Rowling, J.K.- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3); Informal Buddy Read: Starts November 21, 2014 --REVISIT-- May 2018

[maria helena]

Chapter 7

I love the idea of conquering your fear with laughter, and the vision of Snape (view spoiler)[dressed in Neville's grandma's clothes (hide spoiler)] is hilarious!

[Judy]

maria helena wrote: "Chapter 7

I love the idea of conquering your fear with laughter, and the vision of Snape [spoilers removed] is hilarious!"

I've always loved that scene and I think it's super good in the movie as well!

[maria helena]

@Devann and Deanna, regarding Snape:

(view spoiler)[ I'm definitely one that often praise Snape, but it is not that I think his last good actions overshadows all the bad things he has done. I think he is an outstanding character (as in Rowling really did a amazing job). He is so complex and when you at the end find out his motivations, all his actions are understandable. Not forgivable, but his behaviour and actions makes sense. At the end, I did feel sorry for him and I think he is a character that is very easy to relate to. He is definitely one of my all-time favourite characters, but I am known for having a soft spot for wounded villains and the characters you love to hate. (hide spoiler)]

[Emelie]

Re the Dursley's descriptions: That's one thing I've really thought about during the re-reads this far. Sure, one can describe the characters and point out that they are fat, but she always seems to do it in connection with reinforcing how bad/spoiled/mean Dudley is. It bothers me a lot.

Re McGonagall: I absolutely LOVE how snarky she is and when she dragged Trelawney at Christmas dinner was one of my fave little moments. She's just so badass and hilarious and strong and awesome, but you can totally see how loving and caring and passionate she is about her work and the students, too.

Mr Weasley: I agree. I really appreciate that Mr Weasley seems to be the only one thinking it's actually a good idea to inform Harry about stuff so Harry can make good, sound decisions about stuff or like, have the right to know stuff in general that involves himself, his parents and his past. So many things could like have been avoided should people just COMMUNICATE.

[Deanna]

Caroline wrote: "Devann wrote: "CHAPTERS 11-15

i love when professor mcgonagall just totally drags professor trelawney at the christmas feast lol. even though i feel like someone once actually made a list of all t..."

I would use it both to read and sleep. Who wouldn't want more time in the day.

[Deanna]

Finished this morning...

Lupin - (view spoiler)[I understand the backlash of having the parents know a werewolf was teaching at the school, but I can't help but wish that Lupin had been allowed to stay. He was a great teacher, and I wish he and Harry had gotten to spend more time together. (hide spoiler)]

Sirius - (view spoiler)[I've always been disappointed that the minister of magic wasn't willing to listen to what Harry and Hermione had to say about Sirius. Harry deserved more time with his godfather. (hide spoiler)]

Harry - (view spoiler)[I like the way Rowling's slowly fills in Harry's backstory throughout the series. I sometimes wished that in addition to the photo album Hagrid had asked for letters with stories about James and Lily as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

Deanna wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Devann wrote: "CHAPTERS 11-15

i love when professor mcgonagall just totally drags professor trelawney at the christmas feast lol. even though i feel like someone once actually mad..."

Haha, same !

[Devann]

@Caroline and maria. re: Snape [future spoilers-ish] (view spoiler)[yeah i mean he DID do some good things on occasion but for a lot of people [at least back in the day] this seemed to mean 'snape is a precious cinnamon roll' and to me it was more like 'not as much of an asshole as you could have been'. and i do like him as a character, but as a person he has done some awful stuff that i personally can't really forgive. i know a lot of people compare his redemption arc to draco's but to me it's like ok draco was awful too but also he was a CHILD and then he grew up, snape was acting like this well into his adult life so to me that's different. (hide spoiler)]

@Emelie yeah i am noticing a lot more descriptions this time through where it's like 'such and such person is bad and also they're ugly / fat / greasy / whatever'. i guess 'villains are ugly' is an easy thing to do for a children's book but i don't feel like it does children any favors if they start to think that way because it rarely lines up with the real world.

