Harry Potter Book Discussion - SPOILERS POSSILBE

melidasaur · 07-21-2005, 10:31 AM

I saw in the other thread that people wanted to start talking about the book, so I thought why not start another thread.

I've read it, but don't have time to think about it today. I loved it though. Let the discussion commence... I'll chime in later.

Iggy · 07-23-2005, 12:19 AM

I don't know if I want to be the one to start the conversation... I still feel like I might ruin it for somebody.

dar512 · 07-23-2005, 10:34 AM

I'm not concerned. There's a big fat spoilers warning on the thread title.

And even so, this post won't spoil anyone's appreciation of the story.

I love the little stuff that Rowling throws into her stories. The sections with Dobby and Kreacher gave me chuckles. And the snogging sections also tickled my funnybone. I think it was a reasonably accurate portrayal of that time of life when a kiss is what you longed for (and worried about).

I predicted way back at the end of book two that Harry would end up with Ginny (and of course Ron with Hermione). And I couldn't resist reminding my kids of that prediction while reading this one.

wolf · 07-23-2005, 11:01 AM

I thought the Harry/Ginny (I always thought of Ginny as way much younger) thing was a bit wierd ... but its nice to see that there are aspects of British High School that are just like American High School.

As far as the big finish ... I definitely need to read again. I had, of course, an entirely different impression of Snape and the way he is, so that all was a bit jarring.

Speculation is that Dumbledore was asking him to do that. Was or was not Dumbledore dying of poisoning at that moment ... and his focus was all about saving Harry.

melidasaur · 07-23-2005, 11:22 AM

Maybe I'm in death denial... I associate the Phoenix so closely with Dumbledore and I am wondering if he will come back in the form of someone else. You know - a Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White thing....

From about the middle of the book to the last two chapters, I was convinced that Malfoy was now a werewolf. I even woke Michael up in the middle of the night to share my thoughts - he was pissed.

As for RAB - Regullus Black? I don't know...

wolf · 07-23-2005, 12:02 PM

From what I understand (I don't read mugglenet, but I know people who do) JK Rowling is being very, very coy about that. I don't expect an answer ... after all, she wants to enhance, not impede, her book sales.

We also now know that folks may give themselves other names and titles ... Voldemort, Half-Blood Prince, etc. Like the Order of the Phoenix, R.A.B. may be a group of individuals rather than one guy ... A Brotherhood of men, bonded by all having had their left arms amputated ... could be anything really.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-23-2005, 12:24 PM

Trying to look at it as Rowling sitting by her kids bed telling the story, even though by this time the HP thing is probably far removed from those roots, I found it interesting. She tied good, not to everything you do, but to love.
Love, as in compassion and desire not to hurt people as well as regret if you do.

I think Dumbledore believed Snape would save him from the poison when push came to shove. That's why we were exposed to Snape's vow to Malfoys mother so soon in the book. Since the beginning of the series Dumbledore was always the fount of truth, justice and the wizardry way so we were told early on in this book that unlike the Pope, Dumbledore was fallible.

It's now been set up so in the next book Harry has to fight Malfoy who he has beaten, although I'm guessing Malfoy may turn out to be an ally.
Harry has to fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Fucked-With, who he has beaten and is only a seventh of his former self.
More worrysome is Snape who Harry has not beaten and is definately a powerful wizard.

It's always a let down to realize I've finished the book. Finishing the next one will be a real bummer.

wolf · 07-23-2005, 12:29 PM

Consider, though, that Snape could easily have blasted Harry to bits, or done him serious damage ... and he didn't. He just defended against Harry's attempts at Spells. While he was bound by the vow to save Malfoy, there wasn't any such thing in place with regard to Harry that we know of.

Of course, Snape could have loved Lily more than he hated James.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-24-2005, 05:10 PM

Don't be silly, if Snape killed Harry he'd get no royalties from book seven.

Granted Snape didn't try to kill Harry but he easily deflected everything Harry used to try to kill him.

melidasaur · 07-24-2005, 05:57 PM

Wolf, I must thank you - you've shared some really interesting thoughts that I hadn't considered... I'm going to have to do a re-read soon... I really like the idea of R.A.B. being a secret society like the order of the phoenix.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-24-2005, 07:06 PM

You mean Lilly was really Helen of Troy?

mrnoodle · 07-26-2005, 04:07 PM

I'm one of those people who hate spoilers, but have to read them anyway.

