Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[fajrdrako]

I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince more than the previous couple of Rowling books, mostly because I liked (and respected) Harry more in this one. Even Ron and Dumbledore seemed less annoying to me, so the book was more of a pleasure to read.

I'll put my comments under a spoiler-cut just in case there is anyone in the world who hasn't read it yet.


1. I liked the concept of the Half-Blood Prince, the idea of the spells in Harry's book, even the Half-Blood Prince's name. I did not for a moment guess it was Snape who was the half-blood prince - in fact, I thought it was Harry's mother.

2. Though Snape has always been my favourite character, I don't see a loophole to his now-revealed evil. I think the whole point is that he hates Harry and Harry hates him, regardless of what he has done or why.

3. Though I liked Dumbledore more than before, I still didn't like him much, for numerous reasons. I find it hard to see Dumbledore objectively; I just don't like his style, and on this reading I realized why. It's because he seems insincere to me, and manipulative.

4. Most of the action was in the last ten per cent of the book.

5. I wasn't sure why Harry was so certain Ron wouldn't want him dating Ginny - just adolescent nerves, perhaps?

7. Nice funeral for Dumbledore.

8. I liked Tonks and Lupin. I wished we'd seen more of them.

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Isn't it strange (and wonderful!) the way our lists of stuff we love or are reading/watching overlap? Or maybe it's not that strange, after all. :)

I think it's quite wonderful. In fact, I occasionally remind myself that it isn't really predictive - you won't necessarily be a fan of all the same things I am - but there's an amazing amount of overlap. And when we do like the same things, it tends to be for the same reasons.

Having forgotten too much is exactly why I wanted to do the George R.R. Martin reread, and I must say, I'm enjoying it immensely - rather too much - it feels like a guilty pleasure!

Yes, I saw Home on Saturday morning and I'm dying to discuss it! Wasn't Starbuck wonderful?

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

you won't necessarily be a fan of all the same things I am

No, but there's a pretty good chance that I will be. And I'd seriously consider anything you recced, even if it didn't quite sound like my cup of tea. Like Firefly, which I've finally got round to watching. I enjoyed it, very much, but haven't fallen in love with it. Not yet, anyway. *g* I do plan to rewatch the whole series, and am looking forward to Serenity.

I know there's often no point comparing, but BSG has grabbed my heart in a way that Firefly hasn't managed to. I like all the Firefly characters, but there's no-one I relate to in the way that I do with Lee and Kara, and no relationship that comes close to Lee/Kara. Which, I may add, is why I adored Home so much. All the cues at the start of the pyramid ball scene seemed to be pointing towards it going the same way as their last disastrous encounter in KLG - and then Lee makes his little speech about how he's her friend and he loves her, and I get the feeling that he isn't really expecting her to respond to it but he goes ahead and says it anyway, bless him. And she gets this tiny smile on her face, and then she's teasing him, mercilessly, but you can see how pleased she is about it all, and by this point I am all asquee and have melted into a little puddle of goo. Guh!

And when we do like the same things, it tends to be for the same reasons.

Which is why you make such a wonderful beta, and why I love discussing my fic with you - same wavelength. :)

Is it October yet? *g* I'm so glad you're staying on after the Siege.