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Do chime in once you've finished the book. I'm really keen to know what people think.
- Snape is not evil. Dumbledore's trust in him was not unwarranted. Snape's actions at the end of the book were done with Dumbledore's blessing, though I'm not sure yet the why or how. He could have killed Harry at the end, he didn't, nor did he let others.
- Snape so rocks and finally gets his chance to be the DADA teacher :). That was a book earlier than I expected. He's still the best character in the series.
- Dumbledore's death, of course, was no surprise. Harry has to be left on his own to ratchet up the drama of the final book and showdown with Voldemort. Or does he?
- Have become familiar with too many Obi-Wan and Gandalf-type characters to be at all convinced that anything except Dumbledore's "body" is gone. I think Snape knows this, too. It's one of those "if you kill me I'll become more powerful than you can possibly imagine" things, except Snape knows it and is counting on it.
- Nice twists on Draco's character, with him roller coastering between some rather despicable acts and moments of doubt and conscience. It'll be interesting to see where he heads in the last book. With the Death Eaters insisting he must kill Dumbledore and Snape going out of his way to protect him at the end I think he'll be pretty significant in the next book.
- Harry and Draco's confrontation in the washroom? -Very- dramatic. Interesting how both Harry and Draco realize in this book they are capable of acts darker than either can live with comfortably and Harry comes to understand Draco more. I wonder how it will affect their relationship in the final book.
- Also thought the scene between Dumbledore and Draco at the end of the book was quite moving. "No, Draco, it is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now." We all know how important the theme of mercy has been in these books. It looked for the longest time like Dumbledore already knew he was dying and was just trying to run out the time on the clock so Draco wouldn't have to deal with the consequences of killing him. All interesting. All sure to be significant.
- My favorite, favorite romance? Tonks and Lupin. There are two characters I so hope to see with a happy ending. Love 'em both.
- All the Weasleys survived. Again. (Allison gives out a shuddering sigh of relief)
- I so didn't believe for a second Ron was dead from poisoning. Rowling said a few books back it's too cliche to kill the hero's sidekick. I am so holding her to that. I've been hugely fond of Ron ever since the first book.
- But I do not wish to see one more chapter or one more page of the "will they/won't they?" shenanigans between Ron and Hermione. Enough is enough. Do tell me having them crying in each other's arms at the end of the book indicates they are -finally- together.
- Harry and Ginny. Yeah, I like that. The kiss after the Quidditch victory was great fun. I've always thought with Harry's lifelong search for family that it would be nice to have him part of the Weasley family for real by the end of the series. Very "Spiderman" scene at the end there- ultra Peter Parker and Mary Jane, but I don't think Ginny will let him get away that easily.
- Still I was also amused when Harry invited Luna to that party, too. Always thought Harry and Luna could make an interesting couple. Luna's commentary at the Quidditch games was a hoot. Looks like Neville and Luna might end up together.
- Speaking of which, where the heck was Neville throughout this book? He practically vanished off the map, which really surprises me after his build-up in Book 5.
- So Snape is the Half Blood Prince. Did not see that coming, though I figured it had to be someone from the Slytherin House (and the brilliance in writing potions should have been a major hint, too). Though I guess Harry's revealed to be half-blooded in this book, too. Voldemort, Snape and Harry. Wonder if this will be important.
- When Snape had Harry going through those punishment cards I so expected Harry was going to come across some devastating revelation about his parents or Sirius.
- The scene with Harry and Dumbledore in the cave was very creepy. And -who- is Dumbledore quoting while he's drinking the cups of potion?
- And -who- is R.A.B.??
- Was very moved by Ron and Hermione's declaration of loyalty to Harry right at the end of the book. *sniff* Um, where was that Kleenex again?...
Enough for now. I'd love to know your impressions of the book. Feel free to ramble below.
- Mood:
satisfied
Comments
My one big quibble is why did Harry never once wonder if Voldemort was the half-blood prince, especially given he was being continually reminded that Tom Riddle was a) half-blooded, and b) incredibly brilliant at everything. It makes no sense that this wouldn't occur to him!
I agree with the Neville and Luna theory-as soon as it said Luna was helping Neville into the chair, I was like "HA!"
Ron and Hermione are most definitely together-if they're not, I might have to kill someone, I decided they liked eachother after reading book 1...*sighs at teenage drama*
Ron and Hermione have been fate since at least Book 3. No couple fights that much in literature or media without being destined to be together. I've been waiting for their fighting to end up in a passionate clinch ever since. I just found the waiting in this book particularly annoying :).
Luna and Neville would be a cute couple.
Both names are stars. And I concur that R.A.B. = Regulus Black is the most mooted theory.
This book is much more satisfying to me than HP5. Yes, I know—Harry has to be a twit for HP5 to be a tragedy. That's part of the genre. But, still...
In any case, Snape's killing Dumbledore is surprising. I really thought he'd die to save Draco and Dumbledore. I think he has a role in HP7, but I don't think Dumbledore gave explicit instructions for Snape to kill him.
I think the angsty teenage Harry in book 5 worked. We needed to see Harry rebelling against his fate before starting to gain the wisdom to accept it and do something about it.
Snape killing Dumbledore was definitely a surprise and I don't think the action was pre-meditated by Snape or Dumbledore. But my instincts are still telling me that there was a reason for Snape to kill Dumbledore in that moment that wasn't motivated by evil and that Dumbledore understood that motive. But I have no idea what the motive was.
I still think Snape may die heroically to save Harry in the final book.
When is Book 7 coming out?? :)
Numb, that's the best word. Can't wait for number 7. Though it just occured to me that Rowling has made way for more than seven books if Harry actually doesn't go back to school.
