Weekend

[desertvixen]

Well, Friday we actually had some fun, discussing Middle Eastern culture. And watching SGT Seatmate get warned by one of our teachers (the one who used to be an officer) to watch how he expresses his opinions. Less fun for me was watching people mangle transliterated Arabic pronunciations. There's a rhythm and grace to the way Arabic is spoken by people who know what they're doing.

Then we had a stroke of luck and training was cancelled due to weather on Friday. So we were able to relax a little before we drove up to Tucson and hit the bars there. Saturday, we spent sleeping in and shopping in Tucson. The bad news - my 70-300mm lens has an Issue. The larger of the two rings to focus the lens is somehow off its track. This would be eighty dollars and six-eight weeks to fix. So, I bought a replacement lens for $130, 100-300mm. The time is more of an issue, but I can get it repaired in Georgia just as not easily.

Saturday we came home, after raiding various bookstores. And, of course, picking up my copy of Harry Potter. I didn't actually start the book until later in the evening, because I decided I would go ahead and rearrange the room before I started. I don't expect to see my roommate, so no point in waiting. Maybe fifteen-twenty minutes?
That would be a NO. When I went to move her wall locker, there was a nasty, yellow, sticky unidentifable stain beneath it. So I was mopping and moving the room in sections. If we get a third person, they're sort of screwed, but the setup is not too bad. It gives me the most room, because I'm by the door and sort of have the common area in the room.

So, room accomplished, I sat down to read HP. And kept reading until almost two am, until I finished the book. Before I get into the spoiler bit, I just want to say that norabombay was absolutely right. This book is pure crack. I do think there will be some unhappy fans on this one, but I'm impressed.

More Harry Potter, cut for your protection:

The bit with the Prime Minister to open the book is hilarious.

Also amused by Narcissa Malfoy's nickname. It's pretty obvious, but she just does not seem like a Cissy.

Dumbledore steamrolling the Dursleys was also worth the price of admission.

The interactions between the female characters are entertaining.

Hermione calling Harry "fanciable" and Ron's reaction got a laugh too. More about that relationship later.

The Felix Felicis fake-out for Quidditch was good. I do hope Ron starts believing in himself and being a bit less nervous. I have a feeling he's going to need it in book 7.

Dumbledore's death. This was a big step for her to take, but I suppose it is necessary. By the beginning of Book 7, Harry will be considered an adult in the Wizarding World. I also have to wonder, if Dumbledore KNEW about Draco Malfoy's mission, and the fact that Snape had taken the Unbreakable Vow. It doesn't seem out of character for Dumbledore to have ordered Snape to make the vow, or that Dumbledore knew he would die, but that his death might help accomplish more. I also can't help wondering if Dumbledore will pull a Ben Kenbobi on us. As much as I know that a lot of people don't like Snape(including, apparently, JK Rowling), I can't help thinking that he's not entirely done with Dumbledore's work just yet. Of course, he'll have a hell of a time convincing anyone else that he's not a wizard to be shot on sight.

The relationships between the teen characters are nicely done. I know some people keep thinking of these just as kids' books, and don't think that the relationship stuff has any real place in the books. But, come on - they are sixteen, going on seventeen. I thought it was nicely done, not a distraction from the plot, but an integral part of it. All the Ron/Hermione ship crew must be happy. I did enjoy the Lavendar Brown bit. Still, glad things are worked out between Ron and Hermione. Also, the Harry/Ginny ship crew must be all happy. I'm not so sure I agree with his actions at the end of the book, but... we shall see. He has a good point, but it seems that the one thing Harry has not learned is that he does not have to do everything ALONE. Teamwork is good.

The book also addresses a little bit of the shadow side of Gryffindor House. I mean, bravery, courage, fearlessness all have their places. But there's also foolishness, stubborness, and the constant need to step in where angels fear to tread. Hopefully, Harry can get these tendencies under control before they get him killed.

Now I also have the new JD Robb book to read. :) This one is supposed to be a little more SF than the others have been. We'll see.

DV

Comments

Finished this naptime

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Also found it good fun: Much more like TGoF and less like OOtP w/it's all-too-painfully-accurate-teenage-boy-pain-in-the-@rsedness. It was, however, Fred's Special Christmas-tree Topper that made me laugh out loud.

Re: Finished this naptime

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

The bits with the teen male/female interaction kept making me laugh. The gnome was entertaining, though.

DV

Re: Finished this naptime

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

What made me laugh was the line, "It's like dating the giant squid." Do you think Rowling knows about the kinky tentacle fanfic?

[amykay73.livejournal.com]

I just finished the book about an hour ago.

I also can't help wondering if Dumbledore will pull a Ben Kenbobi on us. As much as I know that a lot of people don't like Snape(including, apparently, JK Rowling), I can't help thinking that he's not entirely done with Dumbledore's work just yet. Of course, he'll have a hell of a time convincing anyone else that he's not a wizard to be shot on sight.

After reading the death scene, I too think that Dumbledore will do the Ben Kenobi number. I think Snape is still a double agent, and that Dumbledore's pleading with him was not Dumbledore saying 'Don't kill me' but actually the opposite. I think Dumbledore was ready to die and it would send him to a new plane of existence that will make him better able to help Harry on his Voldemort quest.

