For those who HAVE READ Harry Potter 5 - *SPOILERS INCLUDED*

[Anne]

OK - here's a thread for those of us who have read Harry Potter 5.
SPOILERS ARE INCLUDED, so anyone who hasn't read it, get out of this thread now. Don't say I didn't warn you.
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Last chance - SPOILERS below.
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Well, now that those slow readers are out of here, let's get down to business.

Harry Potter 5 - what did you think of it? I liked it, but I thought the first 500 pages were the best, the last 200 kind of went downhill.

It kind of seemed like the story parallels WWII in some ways - like Voldemort is killing those who aren't of a pure breed, I thought that was very much like Hitler and his hope for the Aryan race. Not that I don't like that, it's just that I didn't expect it.

What do you think of the Harry Potter/Cho Chang relationship? I find it unnecessary for the story.

The death? What about that? I found it really weird. The whole curtain thing freaked me out a bit.

Anyhoo, let's hear what all you HP fanatics thought.

[booksie_girl]

I liked it, but I think it wasn't as good as the 3rd and 4th books. The beginning was a bit slow, and a lot of the characters acted, well, out of character. They were suddenly almost different people.

I also think that Sirius's death wasn't played on enough, I think I found Cedric's death almost more upsetting. But that's just me, I had a friend who was bawling over it. (Then again, someone leaked the death to her, and she was very upset and crying before she even got to it :D)

I enjoyed it though, and am waiting for Dad to finish with it so I can read it again. This time in a little more detail. First time through was a race to see what would happen next. This time, I won't be in such a hurry :D.

[Jim]

Voldemort is killing those who aren't of a pure breed
He's been doing that since the second book.

[Anne]

Yeah, I know he's been doing that since the second book, it just seems to be getting more and more similar to WWII.

[Knight_Errant]

Yeah, a lot of people say that about tolkein too. I expect if you examined the particulars, you would find more dissimilarities than similarities, just like in LOTR. I realise this comparison involves the heinous blasphemy of comparing tolken to JK Rowling.
On a lighter note:

[booksie_girl]

I hate Professor Umbridge. Didn't the detention just make your skin crawl. I felt as if I could kill her pretty early into the book, and that feeling just kept on getting stronger. She's even worse than Snape.

What's the opinion? Who's worse, Snape or Umbridge?

[Anne]

Umbridge annoyed me so much - I just wanted her to die or get eaten by a hippogriff or something. She's definitely worse than Snape, at least Snape works with Dumbledore. (I love Dumbledore!)

Do you think they'll make movies out of all the books or just the first 3? I think it'd be weird if they did all of them.

[booksie_girl]

I think that Warner Bros already has a contract for all 7, but don't quote me on that.

[Anne]

It'll be weird if they have to replace the kids - they already have to replace Dumbledore, eh? That actor died.

I didn't like the first movie, and I didn't see the second one, I much prefer the books. You?

[booksie_girl]

I've seen both the movies, 1st on on the day it came out, and the 2nd the day after. Both times it was an end of year break-up with friends. (We finished school the day it came out). I enjoyed the movies, and would say that the 2nd was better than the 1st, but nether was anywhere near as good as the books.

They can't replace the children, it would completely ruin the credulity of the movies. It's bad enough replacing Richard Harris (Dumbledore). He was fantastic in the role. I hope they manage to fit in the movies without the kids getting too old.

I know the 3rd one is set to come out between June and Christmas next year, they delay being because they changed directors.

I'm rambling now, so I'd better stop :D. Don't let me get carried away.

[Knight_Errant]

In a movie where magic exists, children fly on broomsticks and some animals can talk, etc, you think replacing some actors would ruin the credibility? Just a thought. Not getting sarky.

[booksie_girl]

That is completely beside the point. :mad: When important actors change halfway through a series, you keep on looking for the original. And the new actor always gets compared to the old one, not much fun for either.

[Rob_InDaUk]

Yes, true. I think it's gonna be weird enough seeing the new Dumbledore!! I couldn't believe it when Richard Harris died..:(I thought that it was the end of the films.

The second film was much better than the first!! And yeah the curtain bit freaked me out a bit too!!


