Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
by J.K. Rowling
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Read in January, 2006
J.K. Rowling's writing is getting better and better with each Harry Potter book. This is definitely one of the best books in the whole series. And one of my favourites too. So many new angles, new shades to it. Half-Blood Prince could easily stand independently as a story, without even needing to be a part of this saga. It has everything - the hero's journey, hero's romance, mentor's last best teachings and death, ambiguous character who seemigly betrays the hero, the Big Vi...more
J.K. Rowling's writing is getting better and better with each Harry Potter book. This is definitely one of the best books in the whole series. And one of my favourites too. So many new angles, new shades to it. Half-Blood Prince could easily stand independently as a story, without even needing to be a part of this saga. It has everything - the hero's journey, hero's romance, mentor's last best teachings and death, ambiguous character who seemigly betrays the hero, the Big Villain and his story, silly sidekick romance... and a lot more. It is full of gritty English humour, sarcasm and general darkness. Plus a lot of beautiful imagery and symbolism which is always icing on the cake when it comes to such multi-layered epic tales with roots in mythology. It's very fast-paced and intense and keeps you reading with your heart beating in your throat. And all the twists, whether you approve them or not, are surprising, even shocking.
The most powerful and emotion provoking moments in the book are of course Dumbledore's death and his funeral. I personally knew about the OHMYGODSNAPEKILLSDUMBLEDORE!!! thing through the spoilers I had. So, for me the intriguing part was HOW it would happen... circumstances surrounding it. It wasn't hard to guess that old Dumbly would go soon. And I don't think there's any point in complaining "Why oh why Dumbledore??? It was so unfair!". No, it wasn't. Mentors die - they have done their job and the hero needs to go on alone. It's just how it is in stories with this kind of structure. I did shed a tear myself, but this was actually during the cave scene, when Dumbledore tells Harry "I am not worried, I am with you". The Harry/Dumbledore relationship reaches both its depths and its highs in this book and is the most touching of all relationships in this story.
My favourite chapter though has to be Spinner's End. It's just so different from Rowling's usual style. She so rarely breaks away from Harry's point of view that once it happens it's a very refreshing and unique reading experience. AND it's all about Snape The Spy, 'nuff said.
In this novel we are also provided with the backstory of Lord Voldemort. When we enter the house of Voldemort's mother and grandfather (in the Pensieve memories), it is very easy to picture all the scenes. Voldemort's mother Merope leaning against the dirty walls of the dim kitchen in cold fear, Marvolo's violent shouting, his son Morfin with his knife... They're all more or less insane due to the Gaunts' history of intermarrying with their own cousins and that indeed gives a spine-chilling feel to the whole Voldemort aspect of the saga.
The crux of it all - the idea of Horcruxes (fragments of someone's soul kept in objects) is a motive that's been used before in fantasy literature, but that doesn't make it less convincing or less fitting in the Harry Potter tale.
In Half-Blood Prince Harry is finally acquiring that something I can't put my finger on but that I felt was missing in him in all the previous books. Harry is no more a kid, he's growing up into his own person, an individual, and along with this is growing his character. The character bursting into life like a phoenix from the ashes and becoming someone you always knew he was, eagerly waiting for the author to let you see it. Harry in Half-Blood Prince is very-very adorable, charming and funny. His sense of humour is different than Ron's goofy humour... it's very cynical and snarky and just lovely like that. And it's Harry who, hands down, delivers the best lines in this book. He pays a price for his curiosity though, for his obsessive interest in Draco Malfoy. Yes, Harry's flaws are still there. He's reckless, he tries out strange spells he finds in a strange potions book and the consequences of his thoughtless actions astound him so much that he wallows in guilt for days. Also, for some reason, Harry seems so... defenseless and still so innocent at heart and I feel even more sorry for him than before. I felt it particularly strongly when they were in that cave and he told Dumbledore "You've d-done it!", while he was wet and shaking. I just wanted to wrap him in a blanket. HBP is definitely the Vulnerable!Harry book. But the imperfect, "clumsy" side of him that is exposed in this book is to deceive us; it is to make us identify with him one last time before he demonstrates how special he is, the hero he is, and does the impossible. Before that, the reader has to feel the hopelessness of the situation, so that his victory, the climax everything has been building up to would have the appropriate impact. There's a saying that it's always darkest before the dawn. And it describes very well this atmosphere Half-Blood Prince creates, leaving the reader to fear for Harry's life. But he'll make it. He has shown tremendous strength of character even in his vulnerable state... like doing something so disgusting for greater good that makes him hate himself - forcing Dumbledore to drink the potion he knows is most likely going to kill the old man. It's kind of like the same strength of character Snape might show while ending Dumbledore's life, because it's the only way out of a situation where you have to choose between bad or worse. And in both cases, they would be dealing with Dumbledore's strict orders that they are used to following. These are not the only parallels we can find between Harry and Snape actually, there's a lot more. In fact, shocking parallels run between Harry, Snape and Voldemort, all three. Not only are their personalities and physical features compared, but also their origins and upbringings and their lives in general... and under all of this we feel the vague hinting towards the destinies that await them. Destinies that will all be different, in spite of the things they have in common.
The Half-Blood Prince himself, the main character of the
book and the juiciest character of all Harry Potter characters is of course Severus Snape. It is quite apparent to me that the evidence showing "good" Snape outweights the evidence showing "bad" Snape. He's not a nice boy, I think we have all figured that out by now - he's a nasty bastard, but that doesn't mean he's evil. I think he's purposefully written as a morally ambiguous character, but one who doesn't seem to be out for himself. He must be either on the side of the Order or the Death Eaters and is either fooling Voldemort or Dumbledore, cause he most certainly is/was fooling one of them. In my opinion, it's Voldemort. No, I don't think Dumbledore exactly PLANNED his death or wanted to die, but I think he saw the bigger picture and knew that if the circumstances demanded that he sacrificed his own life for the greater good, then he would do it. He prepared Snape for it (like he prepared Harry throughout the whole 6th book to handle things without him around) and told Snape that if it comes down to it, Snape has to do what he has to do. I imagine Snape wasn't very enthusiastic about this horrendous task and that he was quite pissed at Dumbly for picking him out for it.
I tend to believe that Snape won't be alive anymore by the end of this saga. There is a redemptive pattern associated with him and a sacrificial end would retain the complexity and depth of his character. Also, it would go well with the central theme of the series about our choices being what matters, and would teach Harry his last very important lesson of life - a lesson of forgiveness.
But Half-Blood Prince is not only Snape's book, it is Dumbledore's book almost as much. It is Dumbledore's chance to shine with the power of his heart and mind, really demonstrate his formidable intellect and share some of his wisdom and impressive assemblage of info with us and Harry. At the same time it is a book that puts out the light of his life, ends his journey as an archetypal "good wizard" or "the wise old man" in the style of Merlin or Gandalf, and as the one who guides Harry into manhood. The book in general starts to prepare us for his death at once. There are numerous hints. One of the most ominous definitely Dumbledore's dead and blackened hand, then him descending into the cave (metaphorically the "underworld") where his self-sacrifice is foreshadowed with him willing to drink the potion that has a green glow just like the Avada Kedavra curse. And the whole trip across the water has so many images of death in there. Dumbledore's behaviour in this book is a behaviour of a person who feels and knows that the end of his days is approaching. He's suddenly very busy with pushing Harry close to Harry's limits. He really pressures him and makes the boy feel supremely guilty when he doesn't take his "homework" seriously enough. At the same time there's this undescribable sweetness between them, mixed with sadness... like an aura of the last, very important and unforgettable moments of two exceptional people together. Two people who would still have so much to talk about, so much to go through together, so much to agree on... but all of it is not meant to happen, because they both know that it is not what matters, and they're working for what truly is important, with every breath they draw.
The main point of Half-Blood Prince the book seems to be that if they both could put aside their mutual hate, Harry could actually learn some things from Snape. Snape was a useful teacher to Harry when Harry didn't know it was him.
There's a wonderful (literary) irony in here - the man Harry now hates as much as Voldemort ends up being his very last mentor, in a way.
...less
The most powerful and emotion provoking moments in the book are of course Dumbledore's death and his funeral. I personally knew about the OHMYGODSNAPEKILLSDUMBLEDORE!!! thing through the spoilers I had. So, for me the intriguing part was HOW it would happen... circumstances surrounding it. It wasn't hard to guess that old Dumbly would go soon. And I don't think there's any point in complaining "Why oh why Dumbledore??? It was so unfair!". No, it wasn't. Mentors die - they have done their job and the hero needs to go on alone. It's just how it is in stories with this kind of structure. I did shed a tear myself, but this was actually during the cave scene, when Dumbledore tells Harry "I am not worried, I am with you". The Harry/Dumbledore relationship reaches both its depths and its highs in this book and is the most touching of all relationships in this story.
