Reactions to OotP
Jun. 22nd, 2003 07:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
percivalI feel so fortunate to have been at GEEKMOOT. I never thought that at nearly 30, I would squeal and squee, but I did, in the line at Borders. The sense of community was fantastic. The mutual support was much needed.
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mrsronweasley ROX for organising it all, running her feet off collecting people from various places, finding another venue on the fly when we were disturbed by drunks on the beach ...
Guys, if I seemed a little distant at times - I don't do crowds and levity very well. I'm at my best when I have a task to perform, or people to talk to one-to-one. That's why I kept staying put in my little corner ...
Andpiperx, IM me to talk. You will have to. This book cannot be digested alone.
What shocked me most about the book was not anything in the book itself -
it was the reactions. The hurt it caused people. Seeing Liz sob in Moa's arms
on Brighton Beach.
Then, people slagging off the book on LJ. Don't get me wrong, guys - I would gladly give my right hand for your right to say what you said, and I admire you for not blindly adoring every word Ms Rowling writes.
Also, I must admit that I don't read too much fan fic. This means that I came to OotP pretty much free from the connotations that you all have, because you have this web of fanon to refer to and compare to.
But it hurt like hell to see this book criticised so severely, because I love it.
I know a lot of you are in enormous pain, and I really feel for you.
It must upset you to read yet another entry by somebody who loved the book and raves about it. But please - DON'T FLAME ME! I'm open to discussion, disagreement, contention. But not to flames.
For several reasons:
- characterisation:
- all the "good" characters develop flaws - they become more 3D, more human
- Harry finally gets the information that allows him to stop idealising his
parents - which is necessary for his development as a person
- at the same time, "comic relief" such as Neville and Fred and George
become more complex and take on responsibilities
- Young Snape: summed up in a couple of lines
- Remus:
I saw him as a "leader behind the scenes" at the Order. He is being set up for
a central, mastermind-style role
- the humour:
in particular Fred and George. I found many parts of the book really funny.
- the many new characters:
- Tonks is comic relief - for now. But I expect to see her as a spy.
- Fletcher the rogue - rallying the underworld
- Luna the Hippie (for the record, I don't think that Lovegood is sillier than
Longbottom)
- Harry's future:
DADA teacher, Auror
- Umbridge:
continuing the theme of how much power can twist people. Heck, even James was
roped in to demonstrate the point. Good guy, too much adoration => slightly messed
up
- the growing role of what we Muggles regard as magical,
namely communicating with the Dead, astrology and Divination.
I just hope that JKR doesn't go all New Age on us.
What I disliked:
- Harry was too angry too soon
- We did not get any 3-D Slytherins
- the mirror: plot hole or what?
Points of contention:
- near-invisibility and flatness of many characters:
I can think of two reasons for this:
- too much to tell (not really an issue for a skilled writer, though!)
- Harry's POV.
now, you might think that JKR should have given Harry more informative
scenes to witness.
But compare the little Harry knows about the Order and what it does to
the little we see of important characters and what they do.
I was intrigued by these fleeting glimpses and snatches.
Then again, I liked the few bits we saw of some characters very much,
because they gave me a hint of what they must have been doing in between
run-ins with Psycho!Harry
- Ron. I think he is "moulting", to use a word from the bird
world. Thanks to Harry's self centredness, we didn't see him
evolve - but the transformation from nervous wreck to star keeper
is astounding. He has gained so much in responsibility and mental
strength - pity we haven't really seen it.
- the sheer human stupidity that led to the final showdown.
Something good came out of it:
- Many key Death Eaters are now in jail
- The Ministry has acknowledged the war
But the way it was handled, the way the conflict was brought about ...
Voldemort could have been trapped so easily!
I think this is realistic - so much nonsense happens in this world
because of miscommunication, self-centredness, desire to play the hero
It's a lesson they badly, badly needed to learn.
- our cosy world is gone. Yes, that's true. But at least Harry himself
is still standing. Let me tell you, as somebody who does not read literature
because she cannot - CANNOT - deal with tragic endings, as somebody who will
only finish At Swim, Two Boys because of certain strong recommendations,
as long as Voldemort loses in the end, I will be fine.
- this is not a children's book, and this is not a book series JKR writes to please fans.
It's her vision, which she lured us into with a bright adventure, and from now
on, it will be a hellish ride.
- the length: all I can say is that it was an absolute page turner for me.
Sirius: I cannot believe he's completely gone. He will have another moment,
perhaps only briefly, like James and Lily had in GOF. But he will come back.
He did not die in vain, and much of what Harry will do in the coming books will be
motivated by a desire not only to venge Sirius, but to avoid the mistakes that killed
him.
Book 6: I plan to read it slowly, together with a friend, analysing and appreciating,
not devouring.
mrsronweasley ROX for organising it all, running her feet off collecting people from various places, finding another venue on the fly when we were disturbed by drunks on the beach ...Guys, if I seemed a little distant at times - I don't do crowds and levity very well. I'm at my best when I have a task to perform, or people to talk to one-to-one. That's why I kept staying put in my little corner ...
