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Wow, there certainly is a lot of stuff in this one.
It's interesting to me how in this book, no one ever enjoys themselves, everyone's always miserable, and the hero is constantly whining, but Rowling uses it to deliver the most information yet about Harry's past, and Voldemort, and what's in store for both of them, and overall it's a really compelling book. I guess we needed some compensation for suffering through Harry's teenager ups and downs.
Those of you who think Remus and Sirius are an item? I don't know, y'all. I just don't think there's evidence in the canon. I mean, Remus was living in the Black house, and he was there when Harry stuck his head in the fire, but it's not like they were doing anything together. I'm not seeing it.
I feel like the mirror is a loose end. Why on earth didn't Harry think of using it sooner? When Sirius gives it to him, Harry decides he'll never use it so as not to get Sirius in trouble. But it was way more trouble to find a way to stick his head in Umbridge's fire. Harry doesn't find the mirror in his trunk until it's too late. I guess Rowling intended it that way, but it still feels off to me.
The scene where Fred and George take their leave from Hogwarts remains my favorite scene in the entire series.
I really liked the D.A. in this book--that's kind of what made reading it so enjoyable, I think. I liked seeing the characters improve and seeing how proud Harry was. Neville really comes into himself in this book, and he's really my favorite character--I loved how Neville was so brave and really focused on learning, and got so good at defense against the dark arts. I loved how Bellatrix's escaping from Azkaban was this big catalyst for him. And I thought it was so interesting that Neville's huge character development was going on throughout this book, and it was clear what was happening with him, just in the space of a few sentences here or there. In a lot of ways Neville was really the hero of this book, in terms of facing his fears and working hard and being brave. Neville was right beside Harry all through the final battle--he's come so far since the first book.
Harry, on the other hand, spent the whole book being selfish and annoying, but we had to listen to him anyway. I guess that's why the book is called "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", rather than "Neville Longbottom and the Order of the Phoenix". But I appreciate that any normal 15-year-old boy would have felt just as Harry did under the circumstances, and it's good that Rowling's writing him as a believable, real character.
It was Dumbledore who had the Buffy syndrome in this book. If Dumbledore had told Harry a bit more--not necessarily the whole prophecy, but just that Voldemort would try to trick him--Harry might have understood better what the Occlumency was meant to do.
There are so many "if only"s in this book. If only Dumbledore had told Harry more, if only Dumbledore had taught him Occlumency himself instead of asking Snape to do it, if only Harry had thought of using Sirius's mirror sooner. But I think the many "if only"s are a sign that Rowling is writing characters who are real people. These characters can make mistakes, big mistakes, and people get hurt because of that. Not everything fits together perfectly. It's sad, but it makes the book feel more real.
I want to read book 6 right now, because I want to know how Harry did on his OWLs and I don't remember, but I need to wait a while. I want books 6 to be fresh in my mind when book 7 comes out on July 21.
It's interesting to me how in this book, no one ever enjoys themselves, everyone's always miserable, and the hero is constantly whining, but Rowling uses it to deliver the most information yet about Harry's past, and Voldemort, and what's in store for both of them, and overall it's a really compelling book. I guess we needed some compensation for suffering through Harry's teenager ups and downs.
Those of you who think Remus and Sirius are an item? I don't know, y'all. I just don't think there's evidence in the canon. I mean, Remus was living in the Black house, and he was there when Harry stuck his head in the fire, but it's not like they were doing anything together. I'm not seeing it.
I feel like the mirror is a loose end. Why on earth didn't Harry think of using it sooner? When Sirius gives it to him, Harry decides he'll never use it so as not to get Sirius in trouble. But it was way more trouble to find a way to stick his head in Umbridge's fire. Harry doesn't find the mirror in his trunk until it's too late. I guess Rowling intended it that way, but it still feels off to me.
The scene where Fred and George take their leave from Hogwarts remains my favorite scene in the entire series.
I really liked the D.A. in this book--that's kind of what made reading it so enjoyable, I think. I liked seeing the characters improve and seeing how proud Harry was. Neville really comes into himself in this book, and he's really my favorite character--I loved how Neville was so brave and really focused on learning, and got so good at defense against the dark arts. I loved how Bellatrix's escaping from Azkaban was this big catalyst for him. And I thought it was so interesting that Neville's huge character development was going on throughout this book, and it was clear what was happening with him, just in the space of a few sentences here or there. In a lot of ways Neville was really the hero of this book, in terms of facing his fears and working hard and being brave. Neville was right beside Harry all through the final battle--he's come so far since the first book.
Harry, on the other hand, spent the whole book being selfish and annoying, but we had to listen to him anyway. I guess that's why the book is called "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", rather than "Neville Longbottom and the Order of the Phoenix". But I appreciate that any normal 15-year-old boy would have felt just as Harry did under the circumstances, and it's good that Rowling's writing him as a believable, real character.
It was Dumbledore who had the Buffy syndrome in this book. If Dumbledore had told Harry a bit more--not necessarily the whole prophecy, but just that Voldemort would try to trick him--Harry might have understood better what the Occlumency was meant to do.
There are so many "if only"s in this book. If only Dumbledore had told Harry more, if only Dumbledore had taught him Occlumency himself instead of asking Snape to do it, if only Harry had thought of using Sirius's mirror sooner. But I think the many "if only"s are a sign that Rowling is writing characters who are real people. These characters can make mistakes, big mistakes, and people get hurt because of that. Not everything fits together perfectly. It's sad, but it makes the book feel more real.
I want to read book 6 right now, because I want to know how Harry did on his OWLs and I don't remember, but I need to wait a while. I want books 6 to be fresh in my mind when book 7 comes out on July 21.
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Date: 2007-06-28 03:52 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-06-28 04:01 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-06-28 04:06 pm (UTC)From:I concur. I've never gotten that fantasy either. :P
I feel like the mirror is a loose end. Why on earth didn't Harry think of using it sooner?
I forgot about that. Yes, I remember that bothering me too at the time.
The scene where Fred and George take their leave from Hogwarts remains my favorite scene in the entire series.
HA! Definitely. By far my most favorite too. I'm looking forward to that scene in the movie. :)
In a lot of ways Neville was really the hero of this book, in terms of facing his fears and working hard and being brave. Neville was right beside Harry all through the final battle--he's come so far since the first book.
Yay Neville! He has become one of my favorite characters. I love what she's done with his development over so many books. I really hope they can protray that well in the movie. I think it's very important to see.
I packed up the rest of my books last night, but I didn't close the one with my HP's. I re-read this not too long ago, but I may have to pull it out again. I want to read it again so much, but I don't know if I have the time. Stupid busy life. :P
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Date: 2007-06-28 04:18 pm (UTC)From: