Rowling, J.K.- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4); Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 25 November 2014--REVISIT-- May 2018

[Britta]

Laura wrote: "Cat wrote: "@Laura: you're an HP virgin, right? this is your first read of the books? I hear your pain re the filler-feeling!"

Lol.. yup, I'm one of the HP virgins.
There is so much good stuff in..."

I think it's hard for anyone to be more obnoxious than Lockhart to be honest...

[Laura]

Britta wrote: "Laura wrote: "Cat wrote: "@Laura: you're an HP virgin, right? this is your first read of the books? I hear your pain re the filler-feeling!"

Lol.. yup, I'm one of the HP virgins.
There is so much..."

Since the first 100 hundred pages were full of Percy and not Lockhart... I 'm going to continue my extreme dislike of Percy!!

[Cat]

Weatherby!

[Sarah]

Jenny wrote: "Hi all. Joining this BR late, but I had to wait six months since I listened to the books in January.

I love that there are HP virgins in this group! I wish I could read them for the first time ag..."

So...you actually played Quidditch? Details, please!

[Jenny]

I played Quidditch in the Tower Challenge, not actual broomstick Quidditch. But, it was amazing fun anyway. If you want details, there are many of us that can tell some tales. I so want to play more!!!

[Karolyn]

I'm ready to start Goblet of Fire, but waiting on my library copy. Hope to be able to start discussing it with you soon!

[Jenny]

If you have Kindle Unlimited, it is free right now.
But, if you don't, I will watch for your comments even if I have finished.

[Sarah]

Oh, hahaha. Yeah I thought you meant real broomstick quidditch. Hehehe

I followed all of the Quidditch matches, though. I absolutely loved the comments and some of the books were hilarious.

Also, you can get a free trial of Kindle Unlimited. One day, when I have a completely free schedule, I'll do that free trial and read like crazy. I still have never read any of the Lord of the Rings books or seen the movies! The free trial is either a week or a month, not sure which.

[Sarah]

And same here Karolyn! I'm still watching all the threads as I like to discuss the books.

[Sarah]

Laura- I remember reading this one for the first time and thinking that a lot of it was filler. While a lot of it seemed like it was unnecessary, there was a lot of foreshadowing and some tidbits in there that related to the later books.

Britta- I always loved that glimmer of triumphs scene. It just shows how much Rowling really planned ahead.

[Jenny]

Morning read/walk/run done for now.
I forgot how much I loved the opening Dursley scene with the fireplace. It is a bit hard to jog, turn pages and laugh hysterically all at the same time!

The darkness of this book comes quickly, doesn't it? I just want to shake Wormtail. I have no sympathy at all for his character. He had good friends, and he threw them away for what? A taste of power? Fear? Importance? Jerk. Thinking about the world of these books though, if he hadn't done what he did, where would the world be now? Voldemort in power? V defeated in some other way?
Rowling could write another book that covers the wizarding world without Harry. Like Harris did with Fatherland, where the nazis win WW2. Creepy. But that nonexistent Rowling book might be fun.

[Sarah]

Jenny wrote: "Rowling could write another book that covers the wizarding world without Harry. Like Harris did with Fatherland, where the nazis win WW2. Creepy. But that nonexistent Rowling book might be fun. "

That would probably be way too creepy for a kids book though. But interesting!

[Sarah]

Britta wrote: "Hey guys :)

(view spoiler)[This book is such a big turning point in the series. I love how she builds up to Voldemort's return and introduces the darker elements of the story. Cedric's death hits me harder every time. (hide spoiler)]"

I agree, (view spoiler)[the deaths do get harder to read. I suppose the characters become more familiar to us with each reread, and so it is harder to let them go. (hide spoiler)]

[Cat]

Sarah wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Rowling could write another book that covers the wizarding world without Harry. Like Harris did with Fatherland, where the nazis win WW2. Creepy. But that nonexistent Rowling book mig..."

That's kinda the Cursed Child...

[Jenny]

Cat wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Rowling could write another book that covers the wizarding world without Harry. Like Harris did with Fatherland, where the nazis win WW2. Creepy. But that nonexistent Ro..."