And
piperx, IM me to talk. You will have to. This book cannot be digested alone.What shocked me most about the book was not anything in the book itself -
it was the reactions. The hurt it caused people. Seeing Liz sob in Moa's arms
on Brighton Beach.
Then, people slagging off the book on LJ. Don't get me wrong, guys - I would gladly give my right hand for your right to say what you said, and I admire you for not blindly adoring every word Ms Rowling writes.
Also, I must admit that I don't read too much fan fic. This means that I came to OotP pretty much free from the connotations that you all have, because you have this web of fanon to refer to and compare to.
But it hurt like hell to see this book criticised so severely, because I love it.
I know a lot of you are in enormous pain, and I really feel for you.
It must upset you to read yet another entry by somebody who loved the book and raves about it. But please - DON'T FLAME ME! I'm open to discussion, disagreement, contention. But not to flames.
For several reasons:
- characterisation:
- all the "good" characters develop flaws - they become more 3D, more human
- Harry finally gets the information that allows him to stop idealising his
parents - which is necessary for his development as a person
- at the same time, "comic relief" such as Neville and Fred and George
become more complex and take on responsibilities
- Young Snape: summed up in a couple of lines
- Remus:
I saw him as a "leader behind the scenes" at the Order. He is being set up for
a central, mastermind-style role
- the humour:
in particular Fred and George. I found many parts of the book really funny.
- the many new characters:
- Tonks is comic relief - for now. But I expect to see her as a spy.
- Fletcher the rogue - rallying the underworld
- Luna the Hippie (for the record, I don't think that Lovegood is sillier than
Longbottom)
- Harry's future:
DADA teacher, Auror
- Umbridge:
continuing the theme of how much power can twist people. Heck, even James was
roped in to demonstrate the point. Good guy, too much adoration => slightly messed
up
- the growing role of what we Muggles regard as magical,
namely communicating with the Dead, astrology and Divination.
I just hope that JKR doesn't go all New Age on us.
What I disliked:
- Harry was too angry too soon
- We did not get any 3-D Slytherins
- the mirror: plot hole or what?
Points of contention:
- near-invisibility and flatness of many characters:
I can think of two reasons for this:
- too much to tell (not really an issue for a skilled writer, though!)
- Harry's POV.
now, you might think that JKR should have given Harry more informative
scenes to witness.
But compare the little Harry knows about the Order and what it does to
the little we see of important characters and what they do.
I was intrigued by these fleeting glimpses and snatches.
Then again, I liked the few bits we saw of some characters very much,
because they gave me a hint of what they must have been doing in between
run-ins with Psycho!Harry
- Ron. I think he is "moulting", to use a word from the bird
world. Thanks to Harry's self centredness, we didn't see him
evolve - but the transformation from nervous wreck to star keeper
is astounding. He has gained so much in responsibility and mental
strength - pity we haven't really seen it.
- the sheer human stupidity that led to the final showdown.
Something good came out of it:
- Many key Death Eaters are now in jail
- The Ministry has acknowledged the war
But the way it was handled, the way the conflict was brought about ...
Voldemort could have been trapped so easily!
I think this is realistic - so much nonsense happens in this world
because of miscommunication, self-centredness, desire to play the hero
It's a lesson they badly, badly needed to learn.
- our cosy world is gone. Yes, that's true. But at least Harry himself
is still standing. Let me tell you, as somebody who does not read literature
because she cannot - CANNOT - deal with tragic endings, as somebody who will
only finish At Swim, Two Boys because of certain strong recommendations,
as long as Voldemort loses in the end, I will be fine.
- this is not a children's book, and this is not a book series JKR writes to please fans.
It's her vision, which she lured us into with a bright adventure, and from now
on, it will be a hellish ride.
- the length: all I can say is that it was an absolute page turner for me.
Sirius: I cannot believe he's completely gone. He will have another moment,
perhaps only briefly, like James and Lily had in GOF. But he will come back.
He did not die in vain, and much of what Harry will do in the coming books will be
motivated by a desire not only to venge Sirius, but to avoid the mistakes that killed
him.
Book 6: I plan to read it slowly, together with a friend, analysing and appreciating,
not devouring.
-
- being consoled by angua9
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no subject
Date: 2003-06-22 02:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-22 05:30 pm (UTC)I like this book a lot, and I'm liking it more and more as I recover from my initial Umbridge trauma. So it's not perfect? It's still BRILLIANT. None of the other books have been perfect, either.
I can't wait for the next one.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-23 05:40 am (UTC)I love what she's done with the characters, though some were yes, too invisible for me. However, even as a devoted H/G shipper, I absolutely *loved* what she did with Ginny! Yes! The girl is spunky and she *talks* and *gasp* dates! She's a normal girl! I love her!
So I'm with you, Perce. *snif* I just wonder what's happening with Percy W. now. *snif*