Well, blow me down
Jul. 21st, 2005 09:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
charliesmumI finished the book last night. Need to digest everything that happened, then probably go back and re-read so I get the things I missed.
Dumbledore
Remember the "Poppyeing of the Clogges" winner of the Guardian contest I posted a few days ago? I wish I had the author's email or something, because he totally called the place of death: Though Pottyr's sayved, his trusted friend, Hath in this towyr met hys ende.
I'm not ashamed to admit I cried all through the last chapter, even though I pretty much assumed Dumbledore would be dead by the end of the series. Still, I thought it would happen in book 7, not this one, and I kept hoping that it was all some elaborate ruse and he would show up at the end, alive and whole. Even when Harry and Hagrid were walking back to the castle, I was sure the body would be gone. I'm great at denial when I want to be.
Anyway, my hopes that he wasn't really dead were pretty dashed when it was mentioned that his portrait was on the wall in the headmaster's office. I wonder how much of the real person is in a picture - they seem fairly sentient, but I don't know if Harry could go to the portrait for advice or anything.
SnapeI think Dumbledore knew Snape would kill him, and very possibly told him to do so, if there were no other options. I think he knew about the vow, and that Snape was pretty much bound to finish off DD if Draco didn't, and he didn't want Draco to be a murderer. (Since the killing is what splits the soul in the first place, in this universe.) Thus, he talked to Draco, and made sure Harry couldn't interfere, and the whole pleading thing in the end was to help keep Snape's cover going. This is not to say I think Snape is a good guy. I think he is one of the most complex villians ever created. Nice, as Stephen Sondhiem wrote, is different than good. I think Snape ultimately looks after himself. (and![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
junediamandi has done some research as to where Spinner's End is, which is totally worth a read.)
DracoI read an interview with JKR and she said basically not to feel too sorry for Draco. I'm not sure what I think. In making him firmly in Voldemort's camp I think JKR gave him more humanity than she ever did. He isn't good, and probably never will be, but he has love for his family, and that I think is what kept him from being able to actually kill Dumbledore. Not for any love of Dumbledore, but because he isn't a murderer. Bullying git and aristocratic bigot, but not a murderer. He was going to Crucio Harry, after all. That's pretty harsh.
The Half Blood PrinceOkay, I totally didn't see that coming. It was Snape's book. I find it interesting that Harry felt the "Prince" was kind of like a friend. He trusted the 'Prince' like Dumbledore trusted Snape.
RelationshipsFor the record I'm very fond of the Harry/Ginny relationship, and was hoping for it since book 2. I think Ginny is a good match for Harry, and should they eventually marry, he will be officially part of the Weasley family. I don't quite get why he broke up with her. I never get that. Just because you aren't 'officially' together doesn't mean you don't care, Voldemort isn't going to think, "OMG! They totally are broken up. I guess I can't use Ginny as bait." should he want to do that. He could use Pansy as bait and Harry'd probably still go, because that's the kind of guy Harry is.
I enjoyed the Ron/Hermione romance, too. No shocks there.
I'm totally into the Neville/Luna relationship that was hinted at in the last chapter. They are perfect for each other.
Remus/Tonks - I like it. I think they hooked up during book 5, then shortly after seeing Harry off home, Remus found out he had to go spy on the werewolves, and for probably similar reasons Harry broke up with Ginny, he broke up with Tonks, and she was said. Some people have problems with this - think she is a bit too mopy and stuff, but she's what, in her early 20's? She's allowed to be mopy. Love, as the song goes, stinks.
Fleur/Bill - I loved that ending. I love how Fleur had depth that belied her snobby attitude and Mary-Sue good looks. And when she and Mrs Weasley hugged I got tears in my eyes. That was just a perfect moment. I hope we get to see the wedding.
DursleysDidn't see much of them this book. She has now dropped 2 hints about Dudley - one that he remembered bad things with the Dementors and two that the Dursleys 'damaged' him somehow. If she doesn't delve into this I will be very disappointed.
