What are you reading? (Dec 2013)

[Nyssa]

I see your point, but I can't help but think that a lot of that anger may have come from the position he was in.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

You've obviously been "marked" by the series.

[Felina]

Response (view spoiler)[ Tonk, Lupin and Sirius. It was war. It would be unrealistic is key characters didn't die. It sucks but if everybody got out of it and none of the characters experience real pain then the characterization that makes Harry Potter phenomenal would be cheap. (hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

Felina wrote: "Response [spoilers removed]"

I know and yes it makes sense, but #s 1 & 2 were just - Ugh!!!

[Nyssa]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "You've obviously been "marked" by the series."

Ha! :P

[Mike (the Paladin)]

My wife never forgave her for (view spoiler)[ Killing Dumbledore (hide spoiler)]. She almost didn't finish the series.

[Nyssa]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "My wife never forgave her for [spoilers removed]. She almost didn't finish the series."

I came to terms with that, especially after remembering (view spoiler)[ that he was going to die anyway from the curse that damaged his hand (hide spoiler)]. It also didn't hurt that he had (view spoiler)[made a deal with Snape (hide spoiler)]. Although, I don't remember if the audience knew that before hand or after.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

After.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Oh come now. Nobody mentioned (view spoiler)[Dobby? (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

With regards to Snape I wonder how many fans actually like the character or the way the actor plays him in the movies. I do *like* the character - he is one of the most interesting characters in the books - but I also think Alan Rickman brought him to another level. In my opinion one of those roles that was perfectly suited for the actor.

[Nyssa]

Nienna wrote: "With regards to Snape I wonder how many fans actually like the character or the way the actor plays him in the movies. I do *like* the character - he is one of the most interesting characters in th..."

I hated Snape - the character - in the books more than I did in movies (or at least the ones I saw) but I think thats because I already knew the story. I love(d) Alan Rickman's portrayal of him! Alan Rickman is pure awesome!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Alan Rickman steals any scene he's in no matter what the movie.

[Felina]

See and I think Alan Rickman's portrayal was bad. Though I don't think that's Alan Rickman's fault. In the first few movies they made Snape out to be a comedic character when he has one of the darkest story lines.

[Jackie]

Chris wrote: "Oh come now. Nobody mentioned [spoilers removed]"

OMG! That one turns me into a teary blubbery mess every time, both in the book and movie. There are certain deaths that make me sad, but I don't cry at them anymore, but his...ugh. That and (view spoiler)[ Snape's revealing memories get me too. (hide spoiler)] I didn't like Snape and still hate him in certain instances. He was an a-hole, particularly when it came to the Occlumency lessons, but I do like that he was well rounded enough that I sometimes like him and sometimes hate him. There are not many characters I feel that way about. And Alan Rickman is just pure gold.

[Nyssa]

Felina wrote: "See and I think Alan Rickman's portrayal was bad. Though I don't think that's Alan Rickman's fault. In the first few movies they made Snape out to be a comedic character when he has one of the dark..."

Although I didn't quite see it that way, do remember that the first 2 (maybe even 3 ) books and movies are meant for a younger audience, so it could have just been a case of not wanting to make him too scary/sinister.

I only watched through Goblets of Fire, I think. I remember having a tough go of book 5 because Harry was being such a teenage angsty, brat, and I really didn't want to see it on screen.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

The thing that got me about Snape was (view spoiler)[ no matter whether he was always a "good guy" the way he treated the kids was creepy. What was worse was that Dumbledore let him get away with it.<?spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Felina]

I don't recall Snape coming off as a comedic character in the first books either.

I think what happened with the movies was that the later books hadn't even come out yet so the writers didn't know the gravity of Snape's character. I think he'd have gotten a lot more reverence if they'd waited until the books were done before they made the movies. Physically though, I think Alan Rickman is spot on.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I agree with Felina. Plus (view spoiler)[ Sirius and Dumbledore had to die, thematically. I mostly wish Sirius had had a better death, instead of some cheap shot from Bellatrix and falling through that stupid Veil.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not happy about the deaths - Sirius was my fave character and I was depressed for days when he died - but I understand their relevance in terms of story... Dumbledore especially.

(She wasn't originally gonna kill Tonks and Lupin, but she was gonna kill Arthur in book 5, but couldn't do it... so she offed T&L in his place. I do wish their deaths were at least not off-screen, so to speak.

Plus it made an interesting parallel between Harry and Teddy. (hide spoiler)]

[Felina]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "The thing that got me about Snape was [spoilers removed]"

EXACTLY!!

[Felina]

(view spoiler)[I heard that she had also meant to kill Ron instead of Fred. (hide spoiler)] I would have murdered everybody in the world if that had happened.

[Nyssa]

Felina wrote: "[spoilers removed] I would have murdered everybody in the world if that had happened."

While I appreciate her not doing that, I still can't forgive her.
(view spoiler)[ I was sad when I found out Elvis was a twinless twin, and I'm not even an Elvis fan, per se. The twin thing is just a really soft spot for me (hide spoiler)]

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

@Jackie - I do think Snape is one of the more complex and interesting characters in the series. And I was shocked as hell in the last book when I cried for him. But he's also still a git most of the time.

