy and was actually for Dd
to drink that stuff which killed him... hence the deal with Snape...

Someone on another forum suggested that R.A.B.
was Sirius' brother and picked up a detail about a locket among
the possessions at Black's-now-Harry's house which noone could open - brilliant!

Comments

[noveldevice.livejournal.com]

I think she's getting to be a better writer, which is good, because the stuff that didn't bother me when the books were short would seriously bug me now, I think.

There's a major typo in the first 20 pages of the printing I got, which I found rather jarring. I mean, come on, this is only the biggest book of 2005--is it that much trouble to proof it thoroughly? But that's not her fault even slightly.

I really want to believe in the essential goodishness of Snape. I'm willing to go to extraordinary lengths to rationalize that goodishness in my head, while still admitting to myself that it's possible that Rowling is using our desire (as Snape!Rickman fans) in order to pull off one hell of a plot twist at the end. I do think that Dumbledore was in control of pretty much everything including his death at Snape's wand. I also think that Snape's Vow to Narcissa (one of my freljs believes that Snape nourishes a secret passion for Narcissa) was more than what he said--I think his intent is to save Draco from death, Voldemort, and his own wish to be loyal to his father and his upbringing. One thing that Dumbledore has never done is discriminate against any student because of House affiliation, magical or non-magical origin, or anything that their parents may have done. He was thoroughly committed to the welfare of Hogwarts and his students, no matter what they might do in later life.

I have no idea about the Horcrux or the initials, other than that I thought the scene in the cave was really well-written. Not only was it just incredibly wonderful and suspenseful and chilling, it did a good job of showing a young man suddenly faced with the idea that the people he looks up to are human and have frailties and vulnerabilities. It's a realization that can really screw a person up, but Harry seemed to handle it remarkably well. Dumbledore in the cave also brought home that adulthood doesn't mean automatically being strong etc in a way that Sirius' death really couldn't have.

Okay, I'm out of thoughts. That's what I've got. :)

[lilyfriend.livejournal.com]

I had come to the conclusion that R.A.B. was Regulus Black also. Though who knows where that might go, and I'm quite adament about DD and Snape having known that whole series of events was going to transpire eventually. Very much enjoyed the character developments, especially still seeing that glimmer of hope in Malfoy. I think he's more like Snape than most characters realize. :)

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Interesting thoughts aobut Malfoy - yos, I agree that he's developing in interesting ways and may turn out to have a kind of "gollum-y" role to play or even to convert to the "good" side by the end of things... I'm totally convinced that Snape is going to turn out to have been in league with DD all along. How long do you think we'll have to wait for the next one??