Harry Potter

I wasn't going to write about HP until my end-of-month book reviewing, but then I thought "Screw it." HP is special (if only because people who read this LJ will actually have read - or at least heard of - it).

I was off on a late start with it yesterday, since I had to go out and hire ski gear for the weekend, so I only really got into it when we got home in the afternoon. Still finished it before bed time (1-something am).

It was a great read.

The story flowed well, the writing was as clear and simple as we have come to expect from the series, the characters were quirky and almost farcical. It wasn't a laugh-out-loud book, in my opinion, but it had its moments.

I immensely enjoyed the first 500 pages, and I cared.

I still don't like Rowling's battle/epic fight scenes. I hated it in Order of the Phoenix, I still hate it in Half-Blood Prince. They seem to plonk in out of nowhere, ripping the tautly stretched story line, and ending with the tragic death of the guardian figure du jour in Harry's life. Once, okay. Twice? Oh, come on.

Two things really grated on me after I had finished the book.
1) Why not talk to Dumbledore's portrait? It's a living portrait, isn't it? Dumbledore would confer with the old headmasters and stuff. His mug is now banned on canvas for all eternity. Why not talk to him? He might still have stuff to say, wouldn't he? And if Harry didn'/couldn't, waht about McGonnagal?
2) What's with Snape? Is he really evil, and for 6 books we've been waiting for the big revelation for nothing? What was Dumbledore's big thing for him? The whole "Oh. Guess he fooled Dumby, eh?" lark just wasn't a nice hook. it didn't add suspense to an already overly rich character, it just made me think "Come on, either spill it or leave it. Don't shake what was already obvious around a bit."

Those two were the only things that I considered really weak about the book.

I did love the whole soul-splitting development, and the lovely new initials we get to ponder for The Last Instalment are a nice touch, I suppose. BUt rather than a really high, terse cliffhanger, I can't help feeling a bit short-changed. We all know that almost everybody who bought 6 will buy 7 by default, so there was no need to convince us that we had to find out how it all ends, but right now, the situation doesn't look hopeless and tense, it looks stupid.
Harry is going to quit school (or is he, hmmm?), he has no guidance, no adult apart from his best friend's (and lover's, TWO people, slashers!) parents (who are nice but useless), no clue to work from, so what's he going to do next? My guess is that Book 7 will start with a waffle chapter (like 6 did), then a chapter at the Dursley's, big showdown with evil family of doom (who won't be scared any more and kick him out, negating the protection, yadda yadda yadda), then Omen ex Machina appears, leading Harry on a quest. he'll figure out he has to return to Hogwarts, 20 strong storyline chapters, then the apocalyptic showdown. At least I hope we get 20 strong chapters, and not just a wild goose chase for the four hidden treasures and the mystery burglar with the sense of humour.

Okay, that'll do for rants now. I might fish for other people's rants online at some stage.