I already knew Dumbledore was going to die, somehow. I bet Harry's the head of Hogwarts by the end of the saga, too.

Or dead, to make some kind of messianic sense.

Now I have to go read the book.....

jinx · 07-26-2005, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrnoodle

Or dead, to make some kind of messianic sense.

Like if he's one of those horcruxes that need to be destroyed.

Clodfobble · 07-26-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrnoodle

I already knew Dumbledore was going to die, somehow.

I know, I've been thinking "Well that's a no-brainer" ever since I heard about it. (DISCLAIMER: I haven't read any of the books, and only saw the first movie, and know next-to-nothing about the series.) When I heard the teaser "And someone's going to die in this next book," I said "It's gonna be the old guy." Because he's the mentor, the father-figure, the you're-ready-to-take-up-the-mantle-and-be-a-man-now-that-I'm-dead guy.

Killing pretty much anyone else would have been more interesting, IMHO.

Iggy · 07-27-2005, 01:08 PM

I guess I was just left in the dark. I figured one of the less important characters would die, but now that I know that Dumbledore died it seems to fit better. I was shocked at first though. I agree with Clodfobble in that now Harry can take over the hunt to destroy Voldemort since Dumbledore is gone. This makes me think that in the end Harry will die though. I mean, if he isn't going back to Hogwarts what is going to happen to him after Voldemort is gone? JK Rowling also said that she would not write anymore Harry Potter books after the 7th one, but she might write some backstory. It seems to me that it means there will be no more Harry to write about afterwards. Hmmm... so many things to ponder... so little time.

Oh, and the reason Snape didn't attack Harry was that he had orders to leave him for Voldemort. When Harry made him angry enough he did retaliate as much as he thought was safe. (He didn't want Voldemort to be angry with him) I wonder though, was the main reason he killed Dumbledore because he would die otherwise? He made the unbreakable vow to kill him if Malfory failed, so he really didn't have a choice. I don't like Snape anymore than anyone else, but I can't help but want to think that Dumbledore was slighty right in his views on Snape. But then again, he didn't have to make the vow. He knew what it involved and he did it anyway. So no matter what he is one bad dude. I was also suprised that Snape was the half-blood prince. He doesn't seem like the kind of person that would leave his old school book just lying about where anyone could read it. But he probably thought that no one would ever get in those cabinets.

I guess I will leave it at that for now, I will have more to say later.

07-21-2005, 10:31 AM	#1
melidasaur Traded your soul for pogs. Join Date: May 2004 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 646	Harry Potter Book Discussion - SPOILERS POSSILBE I saw in the other thread that people wanted to start talking about the book, so I thought why not start another thread. I've read it, but don't have time to think about it today. I loved it though. Let the discussion commence... I'll chime in later. __________________ I love England, what can I say?

07-23-2005, 10:34 AM	#3
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	I'm not concerned. There's a big fat spoilers warning on the thread title. And even so, this post won't spoil anyone's appreciation of the story. I love the little stuff that Rowling throws into her stories. The sections with Dobby and Kreacher gave me chuckles. And the snogging sections also tickled my funnybone. I think it was a reasonably accurate portrayal of that time of life when a kiss is what you longed for (and worried about). I predicted way back at the end of book two that Harry would end up with Ginny (and of course Ron with Hermione). And I couldn't resist reminding my kids of that prediction while reading this one. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

07-23-2005, 11:01 AM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I thought the Harry/Ginny (I always thought of Ginny as way much younger) thing was a bit wierd ... but its nice to see that there are aspects of British High School that are just like American High School. As far as the big finish ... I definitely need to read again. I had, of course, an entirely different impression of Snape and the way he is, so that all was a bit jarring. Speculation is that Dumbledore was asking him to do that. Was or was not Dumbledore dying of poisoning at that moment ... and his focus was all about saving Harry. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

07-23-2005, 11:22 AM	#5
melidasaur Traded your soul for pogs. Join Date: May 2004 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 646	Maybe I'm in death denial... I associate the Phoenix so closely with Dumbledore and I am wondering if he will come back in the form of someone else. You know - a Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White thing.... From about the middle of the book to the last two chapters, I was convinced that Malfoy was now a werewolf. I even woke Michael up in the middle of the night to share my thoughts - he was pissed. As for RAB - Regullus Black? I don't know... __________________ I love England, what can I say?

