Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

[LGM]

If you like J.K. Rowling, than might I suggest Piers Anthony..

But on topic, why the hell is everyone saying "Read Pratchett! w00t!" This is a HARRY POTTER/J.K. ROWLING thread. Talk about pratchett in your own thread. Yeesh.

[MrColossal]

I suggest you go start your own Piers Anthony thread then if people can't talk about Pratchett.

[monkey0506]

The point is that this thread was created for people to talk ABOUT HP6...not their opinions of how terrible a writer J.K.R. is as an author.  Everyone has their own opinions of these things...some will like it, and some will not.  But like I said, this thread is about HP6, not about other books, not about other authors, and not about the atrocity that is J.K.R.'s writing.

Note:  I am not trying to act like, or pretend to be, a moderator, I am simply stating opinion.  Should a moderator/administrator of these forums see fit, I do not object to any of the above being removed.  Not that my objections would mean anything, but, still...

On topic, however, I do think that a lot of people are searching too deeply into the story for plot twists.  Having read the book, I would say that any plot twist within the story would have been self-evident upon reading it, and would not require hours of research or brainstorming to discover.  For an example from HP5:

HP5 Spoiler Below!!!

Spoiler

My younger sister is still somehow convinced that Sirius never died.  She concocted the idea inside her head somewhere that he was "too important to die".

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HP6 Spoiler (you have to read the above spoiler to understand it):

Spoiler

In much the same way that people have speculated that Dumbledore told Snape to kill him.  Snape took the unbreakable vow long before Dumbledore could have even guessed that Voldemort would be sending a student after him.  Dumbledore would not have possibly told Snape so early on to kill him at the end of the year.  People are reading too deep into this and missing these self-evident truths.  The only way that I can see for this to have possibly been true would have been if Snape had been confident that he would have given his life trying to stop Malfoy from killing Dumbledore until after Dumbledore told Snape to kill him.  And personally I don't think that Snape is that noble...

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Yeah...I know I've already said that second bit...but I still think people are reading WAY too deep into it.

[Paper Carnival]

There's a lot of evidence that the Snape twist exists, but I'm still not convinced he's good. But I do agree that there are a lot of people claim things that are simply way too much. For example:

- Dumbledore and McGonagall are Harry and Hermione from the future
- Dumbledore is Harry's grandaddy
- Ron's dad or Harry Potter is going to be the next Minister of Magic
- Malfoy and Hermione are going to fall in love
- Some others (some of them even weirder) I can't think of right now

Rowling replied to these rumours with "you watch too much Star Wars"

[aussie]

I've just finished it, and must say I liked it, it's always a fun read.

Spoiler

Still, a few things:

JK Rowling usually finishes her novels quite neatly, like everything falls into place at the end.

But this time, a few things go unexplained:

- What's the go with the Zabini kid? At the beginning of the book, he looks like he's going to play a part, but then he suddenly disappears from the plot.
- The same goes for McLaggen, although he hangs around a bit longer.
- Dobby and Kreacher report to Harry Potter only once, then, when I expected them to come back, they also disappear.
- Why does Slughorn stop throwing parties all of a sudden?
- What happens with the Death Eaters at the end?
- Not to mention the whole thing with the false Horcrux and all that.

I guess some of these have to do with the fact that the 6th and 7th books are meant to be a unit.

Other stuff:

I found the lucky potion to be the easy way out for JK (in regard to Harry having to recover Slughorn's memory), and that she could not be stuffed about the Quidditch comp this time around.

Besides. there are some characters who look like fillers to me, like Greyback, or even Scrimgeour.

Finally, I think the author has gone a bit overboard with the romance bit (Lupin/Tonks, Harry/Ginny, Fleur/Bill, Ron/Hermione, Malfoy/Pansy, Luna/Neville(?)) and the way she "carries" these stories... I think she could have got much more out of them. For instance, the way Harry and Ginny get together! Using the lucky potion to break up Ginny and Dean is just too easy and the kiss after the Quidditch was a bit of an anticlimax, wasn't it? I would have expected something a bit more elaborated.

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Still, as I said, I enjoyed it.

[Las Naranjas]

Remember the mirror thing in book 5, which could have voided the entire end of the novel had he used it, but became a pointless subscript?

It's called bad writing.

