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After all the trouble in waiting for Amazon to deliver the books, I gave up and just went to buy them at the Coop near MIT. Thus, I've decided to do the same for Book 7, whenever it should become avaliable.
My boyfriend refused to let me read until we were on the interstate, and I left the book in the car when we stopped for food. Also, given my surety that someone was going to die in the last chapters, I left off reading them until after I slept, thus while I did not finish the book until Sunday morning, it took a grand total of 6 hours, if we don't count the breaks.
This book, I think, ranks up with PoA as a tie for first, if it doesn't surpass it. Clearly, having had the plot in mind for much of the past decade or so has definitely paid off in terms of storytelling. It doesn't really lag, the length is not egregious, and we aren't shown every intimate detail that does not relate to the story simply to expand the world, or in set up for some next chapter. Mind, at this late juncture, there's a precious few things left to set up.
As I commented somewhere else, I was expecting Dumbledore to go in this book, so his death was not a complete shock. Actually, that Hagrid continues to elude death is more of a surprise for me. The Hero's Journey is such that the last phase must be done alone. Though I'm incredibly fond of Ron and Hermione's insistence to follow Harry to the ends of the Earth, I cannot believe they will not be separated somehow prior to the final battle.
Speaking of the final battle, it is my prediction that there shall be a Moony & Wormtail face-off somewhere abouts there. Otherwise, what's that silver hand for anyway?
I must admit to spending a great deal of the book going "I called that!" "![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lareinenoire so called that!" and so on. It made for something of a fun read, especially on the more light-hearted chapters.
I was very pleased that the POV shifted from Harry in the openning chapters, and even more pleased to see Narcissa and Bellatrix together at last. Bellatrix as the eldest sister is something I must have missed the second go-round on OotP, as I was expecting Andromeda to be the eldest. How young was she when she had Tonks, anyway?
The moment Snape swore that vow I was 100% sure that he would be killing Dumbledore before the book was out. Likewise, the moment he was announced as the DADA professor I knew he wasn't going to be at Hogwarts for book 7. And I called him as the HBP the minute Harry got the textbook. There had to be a reason he was a potions instructor, after all.
On the whole, I was very pleased with the new developments in old characters. As fond as I am of Tonks, Lupin, Luna, and Neville, they sort of had the limelight in the last book, and it was very nice to see Draco and Snape center-stage again. I like that she handled teenage relationships the way teenage relationships often go - abrupt, often stupid and silly, and full of mistakes and unnecessary angst. As much as I love Veronica Mars, the teenagers on that show are much more sophisticated than your average 16/17-year-old, and JKR does have a knack for getting that age right in all it's pain and over-seriousness. And its nice to see them acting normal, whether they are normal children or not.
I do agree that R.A.B. is Regulus Black, but vocally disagree that Harry (or his scar) is a Horcrux. It's been established (even harped on) that Voldemort cannot reside in Harry's body. Also, he planned to make his final Horcrux of Harry's death, and he certainly wasn't expecting Lily to bring her smarts and her magic to the party.
I think that Dumbledore trusted Snape above all others for a reason no one else knows, to the point where he would not hear a word against him from anyone, and it is one we've not learned yet. I can't give up on Snape completely, for that would make JKR the most boring author ever, and I can't bear for Dumbledore to be wrong. Plus, why would he show Fudge his Dark Mark in the hospital scene at the end of GoF? Dumbledore certainly didn't ask him to. I can't get my hopes up too much, except to really hope that book 7 comes out before the HBP movie starts shooting so that we can actually have a final direction for Alan Rickman to play. I do, however, imagine him reading with glee and going "You mean I get to act in that film?!"
My latest theory, sprung from my flailing hopes and some thought about Spinner's End, is that Dumbledore set Snape up to be the inside man from the very beginning, even before Voldemort recruited him. Unlikely, but given his schpiel to Bellatrix...
I also am surprised at how many ways JKR can think of violating a person. Love potions, legimancy... Creepy and creepier.
On a completely different note - poor Emmeline Vance. I wanted more of her, not to have her offed in the first chapter!
My boyfriend refused to let me read until we were on the interstate, and I left the book in the car when we stopped for food. Also, given my surety that someone was going to die in the last chapters, I left off reading them until after I slept, thus while I did not finish the book until Sunday morning, it took a grand total of 6 hours, if we don't count the breaks.