My favourite chapter though has to be Spinner's End. It's just so different from Rowling's usual style. She so rarely breaks away from Harry's point of view that once it happens it's a very refreshing and unique reading experience. AND it's all about Snape The Spy, 'nuff said.
In this novel we are also provided with the backstory of Lord Voldemort. When we enter the house of Voldemort's mother and grandfather (in the Pensieve memories), it is very easy to picture all the scenes. Voldemort's mother Merope leaning against the dirty walls of the dim kitchen in cold fear, Marvolo's violent shouting, his son Morfin with his knife... They're all more or less insane due to the Gaunts' history of intermarrying with their own cousins and that indeed gives a spine-chilling feel to the whole Voldemort aspect of the saga.
The crux of it all - the idea of Horcruxes (fragments of someone's soul kept in objects) is a motive that's been used before in fantasy literature, but that doesn't make it less convincing or less fitting in the Harry Potter tale.
In Half-Blood Prince Harry is finally acquiring that something I can't put my finger on but that I felt was missing in him in all the previous books. Harry is no more a kid, he's growing up into his own person, an individual, and along with this is growing his character. The character bursting into life like a phoenix from the ashes and becoming someone you always knew he was, eagerly waiting for the author to let you see it. Harry in Half-Blood Prince is very-very adorable, charming and funny. His sense of humour is different than Ron's goofy humour... it's very cynical and snarky and just lovely like that. And it's Harry who, hands down, delivers the best lines in this book. He pays a price for his curiosity though, for his obsessive interest in Draco Malfoy. Yes, Harry's flaws are still there. He's reckless, he tries out strange spells he finds in a strange potions book and the consequences of his thoughtless actions astound him so much that he wallows in guilt for days. Also, for some reason, Harry seems so... defenseless and still so innocent at heart and I feel even more sorry for him than before. I felt it particularly strongly when they were in that cave and he told Dumbledore "You've d-done it!", while he was wet and shaking. I just wanted to wrap him in a blanket. HBP is definitely the Vulnerable!Harry book. But the imperfect, "clumsy" side of him that is exposed in this book is to deceive us; it is to make us identify with him one last time before he demonstrates how special he is, the hero he is, and does the impossible. Before that, the reader has to feel the hopelessness of the situation, so that his victory, the climax everything has been building up to would have the appropriate impact. There's a saying that it's always darkest before the dawn. And it describes very well this atmosphere Half-Blood Prince creates, leaving the reader to fear for Harry's life. But he'll make it. He has shown tremendous strength of character even in his vulnerable state... like doing something so disgusting for greater good that makes him hate himself - forcing Dumbledore to drink the potion he knows is most likely going to kill the old man. It's kind of like the same strength of character Snape might show while ending Dumbledore's life, because it's the only way out of a situation where you have to choose between bad or worse. And in both cases, they would be dealing with Dumbledore's strict orders that they are used to following. These are not the only parallels we can find between Harry and Snape actually, there's a lot more. In fact, shocking parallels run between Harry, Snape and Voldemort, all three. Not only are their personalities and physical features compared, but also their origins and upbringings and their lives in general... and under all of this we feel the vague hinting towards the destinies that await them. Destinies that will all be different, in spite of the things they have in common.
The Half-Blood Prince himself, the main character of the
book and the juiciest character of all Harry Potter characters is of course Severus Snape. It is quite apparent to me that the evidence showing "good" Snape outweights the evidence showing "bad" Snape. He's not a nice boy, I think we have all figured that out by now - he's a nasty bastard, but that doesn't mean he's evil. I think he's purposefully written as a morally ambiguous character, but one who doesn't seem to be out for himself. He must be either on the side of the Order or the Death Eaters and is either fooling Voldemort or Dumbledore, cause he most certainly is/was fooling one of them. In my opinion, it's Voldemort. No, I don't think Dumbledore exactly PLANNED his death or wanted to die, but I think he saw the bigger picture and knew that if the circumstances demanded that he sacrificed his own life for the greater good, then he would do it. He prepared Snape for it (like he prepared Harry throughout the whole 6th book to handle things without him around) and told Snape that if it comes down to it, Snape has to do what he has to do. I imagine Snape wasn't very enthusiastic about this horrendous task and that he was quite pissed at Dumbly for picking him out for it.
I tend to believe that Snape won't be alive anymore by the end of this saga. There is a redemptive pattern associated with him and a sacrificial end would retain the complexity and depth of his character. Also, it would go well with the central theme of the series about our choices being what matters, and would teach Harry his last very important lesson of life - a lesson of forgiveness.
But Half-Blood Prince is not only Snape's book, it is Dumbledore's book almost as much. It is Dumbledore's chance to shine with the power of his heart and mind, really demonstrate his formidable intellect and share some of his wisdom and impressive assemblage of info with us and Harry. At the same time it is a book that puts out the light of his life, ends his journey as an archetypal "good wizard" or "the wise old man" in the style of Merlin or Gandalf, and as the one who guides Harry into manhood. The book in general starts to prepare us for his death at once. There are numerous hints. One of the most ominous definitely Dumbledore's dead and blackened hand, then him descending into the cave (metaphorically the "underworld") where his self-sacrifice is foreshadowed with him willing to drink the potion that has a green glow just like the Avada Kedavra curse. And the whole trip across the water has so many images of death in there. Dumbledore's behaviour in this book is a behaviour of a person who feels and knows that the end of his days is approaching. He's suddenly very busy with pushing Harry close to Harry's limits. He really pressures him and makes the boy feel supremely guilty when he doesn't take his "homework" seriously enough. At the same time there's this undescribable sweetness between them, mixed with sadness... like an aura of the last, very important and unforgettable moments of two exceptional people together. Two people who would still have so much to talk about, so much to go through together, so much to agree on... but all of it is not meant to happen, because they both know that it is not what matters, and they're working for what truly is important, with every breath they draw.
The main point of Half-Blood Prince the book seems to be that if they both could put aside their mutual hate, Harry could actually learn some things from Snape. Snape was a useful teacher to Harry when Harry didn't know it was him.
There's a wonderful (literary) irony in here - the man Harry now hates as much as Voldemort ends up being his very last mentor, in a way.
...less
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Read in July, 2005
Ok, so first of all I was a little disappointed that Hagrid, Luna, and Neville were such minor characters in this book. I was totally convinced that Luna was going to help Harry solve the mystery of the veil that Sirius fell through and that Harry and Sirius would, in some way, reunite. I was really disappointed that this story line was totally ignored. But I have hope that it will return in book 7. I think it is too big of a mystery to leave unsolved. So, yeah, I would have liked to see more of...more
Ok, so first of all I was a little disappointed that Hagrid, Luna, and Neville were such minor characters in this book. I was totally convinced that Luna was going to help Harry solve the mystery of the veil that Sirius fell through and that Harry and Sirius would, in some way, reunite. I was really disappointed that this story line was totally ignored. But I have hope that it will return in book 7. I think it is too big of a mystery to leave unsolved. So, yeah, I would have liked to see more of the three of them.
I really liked the opening chapter with the prime minister. Very amusing.
Ron and Hermione – I am not sure how I feel about them getting together. I know they want to and they like each other, but it makes me feel a little sad for Harry. Sometimes it is nice when you are in a group and you really are all just friends without the romances. But then again, I don’t think that both ron and Hermione will survive to the end of book 7. I think one of them will have to die at some point.
I liked Ron dating Lavender; I thought it was funny and logical and realistic. I don’t like it in books when two characters fall in love at a young age and stay together forever. I don’t think that is realistic.
Harry & Ginny…I like them together. I like Ginny. However, I do think this puts her in a lot of danger and I think she will again be targeted by Voldemort whether theya re actually dating or not.
I would have liked to see Harry and Cho interact a little, maybe have a conversation or try to make up or something.
I’m not sure what the point of having so much about Bill and Fleur was, except maybe to add something nice and lovey to the book. I;m not the biggest Fleur fan, but, whatever.
I really liked Tonks and Lupin getting together. I have always really liked Lupin. I have to admit that I was fooled though; for most of the book I was positive that Tonks was either a double agent or being Imperiused. As I’m sure I was supposed to be thinking.