[Devann]

also re: trelawney in general

i was looking through my tumblr last night and found this post of things trelawney guessed about harry and it makes a good point that actually all of them apply to voldemort and (view spoiler)[harry has a piece of voldemort in him soooo she's kind of right (hide spoiler)]

i thought i had reblogged a post laying out all of her predictions and showing they were right but i seem to have misplaced it so *shrug*

[Claire]

Devann wrote: "also re: trelawney in general

i was looking through my tumblr last night and found this post of things trelawney guessed about harry and it makes a good point that actually all of them apply to vo..."

interesting! Like the comment said, maybe she's a good seer, but is anable to interpret the signs correctly. And because of her mistakes nobody's able to believe her when it counts. In that way she's like the mythological figure of Cassandra, a great seer who nobody ever believed. (btw, her mother's named Cassandra, isn't that intereseting?)

[Judy]

Devann wrote: "also re: trelawney in general

i was looking through my tumblr last night and found this post of things trelawney guessed about harry and it makes a good point that actually all of them apply to vo..."

I've definitely seen that post too at some point, and had thought I'd reblogged it as well, but alas... can't find it either.

[Devann]

CHAPTERS 16-END

this book just makes me so emotional lol. "MY BABIES!" i say about two grown men in a series filled mostly with children...

(view spoiler)[it would take ages for me to go through all my favorite quotes and bits here because sirius and remus are my two favorite characters in the whole series [my eternal curse is an obsession with side characters] BUT i will just say that i love how sirius is such a dramatic bitch. "only one person will die tonight" like COULD YOU SOUND ANY MORE OMINOUS lmao. also *breaks out of prison after 12 years* *immediately runs off to actually commit the crime he was imprisoned for* i mean like #same but also ...so dramatic. love him so much. also i think it's easy to forget because they cast such old actors for the movies [listen to me complain literally forever about that] but sirius, remus, and severus are only in their early 30s at this point, an age that most of us original fans are probably approaching or even past at this point. (hide spoiler)]

re: snape again (view spoiler)[i love the line 'is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside azkaban?' because that is basically snape's entire personality in a nutshell. true that sirius himself doesn't really help matters because he definitely does needle snape and escalate things but snape has basically been living his entire life holding onto grudges from he was a child and lashing out at people who had absolutely nothing to do with it. (hide spoiler)]

re: the wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff (view spoiler)[surely like ...people KNOW hermione had the time turner. i mean the teachers have to know i would think and also she had to get it from the ministry so like ...there are records and maybe fudge would not know off the bat but it would take like zero digging to figure out oh hey hermione, one of harry's best friends, had a time turner this whole year and some weird disappearing shit went down over a few hours ...hmmmm. BUT i do like that hermione gets to step up and be a part of the big ending in this book especially since she was out of commission for the last one. (hide spoiler)]

also i love that the first thing harry does when seeing the dursleys is (view spoiler)[tell them his murderer godfather is watching them lmao. i mean i know he's got to keep them off his back somehow but it still kills me (hide spoiler)]

anyway i'm just gonna go and cry about (view spoiler)[how much i love sirius black (hide spoiler)] for a bit, which is basically my default life state lol

[Tammie]

Re Harry finding out about Sirius Black the way he did...

It’s one of my biggest pet leaves to hear about important things from someone other than who I should. It’s so unfortunate...not that anything would have/could have changed in Harry’s case...it’s just cruel not to just sit someone down and explain.

I’m hopeful that we’ll learn more about Prof Lupin and how he became what he is...or was he just born that way?

[Emelie]

Devann; the ages of the actors can get me going too! Like, Sirius was what - 21 when he got into prison? And Lily and James died. Ageing up the actors takes away the waste of youth and that it was mostly the really young that fought and suffered in both wars. That Snape, Sirius and Remus and their age peers still are only in their early 30's are so heartbreaking and makes more sense how they act and think, in a way. They're still just so young.

