Potterland

Since the last post I have finished re-reading Harry Potter, 1-6. And read Deathly Hallows.

Prisoner of Azkaban is still my favorite. It's the first of the books with the grown up feel. And one in which Sirius and Lupin (my favorite Potter characters) figure prominently. Azkaban also has Harry, Ron, and Hermione defining themselves and their relationships, figuring out which parts of themselves and their histories they're going to embrace. I have always had a problem with the conceit behind Goblet of Fire, although in light of books 5-7 the rational of the triwizard championship certainly makes more sense. In book 5 Harry is simply far too angry and far too whiny, and the "Umbridge in charge educational decree section" goes on for far too many pages. (The recent Phoenix movie did a good job of condensing, I thought) Book 6 I enjoyed. The Snape storyline has always been compelling to me, although I chose very early on to trust Dumbledore and to trust that JK wouldn't yank the rug out from under the most powerful and influential wizard the wizarding world she created has ever known, so for me there was very little "cliffhanger effect" surrounding book 6 and Snape's roll in it. However, book 6's major downfall for me is Dumbledore's odd death and odd behavior toward Harry, faults that keeps me from buying completely into the book's universe. Having now read book 7 it is clear to me that 5 and 6 were clearly all about set up, and although I'm not sure JK knew where she was going from the first pages of book 1, I believe she wrote 5 and 6 so that she could put together 7 the way she wanted

All in all, I am satisfied with book 7 and with the end of the potter universe. I will admit to getting horribly frustrated with the chapters between Bill and Fleur's wedding and the visit to Godric's hollow. When Ron stormed out after telling Harry off for not having a plan, after explaining that the reason he and Hermione had stuck with Harry was because they had fath that he knew what he was doing--well, let's just say that was a metafictional moment for me.

"Exactly" I lauged/groaned and muttered aloud. JK's been telling us for years that she had a plan, knew the end of potterville before she knew the beginning. Why then, did we need all the wanderings?

My greatest criticism of the entire series is the fact that despite her interviews, claiming she cries and cries over each killed-off character, JK can't do a death scene justice (with the possible exception of Cedric). In her universe characters die out of nowhere, without warning and without build up. For the "minor" characters, that's OK, but for the others-- Sirius, Dumbledore, and I would argue Fred/George (The Weasley twins are one character in my mind, so it's hard for me to remember which one died in Hallows)--not so much. Because we as readers are usually less than prepared for their deaths, their deaths rather than tragic, simply seem disconnected and implausible. I did like, however, the book 7 explanation of Dumbledore's book 6 demise.

What else was there to like about book 7....
the way JK finished off the Snape story, including the glimpse back to Snape, Lily and Petunia as children.

Love that our trust in Dumbledore was not disappointed and pleased that Harry, despite still being a bit too whiny, a bit too angry, and a bit too full of himself, chose as well to trust Dumbledore and focus on the horcruxes, not a decision I think James or Sirius or any of the previous generation of wizards that Harry looked up to would have made.

Love Neville, love that he finds his niche and becomes a powerful wizard in his own right, a wizard that could have been the fulfillment of the prophecy. Love Abeforth and McGonagall. And LOVE that Mrs.Weasly finally got to do some serious magic (showing us, btw, where Ginny got her magical chops from.)

Smiled at the callback to the mirror of Erised.

I had a continuity issue with the elder wand story line. Dumbledore's wand was the true elder wand; therefore it's rightful master was Draco because he took it from Dumbledore. According to wand theory, as I believe JK established it, the fact that Harry took Draco's wand from him, makes him master of Draco's physical wand, not the master of any wand Draco would ever touch/acquire. Yes, she does give herself some wiggle room with Olivander's whole-- wands are powerful magic and have a mind of their own speech-- but, still, I thought it was a stretch.


Dissapointed that the trite epilogue didn't tell us what our main players do for a living, especially since that was an oft repeated plot point of book 6. What happens to wizards who save the world, yet never officially finished their Hogwarts education and gotten their NEWTS?

Before reading the book I had no real predictions about it. I had considered who would die, because JK made such a big deal about all the deaths in this book and because in each book the deaths had gotten closer and closer to Harry. My list, for what it's worth, would have been: Hagrid, Percy, and Neville.