I liked that this book had more of the original British slang in it than the others. Although I truly despise the word snogging. It just sounds so gross. Blech. At some point I may go back and read the British versions of all the books… I don’t like to think that I am reading some silly watered down American version.
So…Draco. This book really had me, for the first time, feeling something other than hate/annoyance for Draco. I felt like I understood him much better and I actually felt very sorry for him. In spite of all his actions, I don’t think that Draco is pure evil. I think he has some good left in him…although I don’t think he will survive the 7th novel. I definitely don’t think he would have killed Dumbledore if left to his own devices. The cabinet thing was very clever. We have not heard the last from Draco.
I liked Professor Slugworth. I wonder if he will be back. I liked the new twist with the Potions classes and I liked learning more about Harry’s parents in school.
I wish we would have had more details about how Snape taught the DADA classes. There were very few of those.
Horcruxes – wow. These were a big surprise to me. I normally don’t spend a lot of time online researching theories or making up my own or maybe they wouldn’t have been such a surprise. Anyway, I think they are very cool. A lot of theories I have read speculate that Harry himself is the final Horcrux. I’m not buying this. I think that if part of V’s soul was inside Harry, he would know. I think Nagini knows that she is inhabited by a soul. I don’t think the JKR would set this up so that Harry HAS to die to fully kill V. I think Harry MAY die. But I think that is very unlikely.
Harry has a huge task before him, finding and destroying these Horcruxes. Especially if RAB (Regulus Black? HMMM?) has found others as well. I am glad that hew ill have Hermione and Ron with him to help him on his mission, but it makes me really sad to think that Harry won’t spend his final year at Hogwarts. He really has grown up now.
So...RAB. Is it Black? All evidence seems so. I’m sure you’ll recall in Book 5, the locket in the Black house that no one could open. BUT, if Regulus went to all the trouble to steal the horcrux, WHY wouldn’t he have destroyed it? Why would he leave it in his house? AND, if Regulus is alive, and being hidden somehow by Dumbledore/the Order, WHY wouldn’t he have told them about taking the horcrux? Somehow it just doesn’t add up. It would be very interesting to me how Harry and regulus would get along, if that is the case. But then again, maybe if you are hidden somehow from V, you have to be hidden from everyone? I am very curious to find out more about RAB.
I highly enjoyed Harry’s meeting with Dumbledore. I loved getting all the background info about Tom Riddle. I think that all the memories Harry got to see were very important and will help him, in the end, defeat Voldemort. I do have a question about the Pensieve though…or memories…like when Sluggy gave Harry his memory in the little bottle, does he lose that memory out of his head forever? Or can the memory co-exist? I don’t know.
Kreacher…ugh. He is so despicable. And Dobby is so funny. I liked them having to work together.
Less Quidditch in this book. Another thing that makes me sad…are Harry’s Quidditch days over? If he’s not going back to school…if school even opens….that makes me sad.
So....let’s talk about Snape. Snape…the half blood prince. She had me fooled! I never even guessed that it was his potions book. Of course it makes perfect sense. I wonder how early on Snape knew that Harry had his book. I wonder why that book was just laying around in the Potions room. Very interesting.
Snape is such a complex character to me…from the first time we meet him, we’ve always wanted to hate him. He’s so mean, and unfair….but then, we have to believe that he’s good, because Dumbledore tells us to believe it. And we STILL don’t know what went on between Snape and Dumbledore for DD to believe it! How did Snape prove his loyalty? Is Snape evil? Or not? At this point, I am pretty much done with Snape. Making the Unbreakable vow with Narcissa….wow. You had to know that that was not going to end well. However, when he was taking the Narcissa Bellatrix, it was pretty obvious to me that he had no idea what they were talking about and what Draco’s mission was, he was just playing them to get them to tell him everything. BUT, if he is still in contact with V, but is truly on the “good” side, wouldn’t V know? He isn’t stupid! Is Snape good enough at occlumency to fool the Dark Lord? I don’t know. There are an awful lot of people out there in Internet land who think that Snape is good. But I am pretty skeptical.
So, I guess it is time to about it…Dumbledore. Yes, we have to face the fact that he’s dead. Or at least I have to face it. A major reason why I was reading the book so slowly was because I suspected and feared and knew that Dumbledore would have to die in this book. I mean, all the signs were there. She was leading us right to it. So I was reading slowly so that I wouldn’t have to deal with it. But the set up was rather brilliant. When I was reading the death scene, and just thinking, there’s no way that draco can be the downfall of Dumbledore, and then other 2 death eaters come in and say something about tripping over a body, I was like yes! It’s not Dumbledore! It’s someone else! I was sad, thinking it might be hagrid or ron or ginny, but I was so happy that I thought Dumbledore was going to live and then you turn the page and BAM he’s dead! It was really heart wrenching. I did cry. A lot. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Why? Why? I understood why, really, I understand that Harry has to go on alone, but….yeah. It hurt. And Snape! How could Snape do it! This just opens up so many possibilities. What did Dumbledore mean when he was saying “Severus, please..”was he asking for death? Was he asking for mercy? Would Dumbledore really beg for his life?? I don’t think so. What was the look of hatred and disgust on Snape’s face about? Who was he feeling it towards? Himself? Dumbledore? Malfoy? So many unanswered questions. And then the funeral…so sad. It just made it even worse. Ok, now I am crying a little again. I liked that the centaurs came out. I hope we see more of them. I think they know a lot….but I know they want to keep to themselves…so maybe we won’t.
Overall I am still not sure what to think or how to rank this book among the others. I’m glad that it was a little lighter, giving Harry more opportunities to enjoy being a kid and stuff like that before he has to go face Voldemort again. I thought it was interesting that V didn’t actually appear in this book – I think this is the only one where that hasn’t happened.
Wow, I freaking love these books. I wish I could teach them in school.
...less
I really liked the opening chapter with the prime minister. Very amusing.
Ron and Hermione – I am not sure how I feel about them getting together. I know they want to and they like each other, but it makes me feel a little sad for Harry. Sometimes it is nice when you are in a group and you really are all just friends without the romances. But then again, I don’t think that both ron and Hermione will survive to the end of book 7. I think one of them will have to die at some point.
I liked Ron dating Lavender; I thought it was funny and logical and realistic. I don’t like it in books when two characters fall in love at a young age and stay together forever. I don’t think that is realistic.
Harry & Ginny…I like them together. I like Ginny. However, I do think this puts her in a lot of danger and I think she will again be targeted by Voldemort whether theya re actually dating or not.
I would have liked to see Harry and Cho interact a little, maybe have a conversation or try to make up or something.
I’m not sure what the point of having so much about Bill and Fleur was, except maybe to add something nice and lovey to the book. I;m not the biggest Fleur fan, but, whatever.
I really liked Tonks and Lupin getting together. I have always really liked Lupin. I have to admit that I was fooled though; for most of the book I was positive that Tonks was either a double agent or being Imperiused. As I’m sure I was supposed to be thinking.
I liked that this book had more of the original British slang in it than the others. Although I truly despise the word snogging. It just sounds so gross. Blech. At some point I may go back and read the British versions of all the books… I don’t like to think that I am reading some silly watered down American version.
So…Draco. This book really had me, for the first time, feeling something other than hate/annoyance for Draco. I felt like I understood him much better and I actually felt very sorry for him. In spite of all his actions, I don’t think that Draco is pure evil. I think he has some good left in him…although I don’t think he will survive the 7th novel. I definitely don’t think he would have killed Dumbledore if left to his own devices. The cabinet thing was very clever. We have not heard the last from Draco.
I liked Professor Slugworth. I wonder if he will be back. I liked the new twist with the Potions classes and I liked learning more about Harry’s parents in school.
I wish we would have had more details about how Snape taught the DADA classes. There were very few of those.
Horcruxes – wow. These were a big surprise to me. I normally don’t spend a lot of time online researching theories or making up my own or maybe they wouldn’t have been such a surprise. Anyway, I think they are very cool. A lot of theories I have read speculate that Harry himself is the final Horcrux. I’m not buying this. I think that if part of V’s soul was inside Harry, he would know. I think Nagini knows that she is inhabited by a soul. I don’t think the JKR would set this up so that Harry HAS to die to fully kill V. I think Harry MAY die. But I think that is very unlikely.
Harry has a huge task before him, finding and destroying these Horcruxes. Especially if RAB (Regulus Black? HMMM?) has found others as well. I am glad that hew ill have Hermione and Ron with him to help him on his mission, but it makes me really sad to think that Harry won’t spend his final year at Hogwarts. He really has grown up now.
