The Half Blood Prince

Order of the Phoenix is the best of the books- considered simply as a book or literary artefact. It's the one in which Rowling stretches herself and her readers the furthest-  the one that makes me think of Dickens.

Half Blood Prince doesn't make me think of Dickens. There's a falling back into the comfort zone.  It's like Chamber of Secrets on steroids.

Lots of back story. This is more Voldemort's book than Harry's.  We're marking time.  It's a transitional work, preparing us for what we all hope will be the whizz-bang climax of the Deathly Hallows.

Of course Harry had to fall in love sometime. I wish Rowling cared more about this side of things. I wish, actually, that she was more interested in her female characters. The ones who come alive are the eccentrics- Hermione, Luna, Tonks. She wants us to care about Ginny Weasley and we're eager to oblige- but do we? I'm afraid I don't.

Slughorn  is the best new character. I've known teachers like him. 

Boarding schools run on sexual energy.  All those adolescents. All that celibacy. I wish there could be more than hints of this in the books, but yes- I know, I know- not in front of the children.

The last hundred pages are riveting. But I don't see how I can discuss them without spoilers. 

After Potter

Phew, well I've never read so much in such a short time before- not even when cramming for exams (not that I ever did cram for exams)

I feel like I've spent the past week shut in a cellar.- a very nicely appointed cellar, I hasten to add. And now I don't know quite what to do with myself- which is why I'm noodling about on LJ.

It hasn't made a fan of me. Well, not an obsessive fan.  I like the characters; but I'm not attached to them. I can let them go.

My favourite characters? Harry himself, Mad Eye Moody, Luna, Lupin, Tonks.

My favourite wrong'un? Dolores Umbridge. She makes me soooo mad.

My favourite location? Grimmauld Place- with the portrait of old Mrs Black raving in the hall and Kreacher slouching about, badmouthing the filthy mudbloods and secreting horcruxes (an educated guess) in his insanitary den.

My favourite episode? Too many to choose from.

So come on, Jo; hurry up and get the Deathly Hallows into the shops.