IF YOU HAVEN'T READ OR FINISHED READING BOOK 5, PLEASE SKIP THIS POST!!!! (Really, it's for your own good.)
Now, for those who have read it:
I was surprised at this book. It is definately much darker and heavier than the other books. Harry is definately getting older. He's angrier and more rebellious. I think he learned a lot about true friendship and loyalty in this book, I just hope it makes him a better person for the sixth book. (But I must confess I was grinning stupidly when Cho kissed him and when he aced his Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.)
It was shocking, too, for Dumbledore to have shown weakness...but made him all the more realistic. Hopefully, though, this will open up a deeper relationship between him and Harry, now that he's finally told him the truth. They can work together in this war, instead of hiding from each other, making it more difficult to fight Voldemort. I wonder that Dumbledore didn't want to immediately continue Harry's Occlumency lessons, because I imagine he's still susceptible to attack from Voldemort that way. Perhaps Voldemort's immediate plans were thwarted, but he could still try to gain information or hurt Harry through such control.
And now I must ask:
How could she do it? How could Rowling have killed Sirius? It's not allowed. Not allowed I say! I had heard someone was going to die, but I didn't think it would be Sirius! That's so unfair! Besides being one of the coolest characters, he was a father figure to Harry...and that's just so much loss.
My mom reckons Dumbledore will die as well. I really hope not. I don't think he will because they need him too much, but if he does die, it'll probably be in the seventh book. But he should be around to help rebuild the new world after the destruction of Voldemort, kind of a Winston Churchill figure or something.
All in all, it was an excellent introduction and segue to the second war. I just hope it doesn't take so long for the sixth and seventh books to come out!
I think that Sirius will come back somehow. I don't know, it must be the optimist in me. I think something of the sort was alluded to when Luna was reminding Harry of the voices behind the black veil. Or maybe not...
This was an excellent book! I think it was either my favorite one so far or very close to the top (then again I think that every time there's a new one). Harry is definitely showing more dark emotion, which is fitting because he is 15 and this is when a lot of people begin their rebellious stage (with the exception of Jade who is experiencing it as we speak). I also enjoyed the character development of Ginny and Neville (but especially Ginny). While she still did not play a huge part in book 5, she was much more enjoyable. I found myself very annoyed at both Ginny and Neville in the first books, but now I find myself rooting for Ginny and Harry to get together (Cho sucks).
I am torn between my feelings of disgust and pity for Snape. I really cannot decide if he will be a villain in the end or become a father figure to Harry (ok, maybe that's going a little far). Right now he has the potential for either.
Please Rowling, don't take three years to release book 6.
Posted by: Nicole on July 24, 2003 04:19 PMI agree about the character development of Ginny and Neville. Cho does suck, and I've been rooting for Ginny and Harry to get together too, but I think if it does happen, it'll be in the seventh book when they're both a little more mature. And then it will be a more satisfying relationship.
Mostly I just pity Snape. His cruelty is aggravating, but mostly I just feel sorry for the guy...I think he'll turn out alright in the end. Who knows? Maybe there's even room for redemption...although that may be asking too much.
I think Nuala told me the 6th book might be coming out early next year (February?) around the same time as the release of the 3rd movie. Yay! If true, that's not too far away. Far, yes, but not agonizingly so.
Snape is a grown man who still whines about being teased at school, and takes it out on his former rival's poor, defenseless son. (I don't mean Harry's defenseless, but still...) Harry overreacted to learning that his father wasn't perfect. And there's no excuse for Snape's nasty, detestable behavior towards his students. And he's predjudiced against Muggle-Borns! How on earth did HE become a teacher!? I know how it feels to be discriminated against, so I have all the sympathy in the world for Hermione. Poor girl... Harry has indured 100x more than Snape, and he's handling it quite well! That makes Snape sooo pathetic.
Speaking of Harry, I was soooo glad that he finally lets out his feelings. In the previous books, I was shocked at how relatively calm he was, having suffered his whole life with his horrible aunt and uncle, and being harrassed by evil Slytherins at the only place he calls home.
In the remaining 2 books, I'm praying that my beloved Sirius will come back, Ron and Hermione FINALLY start dating, and Dumbledore finally sees Snape for the evil, sadistic madman he truly is. (No offense to Snape fans or course....but really, just WHAT THE HECK is so lovable about Snape!? Am I missing something here? *dodges flying objects*)
*sobs* Sirius....I miss you...
Posted by: GriffinFox on February 12, 2004 02:21 PMI can't wait till 6th book cause i really wanna c if harry is good enough to be a auror
Posted by: Nolman on February 29, 2004 05:34 PMi am sure too that serius will return and i also feel that ron and hermione will go around in the seventh book as ron was really rebellious when hermione goes around with krum as they say opposites attract.....who knows .i wish cho dies in the end crying out....
but serius has to comeback
sirius will surely come back ..i have a feeling that draco and harry will get along...also i think that ron admires hermione and they'll get along too.there should be more secrets revealed in the forthcoming books who knows crookshanks might turn up as being someone ordered by dumbledore to keep a watch on harry ...an unregistered animagus
i really miss u sirius plz come back
Dude, Sirius isn't coming back. One thing that the HP books do admirably is their acceptance of the permanence of death. There was a fairly big deal made about Harry and the mirror which showed him his parents, and how he eventually had to move on. Later, his father seemingly appeared to him as a stag, but it turned out just to be Harry himself. Rowling seems not to be fucking around with Lovely Bones-type ghostly bullshit; death seems to be a permanent thing in the Potterverse.
Besides, what was Sirius going to do if she brought him back? Nag Harry even more through a mirror?
The disappointing thing about the last book was how low all of the stakes were. Harry goes through dire straits to find a prophecy which tells him that, surprise surprise, he's somehow important in regards to Lord Voldemort. An entire elaborate plot which reveals nothing that readers, the characters in the book, or even mildly interested moviegoers wouldn't have already assumed. Maybe Books 6 and 7 can shock us with a telegraphed love connection between Ron and Hermione, or even more elaborate and arbitrary rules for Quidditch that make no fucking sense at all. That's what America, and England, and fakey pseudo-magic England, truly need.
Posted by: sean on March 27, 2004 02:55 AMI hope that Sirius will come back, but I agree with sean-in HP books Rowling stresses the permenency of death. and I don't think that Hermione and Ron will get together. but I think ginny and harry will though. This book is my favorite becasue harry starts to express his feelings more, and he has acheived many things his 5th year. I can't wait until 6th and 7th years!!
Posted by: heather on April 17, 2004 02:51 PMI agree that there is probably no way for sirius to come back but i want him to, he was the best. as long as dumbledore and hagrid don't die in the next two books they will be really good. all i have to say is hurry up wiv the next book i cant wait. iv'e read some crap rumours on other sites at least theses make sense!!!
Posted by: sarah on April 23, 2004 12:24 PMi really hope sirius comes back. He was my favorite character in the book. Act. i think he will come back i hope so.I LOVE SIRIUS!
Posted by: Kelly on November 24, 2004 05:50 PM