So...RAB. Is it Black? All evidence seems so. I’m sure you’ll recall in Book 5, the locket in the Black house that no one could open. BUT, if Regulus went to all the trouble to steal the horcrux, WHY wouldn’t he have destroyed it? Why would he leave it in his house? AND, if Regulus is alive, and being hidden somehow by Dumbledore/the Order, WHY wouldn’t he have told them about taking the horcrux? Somehow it just doesn’t add up. It would be very interesting to me how Harry and regulus would get along, if that is the case. But then again, maybe if you are hidden somehow from V, you have to be hidden from everyone? I am very curious to find out more about RAB.
I highly enjoyed Harry’s meeting with Dumbledore. I loved getting all the background info about Tom Riddle. I think that all the memories Harry got to see were very important and will help him, in the end, defeat Voldemort. I do have a question about the Pensieve though…or memories…like when Sluggy gave Harry his memory in the little bottle, does he lose that memory out of his head forever? Or can the memory co-exist? I don’t know.
Kreacher…ugh. He is so despicable. And Dobby is so funny. I liked them having to work together.
Less Quidditch in this book. Another thing that makes me sad…are Harry’s Quidditch days over? If he’s not going back to school…if school even opens….that makes me sad.
So....let’s talk about Snape. Snape…the half blood prince. She had me fooled! I never even guessed that it was his potions book. Of course it makes perfect sense. I wonder how early on Snape knew that Harry had his book. I wonder why that book was just laying around in the Potions room. Very interesting.
Snape is such a complex character to me…from the first time we meet him, we’ve always wanted to hate him. He’s so mean, and unfair….but then, we have to believe that he’s good, because Dumbledore tells us to believe it. And we STILL don’t know what went on between Snape and Dumbledore for DD to believe it! How did Snape prove his loyalty? Is Snape evil? Or not? At this point, I am pretty much done with Snape. Making the Unbreakable vow with Narcissa….wow. You had to know that that was not going to end well. However, when he was taking the Narcissa Bellatrix, it was pretty obvious to me that he had no idea what they were talking about and what Draco’s mission was, he was just playing them to get them to tell him everything. BUT, if he is still in contact with V, but is truly on the “good” side, wouldn’t V know? He isn’t stupid! Is Snape good enough at occlumency to fool the Dark Lord? I don’t know. There are an awful lot of people out there in Internet land who think that Snape is good. But I am pretty skeptical.
So, I guess it is time to about it…Dumbledore. Yes, we have to face the fact that he’s dead. Or at least I have to face it. A major reason why I was reading the book so slowly was because I suspected and feared and knew that Dumbledore would have to die in this book. I mean, all the signs were there. She was leading us right to it. So I was reading slowly so that I wouldn’t have to deal with it. But the set up was rather brilliant. When I was reading the death scene, and just thinking, there’s no way that draco can be the downfall of Dumbledore, and then other 2 death eaters come in and say something about tripping over a body, I was like yes! It’s not Dumbledore! It’s someone else! I was sad, thinking it might be hagrid or ron or ginny, but I was so happy that I thought Dumbledore was going to live and then you turn the page and BAM he’s dead! It was really heart wrenching. I did cry. A lot. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Why? Why? I understood why, really, I understand that Harry has to go on alone, but….yeah. It hurt. And Snape! How could Snape do it! This just opens up so many possibilities. What did Dumbledore mean when he was saying “Severus, please..”was he asking for death? Was he asking for mercy? Would Dumbledore really beg for his life?? I don’t think so. What was the look of hatred and disgust on Snape’s face about? Who was he feeling it towards? Himself? Dumbledore? Malfoy? So many unanswered questions. And then the funeral…so sad. It just made it even worse. Ok, now I am crying a little again. I liked that the centaurs came out. I hope we see more of them. I think they know a lot….but I know they want to keep to themselves…so maybe we won’t.
Overall I am still not sure what to think or how to rank this book among the others. I’m glad that it was a little lighter, giving Harry more opportunities to enjoy being a kid and stuff like that before he has to go face Voldemort again. I thought it was interesting that V didn’t actually appear in this book – I think this is the only one where that hasn’t happened.
Wow, I freaking love these books. I wish I could teach them in school.
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Read in July, 2005
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As Voldemort and his Death Eaters openly wreak havoc throughout Britain, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has been forced to resign following public outcry over his mishandling the situation. Rufus Scrimgeour succeeds him. At his home in Spinner's End, Severus Snape is sworn to an Unbreakable Vow by Draco Malfoy's mother Narcissa. Although her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange, distrusts Snape, he agrees to protect Draco during his task assigned by the Dark Lord and complete the mission should he fai...more
As Voldemort and his Death Eaters openly wreak havoc throughout Britain, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge has been forced to resign following public outcry over his mishandling the situation. Rufus Scrimgeour succeeds him. At his home in Spinner's End, Severus Snape is sworn to an Unbreakable Vow by Draco Malfoy's mother Narcissa. Although her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange, distrusts Snape, he agrees to protect Draco during his task assigned by the Dark Lord and complete the mission should he fail.
During the summer, Albus Dumbledore enlists Harry Potter's unwitting help to persuade retired professor Horace Slughorn to return to his old Hogwarts post. Harry then spends the remaining holiday at the Burrow with the Weasleys and Hermione. To his family's dismay, Bill Weasley has become engaged to Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons champion in the Triwizard Tournament, while Harry realises he is developing romantic feelings for Ginny. Harry, Ron, and Hermione receive their O.W.L. results. To become Aurors, Harry and Ron must take N.E.W.T.-level Potions as a prerequisite, but their grades in the subject are too low for Snape's advanced class, thus ending their career ambitions. While in Diagon Alley, Harry, Ron and Hermione spot Draco Malfoy and follow him. At Borgin & Burkes, a dark magic shop in Knockturn Alley, Malfoy threatens Mr. Borgin about repairing one item and keeping another safe. Suspecting Draco may be a Death Eater, Harry resolves to keep a close watch on him.
As school begins, Snape is unexpectedly announced as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor while Slughorn replaces him as the Potions teacher. Slughorn only requires a minimum "E" grade (Exceeds Expectations) at O.W.L. to take his N.E.W.T.-level Potion classes, making Harry and Ron eligible for the class. Slughorn lends them old Potions textbooks until they buy their own. Harry's copy is marked on the bottom of the back cover, "This book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince". The talented former owner's notes help Harry excel in the class. As a reward, Slughorn gives him a small vial of Felix Felicis, a good luck potion.
Death Eater attacks continue throughout the year and may be linked to events at Hogwarts. On the first Hogsmeade visit, Katie Bell, a Gryffindor student, is seriously injured while carrying a cursed necklace, apparently while under the Imperius Curse. In another incident, Ron accidentally drinks poisoned mead intended for Dumbledore. Harry reacts by administering the Bezoar he had submitted previously as an assignment to Slughorn. Hermione is so distraught over this that she and Ron, who were feuding mostly over Ron dating Lavender Brown and her relationship with Viktor Krum, reconcile; Ron soon breaks up with Lavender. Meanwhile, Harry realises his true feelings for Ginny, although she is now dating Dean Thomas.
Dumbledore privately tutors Harry using his Pensieve to view collected memories about Voldemort's past. Dumbledore speculates that Voldemort splintered his soul into six fragments called Horcruxes to attain immortality, while leaving a seventh piece in his body. Two Horcruxes have been destroyed (Tom Riddle's diary by Harry[HP2:] and Marvolo Gaunt's ring by Dumbledore).
When Harry finds Malfoy sobbing in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, they hurl curses at each other. Harry casts "Sectumsempra" inflicting huge gashes across Malfoy's body. Snape arrives and saves Malfoy. He attempts to re-possess the Half-Blood Prince's Potions book, but Harry hands him "Roonil Wazlib's (a.k.a. Ron's) copy . Harry receives detention, causing him to miss the Quidditch finals. Nonetheless, Gryffindor wins the Cup, and during the victory celebration, Harry's suppressed feelings for Ginny are revealed when he spontaneously kisses her; Ginny has just broken up with Dean Thomas, and she and Harry begin dating.
