BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 01:54 PM

Lin, when I moved to Guam I was moved by a professional moving company. When they arrived that morning at my one bedroom apartment they arrived with the little truck and two men. They were confident and satisfied they could get me packed in half a day. Then I showed them the storage closet in the basement. They called for back up and a larger truck.

At the end of the day, late, as they were closing up the doors on the large truck their "backup" brought with them, the supervisor said to me, "If I never see another book for as long as I live, it will be too soon."

They believed you can have too many books. I did not agree with them and still don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: Amos
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 11:15 PM

A lovely and meritorious counterpoint, Lin. You have reminded me how much I enjoyed Travis and his views on humanity.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:47 PM

Amos, one of the reasons I consider John D. MacDonald literature is that he very, very seldom has his heroes exhibit their "cat-like reactions with a .38 or sawed off shotgun." His books are more about his characters and life in general than anything else, and Travis just ain't your standard salvage consultant. I love MacDonald's books, as Cluin says, for the asides and reflections on humanity/society. He's turned me on to some things I would be sorry to have missed--Billie Holiday, for instance (see The Girl, the Gold Watch, and Everything, one of his three science fiction-fantasy novels. The others are, I believe, Ballroom of the Skies and Wine of the Dreamers.) I've collected his books, Travis and non-, since I was a teenager and I think I have all of them--around 70 or so. He's one of the three writers whose books, even in my earlier financially-challenged days, I bought in hardback because I liked him so much. (The others were Dick Francis and Elizabeth Peters.)

And yes, EBarnacle, I've read Spider Robinson's Callahan books, too. Jake has some pretty good reflections and social commentary himself.

But back to Harry Potter--Ms. Rowling is a darned good writer, and I have all the HP books too--but by my former criteria, I would probably have waited until the paperbacks came out.

Books! You can't have too many!

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: Amos
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 03:18 PM

I've read most of his "color" series and enjoyed them. But on the whole I enjoyed the last two Potter books, both of which I just re-read, more.

I mean, how could cat-like reactions with a .38 or sawed off shotgun ever compare to a quick-witted Expeliarmus!!!?


A

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: Cluin
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 01:15 PM

Here's another vote for John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series, though I read him more for the asides and reflections on humanity/society than for the mysteries themselves. I read a sci-fi by him that was pretty good too.

A page of quotes.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: Wesley S
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 01:12 PM

Another big John D MacDonald fan here. I've read several dozen of his books. Maybe he deserves his own thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 12:45 PM

John D MacDonald has long been one of my favorite authors. I am still finding stuff I hadn't read at rummage sales and their ilk.

Try Spider Robinson, his Callahan series [and other writings] are always fun. Definitely writes a good stick.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Book 6 (Half-Blood Prince)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 04:52 AM

EBarnacle:

LOL! I can certainly understand someone flinging Half-Blood Prince into the trash because the reader was upset with what the author had done to her characters!

I once did the same thing with the last book of The Lymond Chronicles (Checkmate, I think) by Dorothy Dunnett. I reached the place where one of her characters was killed, and it made so much sense to the plot that I believed it had happened--I threw the thing against the wall and screamed at her that "it wasn't FAIR" and "how dare she do that to me?"

Fortunately, I eventually picked it up and finished it. I was much happier with Ms. Dunnett after that.

And I'll be standing in line for the next Harry Potter, just like I was for the last two.

By the way, since when are mysteries not considered literature? They have been considered so since shortly after the days of pulp fiction. I defy anyone to tell me that John D. MacDonald (one of the many excellent mystery authors) didn't write good literature!

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: EBarnacle
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 09:30 AM

Last week, while waiting in line to get tickets for Two gentlemen of Verona, I went to the garbage bin to throw out my teacup. There on top of the the pile was a copy of the current HP. It had definitely been to the wars and looked as though it had been thrown against things for a while. No pages were missing. [That was sure a quick run from the shelves to the trash.] I retrieved it and gave it to a friend who had not yet read it.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Aug 05 - 07:08 PM

I dunno, Wes. Can't see you from here.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Wesley S
Date: 25 Aug 05 - 05:57 PM

Cluin - Am I missing something ?