Yeah, kind of, but I want Rowling to write it. (She whines)

[Sarah]

Shhhhhhh! I haven't read Cursed Child yet!


But I agree with Jenny, I'm weird and want everything written by Rowling. Not so much because she's the only person who can write about her world, but I just want to know what she imagines in her wizarding world. She could write about Goblin Rebellions and I's be thrilled.

[Jenny]

I just spoiled the ending for the BOM thread of I Hunt Killers for those who haven't finished yet, by letting them in on the zombie attack that happens in the last chapter. So, in that same vein, although I have not seen the play Cursed Child, I have read it, and the alien invasion in act three is amazing! The fact that the aliens all look like giant squirrels is a little odd, but you know, theatre people.

[Sarah]

Oh no! GIANT SQUIRRELS?!? I was afraid of that!

CURSE YOU JO!

[Jen]

Hi all, I LOVE that Fudge calls Percy "Weatherby." I think this is why it's so hard for me to believe that Percy (view spoiler)[finds himself at odds with his family in the later books. (hide spoiler)] I never understand his belief in everything the ministry says and does. :-/

[Karolyn]

My copy from the library showed up this morning and I've been reading most of the day. I'm glad the books are getting longer, or I'd have devoured this one in a single sitting too!

I had forgotten about the Quittich World Cup. it reminds me of how excited fans are for the soccer version and some of the crazy things they do. I just got to the start of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. It's sad that (view spoiler)[ not even Ron believes Harry didn't put his name I need the goblet! (hide spoiler)]. Now I can't wait for our version of the tournament to begin...

[Laura]

Sarah wrote: "Laura- I remember reading this one for the first time and thinking that a lot of it was filler. While a lot of it seemed like it was unnecessary, there was a lot of foreshadowing and some tidbits i..."

Thanks Sarah for that information; that helps.

[Jenny]

I missed reading/walking yesterday morning, but got some time in after work. About to start today's Goblet session.
Will one of you go to work for me today so I can stay home and read?

[Jenny]

Seems none of you want to go to work for me today. How disappointing.

I am up to the arrival of the visiting teams. There are parts of this book that I love, and parts that I am not a big fan of. (view spoiler)[ Winky and SPEW are the parts I don't care for. Winky is a bit of a tragic character, but I find her too annoying to feel much sympathy for. And Hermione's passion for elf rights just doesn't sit well with me. She is the researcher, but she didn't know about elves in the castle? And she didn't know about how house elves see themselves- except Dobby- as taking pride in their work? I know she is attacking the cause like she is abolishing slavery, and kudos to her for trying, but the way Rowling writes the elves, they are not slaves. I'm just saying that this storyline is inconsistent.

Also, I love Moody! And, it is hard to love Moody when I know what is coming! (hide spoiler)]

40 minutes this morning- about a third of that running! This is getting easier, and, I am liking it! Whodathunk?

[Cat]

@Jenny, re Hermione & SPEW (view spoiler)[I kinda agree, but I also think it's more likely that Hermione is just not switched on enough yet to get the nuances of the issues - she's projecting her feelings and trying to change the wrong people, when what she needs to do is tackle the wider systemic wizarding world bigotry, which encompasses everything, from giants & werewolves to Muggle-born wizards.
I think it's a pretty clever plot line really, as it allows readers to think through what Hermione is doing and why it isn't working & come to conclusions about how to be an effective activist (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

Cat, (view spoiler)[ Yeah, you are right. I wasn't thinking in terms of her just being a naive idealist, but falling back on her book smarts. As someone who regularly calls my congresswoman and my senators to tell them what I think, and as someone who occasionally marches, I know what frustrated idealism is. I will try to look on those passages in that light, and see if I like them better. Wouldn't it be nice if humans were further along the evolutionary ladder? If we realized that our differences make us interesting instead of dangerous? (Says the idealist). (hide spoiler)]

[Karolyn]

Well done on the treadmill Jenny! I need to get out on my bike today and am seriously lacking motivation. There are parts of this book that annoy me and parts I love. I don't understand how the triwizard tournament is a 9 month ordeal to do three tasks. What are the students from the other schools doing all the rest of the time? I did chuckle at the teenage awkwardness of the Christmas Ball, though.