Harry reports Malfoy's suspicious behaviour to a seemingly unconcerned Dumbledore. He reassures Harry that he trusts Severus in keeping a lookout. Soon after, Harry learns from Professor Trelawney that it was Snape who passed a prophecy to Voldemort that ultimately led to James and Lily Potter's deaths. Enraged, Harry confronts Dumbledore, but he affirms Snape's loyalty. Dumbledore, meanwhile, has located another Horcrux and asks Harry to accompany him in retrieving it. Distrusting Malfoy and Snape, Harry asks Ron, Hermione, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and Ginny to patrol the halls while he and Dumbledore are gone and gives them the remaining Felix Felicis potion for luck. Harry and Dumbledore disapparate to a secret cave. They retrieve the Horcrux (Salazar Slytherin's locket). Dumbledore, however, has been greatly weakened due to the mysterious liquid he had to drink in order to acquire the locket.
Returning to Hogsmeade, Harry and Dumbledore see Lord Voldemort's Dark Mark hovering over Hogwarts. They fly to the Astronomy Tower on borrowed broomsticks and are ambushed by Draco Malfoy. Dumbledore paralyses Harry, who is under his Invisibility Cloak, just before Draco disarms Dumbledore. Draco admits he was behind the school attacks and has helped Death Eaters secretly enter Hogwarts via the pair of Vanishing Cabinets, although Dumbledore discerns that Voldemort has coerced the obviously frightened boy.
As members of the Order, and the few from the DA battle Voldemort's followers in the castle below, Death Eaters appear in the tower and urge Draco to fulfil his mission?killing Dumbledore?but Draco hesitates. Snape arrives and a weakened Dumbledore entreats him with an ambiguous plea; Snape casts Avada Kedavra that hits Dumbledore squarely in the chest. The impact hurls his body over the tower wall. Upon Dumbledore's death, Harry is released from the paralysing spell. Harry pursues Snape and Malfoy as their only way of escape would be to disapparate outside the boundaries of Hogwarts. Malfoy escapes as Snape duels Harry. During the duel, Snape reveals that he is the Half-Blood Prince. Though instructive, the duel was ended by Buckbeak's intervention. Snape disapparates and escapes. Harry recovers the locket from Dumbledore's body, only to discover it is a fake. Inside is a note from someone with the initials R. A. B. who has stolen the real Horcrux.
The school year ends abruptly with Dumbledore's funeral. Professor McGonagall is appointed Hogwarts's interim headmistress and Professor Slughorn replaces Snape as the head of Slytherin House. Hogwarts is rumoured to close down due to the murder of Dumbledore. Harry decides to leave school in search for the remaining Horcruxes. Ron and Hermione vow to accompany him, while Harry ends his relationship with Ginny to protect her from Voldemort. The book concludes as Harry looks forward to Bill and Fleur's wedding and being comforted that "...there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione."
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During the summer, Albus Dumbledore enlists Harry Potter's unwitting help to persuade retired professor Horace Slughorn to return to his old Hogwarts post. Harry then spends the remaining holiday at the Burrow with the Weasleys and Hermione. To his family's dismay, Bill Weasley has become engaged to Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons champion in the Triwizard Tournament, while Harry realises he is developing romantic feelings for Ginny. Harry, Ron, and Hermione receive their O.W.L. results. To become Aurors, Harry and Ron must take N.E.W.T.-level Potions as a prerequisite, but their grades in the subject are too low for Snape's advanced class, thus ending their career ambitions. While in Diagon Alley, Harry, Ron and Hermione spot Draco Malfoy and follow him. At Borgin & Burkes, a dark magic shop in Knockturn Alley, Malfoy threatens Mr. Borgin about repairing one item and keeping another safe. Suspecting Draco may be a Death Eater, Harry resolves to keep a close watch on him.
As school begins, Snape is unexpectedly announced as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor while Slughorn replaces him as the Potions teacher. Slughorn only requires a minimum "E" grade (Exceeds Expectations) at O.W.L. to take his N.E.W.T.-level Potion classes, making Harry and Ron eligible for the class. Slughorn lends them old Potions textbooks until they buy their own. Harry's copy is marked on the bottom of the back cover, "This book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince". The talented former owner's notes help Harry excel in the class. As a reward, Slughorn gives him a small vial of Felix Felicis, a good luck potion.
Death Eater attacks continue throughout the year and may be linked to events at Hogwarts. On the first Hogsmeade visit, Katie Bell, a Gryffindor student, is seriously injured while carrying a cursed necklace, apparently while under the Imperius Curse. In another incident, Ron accidentally drinks poisoned mead intended for Dumbledore. Harry reacts by administering the Bezoar he had submitted previously as an assignment to Slughorn. Hermione is so distraught over this that she and Ron, who were feuding mostly over Ron dating Lavender Brown and her relationship with Viktor Krum, reconcile; Ron soon breaks up with Lavender. Meanwhile, Harry realises his true feelings for Ginny, although she is now dating Dean Thomas.
Dumbledore privately tutors Harry using his Pensieve to view collected memories about Voldemort's past. Dumbledore speculates that Voldemort splintered his soul into six fragments called Horcruxes to attain immortality, while leaving a seventh piece in his body. Two Horcruxes have been destroyed (Tom Riddle's diary by Harry[HP2:] and Marvolo Gaunt's ring by Dumbledore).
When Harry finds Malfoy sobbing in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, they hurl curses at each other. Harry casts "Sectumsempra" inflicting huge gashes across Malfoy's body. Snape arrives and saves Malfoy. He attempts to re-possess the Half-Blood Prince's Potions book, but Harry hands him "Roonil Wazlib's (a.k.a. Ron's) copy . Harry receives detention, causing him to miss the Quidditch finals. Nonetheless, Gryffindor wins the Cup, and during the victory celebration, Harry's suppressed feelings for Ginny are revealed when he spontaneously kisses her; Ginny has just broken up with Dean Thomas, and she and Harry begin dating.
Harry reports Malfoy's suspicious behaviour to a seemingly unconcerned Dumbledore. He reassures Harry that he trusts Severus in keeping a lookout. Soon after, Harry learns from Professor Trelawney that it was Snape who passed a prophecy to Voldemort that ultimately led to James and Lily Potter's deaths. Enraged, Harry confronts Dumbledore, but he affirms Snape's loyalty. Dumbledore, meanwhile, has located another Horcrux and asks Harry to accompany him in retrieving it. Distrusting Malfoy and Snape, Harry asks Ron, Hermione, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom and Ginny to patrol the halls while he and Dumbledore are gone and gives them the remaining Felix Felicis potion for luck. Harry and Dumbledore disapparate to a secret cave. They retrieve the Horcrux (Salazar Slytherin's locket). Dumbledore, however, has been greatly weakened due to the mysterious liquid he had to drink in order to acquire the locket.
Returning to Hogsmeade, Harry and Dumbledore see Lord Voldemort's Dark Mark hovering over Hogwarts. They fly to the Astronomy Tower on borrowed broomsticks and are ambushed by Draco Malfoy. Dumbledore paralyses Harry, who is under his Invisibility Cloak, just before Draco disarms Dumbledore. Draco admits he was behind the school attacks and has helped Death Eaters secretly enter Hogwarts via the pair of Vanishing Cabinets, although Dumbledore discerns that Voldemort has coerced the obviously frightened boy.
As members of the Order, and the few from the DA battle Voldemort's followers in the castle below, Death Eaters appear in the tower and urge Draco to fulfil his mission?killing Dumbledore?but Draco hesitates. Snape arrives and a weakened Dumbledore entreats him with an ambiguous plea; Snape casts Avada Kedavra that hits Dumbledore squarely in the chest. The impact hurls his body over the tower wall. Upon Dumbledore's death, Harry is released from the paralysing spell. Harry pursues Snape and Malfoy as their only way of escape would be to disapparate outside the boundaries of Hogwarts. Malfoy escapes as Snape duels Harry. During the duel, Snape reveals that he is the Half-Blood Prince. Though instructive, the duel was ended by Buckbeak's intervention. Snape disapparates and escapes. Harry recovers the locket from Dumbledore's body, only to discover it is a fake. Inside is a note from someone with the initials R. A. B. who has stolen the real Horcrux.
The school year ends abruptly with Dumbledore's funeral. Professor McGonagall is appointed Hogwarts's interim headmistress and Professor Slughorn replaces Snape as the head of Slytherin House. Hogwarts is rumoured to close down due to the murder of Dumbledore. Harry decides to leave school in search for the remaining Horcruxes. Ron and Hermione vow to accompany him, while Harry ends his relationship with Ginny to protect her from Voldemort. The book concludes as Harry looks forward to Bill and Fleur's wedding and being comforted that "...there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione."