Other stuffI really like Harry's growth in this book. He fully understands his destiny, and understands destiny is a choice. Don't see why he had to break up with Ginny, but that's just me.
I didn't quite see the point of the McClaggen guy whomping Harry with the bludger. That seemed rather pointless to me. Although knowing JKR, he may turn out to be important in the next book.
Someone else pointed out to me that RAB is Sirius's brother, and the locket was in Grimmwald Place, and was mentioned in book 5. (I suck at picking out clues) I'm thinking Harry is going to have to get Mundungus out of jail to help him find things. And the Hog's Head bartender I'm still convinced is DD's brother, and will help in book 7.
Romilda Vane, which I've been told anagrams into "I'm a Dan Lover" was such a nod at fan fiction Mary Sues. I enjoyed that very much. I also think the fact that Hermione mentioned that all the time turners were smashed was to put paid to the whole "Ron is really Dumbledore" theory once and for all.
One thing that really bugged was how Hermione and Ron kept poo-poohing Harry's "Draco is up to something". Dumbledore, we know, did so to keep Draco safe from Voldemort, but come on. Every single time Harry has said someone is up to something, he was right. He was even, as far as evidence suggests, right as far as not trusting Snape. You'd think afer 6 years they'd learn to trust his instincts.
I hate zombie stories. Hate. Was not happy about the inferi because zombies scare me. (except, of course, for Reg Shoe and Windle Poons)Was glad that no one we knew showed up. Yet.
Loved the vampire who was at Slughorn's party. I don't know why. He just cracked me up.
Speaking of Slughorn - his altered memory was interesting. He doesn't like to be wrong about anything. He's another complex character. He's not a bad guy, but he's not a good person, really. Too into his own comforts and being around famous people, and has that sort of gormless prejudice that so many people have - the kind that isn't based on hatred but just a sort of inbred belief about people.
And I have to mention Blaise. He was nothing but a name for the first few books, and yet was one of the more widely written about characters. And now we find he's just a beautiful snob who's mother was a gold digger. Interesting.
And finally we find that there really is a curse on the DADA position. I wonder if that's why DD finally gave the position to Snape? Perhaps he knew Snape was pretty much done hanging with the good guys.
Dumbledore
Remember the "Poppyeing of the Clogges" winner of the Guardian contest I posted a few days ago? I wish I had the author's email or something, because he totally called the place of death: Though Pottyr's sayved, his trusted friend, Hath in this towyr met hys ende.
I'm not ashamed to admit I cried all through the last chapter, even though I pretty much assumed Dumbledore would be dead by the end of the series. Still, I thought it would happen in book 7, not this one, and I kept hoping that it was all some elaborate ruse and he would show up at the end, alive and whole. Even when Harry and Hagrid were walking back to the castle, I was sure the body would be gone. I'm great at denial when I want to be.
Anyway, my hopes that he wasn't really dead were pretty dashed when it was mentioned that his portrait was on the wall in the headmaster's office. I wonder how much of the real person is in a picture - they seem fairly sentient, but I don't know if Harry could go to the portrait for advice or anything.
SnapeI think Dumbledore knew Snape would kill him, and very possibly told him to do so, if there were no other options. I think he knew about the vow, and that Snape was pretty much bound to finish off DD if Draco didn't, and he didn't want Draco to be a murderer. (Since the killing is what splits the soul in the first place, in this universe.) Thus, he talked to Draco, and made sure Harry couldn't interfere, and the whole pleading thing in the end was to help keep Snape's cover going. This is not to say I think Snape is a good guy. I think he is one of the most complex villians ever created. Nice, as Stephen Sondhiem wrote, is different than good. I think Snape ultimately looks after himself. (and
junediamandi has done some research as to where Spinner's End is, which is totally worth a read.)DracoI read an interview with JKR and she said basically not to feel too sorry for Draco. I'm not sure what I think. In making him firmly in Voldemort's camp I think JKR gave him more humanity than she ever did. He isn't good, and probably never will be, but he has love for his family, and that I think is what kept him from being able to actually kill Dumbledore. Not for any love of Dumbledore, but because he isn't a murderer. Bullying git and aristocratic bigot, but not a murderer. He was going to Crucio Harry, after all. That's pretty harsh.