This book, I think, ranks up with PoA as a tie for first, if it doesn't surpass it. Clearly, having had the plot in mind for much of the past decade or so has definitely paid off in terms of storytelling. It doesn't really lag, the length is not egregious, and we aren't shown every intimate detail that does not relate to the story simply to expand the world, or in set up for some next chapter. Mind, at this late juncture, there's a precious few things left to set up.
As I commented somewhere else, I was expecting Dumbledore to go in this book, so his death was not a complete shock. Actually, that Hagrid continues to elude death is more of a surprise for me. The Hero's Journey is such that the last phase must be done alone. Though I'm incredibly fond of Ron and Hermione's insistence to follow Harry to the ends of the Earth, I cannot believe they will not be separated somehow prior to the final battle.
Speaking of the final battle, it is my prediction that there shall be a Moony & Wormtail face-off somewhere abouts there. Otherwise, what's that silver hand for anyway?
I must admit to spending a great deal of the book going "I called that!" "
lareinenoire so called that!" and so on. It made for something of a fun read, especially on the more light-hearted chapters.I was very pleased that the POV shifted from Harry in the openning chapters, and even more pleased to see Narcissa and Bellatrix together at last. Bellatrix as the eldest sister is something I must have missed the second go-round on OotP, as I was expecting Andromeda to be the eldest. How young was she when she had Tonks, anyway?
The moment Snape swore that vow I was 100% sure that he would be killing Dumbledore before the book was out. Likewise, the moment he was announced as the DADA professor I knew he wasn't going to be at Hogwarts for book 7. And I called him as the HBP the minute Harry got the textbook. There had to be a reason he was a potions instructor, after all.
On the whole, I was very pleased with the new developments in old characters. As fond as I am of Tonks, Lupin, Luna, and Neville, they sort of had the limelight in the last book, and it was very nice to see Draco and Snape center-stage again. I like that she handled teenage relationships the way teenage relationships often go - abrupt, often stupid and silly, and full of mistakes and unnecessary angst. As much as I love Veronica Mars, the teenagers on that show are much more sophisticated than your average 16/17-year-old, and JKR does have a knack for getting that age right in all it's pain and over-seriousness. And its nice to see them acting normal, whether they are normal children or not.
I do agree that R.A.B. is Regulus Black, but vocally disagree that Harry (or his scar) is a Horcrux. It's been established (even harped on) that Voldemort cannot reside in Harry's body. Also, he planned to make his final Horcrux of Harry's death, and he certainly wasn't expecting Lily to bring her smarts and her magic to the party.
I think that Dumbledore trusted Snape above all others for a reason no one else knows, to the point where he would not hear a word against him from anyone, and it is one we've not learned yet. I can't give up on Snape completely, for that would make JKR the most boring author ever, and I can't bear for Dumbledore to be wrong. Plus, why would he show Fudge his Dark Mark in the hospital scene at the end of GoF? Dumbledore certainly didn't ask him to. I can't get my hopes up too much, except to really hope that book 7 comes out before the HBP movie starts shooting so that we can actually have a final direction for Alan Rickman to play. I do, however, imagine him reading with glee and going "You mean I get to act in that film?!"
My latest theory, sprung from my flailing hopes and some thought about Spinner's End, is that Dumbledore set Snape up to be the inside man from the very beginning, even before Voldemort recruited him. Unlikely, but given his schpiel to Bellatrix...
I also am surprised at how many ways JKR can think of violating a person. Love potions, legimancy... Creepy and creepier.
On a completely different note - poor Emmeline Vance. I wanted more of her, not to have her offed in the first chapter!
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From J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 October, 1999 (http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc.html):
One of our internet correspondents wondered if Snape is going to fall in love.
JKR: (JKR laughs) Who on earth would want Snape in love with them? That's a very horrible idea.
There's an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape
JKR: He, um, there's so much I wish I could say to you, and I can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read Book 7. That's all I'm going to say.
I agree that even if he is loyal to Dumbledore, there's almost no way wizarding society will accept him back. He's condemned to be misunderstood and persecuted. Dumbledore won't be around to defend him at the end of this war.
Yeah, the lack of good female characters is odd. (That's what fanfiction is for *ducking*)
In response to your quote above: PoA is my favorite, as well.