Rob

[Yin and Yang]

Warner Bros. do have a contract on all 7 book to be movies. However like Anne i saw the first movie, didnt like it and never saw the second. Books are way much better than movies I think. However the latest HP book did not even reach my expectations. I found it almost boring and the fact that yes, I too found the characters were too different. I agree that the Cho relationship did not need to happen and did not help the book any for me. Sirius would have never showed himself as the dog in the previous books, but for some reason he did in this one. He was the only one left of HP's family no matter how distant, except for the dumb durselys. That made me mad. But hopefully the next books will be better.
-X

[booksie_girl]

Talking about Sirius, I felt like killing Harry when he unwrapped the mirror. I just wanted to leap into the book and strangle him. I mean, didn't he even feel slightly curious as to what Sirius might have given him. I certainly would have opened it, even if I wasn't intending to use it. :woo: STUPID HARRY :woo:

[xplasma]

Am the only one who likes Snape. I love the Snape character. He walks that fine line, that some of us walk on all too often.

[Yin and Yang]

Nope, your not the only one.
-X

[Anne]

I can't believe people actually like Snape, but I'm glad someone agrees with me that the Harry/Cho relationship is unnecessary. I don't think the kids need love lives, I don't like the Ginny/Michael and Ginny/Dean relationships either, though they don't have as much of an effect.

The Hermione/Viktor Krum relationship is good though. (It's cute how they're penpals.)

[booksie_girl]

I liked the way Ron reacted over Ginny's relationships. It provided quite a bit of humour.

[Fuzzy Panther]

Originally posted by booksie_girl
I liked the way Ron reacted over Ginny's relationships. It provided quite a bit of humour.

I liked the way Ron overreacted too. It was funny. I loved the 5th book! After I read it the first time, it was so exciting that I couldn't get interested in any other book so I've been re-reading it again (slower this time).

Fuzzy Panther
:Angel:

[booksie_girl]

Yeah, the first time I read it, it was at super fast speed, just to see what would happen. Then when I re-read it, I saw all sorts of things I'd missed the first time. Ooops :D

[Claudinha]

I didn't think enough was made of Serius' death. I did like the conversation between Harry and Nearly Headless Nick though. I think the whole Cho Chang thing is just a time killing mechanism while JR figures out how to get Harry and Ginny together imo. Oh and xplasma...I am a Snape fan also!

[blaksun]

Meh, I hate HP, I only read it because I have nothing else to do.

I wonder if anyone else noticed the little mistake with the whatschamacallits?

V.V

[booksie_girl]

The little mistake with the watchermacallits? What on earth is that supposed to mean?

[killbill]

I read the first four, i stopped in the fifth one about two thirds of the way through, i just stopped caring. This book now joins the illustrious title of only the second book ive picked up and never finished (the first was The Great Gatsby, i literally threw it across the room in frustration from crappy writing)
BTW if you want a good fantasy novel, read The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson (six books, two trilogies)

[LilBunnyRabbit]

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson (six books, two trilogies)Actually its three trilogies, but really only the first one is any good.

As much as I enjoy the Harry Potter books, I hate the way that they've eclipsed much better series such as Garth Nix's Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen sequence, or the Edge Chronicles.

[YODA]

I read the first four, i stopped in the fifth one about two thirds of the way through, i just stopped caring. This book now joins the illustrious title of only the second book ive picked up and never finished (the first was The Great Gatsby, i literally threw it across the room in frustration from crappy writing)
BTW if you want a good fantasy novel, read The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson (six books, two trilogies)
I read the 5th book to my daughter so I had to struggle on and finish it.

As the books get bigger the amount of actual content remains the same and the padding expands.

Very dissapointing compared to the others.

- and if you want a good read I suggest Steven King's Dark Tower series - NO it's not horror :rolleyes:

[killbill]

is it sci fi? if so ill get them.

[YODA]

is it sci fi? if so ill get them.
Hmmm.... hard to categorise.

I'd say Sci-fantasy with a sprinkling of vintage Steven King horror.

Vol 1 is called "The Gunslinger" - There are 7 in the series. 5 released so far with Vol 6 due in June :D

Picture Lord of the Rings set in a post hollocaust (10k years+) world of parallel realities with a sprinkling of western gunslingers & the classic good vs evil. Even The Wizard of OZ and Harry Potter make a cameo in Vol 4 :p

Most of his other books have direct ties in with the Dark Tower plot....

'Salem's Lot
Insomnia
The Stand
IT
The Talisman
Black House
Rose Madder
.... and more. All have the Dark Tower as an underlying theme and common thread.

[killbill]

umm, sounds weird, i'll read them, lets see when do i have an opening, uh looks like i can fit them in maybe August possibly earlier if i step up my schedule.