[Paper Carnival]

Aussie:

Spoiler

- What's the go with the Zabini kid? At the beginning of the book, he looks like he's going to play a part, but then he suddenly disappears from the plot.

Agreed. But maybe he'll take an important part next book

- The same goes for McLaggen, although he hangs around a bit longer.

McLaggen was mentioned in the previous book, if I'm right. But this is not the point, I think McLaggen was there only to help the Ron/Hermione romance (he was used twice for that, once because Hermione jinxed him to help Ron out and the second time she asked him out to make Ron jealous)

- Dobby and Kreacher report to Harry Potter only once, then, when I expected them to come back, they also disappear.

Dumbledore told Harry to focus more about getting the memory out of Slughorn, therefore Harry stopped following Malfoy around.

- Why does Slughorn stop throwing parties all of a sudden?

Probably to avoid Harry and prevent him from getting the memory? Harry noticed that as well. The mentioning of Cruxthingies seems to be traumatic to him

- What happens with the Death Eaters at the end?

Those who did not escape got probably arrested.

- Not to mention the whole thing with the false Horcrux and all that.

Having read 6 books so far, it's very logical to assume that it will be explained - and probably take a significant role - in the next book.

I also think the romance was overdone, but it had to be there anyways; if she left it out it would be worse, since most characters are teenagers and there's bound to be romance. Rowling said that Neville and Luna will never love each other like that, btw.

I believe that Greyback and Scrimgeour will take a bigger role next book. One character I didn't like was Slughorn, I thought his club was a bit lame.

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As for the mirror, it keeps bothering me. Instead of making Harry forget the mirror existed she could just say that he tried it out but he left it in his bedroom or something so Sirius couldn't answer.

[Tiki]

As for the mirror, it keeps bothering me. Instead of making Harry forget the mirror existed she could just say that he tried it out but he left it in his bedroom or something so Sirius couldn't answer.

Well, I think it was fine the way it was.  Personally, I too forgot about the mirror.  It was more of a "D'oh!" factor than a "You idiot!  Remember that mirror?"  Unless you can honestly say you remembered it the whole time.

[Potch]

My question is this....  those of you that have been bashing the books, and bashing those of use who read them... in some cases on the verge of calling us unintelligent, because we don't read what you read.... why bother?  If you dislike the books so much and think that the author is so horribly bad, then why even enter a thread about Harry Potter?  We are here to have a discussion about something that we love, and you guys come in here and make things unpleasant.  I've seen this in other places as well, and I just don't understand. 

I personally think that Rowling is a wonderful writer.  She has created this fantasy world that is loved by young and old alike.  Billions of people love her stories.  Billions of people that don't read anything else, will pick up an 800 page book and read it all the way though.  I think anyone that can cause that kind of reaction in a world of movies and video games is amazing.  When I see kids that would rather read Harry Potter than play Xbox, that is a GOOD thing.  In many cases, it gets them reading other books as well.  Reading is such an important thing to do, especially for kids.  I would never shun anything that encourages them to read like this.

And yes, we theorize and we come up with all kinds of twists that could be in the book.  And sure, most of us with theories KNOW that they're probably way out there and there isn't a twist, but we are just having FUN.  There is nothing wrong with that. 

[Phemar]

Couldn't agree more, Potch.

While the JK Rowling may not be Shakespeare, she's still a pretty good author - better than a lot of other authors at least.

[TheYak]

I was very skeptical about the books.  Kids I knew were all enamoured with them, but they'd also been in love with the Goosebumps series (which I'd read if I saw around but always was bored by - both writing quality and enjoyability).  I quite enjoy the HP series.  It's not superb writing but quite acceptable and it does something that many authors (even accomplished ones) don't manage to pull off: The ability to lose yourself in the writing and almost forget that you're reading a book.  I've read 1-5 and will, undoubtedly, read the 6th.. I just have to make sure they put it in a non-descript paper bag for me so I can hide it in public.

I'm certainly not very well-read as I can't stand many of the books referred to as "Classics."  Remember, Classic just means old, it's not the antithesis of crap.  Recently enjoyed authors: Margo Dockendorf,  Terry Pratchett, Albert Einstein, George Orwell, John Shirley, E.B. White, Orson Scott Card, Douglas Adams.

