| 0 |
Subject: Harry Potter
Posted by: baseballfan
- [49492515] Thu, Jul 21, 2005, 19:54
Just wondering if any of you were fans of the series. Havivg just completed the 6th book, I really enjoyed it. The books are always full of surprises. One thing that I was curious about was where they were going to progress after this book. It was always said that there would be 7 books chronicling the 7 years of schooling. With the school on the verge of closing and Harry refusing to go back it will be interesting where they go from here. |
| 1 | Motley Crue
ID: 213222620
Thu, Jul 21, 2005, 21:02
|
I read it. I wasn't as thrilled with it as the critics seem to be, but it was a good story. We should probably put up a warning for others:
*****************BIGTIME SPOILER ALERT**************
I liked the Goblet of Fire better than any of the other books. That was a phat story. I loved the TriWizard Tourney.
This new book was great because Rowling wants you to think Snape is really in good with the Death Eaters, based on his meeting with Malfoy's Mom early in the book. But the reader thinks Snape is just a really good fake. Of course he is really a good guy, right? Then he blasts Dumbledore into smithereens. That was a big surprise to me. And the fact that Harry's hunches were right the whole year long, that was a major change. He and the gang usually run around under false impressions all story long and almost get themselves killed. And why didn't Dumbledore kick Malfoy out or have him arrested if he knew all along that Malfoy was trying to kill him? That boggled my mind.
I just felt like this book was a less successful attempt on Rowling's part to shoehorn the 6th year into the same template that has worked in all the other books. You're right about Book 7--how will the book read if Harry drops out of Hogwarts? Will it be like an action/war story? Battles left and right, Harry chasing Death Eaters and Horcruxes down around the globe? He will need help--who'll go with him? Will Rowling go on a killing spree and wipe out Hagrid, Fred, George, or other characters that the fans like? Certainly Hermione or Ron couldn't die?
I look forward to it, but I will be very happy to see the Goblet of Fire movie this fall. That should be excellent, not to mention about 7 hours long. They're going to have to pare the story down substantially.
|
| 2 | Species
Leader
ID: 07724916
Thu, Jul 21, 2005, 23:45
|
One theory a friend of mine had was that Snape is STILL on the good side and Dumbledore's death was a fake to bring Voldemort out of hiding. It just doesn't seem in Dumbledore's character to be that far off, despite hints (from Dumbledore himself) that he can be too trusting. Perhaps there IS indeed a defense for Avada Kadavra that Dumbledore used? It would certainly be a HUGE twist to have Snape be partially the hero and for Dumbledore to have set it up.
I liked the pace of this book. Order of the Phoenix could've been 200 pages less -- there was so much that was NOT necessary for the story. Half-Blood Prince went very fast and kept me on the edge of my seat. I had Snape pegged as the Prince midway through.
Am I correct in assuming that the wizard who took the Horcrux in the cave was Regulus Black (RAB)? Curious about what shakes out there. Sirius discussed how Regulus went to Voldemort, but then kinda chickened out and was whacked. Did he destroy other Horcruxes?
|
| 3 | Motley Crue
Dude
ID: 439372011
Fri, Jul 22, 2005, 11:46
|
I forgot about RAB. Yes, I immediately thought of Regulus, too, when I read that.
And as far as your friend's theory, I thought that might be what was going on when I first read it, too. What better way to show that you are loyal to Voldemort than to kill Dumbledore in front of witnesses? Voldemort will certainly trust Snape now, although based on what Dumbledore said of Voldemort, he will eventually destroy Snape. Remember, Voldemort is a loner at heart--he wants no friends, and he wants to depend on no one. Once he takes over (in his mind, he will take over), he will likely rid his minions of anyone too powerful.
And, Snape didn't know Harry saw him kill Dumbledore. No one knows that except the good guys, whom Harry told about what he saw after Dumbledore's Petrificus spell wore off. Which wouldn't have happened if Dumbledore hadn't died.
I think it's slightly farfetched to think that Dumbledore isn't dead. Maybe he will return to life--maybe he was using a horcrux!--but there is certainly no way that Dumbledore did not die in this book. He had no wand, as Malfoy used Expelliarmus against him. How could he have defended against an indefensible spell with no wand?
|
| 4 | Species
Leader
ID: 07724916
Fri, Jul 22, 2005, 13:54
|
Doubt Albus used a Horcrux, as it would entail the act of killing someone in order to create the desired effect.
Dumbledore could have released Harry from the Petrificus to solidify his 'death'. Agree that it's far-fetched, but with Dumbledore's overall wizarding prowess, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he could have defended Avada Kadavra with some kind of defense well beforehand......or could Snape have done something on his end too in order to make the spell less effective or ineffective?