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Read in June, 2008
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I don't really know what I think of the beginning, since the first two (clearly important) scenes are done outside Harry's frame of reference. The whole point of the books has been that we're in limited 3rd person POV - we find things out when Harry does. That's been the clearly established rule for 5 books, I don't understand why we're changing it in the 6th. Obviously the point of being an author is that you make the rules, but once you've made your own rules you're supposed to abide by them u...more
I don't really know what I think of the beginning, since the first two (clearly important) scenes are done outside Harry's frame of reference. The whole point of the books has been that we're in limited 3rd person POV - we find things out when Harry does. That's been the clearly established rule for 5 books, I don't understand why we're changing it in the 6th. Obviously the point of being an author is that you make the rules, but once you've made your own rules you're supposed to abide by them until you've also created an exception. That can be done more easily with substantive rules - you can have vampires wander around in direct sunlight eating garlic for all I care, if you say why you're doing it. But a style rule that's been clearly established isn't supposed to be broken, unless you need information that CAN'T be conveyed any other way, and I don't see why she couldn't have conveyed the information in those scenes later in the book in the usual way. Okay, yes, it's clearly important that we know about the Unbreakable Vow, but Harry found out about it anyway, so I'm not sure why we had to know about it when we did. The point could have been to introduce Narcissa and use Bellatrix again, but I'm not sure why we care. Or I guess it could have been that we suspect Snape, which would definitely be fun and games, but I'm suspicious of that clearly planted suspicion. My best guess is that we need to know not only THAT Snape made the Unbreakable Vow, but WHAT he vowed to do, and that must have been the most convenient way to do it.
Also, I would like to veto love triangles. I know, I know - we have a bunch of 16 year olds of the two genders in constant close quarters, it would be more shocking if we DIDN'T have triangles. But it's woeful to have to read it for a million billion pages. And Ron really can be a spectacular McAsshat when he wants to. (Lavender? Really? I have nothing against her, but really?) Although I worry about where she's going with Ron and Hermione - they FIGHT. A LOT. And I don't think that would change that much, no matter what happens...it hasn't been the "bickering of unspoken passion" all this time. I think Ron started the snarking of move around Year 4, but Hermione has been thoroughly...Hermione until this year. Also, I kind of like her with Viktor Krum, because it was FUNNY. Although I am surprisingly myself by being a supporter of Harry-Ginny. I heart Ginny and I think she would work well with him. I mean, if it goes bad it will go VERY VERY BAD, as Harry himself as pointed out, but maybe it won't go bad. Maybe there will be ONE THING in this ENTIRE SERIES that doesn't end up going bad.
....Or she could be the one who dies at the end of book 7 WAH VETO.
One disadvantage of being a Johnny (jill?) come lately is that I knew that Dumbledore died, just like I knew that Sirius died, but I managed to block that out with the supreme conviction of someone who believes that the bad ending will have worked itself out by the time she gets there. Unfortunately, it did not, and I am deprived of Dumbledore as I was deprived of Sirius, and yea verily I cried. I cried harder for Sirius than for Dumbledore, though I'm not sure why - probably because why Dumbledore's death wasn't a shock, how it happened was, and I was too busy screaming "WHAT THE F!" at the book to really be emotionally wracked. I had to go back and read it twice just to make sure I really understood what had just happened, because it seemed like there was just no way.
So the end.....W. T. EEEEEEFFFFFFFF. I mean, what WAS that? Was it an Imperious Curse? Was it the consequences of the Unbreakable Vow? Or have Ron and Harry been right all this time? And it's so utterly bizarre because earlier in the book I'd been thinking about how even though Snape doesn't always like it, in the end he does usually seem to do what's right, like when he made Lupin the serum or when he tried to teach Harry Occlumency-whatever, even though he doesn't like it, and that was what had me convinced that Dumbledore was right in trusting him. And I'd thought that maybe if Harry just sucked it up and apologized to Snape and actually tried being polite it might help - like if he'd had sorry for his accidental disemboweling of Malfoy. I mean, yes, Malfoy was trying to use the Cruciatus on him, but I'd been thinking if Harry just manned up and said to Snape, "Professor, I'm sorry I did that," without making excuses, that might make a different. But then after all of that it turns out that HOLY MOTHER OF JESUS HOWARD CHRIST ON A POGO STICK SNAPE BETRAYED THE POTTERS???? and I seriously rethought that idea.
And then...and then after ALL of that, has he really been still working for Voldemort this ENTIRE TIME? I mean, I'd wondered if everyone circling you for all those years going Dumbledore trusts you but we don't and we just want to make that VERY VERY CLEAR could eventually crack you, and then--wha--wha--what?
And Dumbledore DIED FOR A FAKE HORCRUX AND WHO THE FUDGE IS R.A.B.??
My brain has just waved a tiny white flag and crawled into the corner to cry. Dear J.K. Rowling: please cease and desist phunking with my heart.
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As the final installments of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series come to a close it is curious to look back and see just how far these remarkable tales have come. Following young Harry Potter, the boy who lived, from his humble beginnings in his uncle’s house to fining out his destiny and what greatness lies ahead. Fans have been taken on an intense rollercoaster. One that has thrown readers into suspense and shock along with sadness and occasional joy. This six of a seven part series is no ...more
As the final installments of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series come to a close it is curious to look back and see just how far these remarkable tales have come. Following young Harry Potter, the boy who lived, from his humble beginnings in his uncle’s house to fining out his destiny and what greatness lies ahead. Fans have been taken on an intense rollercoaster. One that has thrown readers into suspense and shock along with sadness and occasional joy. This six of a seven part series is no acceptation and one could argue the best of Rowling’s works yet.
Coming from what seemed like Rowling’s low point, book five, this novel did not have the highest expectations. However, “The Half Blooded Prince” proved to be a perfect mix of the sparkle and delight that filled the first four books yet has stepped up the magic and the mystery to whole new levels. Not only have the characters matured but so has Rowling and her world of Witchcraft. The magic is darker, the secrets are deeper and they all unravel beautifully to keep the pages turning.
To me, it becomes easy to see the best qualities of this book by examining the worst qualities of it’s predecessor. Book 5, “Order of the Phoenix” was long awaited for three years yet was quickly forgotten. The 870 page novel seemed to have a lot of pages just to fill pages and was not an enjoyable read. True, it had some amazing qualities and was core to the overall development of Potter and his journey but once again, not enjoyable. No one wants to read a book were nothing goes right for the protagonist ever! Potter’s situation goes from horrible to worse. The ending is even depressing and the likable characters seem to be loosing with no hope in sight.
Now, in contrast, the little things Rowling changed from the past novel were enough to bring it from worst to best. First off, as most people noticed, this book is MUCH smaller that the last two (maybe she’s not going for the world record after all). Although most fans are disappointed at first with a mere 652, it turns out to be a brilliant alteration. The story goes quickly and there is enough material to keep one interested throughout the pages. Next, for once, things seems to be going well for our little hero. Harry’s got the grades, the friends, and even the girlfriend and what would seem to be Harry’s worst nightmare, Snape’s new position, could have been much, much worse.
With all this being noted, we have not reached the truly remarkable aspect of the novel. That which brings it to a clear contestant for being Rowling’s magnificence: the plot. Now in the sixth year at Hogwarts, there is little magic that the students cannot perform and even less of the Dark Arts that Harry and his friends have not encountered. The magic is deep and compelling and the range of the mystery grows to satisfying new levels. Beginning the story with a look back on Harry’s O.W.L.S the reader is reminded of just how skilled Harry truly is in the Dark arts and foreshadows a relatively good year in school.
Quick to draw interest Rowling begins with Harry’s adventures with Dumbledore, the two greatest wizards of all time, signifying what will stretch over the entire novel and ultimately be it’s core. Even chapter two brings in an unexpected twist when a friend becomes a foe and the questions along with the suspicions grow from there. Now, not to give away too much it is without a doubt the ending that will leave the readers clenched until the final installment. Although the shocking ending of book five was commendable, it pales in comparison to what we see and learn now….
As it was said, the magic is deeper and the plot thicker. Now the once harmless yet incredibly annoying Draco Malfoy has followed In his father’s footsteps and all that Harry once knew and trusted would crumble at his feet.