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Tam the man
Date: 25 Aug 05 - 08:31 AM

I'm only kidding

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Cluin
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 07:52 PM

Latest Harry Potter spoiler.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 08:05 PM

or bears will go round ripping off yours... head that is!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 07:31 PM

Goldilocks - a very moral tale really, till they toned it down, and made it a bit pointless, since the bears would only have eaten her because she'd eaten their porridge. What goes around comes around. Don't go round ripping off bears...

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Cluin
Date: 17 Aug 05 - 06:29 PM

Okay, so it was Dementor pee.

Just finished rereading "Harry Potter and the Odour of the Penis" and it occurs to me that Harry himself may prove to be the last horcrux, though unintentional. Voldemort wouldn't have known about the one Regulus Black destroyed, perhaps returning an piece of soul to Voldemort which he inadvertantly passed to Harry when he tried to kill him as a baby.

I suspect both Neville and the Weasley twins' joke shop will feature prominently in the last book. Rowling likes her underdogs, and she was gretly insired by Tolkien. Neville may have to try to destroy Harry (out of friendship) to kill Voldemort.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: alison
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 02:28 AM

well I thought it started off pretty well... certainly grabbed me more than the last one did (it took ages of willing myself to keep reading before it got me interested)

the ending was good but sad...... but the middle was just so annoying ... all that teen angst & snogging..... bleuch!!! fair enough its what teenagers do ... but surely we could have had some adventures too!!

would have rathered they'd went off and found a few more horcruxes....

looking forward to the last book.....

I wished I'd re-read the previous book (although that would meand wading through the beginning again) just so I remembered more relating to the characters in the latest book.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,Cluin
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 05:28 PM

Huh?

It's not coming out till mid-November. The film, that is.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 10:40 AM

btw - ONLY 11 DAYS, 14 HOURS, 22 MINUTES UNTIL gOBLET oF fIRE IS RELEASED

Damn Capslocks!

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: jacqui.c
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 10:39 AM

Makes HP look positively peaceful.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 08:44 AM

What about one of the older versions of Sleeping Beauty where the prince RAPES her and she doesn't awaken until her twin children are put to her breast?

Or Rapupnzel - where the prince's eyes are put out with thorns?

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 04:05 AM

Im sure they pinched the plot for Goldilocks from a Batman story!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Jul 05 - 02:45 AM

In the original version of 'Goldilocks' (a gentle story about vagrancy, breaking and entering, theft, vandalism and animal cruelty), the bears eat Goldilocks instead of the porrige.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 05:58 PM

Guest, leeneia

I have never worked in a childrens library or any other library. I have read loads and loads of childrens books both as a child and as an adult. I have read childrens books to my 5 children. I have read adult books to my 5 children. If you think Harry Potter is too violent I suggest you stay in the library because the real world just isn't the right place for you.

Not getting at you personaly, honest, I don't know you! I just think you need to think through some of your comments. Perhaps you could convince me otherwise. What do you rate as non-violent childrens literature? Jack and the Beanstalk? Little Red Riding Hood? Hansel and Gretel?

Let is know.

Looking forward to your response.

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Tam the man
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 05:38 PM

Harry Potter books are all right if you like that kind of stuff Laura.
I just don't like them that's all. The films are all right but the books no way.
Tam

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 04:57 PM

No, reading about Big Brother was enough for me.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: *Laura*
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 03:20 PM

I most certianly do NOT thankyou very much!!
**indignant huff**

xLx

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Tam the man
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 03:08 PM

I like books, but not Harry Potter, the only Harry Potter book/film is the one were they all die. (only kidding).

I was just wondering if you lot watch big brother (UK).

Tam

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: *Laura*
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 01:32 PM

Anyway - the books are aimed at the age of Harry. So - I turned seventeen this year, which means theoretically I'm the perfect age to read the one that's just come out.
I know that younger kids read them - well thats fair enough and great that they want to - but the books aren't aimed at them so it should just be accepted that some of them will be too young for the books! (and of course - others won't have a problem).
What I don't really see is how they are going to do the films of the later books without them being really lame - Harry gets pretty aggressive at times which is fine in the book but it won't work on a film unless they make it rating 12 or something - which kids won't like. I know lots of people probably don't think thats important - but... I think something like a sixteen year old who wont say 'crap' would just be.. well - lame! (I don't like the actor that plays Harry either.. but that's a seperate subject)

xLx

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 11:51 AM

and of cours roald dahl books are not violent and all kids are nice and.. and ...and ... Oh come on you are all just green with envy of the money she has made.
It is so easy to sit and judge. I dont see many of you writting books thats sell MILLIONS.