But I think they aged the actors up because it's children's movies and for it to resonate more with kids to see older people as the adults or something. There must have been some kind of reasoning because surely they could have found actors otherwise that fitted the actual age range.

[Judy]

Tammie wrote: "I’m hopeful that we’ll learn more about Prof Lupin and how he became what he is...or was he just born that way?"

That is explained eventually 😊

[Devann]

@Emelie yeah i don't think the potters were more than 20 when they died so that would put the surviving people from that era at like 33, maybe 34 at this time. then the movies get actors that are mostly all in their late 40s i think and i'm just like ??? i mean i love alan rickman and gary oldman but i think it just puts an entirely different context on everything to have them be so much older than they are supposed to be. and i agree that all of their behavior makes more sense when you realize how young they actually still are.

idk if they ever discussed their reasoning for casting older actors but i assume it was at least in part bc they wanted bigger names attached to the project, or like you said to make more of a clear divide to the kids watching [which again, stop talking down to kids! but i digress lol]

[Tammie]

I must say that I’m getting as much out of reading everyone’s comments here as I am reading these books...you all know so much detail...thank you for sharing!

[Emelie]

It totally changes the context, I agree.

AH, yes, I forgot about the obvious of getting bigger names to draw viewers, hahah. And of course, Rickman was fantastic, but Snape's obvious hatred and grudge that you get to see so clearly here also makes more sense if he's just in his early 30's. Still young and immature, the school days that still aren't that far away and obviously affecting him. I think that might have been a reason why they toned down movie!Snape's explosive anger; older adults more often than not don't react in that way.

[Devann]

yeah it always kind of bothers me when big franchises won't go with more unknown actors because like ...it's harry potter. it's going to be successful regardless of who you cast so why not cast someone maybe more suited to the part even if they aren't as well known. they obviously did really well with all the child actors but some of the adults i have problems with.

but yeah, snape's behavior is still a bit ridiculous to me for a man in his early 30s but when you look at him in the movie and he's like in his 50s you're just like really dude? grow up! i guess you can say that school wasn't THAT long ago for him but like ...i mean i'm 28 right now and i was bullied a ton in school but i don't act like him when i have to see people i went to school with, we're just distantly civil and then we move on. idk, i guess you can argue that he's pretty emotionally stunted but i still feel like he should have been able to move on by now more than he has

[SandyL]

maria helena wrote: "Chapter 7

I love the idea of conquering your fear with laughter, and the vision of Snape [spoilers removed] is hilarious!"

I didn't see the movie, but now I need to! I loved this scene too!

[Emelie]

Devann wrote: "yeah it always kind of bothers me when big franchises won't go with more unknown actors because like ...it's harry potter. it's going to be successful regardless of who you cast so why not cast som..."

Oh, defintly. it doesn't excuse or pardon how absolutly terrible he is or the actions he takes. It seems really, really over the top to hate an innocent child so strongly, and all the pupils in general, just bc you and the kid's father bullied&fought each other.

[Tammie]

Emelie wrote: "Devann wrote: "yeah it always kind of bothers me when big franchises won't go with more unknown actors because like ...it's harry potter. it's going to be successful regardless of who you cast so w..."

I just finished Chapter 14 as well. It's clear Prof Snape needs counseling. He should be expelled!

[Tammie]

...am I remembering the movie vs this book correctly?...in Chapter 16, Buckbeak(view spoiler)[ I think, lives in the movie...Dumbledore distracts the executioner while Harry rescues. I just finished Chapter 16...it's sounding like the executioner has gone though with the task. It's pretty graphic how it's described...I'm wondering if there's a HEA here I'll find out in a few chapters... (hide spoiler)]

[Judy]

Chapter 9

(view spoiler)[Is there ever a Quidditch match in which Harry isn't in mortal danger? 😂 They're all sooooo dramatic! (I want so many more Quidditch scenes than there are in the book though...) (hide spoiler)]

[SandyL]

Judy wrote: "Chapter 9

[spoilers removed]"

It seems like there is a lot of practice for so few matches!