The Half Blood PrinceOkay, I totally didn't see that coming. It was Snape's book. I find it interesting that Harry felt the "Prince" was kind of like a friend. He trusted the 'Prince' like Dumbledore trusted Snape.
RelationshipsFor the record I'm very fond of the Harry/Ginny relationship, and was hoping for it since book 2. I think Ginny is a good match for Harry, and should they eventually marry, he will be officially part of the Weasley family. I don't quite get why he broke up with her. I never get that. Just because you aren't 'officially' together doesn't mean you don't care, Voldemort isn't going to think, "OMG! They totally are broken up. I guess I can't use Ginny as bait." should he want to do that. He could use Pansy as bait and Harry'd probably still go, because that's the kind of guy Harry is.
I enjoyed the Ron/Hermione romance, too. No shocks there.
I'm totally into the Neville/Luna relationship that was hinted at in the last chapter. They are perfect for each other.
Remus/Tonks - I like it. I think they hooked up during book 5, then shortly after seeing Harry off home, Remus found out he had to go spy on the werewolves, and for probably similar reasons Harry broke up with Ginny, he broke up with Tonks, and she was said. Some people have problems with this - think she is a bit too mopy and stuff, but she's what, in her early 20's? She's allowed to be mopy. Love, as the song goes, stinks.
Fleur/Bill - I loved that ending. I love how Fleur had depth that belied her snobby attitude and Mary-Sue good looks. And when she and Mrs Weasley hugged I got tears in my eyes. That was just a perfect moment. I hope we get to see the wedding.
DursleysDidn't see much of them this book. She has now dropped 2 hints about Dudley - one that he remembered bad things with the Dementors and two that the Dursleys 'damaged' him somehow. If she doesn't delve into this I will be very disappointed.
Other stuffI really like Harry's growth in this book. He fully understands his destiny, and understands destiny is a choice. Don't see why he had to break up with Ginny, but that's just me.
I didn't quite see the point of the McClaggen guy whomping Harry with the bludger. That seemed rather pointless to me. Although knowing JKR, he may turn out to be important in the next book.
Someone else pointed out to me that RAB is Sirius's brother, and the locket was in Grimmwald Place, and was mentioned in book 5. (I suck at picking out clues) I'm thinking Harry is going to have to get Mundungus out of jail to help him find things. And the Hog's Head bartender I'm still convinced is DD's brother, and will help in book 7.
Romilda Vane, which I've been told anagrams into "I'm a Dan Lover" was such a nod at fan fiction Mary Sues. I enjoyed that very much. I also think the fact that Hermione mentioned that all the time turners were smashed was to put paid to the whole "Ron is really Dumbledore" theory once and for all.
One thing that really bugged was how Hermione and Ron kept poo-poohing Harry's "Draco is up to something". Dumbledore, we know, did so to keep Draco safe from Voldemort, but come on. Every single time Harry has said someone is up to something, he was right. He was even, as far as evidence suggests, right as far as not trusting Snape. You'd think afer 6 years they'd learn to trust his instincts.
I hate zombie stories. Hate. Was not happy about the inferi because zombies scare me. (except, of course, for Reg Shoe and Windle Poons)Was glad that no one we knew showed up. Yet.
Loved the vampire who was at Slughorn's party. I don't know why. He just cracked me up.
Speaking of Slughorn - his altered memory was interesting. He doesn't like to be wrong about anything. He's another complex character. He's not a bad guy, but he's not a good person, really. Too into his own comforts and being around famous people, and has that sort of gormless prejudice that so many people have - the kind that isn't based on hatred but just a sort of inbred belief about people.
And I have to mention Blaise. He was nothing but a name for the first few books, and yet was one of the more widely written about characters. And now we find he's just a beautiful snob who's mother was a gold digger. Interesting.
And finally we find that there really is a curse on the DADA position. I wonder if that's why DD finally gave the position to Snape? Perhaps he knew Snape was pretty much done hanging with the good guys.