As for pinching plots from Dr Who, Superman, and Spiderman I suggest you stop reading comic books and broaden your literary knowledge somewhat.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: MMario
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 11:10 AM

Now you see I find the potter books far less violent then a lot of kids books I have read - virtually all the action takes place "off screen" as it were - and many kids books have explicit descriptions of murder, torture.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Jul 05 - 11:04 AM

I used to work in a children's library, and I've read quite a few children's books. I wonder how many parents today can say the same.

I've read one Harry Potter book (I've forgotten the name), and that was because I was desperate for a book to read on a trans-Atlantic flight.

In my opinion, the book was cheaply done, far too violent, and read like a movie. The ending was simply wrenched into place after the author had written herself into a corner. (I suspect that the book was actually produced by a committee.) There are far better books for kids down at the public library.

My view was shared by a friend of mine, eight years old, who told me, "We stopped reading it. It was too violent."

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 07:06 PM

Ideally she'd have written all the books before the first one was published, the way Tolkien did with the Lord of the Rings. Or at the other extreme, perhaps, written them in monthly installments, like Dickens.

Book size chunks, coming out every year or so, but trying to contain a continuing story line, and heading towards a predetermined ending, must be the hardest one of all. Especially with all the hype and the films and all - it would be virtually impossible for her to avoid being affected by the way the characters have been portrayed in the films, because she knows all her readers are already seeing them that way.

I have a feeling that at some time she might come back and revise this volume and extend some parts of it - not so much because that would be a way of milking the market, like a "directors cut" film, as because there are bits that need amplifying, such as the Tonks/ Lupin stuff mentioned by several people, and the back story for Dumbledore's blackened hand, and I can imagine her wanting to do that kind of thing, because she clearly cares about getting it right.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 05:58 PM

Sorry, joke is lost! "If we could piece together the criminal face...."


yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 05:56 PM

All this horcruxes business just seems to me to be a lot of padding, to stave off the last confrontation. Collect up the pieces, and you will have a full person (Reminds me of the Beyond the Fringe skit about the Identikit -- "And so you piece together the face of the criminal?" "No, we piece together a likeness of the criminal. If we could piece together the criminal, then we would be a long way towards having the criminal, the criminal body usually being found beneath the criminal face"). Its real flaw is that it turns the plot into a treasure hunt, which is unnecessary at this stage. What with Horcruxes, and Dementors, and Azkaban, it is all getting way too complicated and wearisome. Seven is probably a book too far. If she were a ruthless self-editor, we would have had the great last war this time around.   I consider this volume to be Harry Potter and the Half-Cash Cow.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: *Laura*
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 12:31 PM

Ooh - yeh I agree. I think it's too obvious to have Snape as a proper bad guy - so I think he's just being a complicated double-crosser. At least I hope so.
But I don't think Dumbledore will come back (apologies if anyone didn't know what happened yet!)

There's a lot from Lord of the Rings there too - the enchanted forest with all the weird trees and stuff, the Dementors are blatently the Black Riders, Dumbledore is Gandalf (and Gandalf came back so maybe you're right MMario)... etc etc...

xLx

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 12:31 PM

The placing of a portion of the soul into some object to give some semblence of immortality goes back at least as far as the ainciant greeks. I believe the concept was also present in Polynesian myth and (not quite as sure) Native American.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: clueless don
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 12:29 PM

Haven't read book six yet (I'm in the "Holds queue" at the local public library), but I have gathered quite a bit about what happens from reading various websites. I'm not trying to avoid "spoilers" - on the contrary, I am seeking them out!

One thought has come to me - all this business of the horcruxes reminds me of the "Key to Time" sequence in Doctor Who. I'm sure that someone could tell me that that was in turn taken from an older folklore, so perhaps JKR didn't lift it from Who.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 11:57 AM

Peter- I agree - there were many frustrating things about this book

- the blackened hand - which was pretty much ignored (excuse me? In a school full of teenagers?)