I too liked the way the ships were handled. I didn't in the earlier books, but this time felt more realistic. I also wasn't thrilled with Harry taking the Spiderman route (anyone I love will be in grave danger so I can't love you) with Ginny at the end.

I am looking forward to the resolution of the story.

More HP Analysis

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

After reading the death scene, I too think that Dumbledore will do the Ben Kenobi number. I think Snape is still a double agent, and that Dumbledore's pleading with him was not Dumbledore saying 'Don't kill me' but actually the opposite. I think Dumbledore was ready to die and it would send him to a new plane of existence that will make him better able to help Harry on his Voldemort quest.

Not sure about the other plane of existence. I think Dumbledore realized a weakened Dumbledore might be worse than a dead one. Think of how much trouble a weakening Dumbledore could cause - between making a bad decision and people trying to protect him.

Besides, it's pretty much a given that the character has to go away so Harry can grow up, in hero fashion. And unlike Merlin, Dumbledore couldn't just vanish. As he says in either 2 or 5 (mine are packed up, and I may be jumbling things together), as long as there are those at Hogwarts who remain loyal to him, he is not truly locked out.

Harry is, as he said to Scrimegour, "Dumbledore's man, through and through". Other people I would put in that category are Hermione, Ron (and indeed, the rest of the Weasleys with the exception of the Git), Remus Lupin, Tonks, McGonagall, Flitwick (we don't see much of him, but he seems loyal), Neville, and yes, even Luna. The man himself may have been reduced to a portrait in the headmaster's office, but the spirit lives on in his students.

I feel Snape is Dumbledore's man, as well - and he's going to pay for it in blood and bone. Most likely, his life. I just hope that at the end (since JKR seems pretty clear on how she feels about him, and I don't think he'll still be standing at the end of 7) the truth about his actions is known. It takes bravery to live up to the Gryffindor example, but it also takes courage to do what I think Snape is doing.

I also wasn't thrilled with Harry taking the Spiderman route (anyone I love will be in grave danger so I can't love you) with Ginny at the end.

Oh, I think they'll get back together. Granted, they have plenty of time to grow up, but I think this whole war against good and evil thing will cause people to grow up pretty fast. The comment about Ron's parents eloping - foreshadowing, perhaps? Also, Ginny has proven she's a big girl, and not willing to stand on the sidelines.

The whole hero/must do it alone thing annoys me too. We're all stronger in teams. Didn't they learn that lesson at the end of the first book?

I am looking forward to the resolution of the story.

I am... but when Book 7 ends, it will be over. That makes me sad. Sort of like Babylon 5 - I cried during that final episode. A lot. And yet, it was better to go out then than to die slowly. JMS did an awesome job - hopefully JKR can follow his example.

And if we could not kill everyone off? That would be nice.

Random thoughts: Does anyone feel like the title was slightly misleading? Yes, the HBP (Snape) plays a major role, but he doesn't really play a major role with Harry. Other than the whole spell thing.

Also, am I the only one who feels like maybe, in the past, Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore had a Thing? Not any one thing in particular, just six books worth of story.

DV

Re: More HP Analysis

[amykay73.livejournal.com]

Random thoughts: Does anyone feel like the title was slightly misleading? Yes, the HBP (Snape) plays a major role, but he doesn't really play a major role with Harry. Other than the whole spell thing.

I do too. Towards the end, there were a couple of chapters where the HBP wasn't even mentioned and I forgot that the book was supposed to be about him. Also, I thought the reveal was very rushed. There was a lot of other action going on at the time, and I think the readers needed time to let the whole Dumbledore death sit in, and Snape's apparent true evilness without also having to throw in Snape admitting he was the half-blood Prince. Maybe it would have been better if after the fact, Hermoine figured it out, and given Harry a chance to be shocked by that piece of news.

The McGonagall/Dumbledore thing makes sense. She has always been his right hand man, so I'm sure there is a lot of history there. I love Mconagall and I hope that she is shown with her new leadership position (with or without Hogwarts) in the next book.

Re: More HP Analysis

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

Maybe it would have been better if after the fact, Hermoine figured it out, and given Harry a chance to be shocked by that piece of news.

Well, she had it partly figured out.

DV

Re: More HP Analysis

[kepulver.livejournal.com]

I kept thinking about that "How is he really dead when they can talk to his picture?" I mean, on the one hand, yes he's not there to talk to and hang out with anymore but...he's still *there* in a sense. I wonder how that works; are the people in the pictures the "real" person or are they just that person up to the point where the picture was made? And does that change after death? And can the portrait people learn and experience on their own? Like Rimmer as hologram in Red Dwarf? And...damn, but how creepy is that? These are the things I think about when I'm not at work...

AS for The whole hero/must do it alone thing annoys me too. We're all stronger in teams. Didn't they learn that lesson at the end of the first book?

I chalk part of that up to Harry being a sixteen year old boy and thinking he has to be mas macho to protect everybody from Voldemort. Luckily for him, he's got friends who are smart enough to say "Boy...no."

Kathy