No spoilers, I promise.
Me, only younger, female, and more AsianLike you really care, here are my two critiques of the book:
Cynical-overeducated-bastard version: Not as strong or as inventive as Order of the Phoenix, still my favorite in the series. A bit repetitive with scattershot storytelling, but peppered with well-written suspense. Another strong depiction of teenage anxiety, which within the context of the mythology, is what makes the series so fascinating. A dark, portentious ending that did not surprise me much but sets up the final book well. All in all, it simply felt like 650 pages of tying up a few lose ends before telling the real story, which we should receive in the final installment.
Harry-Potter-fan version: OMFG! I can't believe the story ended that way! And I always knew ——— was evil, but I had no idea how evil! I totally couldn't believe that he was the Half-Blood Prince! The next book is gonna totally ROCK!
That's just my opinion(s).
(Normally, I don't delete comments, but please—no spoilers.)
15 Comments:
We got our copy Saturday. Lisa managed to get first dibs, but she's tearing through it pretty fast. I'm sure that the poor villagers in my game of Black & White will be happy when she finishes--they've been feeling the brunt of my impatience via lightning, storms, and child sacrifice.
...not that any of that will stop when I actually get my hands on the book, but they don't know that yet...
Children's books are for children. It's a shame that an adult brain should be called into service to contemplate the fictional exploits of prepubescent wizards. It's bad form. A grown man ought to be thinking about that which has the most meaning in his own life and the lives of his comrades: titties.
I prefer the book over OotP if for only the reason that Harry is not yelling at everyone. I appreicate the tone of the book and how it played against the darker elements of the story.
Minor Spoiler: It was worth the price of the book to have Luna Lovegood commentate the quidditch match.
And on a personal note, Kelly likes little boys.
eh, whatever. Haven't read it, and I don't plan to. It's become pretty clear to me that the only reason Rowling is even continuing this series is to provide fodder for the movie franchise. That's too bad, because the films are going to invariably get worse - the books are becoming longer, and the process of transferring the stories to film will become more difficult. It seems that Rowling is completely unwilling to relinquish creative control over her own work in the switching of mediums, resulting in films that are mere lame, hackneyed shadows of what the earlier books promised. Harry Potter can suck it.
Lubow:
While I haven't yet seen the third movie, the general consensus seems to be that it is very well done, a huge improvement over the previous two.
I think the books are very well written as far as children's literature is concerned. It's no Roald Dahl, but it's better than Judy Blume.
I'd like to hear your evidence (circumstantial as it might be) that Rowling is simply providing movie fodder any more than Elmore Leonard. If anything, the most recent Potter book may be one of the hardest to turn into a film due to its somber, methodical tone and unfortunate though necessary repetitive nature.
I think you are entitled to your uninformed opinion, so I'll let everyone else gang up on you and suggest you go fuck yourself.
I'd post an opinion here, but I am more uninformed than lubow (if that is your REAL name) and the natives are clearly fierce in their defense of this realm.
I will say that the chick who plays the girl wizard in the movies is the next Natalie Portman. They better finish these films before she completes her journey to "hot".
Star Wars is still better. And those jellybeans sucked.
Strong words. Of all the vile, senseless and offensive nonsense submitted in the comments of LYRC, it's telling that it was a passing swipe at Harry Potter that provoked a "go fuck yourself". A line in the sand has been discovered.
As for adding fodder for movies, the series was always intended to have 7 books. Even before the 1st movie was made.
Lubo: you are completely wrong. She set out to write seven books, one for each year at Hogwarts and that is what she contracted to do with the first book. That was four books before there was a movie deal. As for the movies, they are their own creatures.
For the record, I never told Lubow to go fuck himself. I merely suggested that others may deliver such retorts, much in the the way that Karl Rove never "knowingly" revealed the identity of a covert CIA operative.
If anything, I'm merely concerned about the misguided anger Lubow exhibits. I think we should watch him carefully should he become a danger to himself or others.
Everything I say, I say out of love. Usually a conceited love of myself, but love, nonetheless.
Just to throw in my two cents--I've really liked the way the books have become darker and less like childrens' books as the series has progressed. If we can gauge by the latest cinematic endeavor, the films seem to be following in the same direction.
Part of me sort of hopes that in the final book, Rowling has Harry just say fuck it, and go full-on evil wizard. I know it will never happen, but it makes me laugh to think of it.
Off-topic as all get out: I've got to tip my hat to Lord Dingleberry of Poopyshire for taking the name that Arlo gave him/her. Classy as hell.
Why thank you, Richard.
It beat the hell out of Fock's name.
I'm fond of fock, so fock off you piece poopyshire.
NEXT.
awesome! This is by far my favorite thread since Temple left. I've actually missed her. I submit to all rabid HP fans out there, I realize I'm out of my league here. The only possible retort I have to all these posts, is:
WHY in the lord's name would I make up a name like LUBOW?
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