[maria helena]

Judy wrote: "Chapter 9

[spoilers removed]"

I agree! There is not enough Quidditch in the books.

[Tammie]

Tammie wrote: "...am I remembering the movie vs this book correctly?...in Chapter 16, Buckbeak[spoilers removed]"

I'll reply to my own comment...didn't wait long enough! I forgot what happened...I love it!

[Tammie]

I think this has been my favorite of the first three books...it really moved along and was quite exciting at the end.
I really think Pr Snape needs anger management therapy.
The more I think about it...Dumbledore really does have a school of misfit professors...

Looking forward to the next...

[Judy]

Chapter 17-19

(view spoiler)[Marauder-flashbacks are basically my favorite thing about Harry Potter, so obviously these scenes are pure gold!!! I want to know so much more about their friendship and their time at Hogwarts… I want to know more about their Map, how they became animagi, what kind of hijinks they got up to - just everything! I would even read the James & Lily romance novel ❤️❤️❤️ (I guess this is why the vast majority of HP fic I’ve read was Marauder era…) (hide spoiler)]

[maria helena]

This is probably my favourite of the first 3 books. I love how we are learning more about the characters' backstories (view spoiler)[like one of the reasons Snape hates James Potter so much (hide spoiler)].

[SandyL]

Tammie wrote: "Tammie wrote: "...am I remembering the movie vs this book correctly?...in Chapter 16, Buckbeak[spoilers removed]"

I'll reply to my own comment...didn't wait long enough! I forgot what happened...I..."

Just gone done reading that part - I love what Dumbledore did!

[Tammie]

SandyL wrote: "Tammie wrote: "Tammie wrote: "...am I remembering the movie vs this book correctly?...in Chapter 16, Buckbeak[spoilers removed]"

I'll reply to my own comment...didn't wait long enough! I forgot wh..."

He's such a softie!

[SandyL]

I've finished and, like a few others have said, this has been my favorite book of the series despite (view spoiler)[ how out of control Snape's anger is. (hide spoiler)]

I loved how Harry (view spoiler)[ feels less alone now that he knows he's got Sirius Black and also that he found his Patronus and it's the same as his dad's. (hide spoiler)]

The story behind the Shrieking Shack was also so interesting and (view spoiler)[ I was so sad to see Professor Lupin leave. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

I'm starting this one probably on Monday. Listening to the Jim Dale audio.

[Shannon]

Devann wrote: "i was trying to space these out more but people seem to be moving along quickly so here we go

CHAPTERS 1-5

the fact that you apparently have to clip the twigs on your broomstick is kind of weird ..."


Haha! I agree. Just tell Harry the truth.

Just started today.

Ch 1-5

(view spoiler)[I’m so enjoying all these rereads! You just forget how much fun they are. From blowing up Marge, to the Knight Bus, all the foreshadowing, Hermione buying Crookshanks, meeting Lupin. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

maria helena wrote: "Judy wrote: "Chapter 9

[spoilers removed]"

I agree! There is not enough Quidditch in the books."

unpopular opinion here... I could do without Quidditch altogether... Sorry ! haha

[Joanne]

Chapters 1-4

(view spoiler)[I'm impressed with Harry for being able to stand Marge's abuse for almost a full week. It's very hard to have everything about you insulted and not even be able to react or say anything back. It still makes me mad that Harry has to go back to the Dursleys every year. I suppose the only good thing that can be said about it is it keeps him humble. Hard to feel too full of yourself when everyone thinks you're garbage.

Love the time Harry gets to spend in Diagon Alley before heading to school. There's so much darkness coming in the series, it's nice to see him happy and relaxed, obsessing over a new broomstick. (hide spoiler)]

[Devann]

@Claire i'm with you, i'm always like 'oh god another quidditch match?' because 1. no matter how you dress it up you just can't make me care about sports and 2. it's always the exact same thing like 'oh no something is trying to kill harry during the match but CAN HE CATCH THE SNITCH?!' and i think basically every time except once the answer is yes he can lol it's just not exciting for me

[Shannon]

Joanne wrote: "Chapters 1-4

I'm impressed with Harry for being able to stand Marge's abuse for almost a full week. It's very hard to have everything about you insulted and not even be able to react or say anythi..."

