I finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince today, first in my family. Now I don't have to worry about younger brothers letting things slip. I have many thoughts going around in my head, but I'll just mention one. This wasn't the darkest book yet. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was traumatic from beginning to end, the loneliness, the whining, the death, and Umbridge making it all completely unbearable. That was dark, my friends. I realized when I started reading number six that I had blotted out a lot of number five from my memory because of Dolores Umbridge. Half-Blood Prince made me remember why I love Harry Potter.
I think my favorite thing, though, is the idea of reading a book with the whole world. I know it's probably a false sense of community, but it's encouraging nonetheless.
Posted by linnea at July 18, 2005 6:08 PM | TrackBack"a false sense of community"? Nonsense! I'm reading the book aloud with my wife (we'll be done by Wednesday) and I can immediately and totally relate. As for your assessment of these last two Harry Potter books, I agree completely. I was very disappointed with the last one because it departed so radically from the style and tone of the previous books. The sixth book (at least so far as I have gotten) really re-captures that tone.
Posted by: Matthias at July 18, 2005 6:16 PMthanks, Matthias, for making me feel better about my Harry Potter world.
Posted by: linnea at July 18, 2005 6:22 PMI loved the new book as well. thought it was wonderful.
Posted by: katzman at July 19, 2005 12:47 AMI just finished it today, laughed, cried, etc. Also, when I started it on the train in England, I ended up sitting with two girls. We were all sunburnt redheads on holiday, reading the new Harry Potter book, and eating chocolate digestive biscuits.
Posted by: laura at July 19, 2005 8:15 PMOh Linnea. Where are you, my darling, when I need you most??? Just because everything I feared - and hoped - came true in that book, doesn't mean I don't need comforting. I'm going to email you so I don't spoil anything for people who haven't read it yet.
Posted by: tuggy at July 20, 2005 1:22 AMIt's good. Really good. But not as good as Phoenix. Not a lot of mystery. Seemed almost like she found herself with an extra year to fill.
Posted by: ryan at July 20, 2005 7:41 PM