Such as....remember when Harry tried to 'Crucio' Bellatrix LaStrange in book 5? She cringed for a moment in pain, but said that you really have to HATE in order to make the spell work. Many spells require strong feelings behind them to create the desired effect. Thus, if Snape didn't really wish Dumbledore dead, the feeling behind his curse perhaps didn't have the effect of really killing him? Okay, that's reaching, but it's not impossible!
So many possibilities exist for Book 7. Voldemort using Harry's blood and Wormtail's flesh (and of course, in Book 3 Harry saves Wormtail's life, meaning that Wormtail owed his life to Harry which creates some kind of magical bond) to get his body back would certainly seem to have a part in Harry's eventual victory. This Regulus Black destroying at least 1 Horcrux angle opens up the chance for the Black family to regain lost honor.
I need to re-read Book 6. Went through it pretty fast last weekend.
|
| 5 | Motley Crue
Dude
ID: 439372011
Fri, Jul 22, 2005, 14:02
|
I need to re-read Book 6. Went through it pretty fast last weekend.
I agree 100%. I need to re-read it, and then it goes in the garage sale I have been meaning to have as soon as I have time.
|
| 6 | TB
Sherpa
ID: 031811922
Fri, Jul 22, 2005, 14:34
|
I didn't read every post above, because we just bought the book. I am in the middle of another series right now, but am looking forward to reading it.
|
| 7 | Deb
ID: 1174545
Thu, Aug 04, 2005, 06:45
|
There was something in Book 5 that said that to make one of the unforgivable curses work you really have to mean them. I want to think Dumbledore is in hiding, and Snape is good ( although he will have to die in the end as he once was bad.. typical redemption stuff )
But the end of the book - did not give out much hope !
|
| 8 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Thu, Aug 04, 2005, 15:36
|
I believe that he died, from what he was talking about in the book. But also i'm still out on Snape. D and Snape could have agreed it was the best to do to bring Vold out, but to get him out D would have to die. So that is why Snape did the Bond with Malfoy and then finished it off. I just don't see how there is anyway that Dumbledore would still be around after the end of the book. The thing I didn't like about the end is it didn't really wrap anything up like the end of all the other books.
|
| 9 | Motley Crue
Dude
ID: 439372011
Thu, Aug 04, 2005, 15:44
|
I agree that Dumbledore is dead. Maybe they have a way to bring him back to life (ala Obi-Wan Kenobi in Empire Strikes Back), and he will certainly be in a painting in his old office.
Snape cannot be good, though. No way, no how. "Bringing out Voldemort"? It ain't that hard. The Death Eaters have been running around killing and maiming left and right, it sounds like. Voldemort likely thinks he's already in control. This book marked the shift of the tide of the war from good to evil. The Wizarding World is a dark place after that story, and not just because Dumbledore is dead.
I can't see how Dumbledore and Snape would come to an agreement that Dumbledore had to die to further the cause of the Order of the Phoenix. Even if Dumbledore insisted, if Snape was good, he would never have agreed. Don't see that at all.
|
| 10 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Thu, Aug 04, 2005, 17:11
|
Who knows it could be something like the Nicolas Flamel thing, do it for the greater good.
I still think he's bad, but my fiance doesn't.
I guess we also have to start the, "Does Harry die in #7" question.
|
| 11 | Species
Leader
ID: 07724916
Thu, Aug 04, 2005, 17:31
|
Agree that she certainly didn't wrap everything up in a neat little bow for us in this book. Obviously it's setting the groundwork for the climactic battle, giving us the whole "It's always darkest before the dawn" kind of motif.
We could theorize for 2 years about what will happen, but Harry not coming out on top would seem pretty damned unlikely. I believe she has said that there will be no more HP books after #7, so you have to figure they all live happily ever after - or at least Voldemort is gone and the Death Eaters, without him, are crippled.
You definitely have to believe that school opens in #7. He has too much to learn, and I believe Albus Brian Percival Dumbledore (was he partially named after Troy Percival?), outside of the whole 'living' in the portrait thing (good idea - hadn't considered that), will leave Harry plenty of clues from which to complete his quest to destroy the horcruxes and, ultimately, Voldemort.
|
| 12 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Thu, Aug 04, 2005, 17:44
|
That is the other thing that was annoying with the picture. Any other time Harry was in the office they would all be pretend sleeping and talking to you and what not. So why didn't D then?
|
| 13 | biliruben
ID: 531202411
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 10:42
|
I don't think the school opens in #7, or at least Harry, Hermione and Ron don't attend. He has things to practice/learn (silent casting, occlemency) but there is noone left to really teach him. Snape and Dumbledore were the only 2 that had talents against the Dark Arts are they are gone.
He think he learns from RAB, whoever that is.