Definatleyu numb
I think Rowling would be wise to stop at seven books. She's always said she has the story plotted out for just that many and being that she's six for seven in a very successful series, she needs to tie up everything next time out, leave it in a blaze of glory, and go on to something else.
Malfoy: "He told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got no choice."
Dumbledore: "He cannot kill you if you are already dead. Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine."
Furthermore, Dumbledore has said repeatedly that Voldemort is wrong to fear death and darkness. Therefore, I think the Order of the Phoenix has found a way to escape death. I don't know if it involves the use of a Horcrux (which were so conveniently mentioned here) or some other device. But Dumbledore clearly offers Draco and his family a place that they cannot be killed...and somehow I don't think he was intending to kill them himself.
So I wouldn't be certain we've seen the last of Dumbledore...nor would I be inclined to think Snape's evil. He stopped whatever Death Eater was torturing Harry at the end of the book, after all; I don't think it was just because he wanted to let the Dark Lord kill Harry himself. (If that were the case, why didn't they try to take Harry with them?)
Anyway, just a few thoughts.
And yet there is also a part of me that will be highly disappointed if either Dumbledore or Sirius come back again after Rowling has played so brilliantly on my emotions of loss.
"Dumbledore: "He cannot kill you if you are already dead. Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine.""
Though, you're right, this is a completely intriguing line.
Do you know, that was *exactly* what I thought? Thank heavens, JKR has already stated in no uncertain terms that Voldemort will never, and can never say:
"No, Harry. I am your father!"
You seem to be very much on a wavelength with me. Cleary Dumbledore will be back, clearly Snape is much more of a grey area than anyone in the book is giving him credit for, clearly RAB is *not* explicitly identified in a previous book but that's not going to stop anyone scouring through them for hints and jumping on any name that begins R, A or B.
Clearly we're all going to be bouncing off the wall for the next couple of years...
I think that RAB is Sirius's brother, although we have been told he was dead. I think he is probably not.
I can't make up my mind about Snape being on Voldemorts side or not, i keep wavering on that decision-
- I thought he might be the Half Blood Prince up until Hermione found that article about Eileen Prince(?) and then i thought it was her, so i enjoyed finding out it really was him.
I really enjoyed the book although i had some problems with the relationships between the teenagers being to predictable.. But On the whole I loved it:)
On the other hand, that was also when I became certain that Ginny is marked for death. Harry is going to suffer some terrible losses in the last book. I also don't think Ginny will let him get away that easily! She is at least as hard-headed as he is, and a lot more patient.
Dumbledore does not need to come back. His portrait can reveal those things which need to be revealed when the right times come. This needs to end with a victory that is unambiguously Harry's (with assists from his surviving cohort, but less from his elders).
I am pretty unhappy contemplating Dumbledore's return; it would steal the meaning from his death. I do look to the return of Fawkes. I would not be very surprised if some means of communicating with the hereafter surfaces, in order to fill in details that can't be extracted from a portrait or a pensieve. It would be cheating, though.
It would be interesting to discover that Regulus Black is not dead, but is it necessary? JKR is pretty good at keeping rabbits pulled out of hats down to the minimum required to make the story work. The key thing here is that if he only survived for a short time, we can't be sure that he successfully destroyed the Horcrux. This gives us more fear, uncertainty and doubt than his turning up alive.
I was pretty sure the Half-Blood Prince's potions textbook would turn out to be a Horcrux until I found out who the HBP was. Then I dropped that idea! I'm pretty sure we'll see the book again, given the loving description of how it was concealed.
So, will Harry leave the Dursleys' long before his birthday, or on it? Will he go to the Burrow and take his Apparition test, or just perform that spell illegally (and have the Ministry of Magic after him for that)?
Luna/Neville is almost typecast. They are both going to be late bloomers, the kinds of kids who grow up to be science fiction fans in our world. Both have been objects of pity and contempt, and outsiders.
It was clear that Tonks was upset about something, but what it was took me quite by surprise. I wonder whether they will live long enough to marry.
I think Snape is more likely to die saving Draco than Harry, and that Draco may have to do something critical to the Dark Lord's destruction. Kind of like Gollum and the Ring, sort of sideways. It was interesting and unexpected to see Draco go from black to grey.
I also expect that Fred and George will do something crucial. Losing just one twin would be suitably tragic, though the kind of thing that should be saved until the last book.
I am not too pleased to contemplate Harry's not returning to Hogwarts at all. If Ginny can win him over, perhaps the OotP can persuade him that there are still useful things to learn, including those records Harry had to copy. Lasting until N.E.W.T.s is not necessary, but I would prefer that Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna not also have to leave Hogwarts unfinished. Have Ginny and Luna completed their O.W.L.s, or did that get sidetracked by Dumbledore's death? (I can probably find that out by rereading.)
I can't reread this yet, since I passed the book on to
It does make sense that a significant part of Harry's quest take place outside Hogwarts. Otherwise, there would have to be an eighth book, post-graduation, or the last book would have to continue beyond the end of the school year, breaking the pattern of the others.
Waaaah! Neville is one of my favourite characters!
Teddy
While I can see that the tedious daily detail and tortuous relationship plotting might appeal to some, they did not appeal to me and I kept wanting to shout, "Get on with it, dammit!" That part of the story was so bloody transparent that it drove me nuts.
Found the writing techniques more deficient than in the past as well.
I'm interested to see the next book, but not feeling "cliff-hung" at all. The development of HARRY'S character has ensured that I find him the least interesting one in the book.