The whole Tonks/Lupin bit either should have been explored or left out

BTW - the spider man thingie was a direct steal from Superman - so probably it's even older. Standard plot device I have been expecting since the first time Ginny was dumbstruck in Harry's presence.

I personally think Snape will be vindicated and shown to be a double agent for the good guys. I suspect Dumbledore will come back - which I really *really* wish wouldn't happen

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: *Laura*
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 11:39 AM

MGofH - maybe I'm just being a teenager then...

I agree - Neville is the real chosen one. Maybe he will kill VOldemort.
Althouth I still reckon Harry dies.

xLx

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 11:27 AM

Well, I thought it was dreary. I started reading them when I was forced to by a small child, and liked the whole concept of the earlier ones (having been to a boy's private school with 4 houses, but no magic or girls, I could sort of relate), and rather admired the way the books got deeper, there were parts of 4 and 5 that were quite superior writing, and chunks of Dickensian writing (she had been reading Our Mutual Friend at one point). But this book shows the limits of her imagination, unfortunately.   For a start, there is far too much plot exposition for pages and pages and pages (the Dumbledore scenes in the past are really boring, the scenes in the country hovel have no life to them, they are a sort of cardboard Thomas Hardy, in part because she seems to be unable to do anything with landscape, which is strange).   The cave landscape, and the lake of the dead are something out of more cardboard, or movies. Something striking is how much her writing is now being influenced by the movies of her books -- the characters have turned into counters to be manipulated as plot devices. They are all patched in and out. The elves appear, go away again (now eerily turning into Gollum in their talk), Snape does his thing, Madame Divination is now exactly like Emma Thompson, and so on. The Quidditch game is of no real interest, patched in.   The really strange thing is that the Harry Potter-Ginny Weasley romance is handled so poorly -- the beginning works well, and then, oh well, they get together, and it is fine, and then Harry has to send her away because his enemies will strike him through her (this is a direct steal from Spider Man).   

It is very strange. It is as if the life has gone out of the whole enterprise completely, just as it was heading towards the end.   It is a pity, I was looking forward to seeing Rowling forge ahead. A couple of nice jokes were what made it bearable.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Torctgyd
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 08:38 AM

Well if Neville is the real chosen one let's hope that Voldie is vulnerable to herbology

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 08:15 AM

The last book will be a blood-bath with characters being killed of as each horcux is tracked down and destroyed.
The final "battle scene" is Harry, Vodermort, Nev(Who is the Real Chosen One)and Snape, The others getting wipped out earlier in the book.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 07:57 AM

If that's a double meaning it's a pretty obscure double meaning...

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: *Laura*
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 07:20 AM

I reckon him and Voldemort are BOTH going to die. And probably Ginny as well - just for good measure.
I don't think Rowling is an amazing writer - I think she's an excellent storyteller. There is a difference.
And I thought this book was a lot better than the last one - enjoyed it very much! :-) I like the hormonal Harry it's quite funny.

xLx

(p.s. - do you think she meant to have him thinking about Ginny whilst 'lying in bed looking up at the drapes on his four poster bed' - t.i.c.)

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Torctgyd
Date: 27 Jul 05 - 04:58 AM

Well actually, Harry is in fact one of the Horcruxes and therefore he can't kill Volde.... He Who Must Not Be Named

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 11:53 AM

Well Harry could do the busuiness then get killed off, leaving his orphaned son to seek revenge in "Son of Potter"

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 03:41 AM

Actually she's been quite clear in saying number 7 will be the end of the series and after that she won't be doing any more fantasy books. (Apparently she never liked the genre and didn't realize she was writing a fantasy for quite a while!)

And remember, there are only 4 horcruxes left.

;-D

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 06:54 PM

My take:

JK originally meant to do 7 books, no more. But the books were too successful and the money machine wants her to expand the franchise. So now Harry has to go after the horcruxes before he can take on Voldemort. Thus, more books!

I was a bit disappointed in this book but I will be there for the next one.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter:
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 08:16 AM

I think if she decided to write another book in the series it'd be a prequel of some kind.