A return to school would be almost anti-climactic, though perhaps for a month or so...
|
| 14 | Motley Crue
Dude
ID: 439372011
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 14:22
|
RAB is Regulus Black, I think, and he's dead.
If Dumbledore does not appear in a painting in the Headmaster's office, is that a clue that he isn't really dead?
The thing is that we can conjecture and come up with ideas on all kinds of things, but Rowling likely won't address everything that we think of. She's only one person, and the book would have to be 5,000 pages long (who wouldn't love that?!). She will wrap up most of the important stuff--who dies and who lives between Harry and Voldemort, what happens to Ron and his family, Hermione, Hagrid, and Hogwarts--and then it will close and we will be left with 26 million questions that she forgot to answer or didn't feel the need to.
I mean, we all want to know what happened to Jar Jar after Episode III, but did Lucas feel compelled to explain in any of Episodes IV-VI? No. Rowling will finish this no differently.
|
| 15 | Species
Leader
ID: 07724916
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 14:40
|
I wonder if Regulus left more clues somehow at Grimmauld Place.....and since Harry now owns it, and he is the Master to Kreacher, perhaps he can search the house and find other clues that Regulus may have left behind.
|
| 16 | biliruben
Leader
ID: 589301110
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 14:45
|
Remind me who Regulus was again. Sirius's Dad? Was he a badass? I need to go back and re-read em all, I think. Or at least get some cliff notes!
He was in the painting - dozing. Maybe that's par for the course for the newly snuffed. At least it could be if Rowling needs it as a plot device.
I am sure Rowling won't address everything that everyone can think of. But the good thing about books (as opposed to overwrought movies) is that you can wrap up all the loose ends you want to, and you don't need a thousand pages if you do it right.
|
| 17 | Species
Leader
ID: 07724916
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 15:09
|
Regulus was Sirius' younger brother. Sirius' parents, while not Death Eaters, were Voldemort sympathizers. They liked the whole "pure blood" thing. Regulus started doing actual Death Eater "work" (so to speak), but the more he saw of what Voldemort was about, he later changed his mind and tried to remove himself from Voldemort, who whacked him I believe. It's in Book 5 - probably in the Chapter when Harry goes to Grimmauld Place/HQ of the Order of the Phoenix. There is a tapistry that deliniates the Black family tree that gets Sirius telling Harry the story of his brother.
|
| 18 | biliruben
Leader
ID: 589301110
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 15:13
|
Think about what kind of wizard would have been able to steal the horcrux and re-set the magic to make it appear like it had been untouched.
|
| 19 | Species
Leader
ID: 07724916
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 15:18
|
True.....excellent point.
OR, was Regulus put in charge of setting it all up in the first place, and double-crossed Voldemort? Then when LV figured it out, whacked him?
|
| 20 | biliruben
Leader
ID: 589301110
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 15:21
|
Hmmm... good theory.
|
| 21 | Motley Crue
Dude
ID: 439372011
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 16:25
|
LOL! You 2 are like detectives trying to solve a crime. I like what you're saying, though. The conjecture will be a fun part of the next 2 years or so.
|
| 22 | Punk42AE
Donor
ID: 036635522
Fri, Aug 05, 2005, 17:00
|
Personally I like the Harry is a Horcrux theory, it would be interesting when Harry kills him and then finds out that he would have to die also for it to be complete.
|
| 23 | Balrog
Dude
ID: 02856618
Wed, Aug 31, 2005, 22:05
|
Sorry to bump this up so late, but I just noticed the thread...
I'm pretty sure Dumbledore and Snape set the whole thing up. Remember, right before Dumbledore was "killed" he told Malfoy that if he came to the good side, they could arrange it so that everyone thought he (Malfoy) was dead until it was safe. No one's ever accused Rowling of being subtle, so I must assume that's what they did with Dumbledore.
As for RAB, that's probably a device so that Harry doesn't have to destroy all five or whatever horocrux in the next book. He'll probably discover that there's only one or two left, plus Voldemort himsself. Gotta fit it all within at most 1000 pages, you know.
|
| 24 | blue hen
Dude
ID: 710321114
Mon, Jun 15, 2009, 11:06
|
You idiots. You were totally wrong on all counts.
Just kidding. I did a search for "Potter" in the subject line and here we are. Pretty impressed with the Regulus reference. I started this series about a month after book 7 came out and finished quickly. Now, with Half Blood Prince coming to the movies, I just read Harry, A History by Melissa Anelli. Good read. Apparently they feel about Potter the way we feel about sports.
How did you guys feel about book 7?
|
| 25 | I Hate Philadelphia
ID: 116531412
Tue, Jul 14, 2009, 15:45
|
Didn't book 7 get released like 2 or 3 years ago? Damn we are behind.
|
|
|
|
Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?)
|
|