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tealinI am now halfway through. As much as I would like to take a breather, my usual mode of breathering is checking my email and dang it, I can't do that until I finish! So, here I am, halfway through, and compensating for lack of email by journaling.
So far ... well, to paraphrase my sister, lots of stuff has happened, but nothing has happened. There doesn't seem to be a plot yet. It's like waiting at a train station and seeing all these other trains come in, load up on passengers, and leave, but you have yet to start your own journey – there's all sorts of travel going on around you but nothing's come to carry you along. There is not central conflict that involves the characters (the general background 'war' with Voldemort has about as much impact on the course of the story as the war in Iraq does on the lives of average Americans) and they're just kind of milling around having conversations. Come ooonnn, do something!! The decidedly soap-opera tone the interpersonal relationships are taking is a bit tiresome as well, though I suspect this is a personal thing, as there are some people who enjoy it. [casts dark looks at the internet in general] All the same, it's nice to see the characters actually there (with the exception of Lupin, who is noticeably absent in physical presence and therefore character as well) as opposed to their sort of cardboard cutout selves they seemed to be in Phoenix. Even if they are acting like nits half the time, at least they're them.
Well, inspired by Ubiquitouspitt, I feel compelled to make commentary as I read.
16 - A VERY FROSTY CHRISTMAS
I was hoping, when I read his description on JKR's site lo these many months ago, that Rufus Scrimgeour would be a kindly, amiable character ... but he's a politician. And he says 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' instead of 'You-Know-Who', which so far has been a pretty good indication of whether or not a character has Wizardry's best interests at heart. Perhaps he is just excessively formal...?
Heehee, Stan Shunpike. Oh, Stan.
Did Percy go visit his family under the Imperius Curse? No one asked him what his favourite flavour of jam is. Maybe he's a ZOMBIE!
Mrs Weasley's midnight-blue star-encrusted hat... hmmmm.
18 - BIRTHDAY SURPRISES
I would like some love potion antidote so I could surreptitiously drop it in the food of particularly annoying people...
19 - ELF TAILS
Harry: Don't trust Kreacher! DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!! Sheesh, you've got a house elf who would be undyingly loyal and have reason to avoid contacting any Malfoy, but you go with sneaky devious rebellious spiteful Kreacher who betrayed his former master?! This can only end in tears!
20 - [I'm giving up remembering the titles]
I'm sorry, but whenever Dumbledore goes on about love, all I can think about is the Potter Puppet Pals and 'Alas! It is a cornucopia of love!' So far that pretty much sums up the whole book.
21
If only Hogwarts had a swim team and Draco was on it, then we could find out right away whether he has a Dark Mark.
22
Why are messages being delivered by third parties all the time? Even Hagrid is sending messages this way. He used to send messages by owl... what happened to the owls? Am I missing something? (My sister suggested that Mr Gryle or one of his ilk is after them as they have a lot more meat than pigeons. Maybe Moist is cutting out the competition?)
26
Okay, I understand that it was a kind of panicky situation and it may have slipped his mind what with all the adrenaline and stuff, but shouldn't Harry have tried using that stream-of-fresh-water-from-the-wand thingy they were practising in Charms earlier in the book? Why make an episode out of it with the accidental spurting if it wasn't going to come in handy later in the book?
12:05 pm
About drawings: I'LL DRAW THEM WHEN I DRAW THEM! STOP BUGGING ME! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!! (thanks)
So far ... well, to paraphrase my sister, lots of stuff has happened, but nothing has happened. There doesn't seem to be a plot yet. It's like waiting at a train station and seeing all these other trains come in, load up on passengers, and leave, but you have yet to start your own journey – there's all sorts of travel going on around you but nothing's come to carry you along. There is not central conflict that involves the characters (the general background 'war' with Voldemort has about as much impact on the course of the story as the war in Iraq does on the lives of average Americans) and they're just kind of milling around having conversations. Come ooonnn, do something!! The decidedly soap-opera tone the interpersonal relationships are taking is a bit tiresome as well, though I suspect this is a personal thing, as there are some people who enjoy it. [casts dark looks at the internet in general] All the same, it's nice to see the characters actually there (with the exception of Lupin, who is noticeably absent in physical presence and therefore character as well) as opposed to their sort of cardboard cutout selves they seemed to be in Phoenix. Even if they are acting like nits half the time, at least they're them.
Well, inspired by Ubiquitouspitt, I feel compelled to make commentary as I read.
16 - A VERY FROSTY CHRISTMAS
I was hoping, when I read his description on JKR's site lo these many months ago, that Rufus Scrimgeour would be a kindly, amiable character ... but he's a politician. And he says 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' instead of 'You-Know-Who', which so far has been a pretty good indication of whether or not a character has Wizardry's best interests at heart. Perhaps he is just excessively formal...?
Heehee, Stan Shunpike. Oh, Stan.
Did Percy go visit his family under the Imperius Curse? No one asked him what his favourite flavour of jam is. Maybe he's a ZOMBIE!
Mrs Weasley's midnight-blue star-encrusted hat... hmmmm.
18 - BIRTHDAY SURPRISES
I would like some love potion antidote so I could surreptitiously drop it in the food of particularly annoying people...
19 - ELF TAILS
Harry: Don't trust Kreacher! DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!! Sheesh, you've got a house elf who would be undyingly loyal and have reason to avoid contacting any Malfoy, but you go with sneaky devious rebellious spiteful Kreacher who betrayed his former master?! This can only end in tears!
20 - [I'm giving up remembering the titles]
I'm sorry, but whenever Dumbledore goes on about love, all I can think about is the Potter Puppet Pals and 'Alas! It is a cornucopia of love!' So far that pretty much sums up the whole book.
21
If only Hogwarts had a swim team and Draco was on it, then we could find out right away whether he has a Dark Mark.
22
Why are messages being delivered by third parties all the time? Even Hagrid is sending messages this way. He used to send messages by owl... what happened to the owls? Am I missing something? (My sister suggested that Mr Gryle or one of his ilk is after them as they have a lot more meat than pigeons. Maybe Moist is cutting out the competition?)
26
Okay, I understand that it was a kind of panicky situation and it may have slipped his mind what with all the adrenaline and stuff, but shouldn't Harry have tried using that stream-of-fresh-water-from-the-wand thingy they were practising in Charms earlier in the book? Why make an episode out of it with the accidental spurting if it wasn't going to come in handy later in the book?
12:05 pm
About drawings: I'LL DRAW THEM WHEN I DRAW THEM! STOP BUGGING ME! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!! (thanks)
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Date: 2005-07-18 05:52 pm (UTC)And about Stan: I had remembered reading your theory about who was the HBP, and when I read about Stan, I'm like "hahaha!" and started laughing.
I hope you enjoy the rest of it! :D