Right! It is so nice when we get to see him having a bit of just normalcy and fun.

[Joanne]

Chapters 5-10

(view spoiler)[ I just love Professor Lupin. It's so interesting to read all his scenes while keeping in mind both what Lupin thinks about James/Sirius/Peter at the time and what we find out by the end. Also, with Harry not knowing Lupin's connections to his dad and Severus.

Poor Harry feels so left out when everyone goes to Hogsmeade without him. I can't believe that the first time he goes he doesn't even have his invisibility cloak with him.

In the future books they rely so much on the Marauder's Map, it's funny to see it first introduced. They've snuck around a bunch in the first two books and were lucky not to get caught most of the time.

Harry loses his first Quidditch match :( Can't wait for him to start his private lessons with Lupin (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa]

I'm currently on Chapter 19

(view spoiler)[ I forgot a lot of details about this book. It was a surprise to me just how everyone was so sure of Black's guilt. IDK how you could think that horrible of your best friend.

The one thing I don't understand is why Black convinced the Potters to use Peter as their secret keeper. I understand why he didn't want to use himself because he knew that Voldemort would assume that's what they did. But why not use Dumbledore? He offered. I would assume he would be the best option. That was really weird to me. (hide spoiler)]

Other than that I am enjoying this book again.

[Melissa]

Joanne wrote: "Chapters 5-10

I just love Professor Lupin. It's so interesting to read all his scenes while keeping in mind both what Lupin thinks about James/Sirius/Peter at the time and what we find out by the..."

I really like Lupin. I don't know if I realized just how great of a character he is before I re-read this book. I've re-read the first 2 but nothing past that.

[Joanne]

Melissa wrote: "I'm currently on Chapter 19

"

(view spoiler)[Agreed. Or why not at least TELL Dumbledore that he's no longer their secret keeper? It's just like Harry in the books always keeping so much knowledge from Dumbledore that could have solved so many problems. My new motto is just tell Dumbledore everything! (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa]

@ Joanne HAHA so true! I was always thinking that throughout the book. Why keep so many secrets from Dumbledore? He proved more than once that he was on Harry's side!

[Melissa]

Just finished - wow I can't believe I forgot most of that book! It's one of my favorites too. I just love learning about HP's parents and their past and friends. Lupin and Black are great characters.

(view spoiler)[ I was so surprised at the amount of hatred that Snape had for Black. I don't blame him though. Reading these books again make me realize that all people are complicated and are neither good nor bad to their core. James Potter was truly a bully to Snape and for no reason other than he was different and liked the same girl he did. I can't believe that Black honestly tried to kill him when they were younger. (hide spoiler)]

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Jumping in on this one - Team Luna Lovegood

Starting now 😀

[Shannon]

Joanne wrote: "Chapters 5-10

I just love Professor Lupin. It's so interesting to read all his scenes while keeping in mind both what Lupin thinks about James/Sirius/Peter at the time and what we find out by the..."

Right.

(view spoiler)[But at the same time you just feel so bad for them. What they’ve been through. What we know is going to happen. Ugh! (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Ch 5-10

(view spoiler)[It really is amazing to start seeing all these things start coming together. Lupin. Black. We know how important they are to Harry’s story but he doesn’t yet. I just love all the scenes with Lupin. The kids finally actually start learning. He’s so kind with everyone. But it also makes me so sad for him! (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

Finally got started. Thru Chapter 6.

(view spoiler)[I had forgotten about Harry's blowing up his aunt and about how nasty she was to him. Also about the Knight Bus. It was good to see Harry get out of the Dursley's house for at least a bit of his summer vacation. Also, we meet Professor Lupin. I always really liked him. (hide spoiler)]

[Sassafrass]

I'm starting this one now too. Team Newt here!