07-23-2005, 12:02 PM	#6
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	From what I understand (I don't read mugglenet, but I know people who do) JK Rowling is being very, very coy about that. I don't expect an answer ... after all, she wants to enhance, not impede, her book sales. We also now know that folks may give themselves other names and titles ... Voldemort, Half-Blood Prince, etc. Like the Order of the Phoenix, R.A.B. may be a group of individuals rather than one guy ... A Brotherhood of men, bonded by all having had their left arms amputated ... could be anything really. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

07-23-2005, 12:19 AM	#2
Iggy Back and ready to tart up the place Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 850	I don't know if I want to be the one to start the conversation... I still feel like I might ruin it for somebody.

07-23-2005, 12:24 PM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Trying to look at it as Rowling sitting by her kids bed telling the story, even though by this time the HP thing is probably far removed from those roots, I found it interesting. She tied good, not to everything you do, but to love. Love, as in compassion and desire not to hurt people as well as regret if you do. I think Dumbledore believed Snape would save him from the poison when push came to shove. That's why we were exposed to Snape's vow to Malfoys mother so soon in the book. Since the beginning of the series Dumbledore was always the fount of truth, justice and the wizardry way so we were told early on in this book that unlike the Pope, Dumbledore was fallible. It's now been set up so in the next book Harry has to fight Malfoy who he has beaten, although I'm guessing Malfoy may turn out to be an ally. Harry has to fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Fucked-With, who he has beaten and is only a seventh of his former self. More worrysome is Snape who Harry has not beaten and is definately a powerful wizard. It's always a let down to realize I've finished the book. Finishing the next one will be a real bummer. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-23-2005, 12:29 PM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Consider, though, that Snape could easily have blasted Harry to bits, or done him serious damage ... and he didn't. He just defended against Harry's attempts at Spells. While he was bound by the vow to save Malfoy, there wasn't any such thing in place with regard to Harry that we know of. Of course, Snape could have loved Lily more than he hated James. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

07-24-2005, 05:10 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Don't be silly, if Snape killed Harry he'd get no royalties from book seven. Granted Snape didn't try to kill Harry but he easily deflected everything Harry used to try to kill him. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-24-2005, 05:57 PM	#10
melidasaur Traded your soul for pogs. Join Date: May 2004 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 646	Wolf, I must thank you - you've shared some really interesting thoughts that I hadn't considered... I'm going to have to do a re-read soon... I really like the idea of R.A.B. being a secret society like the order of the phoenix. __________________ I love England, what can I say?

07-24-2005, 07:06 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	You mean Lilly was really Helen of Troy? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-26-2005, 04:07 PM	#12
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	I'm one of those people who hate spoilers, but have to read them anyway. I already knew Dumbledore was going to die, somehow. I bet Harry's the head of Hogwarts by the end of the saga, too. Or dead, to make some kind of messianic sense. Now I have to go read the book.....

07-27-2005, 01:08 PM	#15
Iggy Back and ready to tart up the place Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 850	I guess I was just left in the dark. I figured one of the less important characters would die, but now that I know that Dumbledore died it seems to fit better. I was shocked at first though. I agree with Clodfobble in that now Harry can take over the hunt to destroy Voldemort since Dumbledore is gone. This makes me think that in the end Harry will die though. I mean, if he isn't going back to Hogwarts what is going to happen to him after Voldemort is gone? JK Rowling also said that she would not write anymore Harry Potter books after the 7th one, but she might write some backstory. It seems to me that it means there will be no more Harry to write about afterwards. Hmmm... so many things to ponder... so little time. Oh, and the reason Snape didn't attack Harry was that he had orders to leave him for Voldemort. When Harry made him angry enough he did retaliate as much as he thought was safe. (He didn't want Voldemort to be angry with him) I wonder though, was the main reason he killed Dumbledore because he would die otherwise? He made the unbreakable vow to kill him if Malfory failed, so he really didn't have a choice. I don't like Snape anymore than anyone else, but I can't help but want to think that Dumbledore was slighty right in his views on Snape. But then again, he didn't have to make the vow. He knew what it involved and he did it anyway. So no matter what he is one bad dude. I was also suprised that Snape was the half-blood prince. He doesn't seem like the kind of person that would leave his old school book just lying about where anyone could read it. But he probably thought that no one would ever get in those cabinets. I guess I will leave it at that for now, I will have more to say later.

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