The Half Blood Prince

[poliphilo]

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. 

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

So which two characters?

I think Snape will be one of them- maybe he'll die saving Harry.

And the other will be one that's going to hit us hard- someone we like. Hagrid perhaps or Hermione.

I don't think she'll kill Harry, but I think she's going to make him suffer a lot- a bit like Frodo.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I thought it might be Hagrid, but I guess she'll get someone we love best--probably Hermione is a good guess, and maybe Ron, but Snape is also a good thought.

Do you remember that there is a reference to Dumbledore's brother?? Was he a twin? Anyway, that cannon was surely dragged onto the stage for a reason.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

JKR has said that the thing she hears most often from kids is "don't kill Ron". She's also said she's given one major character a reprieve. I'll bet she's bowed to her public and it's Ron she's talking about.

There are a lot of brothers knocking about, aren't there? Sirius has a brother. Dumbledore has a brother. And then of course there are the Weasleys. I think there's something significant and thematic going on here