I also have a hard time with Hermonie and the house elves. That story line just doesn't quite seem to fit into the book well for me... it's distracting.

[Karolyn]

Just finished it. Harry has always needed to grow up faster than he should, but especially in this book. (view spoiler)[ I knew Cedric's death was coming, but I think still was sad to read. I get furious at Fudge during the end of this book. His inability to accept Valdermot's rise here sets up all kind of trouble and death. He embodies all that's wrong with a politician... it's too bad Dumbledor isn't in charge! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

Karolyn. Isn't it often the case that those who should be in charge are not the ones who are? Art imitates life.

[Jenny]

I haven't missed a day yet! Missed a morning once, but made up for it when I got home from work.
I will finish this book this weekend.
There are so many moments in this story that are priceless! The boys trying to impress Fleur, Ron especially- asking her to the dance. The scenes in Moody's classroom, Cedric talking to Harry.
I have to say, that when I am reading the books, my mind tends to revert to the visual images I initially had in my mind of the characters, with a few exceptions. Diggory is one. I cannot not see Vampire boy as Cedric anymore. Not a bad thing, mind.

[Jenny]

And done!

I forget how harsh the ending is. But, one of the best books, I think.

Still doing the treadmill.
Moving on to Order of the Phoenix!

[Sarah]

Good job Jenny! Keep going on that treadmill :)

[Elen]

Started my read too, but a little bit too late :D

I like that Voldemort is now more present in books - I know, he is bad, but this story wouldn't be anything without him.
I LOVED when Molly sends a letter to Dursley's - (view spoiler)[So many postmarks (hide spoiler)] - I just felt like they deserve something like that, even if it is not bad/evil, but for them, it's like the end of the world.
Also, I will always wait for the chapters when Harry visits the Borrow - Weasley family is just the best, especially for Harry.
After playing (announcing) Quidditch game during TT, I really liked to read about World Cup - That Quidditch is so big and important for them like soccer for us.

[Elen]

Cat wrote: "Weatherby!"

That "nickname" is always so funny that I just laugh and I think he deserves to be called in a wrong way.!

[Jenny]

Elen, did you call the World Cup games "soccer" instead of "football" because of the Americans on this thread? Or do you sometimes use the term "soccer"? The reason I ask is because I have been called a bloody heathen by some Europeans for not calling it "football"!

But, to me , football is played by my beloved Green Bay Packers.

Just curious.

And, I kept imagining your Quidditch commentary when I read those scenes too. My brain kept trying to work in references to vanilla and inappropriate dragon jokes.

[Elen]

I am a strong believer that it's called "football" not "soccer", but I don't mind Americans call it "soccer", bc I understand that we have some differences in sports name and I can't judge people based that.

And, yes, mostly bc of Americans in here :D


Strangely, but I miss our Quidditch matches and discussions in threads. That was so fun.

[Jenny]

Thank you for not being judgemental about us Americans and our backwards ways!

I really hope that Quidditch will come back someday!

[Elen]

We definitely have to request Quidditch as a challenge here!!

I really like the concept of Triwizard Tournament - dangerous, but not really, fun but not really etc. Also, I can totally imagine Harry expression when his name was called and how Hermione pushed him like you should go, don't stand here with us. :) But Ron... I understand his feelings - like he was betrayed, but before jumping to conclusions - Harry is your best friend, maybe hearing him out would be an essential act.
Mad-Eye Moody - I really like him as a character and what he did to Draco.

[Elen]

I love the tasks for Triwizard Tournament and we are going to participate in one too. I really excited.

I loved that Harry had help - everyone had and that he helped Cedric. And after that, he helped Harry. Hogwarts will always have your back :)

The Pensieve - I would love to use it, but not my memories, but some great people's ones. That would be so awesome and you could learn so much.

[Elen]

Finished!

I love the ending even if it's so harsh.
Veritaserum - would be very useful to have in hand if needed. Like for our nation crimes *hihi*


Now, I am moving to Half-Blood Prince, since I don't have Order of the Phoenix on hand right now :)