All in all one may walk away pail when finished with the book but Rowling ties in a satisfaction of the necessity of her shocking events. She foreshadows what is to come in book seven and ties together the maturity and growth her protagonist has endured all in preparation of his final and sure to be greatest adventure yet… ...less
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Everything about Lord Voldemort is fascinating. The character is so richly evil. The past, the detail, so yummy, I ate it up. Delectable (I like food and I have the munchies. ) He isn't featured either, just indirectly. Lord Voldemort never makes a present personal appearance. Just the possibility of it though. One of my favorite scenes is when he comes back to Hogwarts to speak with Dumbledore so he can get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, and then we find out that there hasn't been a teacher in that position for over a year since he turned him down. GREAT INFO. The Horcruxes were amazing also... so cool. Great imagination she has (Yoda talk).
The new Professor for Potions, Slughorn, great character. Also a good twist. So that Harry could take Potions and become an Auror. LOVE Albus Dumbledore. The first Potions class that they have when they smell the Love Potion and Harry smells that smell I knew that it was Ginny. I'm surprised that after they get together he ends it for her safety, freaking over protective males, and predictable. I admire her character for not fighting with him about it, and allowing it. I love Ron and Hermione. Of course they go with him, what would book 7 be like if the 3 of them weren't together? AWFUL... plus the two of them have to fall in love. No Duh.
The two of them throughout the whole book are hilarious. Secretly in love with eachother, and it is possible that Ron isn't entirely aware of his feelings for her. So funny with Lavender Brown... what a skank. Totally annoying as a girlfriend too. It is great that Harry takes Luna Lovegood to the Slug Club Party but the best part of that whole scene is Hermione running away from that doof McLaggen with messed up hair because he pinned her under the mistletoe. Neville isn't really featured either. The book is so interesting. SO GOOD. Really well done. I laughed out loud a lot.
I want some Felix Felicis. Sounds GREAT.
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling is one amazing book. I was slightly pissed that it was only 652 pgs and the last book was over 800 pgs. I guess I'll have to get over it. I did hear that she has already begun writing Book 7. The book was fantastic. The way that the beginning starts with a character that isn't Harry, which I believe hasn't happened since Book 1, and then Chapter 2, yummy. Plus does anyone remember that in Book 3 Dumbledore tells Harry that beca...more
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling is one amazing book. I was slightly pissed that it was only 652 pgs and the last book was over 800 pgs. I guess I'll have to get over it. I did hear that she has already begun writing Book 7. The book was fantastic. The way that the beginning starts with a character that isn't Harry, which I believe hasn't happened since Book 1, and then Chapter 2, yummy. Plus does anyone remember that in Book 3 Dumbledore tells Harry that because he saved Wormtail's life even though he escaped and went back to Lord Voldemort that now Wormtail is indebt to him... do you think that she will bring that up in book 7? Anyhow, I loved Chapter 2. Who else knew that Snape was guilty from day 1... you know, deep down. But when Snape says that Dumbledore's weakness is that he has to believe that everyone has good in them... oooo that was so great, and then J.K. doesn't really feature him throughout the whole book. I did notice that there is a loss of presence from Hagrid, Snape as I mentioned earlier, other teachers. Of course Rowling does this. Ron, Harry and Hermione are getting older it is a natural age progression for them to have seperated themselves from the adults that they have previously looked up to so much. Everyone is just in the background. Mainly it was just Harry and his friends and then Dumbledore... which is why the ending is such a shocker, you get close to good ol' Albus and then Snape shows his true colors, finally. The beginning is so great because from straight off Harry and Dumbledore are much more involved with eachother and you get to really see the funky sweet bizarre and brave person that Albus is. If you are an avid Harry Potter fan than you know that we have seen a glimpse of this quirky brilliant man in past books, the passwords to his office alone, not many wizards keep up on names of candy in the Muggle community, at least that is what I am guessing. So Dumbledore died... well in retrospect it makes sense. But I must say that at first it wrecked me and I'm still sad. Yup, I cried like a baby for most of the end of the book.
Everything about Lord Voldemort is fascinating. The character is so richly evil. The past, the detail, so yummy, I ate it up. Delectable (I like food and I have the munchies. ) He isn't featured either, just indirectly. Lord Voldemort never makes a present personal appearance. Just the possibility of it though. One of my favorite scenes is when he comes back to Hogwarts to speak with Dumbledore so he can get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, and then we find out that there hasn't been a teacher in that position for over a year since he turned him down. GREAT INFO. The Horcruxes were amazing also... so cool. Great imagination she has (Yoda talk).
The new Professor for Potions, Slughorn, great character. Also a good twist. So that Harry could take Potions and become an Auror. LOVE Albus Dumbledore. The first Potions class that they have when they smell the Love Potion and Harry smells that smell I knew that it was Ginny. I'm surprised that after they get together he ends it for her safety, freaking over protective males, and predictable. I admire her character for not fighting with him about it, and allowing it. I love Ron and Hermione. Of course they go with him, what would book 7 be like if the 3 of them weren't together? AWFUL... plus the two of them have to fall in love. No Duh.
The two of them throughout the whole book are hilarious. Secretly in love with eachother, and it is possible that Ron isn't entirely aware of his feelings for her. So funny with Lavender Brown... what a skank. Totally annoying as a girlfriend too. It is great that Harry takes Luna Lovegood to the Slug Club Party but the best part of that whole scene is Hermione running away from that doof McLaggen with messed up hair because he pinned her under the mistletoe. Neville isn't really featured either. The book is so interesting. SO GOOD. Really well done. I laughed out loud a lot.
I want some Felix Felicis. Sounds GREAT.
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Read in July, 2007
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I was first introduced to Harry Potter in a Children’s Lit class in college. I had resisted this popular phenomenon until I was forced to pick it up for a grade, and Book 1 was short enough that I could read it in the course of 2 hours. I have to admit I wasn’t impressed to any extent, nor did I dislike the experience, but I was critical on grounds of its being derivative, even if reading the first led to reading the second. After all, if I was bored and looking for something light, I could ...more
I was first introduced to Harry Potter in a Children’s Lit class in college. I had resisted this popular phenomenon until I was forced to pick it up for a grade, and Book 1 was short enough that I could read it in the course of 2 hours. I have to admit I wasn’t impressed to any extent, nor did I dislike the experience, but I was critical on grounds of its being derivative, even if reading the first led to reading the second. After all, if I was bored and looking for something light, I could do worse than a fantasy about a child wizard who fights evil with his friends. But it was really the third book, with its increasing darkness, that took me in and made me a fan.
With a movie coming out for Order of Phoenix and Deathly Hallows on the horizon, I decided I would reread Half-Blood Prince. I figured it would take four sittings, of course, with its 600 pages, but time does fly when reading this one, and I’ve come to the conclusion that this is my favorite so far. What I wouldn’t have been willing to admit in college that I’m perfectly comfortable saying now is that J.K. Rowling is a fantastic storyteller; she writes with great clarity, wit, and humor; and she’s created a cast of loveable characters with whom most people, due to the common experience of growing up, can relate closely.
That said, the reason for my preference for the 6th book is that it’s the most emotionally rich in the series. Here we get the backstory of Voldemort (*spoiler alert*) through a series of flashbacks (coming in HP by way of magically extracted memories), and in this way, we come to understand the villain’s similarities and differences with our hero. After all, the villain has to have reasons for committing heinous acts, and until now, we don’t know what these are.
Voldemort is from a once-powerful wizard family reduced to poverty that lives in a dilapidated hovel on the edge of a small town, wary of outsiders, and their main point of pride is their pure blood, the lineage having cross-bred for generations so as not to pollute the line. Voldemort’s mother lives with her father and brother and yearns for the love of a nonmagical man (“muggle” in this world) and when her father and brother are arrested, she uses the opportunity to bewitch her beloved and run off. She ends up pregnant, the man deserts her, and she dies while giving birth to her half-wizard, half-muggle son, thus making him an orphan (like Harry).
(Faulkner anyone?)
But whereas Harry comes to Hogwarts and befriends Ron and Hermione creating unity and strength through positive emotions, Voldemort, when growing in the orphanage shuns other children, torturing them at times (without the awareness of adults) and stealing their possessions. What fuels him is his hatred of his beginnings, his mother’s weakness at having died like a common person despite being a witch, and the “muggle” blood inherited from his father. Over the course of his time at Hogwarts, Voldemort, charming as only evil can be, learns to win over people as a means to an end and disguise his insidious purposes, but he never befriends anyone. He moves, through his hatred, further away from many of the emotions that drive Harry, namely the desire to protect the people he loves and avenge his parents’ death.
