Harry Potter 6 Discussion

This was a MUCH more enjoyable read than 5.

Interestingly enough, I didn’t remember much about the series from books 6 and 7 — probably because I’d only read them the one time. So in many ways, I was reading brand-new books for me.

My two major problems with this book were that the “plot” was mostly made up of “Dumbledore tells Harry about Voldemort’s past” rather than actual activity happening in the here and now. Also, I wasn’t super keen on the progression of the romance between Ginny and Harry (jealousy not being my favorite romantic motivation).

That being said? The stuff that DID happen in the here and now was fantastic, and much of that historical stuff was also interesting. Harry wanted to be treated like an adult, and Dumbledore gave him that opportunity — as well as letting him know when Harry had fallen short of adult expectations. (Did anyone else feel that this Dumbledore was more like the second Dumbledore from the movies? More angry and sharp? He read differently to me.)

Snape remained ever mysterious and evocative, and finding out that HE was the Half-Blood Prince was well done. I did find it odd that the book was so much better than “the way things were done” and was surprised that it hadn’t, in the intervening years, BECOME “the way things are done”. Like if everyone’s been making raisin cookies for years and suddenly someone’s like “let’s throw some chocolate chips in there!” … and then even though they’re fantastic, nobody does anything but make raisin cookies.

Dumbledore’s ending was no surprise to me, so it didn’t hit me the way it did the first time.

I really feel like the side characters are the ones who get to shine best in these books, especially the latter ones. Harry himself is certainly not inactive or voiceless, but there’s such a vibrancy to the Weasleys, a mystery to Snape … even Draco gets to break out of his one-dimensional villain shell and show some depth.

The beginning of the book was a very interesting look at the way the muggle government interacted with the magical one.

Those of you reading along, what did you think? Anne, I think you mentioned this was your favorite book from the series? What are your favorite things about it? Inquiring minds want to know!

Related posts:

Harry Potter 1 Discussion
Harry Potter 3 Discussion
Harry Potter 5 Discussion