[SSH]

Books 1-4 managed to keep up a pretty surprising twist at the end. Book 5 I found the end rather dull. Not read #6 yet. Before #5 I had thought that JKR had a great twist waiting at the end of book #7 but now I'm not so sure, and it seems that a lot of people pretty much guessed the plot of  book 6 in advance, so my hopes for the series as a whole are low.

In 50 years time, I don't think that the Harry Potter series will be as popular as LOTR.

My original guess for the end of #7 was that Harry would have to cast a spell that removed magic from the world altogether as the only way to stop Voldemort. That would explain why there wouldn't be a book #8....

[Mr Flibble]

Lisa: "Miss Rowling, what happens in the last Harry Potter book?"
JK: "He grows up and marries you, is that what you want to hear?!"
Lisa: "...Yes..."

[passer-by]

In 50 years time, I don't think that the Harry Potter series will be as popular as LOTR.

I don't think they are real litterature neither extremely good written. I feel I could had skipped some pages in book 5...
Rowling keeps putting spicy details and wannabe twists for people who like reading too much between the lines , but this doesn't mean a deeper meaning exists.
But I don't think HP was ever meant to be a classic , as in Hugo, Shakespear, Tolstoi or others of that kind. It is a teenagers' book with well researched, believable second characters. (My favourite is Ron, because he's soÃ,  clumsy). This may be why adults like this book.
I haven't read the new one yet, but I enjoyed the previous ones, as we enjoy a shallow but well made cinema film , with nice settings, nice music and a drop-dead gorgeous heroÃ,  I had fun and that was it.
HP books would last longer in time if there wasn't that silly marketing craze, which makes the most of products and then discards them for the next one...Rowling may become rich, but her books won't last in popularity. Which may be a good thing, because then, some people may read them just for pleasure and this is a nice thought...
Reading books for pleasure, I mean. Children will buy a book to read not a book to boast to theirÃ,  friends that they bought it at the exact time it was released...along with mugs, notebooks, T-shirts and the rest of the marketing suppost products...

Signed: your devoted bookwormÃ,  Ã, 

[SSH]

Well, I dont suppose many writers write their books saying "Oh yes, THIS one will be a classic"... or on the other hand, maybe ALL writers do that.

But on the subject of the films, the 3rd one was waaaay better than the first two. Even if he did overuse the bird flying into whomping willow joke.

[passer-by]

But on the subject of the films, the 3rd one was waaaay better than the first two. Even if he did overuse the bird flying into whomping willow joke.

I haven't seen the last film yet.To be honest, I didn't like the HP films. They left all the important things out and focussed on magic tricks and love affairs. But again, I rarely like films based on books...

As for the aspirations of the authors...I guess you need both guts and a big ego to publish your inner thoughts, so, yes, I think they believe "theirs" will be a classic...in its kind at least. I don't think they'd publish otherwise. Thanfully, there is also the Reader, who can distinguish <censored> from classic/palatable and keep a balance in the books universe...

[Phemar]

Well, I dont suppose many writers write their books saying "Oh yes, THIS one will be a classic"... or on the other hand, maybe ALL writers do that.

I suppose it's sort of the same when thing when one makes a game ...

[Mr. Mozzarella]

Spoiler

What about Harry saying he wouldn't return to Hogwarts?Ã,  He made it seem rather clear that he would rather pursue Voldemort.Ã,  I wish he attends his 7th year anyways, it wouldn't be as fun a book without Hogwarts.

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Spoiler

I assume that #7 will take place in Hogwarts anyway, at least partly. After all, Harry and the others have to get their NEWTs, I guess you should have them in order to become an Auror and could anyone imagine Hermione refusing to take her NEWTs?
But of course it would be different, if they closed Hogwarts entirely, which is unlikely, IMO, for didn't the teachers say that they will continue as long as one single student wants to come?

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[Las Naranjas]

LOTR is badly written as well.

And I like it as well. Our conclusion is that enjoyment is not primarily a function of writing quality.

On the films, I think the third was of higher quality because it was less fauthful to the books, insofar that Columbus directed two paint by numbers adaptations, whereas the third was actually made as a film.

[Pumaman]

To be honest, I didn't like the HP films. They left all the important things out and focussed on magic tricks and love affairs.

The HP films had love affairs? I must've missed Harry and Hermoine going at it in the second one.