With Dumbledore’s help in exploring Voldemort’s past, Harry begins to understand that he’s come to be where he is through the choices he’s made, that his greatest strengths are an alliance with his friends, and that this might hold the key to destroying his enemy, a fact that’s made all the more poignant when Dumbledore, in an all-out assault on Hogwarts by Voldemort’s Death Eaters, is killed at the end. The stakes are higher than before, the action and pace increase as the conclusion draws near, and things are looking darker than ever, which is the setup that any fan wants when the end is looming and it leaves us with the question: How will our hero prevail?...less
With a movie coming out for Order of Phoenix and Deathly Hallows on the horizon, I decided I would reread Half-Blood Prince. I figured it would take four sittings, of course, with its 600 pages, but time does fly when reading this one, and I’ve come to the conclusion that this is my favorite so far. What I wouldn’t have been willing to admit in college that I’m perfectly comfortable saying now is that J.K. Rowling is a fantastic storyteller; she writes with great clarity, wit, and humor; and she’s created a cast of loveable characters with whom most people, due to the common experience of growing up, can relate closely.
That said, the reason for my preference for the 6th book is that it’s the most emotionally rich in the series. Here we get the backstory of Voldemort (*spoiler alert*) through a series of flashbacks (coming in HP by way of magically extracted memories), and in this way, we come to understand the villain’s similarities and differences with our hero. After all, the villain has to have reasons for committing heinous acts, and until now, we don’t know what these are.
Voldemort is from a once-powerful wizard family reduced to poverty that lives in a dilapidated hovel on the edge of a small town, wary of outsiders, and their main point of pride is their pure blood, the lineage having cross-bred for generations so as not to pollute the line. Voldemort’s mother lives with her father and brother and yearns for the love of a nonmagical man (“muggle” in this world) and when her father and brother are arrested, she uses the opportunity to bewitch her beloved and run off. She ends up pregnant, the man deserts her, and she dies while giving birth to her half-wizard, half-muggle son, thus making him an orphan (like Harry).
(Faulkner anyone?)
But whereas Harry comes to Hogwarts and befriends Ron and Hermione creating unity and strength through positive emotions, Voldemort, when growing in the orphanage shuns other children, torturing them at times (without the awareness of adults) and stealing their possessions. What fuels him is his hatred of his beginnings, his mother’s weakness at having died like a common person despite being a witch, and the “muggle” blood inherited from his father. Over the course of his time at Hogwarts, Voldemort, charming as only evil can be, learns to win over people as a means to an end and disguise his insidious purposes, but he never befriends anyone. He moves, through his hatred, further away from many of the emotions that drive Harry, namely the desire to protect the people he loves and avenge his parents’ death.
With Dumbledore’s help in exploring Voldemort’s past, Harry begins to understand that he’s come to be where he is through the choices he’s made, that his greatest strengths are an alliance with his friends, and that this might hold the key to destroying his enemy, a fact that’s made all the more poignant when Dumbledore, in an all-out assault on Hogwarts by Voldemort’s Death Eaters, is killed at the end. The stakes are higher than before, the action and pace increase as the conclusion draws near, and things are looking darker than ever, which is the setup that any fan wants when the end is looming and it leaves us with the question: How will our hero prevail?...less
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Read in March, 2008
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WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!! The Half-Blood Prince was easily the best book in the series up to this point. It kept me riveted. This book is right up there among the best fantasy I've ever read. Rowling has finally earned a place in my mind among the best fantasy writers. I know, I came to that realization kind-of late, but this was the first book of hers that really blew me away. It was fascinating to see the scope of the story expand and long-time mysteries be illuminated. In any great fictional ...more
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!! The Half-Blood Prince was easily the best book in the series up to this point. It kept me riveted. This book is right up there among the best fantasy I've ever read. Rowling has finally earned a place in my mind among the best fantasy writers. I know, I came to that realization kind-of late, but this was the first book of hers that really blew me away. It was fascinating to see the scope of the story expand and long-time mysteries be illuminated. In any great fictional story, the scope of the story expands as the story arc progresses. That was definitely the case with this book. The scope of the story expanded, and your knowledge of what's going on greatly increased. Everything that happened up to this point is seen in a larger context.
Now that the Ministry is convinced that Voldemort is back, the real war against Voldemort has begun. People are dying every day. Has Snape betrayed the Order of the Phoenix? The book gets off to a suspenseful start. Then Dumbledore decides to give Harry private lessons, and each lesson is fascinating as they use the pensieve to explore memories of different people to try to figure out Voldemort's origins, motives, and plans. Voldemort gives Harry an assignment to collect a memory from Professor Slughorn, one of the new teachers on the staff, that holds the key to understanding Voldemort's plans. Harry obtains the memory, and from that point forward I could not put the book down. Each chapter from that point on was riveting. Each one contained incredible, amazing events that expanded the scope of the story arc and expanded your understanding of what was happening. The chapter on on 'horcruxes' in particular blew me away. Finally we know how Voldemort achieved immortality! Now it was clear what had to be done to defeat him! It changed everything. That chapter changed and defined the course of the rest of the series. Later, Dumbledore took Harry on a mission to destroy one of the horcruxes, and the account of that excursion was brilliant. I was totally riveted. It was so descriptive, so suspenseful. Upon their return to Hogwarts, they discovered that the school had been infiltrated by Death Eaters, and a full-blown battle erupted. Again, it was so suspenseful, I could not put the book down.
Somehow I knew that Dumbledore had to die. Harry had been under Dumbledore's tutelage and protection throughout the whole series. I could see why Dumbledore dying was necessary for Potter's further growth and development. It sets things up so that Potter will have to face Voldemort one last time in the last book, alone, totally unaided. It had to be that way. One thing worries me though. Is Harry ready? After all, he hasn't completed his education and training. Harry was no match for Snape in their duel at the end of Half-Blood Prince. He still has a lot to learn. How can he ever track down and destroy 4 horcruxes, and then destroy Voldemort, all by himself? This is by-far the largest task he's ever had to face, and seems too much for him. Well, we'll just have to see, shall we?
P.S.: Am I the only one that has a reasonable guess as to who R.A.B. stands for? Without having read Deathly Hollows or knowing anything about how things actually turn out, I think I have it figured out. Think about it: Who in the entire series do we know with a last name that begins with a B? Well of course, there's the Black family. Now there are lots of Blacks, but who among the Blacks has a first name beginning with an R, wh
Now that the Ministry is convinced that Voldemort is back, the real war against Voldemort has begun. People are dying every day. Has Snape betrayed the Order of the Phoenix? The book gets off to a suspenseful start. Then Dumbledore decides to give Harry private lessons, and each lesson is fascinating as they use the pensieve to explore memories of different people to try to figure out Voldemort's origins, motives, and plans. Voldemort gives Harry an assignment to collect a memory from Professor Slughorn, one of the new teachers on the staff, that holds the key to understanding Voldemort's plans. Harry obtains the memory, and from that point forward I could not put the book down. Each chapter from that point on was riveting. Each one contained incredible, amazing events that expanded the scope of the story arc and expanded your understanding of what was happening. The chapter on on 'horcruxes' in particular blew me away. Finally we know how Voldemort achieved immortality! Now it was clear what had to be done to defeat him! It changed everything. That chapter changed and defined the course of the rest of the series. Later, Dumbledore took Harry on a mission to destroy one of the horcruxes, and the account of that excursion was brilliant. I was totally riveted. It was so descriptive, so suspenseful. Upon their return to Hogwarts, they discovered that the school had been infiltrated by Death Eaters, and a full-blown battle erupted. Again, it was so suspenseful, I could not put the book down.
Somehow I knew that Dumbledore had to die. Harry had been under Dumbledore's tutelage and protection throughout the whole series. I could see why Dumbledore dying was necessary for Potter's further growth and development. It sets things up so that Potter will have to face Voldemort one last time in the last book, alone, totally unaided. It had to be that way. One thing worries me though. Is Harry ready? After all, he hasn't completed his education and training. Harry was no match for Snape in their duel at the end of Half-Blood Prince. He still has a lot to learn. How can he ever track down and destroy 4 horcruxes, and then destroy Voldemort, all by himself? This is by-far the largest task he's ever had to face, and seems too much for him. Well, we'll just have to see, shall we?
P.S.: Am I the only one that has a reasonable guess as to who R.A.B. stands for? Without having read Deathly Hollows or knowing anything about how things actually turn out, I think I have it figured out. Think about it: Who in the entire series do we know with a last name that begins with a B? Well of course, there's the Black family. Now there are lots of Blacks, but who among the Blacks has a first name beginning with an R, wh