[YODA]

umm, sounds weird, i'll read them, lets see when do i have an opening, uh looks like i can fit them in maybe August possibly earlier if i step up my schedule.
Avid reader like me then :D

Vol 1 is good but not great - be patient, the real action kicks off in vol 2 & 3 - apart from the actual story being awesome it has some of the best writing I've had the pleasure to read.

[killbill]

I'm reading the Wheel of Time series, entire books go by with nothing happening. (well the latest one anyway)

[YODA]

I'm reading the Wheel of Time series, entire books go by with nothing happening. (well the latest one anyway)
There are a few quiet moments in the Dark Tower series - but I suspect those are laying foundations for the climax of the series in the next two books.

[Matt_Bernius]

Am the only one who likes Snape. I love the Snape character. He walks that fine line, that some of us walk on all too often.Snape is my favorite character in the books. He's become one of the most fleshed out, with an understandable pathos for his dislike of Potter. It's my expectation that he will find his "redemption" in the kid's eyes before the end of the series. And in many respects, he's much more a of dark reflection of Potter than Malfoy or Voldemort.

As far as the Cho Chang thing, it had to be in there. Ultimately the books are about growing up. The fantasy, while important, needs to take a back seat to that. That's one of the reasons why each book is written to the year level that that kids are at. Harry's character is going through an awkward stupid and selfish time. I mean how many of us would like ot purge our Junior High School years from our life (grades 7 - 9). I for one do.

All that eing said, the book was padded a lot. And I really didn't like the epic battle at the end. It really feels like Rowling has fully shifted to writing for movies. These epic wand/blaster battles just don't work in my mind. Who knew that aiming was so important in spell casting? The Dumbledor/Voldemort confrontation was pretty enjoyable though. And Serius dead was poorly executed or realized. I agree that Cedric's was far more affecting.

- Matt

ps. Yoda, I've tried but I just can't get into King's writing (with the exception the Backman books). I had a friend give me all of the Dark Tower series and I worked my way through the first two books and gave up. I can see that he's passionate about the series, but it just isn't for me.

[YODA]

ps. Yoda, I've tried but I just can't get into King's writing (with the exception the Backman books). I had a friend give me all of the Dark Tower series and I worked my way through the first two books and gave up. I can see that he's passionate about the series, but it just isn't for me.
Taste is a strange animal.

That's why we have War & Peace - and comincs - right? :D

[blaksun]

Stephen King IS weird, killbill.

The dragon horse things, Booksie.

v.V

[Matt_Bernius]

Taste is a strange animal.

That's why we have War & Peace - and comincs - right? :D
Tell me about it ;)

- Matt

[carew]

I find it ironic that Stephen King reviewed the 5th Harry Potter book (gave it a good review btw) for Entertainment Weekly, and then used a Harry Potter element in Dark Tower 5. That seem nineteen to anyone? (Sorry 19 is a Dark Tower Reference)

[Paratus]

but Nineteen is such a broad term carew...:D

[alex_000]

I liked both 4 and 5 very very mutch. Cant wait for 6

[Furikuchan]

I liked 5 because Harry's actual character is starting to come out in this book. The severe damage to his psyche from having someone OUT TO KILL YOU for 5 years is finally catching up to him. I also liked the bit about the prophesy. There were hints to it in earlier books, but Dumbledore never outright said it until now, and it WORKED.
As for the Cho Chang thing, it seems to be fading into the background, and I see that as a good thing. As for our other romance, it's coming along great. Eventually Hermione will have to admit her feelings, though, even if it is on Ron's deathbed.
Which brings me to my next point. Predictions for 6 & 7! In book 7, all bets are off for Ron. The boy wouldn't be any deader if we put a red shirt on him. They'll probably kill Dumbledore in book 6 just to make the threat seem more real in 7, so Harry no longer has Dumbledore to hide behind. Draco Malfoy is going to become a bit more of a serious threat in these last two books. Snape, the character that intrigues me the most, still remains the biggest wild card. Perhaps, in book 6, he'll finally get the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, but Rowling might just keep the perpetual vehicle for bringing in a fresh character every book.
If my final prediction happens, please remember that I called this: Because of his lack of a future and his severe attachment to Hogwarts as a home, I am willing to bet that Harry gets a position on the faculty as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher directly after graduating.
Thank you, I know I'm insane, but these are my predictions. Of course, now that I've said all this, Rowling is going to throw a completely different curve ball at us that even I haven't seen coming.