@Felina - I liked Rickman's portrayal, overall, though I agree he was maybe played for laughs a bit much. There were some things from the book - like the boggart bit. (No, autocorrect, I did not mean Bogart.)

As to physically - one thing that kinda bugged me was that whole generation is about 25 years too old. They should be mid-30s, not pushing 60.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Felina wrote: "[spoilers removed] I would have murdered everybody in the world if that had happened."

I never heard that one. I think there may have been a riot. ;)

[Felina]

That scene I can forgive. It was meant to be funny. But the scene in the movie where Harry is at a party and Hermione is trying to dodge Ernie and Snape is trying to catch them doing something wrong and ends up getting all stuck in some drapes. It was just needlessly goofy. Or when Harry and Ron keep talking during study hall and he keeps coming around and pushing their heads down. And I'm just mad thinking this man is a villain and an anti-hero and a bully and someone who was bullied. He's not a joke or a punch line. That never settled well with me even before I knew his history.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I forgot about the drapes scene. I thought the headpush was funny, though... though I think he woulda knocked their heads together.

[Nyssa]

Colleen wrote: "I forgot about the drapes scene. I thought the headpush was funny, though... though I think he woulda knocked their heads together."

I don't remember either scene.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Felina - Thinking more about it, I'm still ok with the head push, but I don't like the big prep with him rolling his sleeves up. Too forced.

[Felina]

Yes!

[Lee]

Felina wrote: "[spoilers removed] I would have murdered everybody in the world if that had happened."

This would have killed me. Really. I would've just crawled into a ball and died. I always expected (view spoiler)[ Harry to die. I was ready. But Ron had better been safe. (hide spoiler)]

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I missed all of this, lol.

I'm clueless as to what yall are talking about since I stopped reading HP after book 2...

[[deleted user]]

This has turned into a fairly lengthy digression so I've made a thread where y'all can continue discussing the series.

Harry Potter

Please take further posts there. Thanks! :)

[Lee]

Finished The Elfstones of Shannara last night and started The Wishsong of Shannara this morning. I've enjoyed the series but I'm not sure if I should continue or not. I've heard they go downhill. What are the best/worst books in the series?

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Elfstones and Wishsong are my favorites, but the next series is pretty damn good too. The Heritage series is 4 books.

Of course, I like the series after that (Voyage of the Jeryle Shannara) too. That's as far as I've read in that direction. I hope to pick up with the books after that at some point.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Oh, but right after you finish Wishsong, you should try to read these:

Indomitable
Dark Wraith of Shannara

They're direct sequels to Wishsong. Indomitable is a novella and DW is a graphic novel.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

I started book 4 of the Belgariad: Castle of Wizardry.

I have started reviews for the previous two but not finalized them...I feel like I should make myself finish up those two reviews tomorrow and Tuesday so I can have a fresh start in Jan.

[Felina]

I've heard so many good things about that series. It's one I want to get to this year.

[Lee]

Chris wrote: "Elfstones and Wishsong are my favorites, but the next series is pretty damn good too. The Heritage series is 4 books.

Of course, I like the series after that (Voyage of the Jeryle Shannara) too. T..."

Thanks. I think I will continue. :)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Felina wrote: "I've heard so many good things about that series. It's one I want to get to this year."

I really enjoy them.

[Benjamin]

I'm about half way through A Crucible of Souls and so far it's really good.

[Nyssa]

Benjamin wrote: "I'm about half way through A Crucible of Souls and so far it's really good."

Oh no! That sounds really good. *Must Fight Urge to Add Yet Another Series to My TBR!*

[Mike (the Paladin)]

....I may have been snared to....curses.

[Caleb]

So I finished Her Fearful Symmetry and I didn't like it. I mean, it was well written, but it just wasn't my thing. Now I'm starting How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy and its pretty interesting. I'm also still working my way through Song of Kali.

[[deleted user]]

I'm starting off my commitment to read more classics in 2014 with Middlemarch, because it's only been about two years since I promised an old friend I would read it. And I'm still in that classics mood that the holiday season always gives me...

[L.K.]

I just finished The Name of the Wind. It was amazing. It's in my top 5.

[Nyssa]

L.K. wrote: "I just finished The Name of the Wind. It was amazing. It's in my top 5."

That is one of the many on my TBR list.. I hope to get to it sooner than later.

As to what I'm reading, well its the MG/YA Group Read of the month The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
I really hope I find the time to finish it tomorrow .. umm today.

[Lee]

I'm reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe too. Also, Dangerous Women.
I'm hoping to get more reading done now that the holidays are over. December was a horrible month for reading.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I sooooo want to read Dangerous Women.

I should have a hard copy arriving in the mail this week.

[Benjamin]

Im reading Emperor of Thorns at the moment.

[Nicholas]

i'm reading magician appreentice

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Bet Me, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Kushiel's Mercy and Castle of Wizardry