Booking Through Thursday: Harry Potter...

[fajrdrako]

From Booking Through Thursday:
1. Okay, love him or loathe him, you’d have to live under a rock not to know that J.K. Rowling’s final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comes out on Saturday… Are you going to read it?
2. If so, right away? Or just, you know, eventually, when you get around to it? Are you attending any of the midnight parties?
3. If you’re not going to read it, why not?
4. And, for the record… what do you think? Will Harry survive the series? What are you most looking forward to?

My answers...

1. Yes, I will read it. I read and enjoyed all the other Harry Potter books, why stop now? Even if I enjoyed them less than I do, curiosity would compel me.



2. As soon as possible. I ordered the book at the library, but I may be able to borrow it from a friend before the library gets it for me - if she reads fast. (No, I really, really can't afford to buy it.) Either way, I will make time to read it as soon as it's in my hands, if only so I can then discuss it with my friends and my flist. As for the midnight party - the idea tickles me. I just might go to one.
   
   There are in fact books on my 'to be read' pile that I'm a more eager to read, but Harry Potter is not just a book, it's a social phenomenon: this gives me a different impetus. Particularly within fandom. Can you see me passing up a chance to discuss a book? Any book?



3. I'll read it, honest, I will!



4. Of course Harry will survive the series. This isn't Hamlet. What I'm most looking forward to - and it's a massive jump of faith and hope and irrational expectation - is a dramatically noble act on the part of Severus Snape that proves once and for all how wonderful he really is.

Comments

[raissad.livejournal.com]

I'm going to read it right away. I think Harry will survive, but that we're losing one of the other two, likely Ron. Like you, I'm looking forward to Snape's resolution.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree about Ron. Easy to say, because I don't much like Ron. I can't see Hermione being a casualty and I think there is likely to be another high-stakes death.

Snape rules!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm going to read it right away. I think Harry will survive, but that we're losing one of the other two, likely Ron.

I'm okay with that. It's close enough to Harry to be tragic, but I feel no emotional commitment to Ron.

I'm there in the Snape cheering squad!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

1 - Yes.
2 - As soon as I get my mitts on it (midnight madness party) and have the free time (as there's a yard sale Saturday morning).
3 - N/a
4 - I think Harry will survive (I think all the kids will survive), but considering the pressure JK's under, I wouldn't really blame her if she snuffed Harry.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yard sales are fun!

I'm hoping to read it soon, too.

I think Harry will survive

Hope so.

considering the pressure JK's under, I wouldn't really blame her if she snuffed Harry.

Well, I can see the temptation, but I really think the likelihood is roughly zero. She's a strong-minded woman, she can cope with the consequences of his survival.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

So you're coming up with yet another excuse not to read Paladin of Souls???

Just teasing...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, not really. In fact I think I might read Paladin of Souls before reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because, well, why not? I'm much more of a Bujold fan than a Rowling fan. On the other hand, I'm less of a Bujold-fantasy fan, so - ?

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't mean to force you into an impossible choice [g]. Just as long as you read Paladin soon...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think it's calling to me from my bookshelf. can't quite recall which shelf I left it on though.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

You are a disaster, you know that? [eg]

I hope you find it soon...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You are a disaster, you know that? [eg]

Oh, you noticed?

Actually it was exactly where it was supposed to be, right with my other Bujold hardcovers. And a beautiful, beautiful book it is, too, not just the cover but the binding and print and designs.

See, it's in my hand now.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

See, it's in my hand now.

Yeah, yeah [g].

So, does that mean you're going to start it tonight? Granted, it's almost midnight your time...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I was almost midnight. I did look longingly at the first paragraph. Then I fell asleep.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Well, one does have to sleep at some point.

Says a woman who started HP7 at about 6 pm yesterday, and finished it around 1 am [g].

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm somewhere around page 420 at the moment.

[filkferengi]

My word, you're persistent! Anyone would think you'd been picking up bad habits from, well, me. ;)

Hint: if you're going to persistently pester listies, it should be to do something that leads to socializing [preferably with me].

:)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

She is remarkably effective. I read the first page.

[filkferengi]

Woo-hoo!

Here's an added incentive for you: you're fond if nature/animal imagery in Bujold. Be on the lookout for the "fine bird" in its nest. [weg]

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Hey, I was born persistent. You've just never seen me in action before.

And one of the reasons I'm pestering her is so that we can have a discussion. You're welcome to join in (is that social enough for you?).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Book discussion! Yay!

Comment on first page: I think I more or less remembered Ista from Chalion enough to have a sense of who she is. Is that enough, or should I find a Chalion synopsis to refresh my memory? And I right in thinking she was magicked into apparent madness by her evil first husband - or am I totally mangling the story in my memory? Is it going to matter?

[filkferengi]

It's a good start. Now you need to encourage fajrdrako to bring the discussion to Denvention, so more listies and food can be directly involved.

The discussion could start any time. She's already read the first page. You can do a lot with a first page, especially when Lois is involved. I was rereading _Komarr_ last week. In just the first *paragraph*, Lois set the whole scene and mood, of the sky, the dome, the arcologies, the claustrophobia, Ekaterin looking to the sky for escape,--all kinds of good stuff.

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

I definitely think Snape will die to save Harry, or at the least do something quite heroic, because otherwise Dumbledore's image goes down the tubes in my eye. And of course, I like Snape.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm not even sure what it is about Snape that makes him so irresistibly interesting, and sympathetic despite all the snideness, but for me he's the most interesting character in the books and the one I most care about. I don't even like Dumbledore, so if it is revealed that Snape is good - I mean, when it is revealed that Snape is good! - that will make me feel much better about Dumbledore's role.

[literaryfeline.livejournal.com]

I hope you won't have to wait long! :-) Happy reading!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you!