Tuesday 19 July, 2005

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Sunday was the most beautiful hot summer’s day, so I decided to stay inside and read the new Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I liked this book, quite a lot – I think it’s the best book since Prisoner of Azkaban. Goblet of Fire never opened to me, and I though Order of Phoenix was just ok – here I think we get back to the basics, even if it means (and maybe because) leaving out more elaborate b-plots.

Couple of things I’d like to mention and speculate about. So under no circumstances read forward if you want to avoid spoilers.

First of all, Severus Snape. I don’t believe he’s a traitor. I think this is all a big plot to get him where he needs to be (close to Voldemort), and I think everyone needs to believe that so that’s the reason Harry wasn’t told about it. I think Dumbledore knew that to gain Voldemort’s trust Snape had to go to extraordinary lengths, and was willing to sacrifice himself for it. You remember Snape arguing with Dumbledore and saying that he was asking too much of him – I bet that conversation referred to killing him, and so did Dumbledore begging for it right in the end. And the reason Dumbledore can trust Snape so implicitly must be an Unbreakable Vow – I don’t trust Snape’s character enough to think that he would have some kind of unselfish reason behind it, at least I can’t think of any. [Unless… something to do with Harry’s mother perhaps? He promised her, or something?]

Then, death of Albus Dumbledore. I think this one has been rumored and once it became quite quickly clear that Draco’s task was not to kill Harry, I knew it must have been Dumbledore. I couldn’t figure out who Draco was supposed to get this done however, but the ending was quite good and logical. I’m still a bit puzzled about Dumbledore acting the way he did – he honestly had a death wish and I still don’t really get that.

Horcruxes – very cool idea. Personally my favorite theory is that Harry himself is one of them, what else would be a better trophy for killing Lily and James. Would also explain why Voldemort has told Death Eaters not to kill Harry, and why the prophecy says that one can’t live without the other. It makes perfect sense – think why else Harry has been able to see Voldemort’s thoughts and such? This would of course mean that Harry needs to die in the end, and that’s my only doubt – for now I had always kind of assumed that he would live.

Half-Blood Prince – that took me by surprise. I thought he would be someone we didn’t know although had a connection with, but then looking back it seems kind of obvious – lets see know who’s the person who’s a wizard in potions (pardon the pun)… But I love how Rowling does that: she gives you enough information so that it’s possible to at least make you suspicious, but you (or I) rarely do. The potions book is also a testament to Snape’s character – that he started out good, but turned bad for some reason that’s not entirely clear to me yet (but will be, I’m sure).

And the teenage love – very well done. Teenagers are just as stupid as that, and I liked the fact that Rowling didn’t try to artificially prolong it either which was a temptation I’m sure. But at this point they were smart enough to figure out what love and crush meant, and what "that funny feeling inside" was all about, I would have hated it if they’d been too naive. Next book, there will be sex! Bookmakers William Hill give 1/1 odds to Harry marrying in the next book – while personally I don’t think that’ll happen, I do think he’ll get it on with Ginny.

All in all, very substantial book, and a very satisfying read. Can’t wait for the next one.

Posted by kolibri at 19 July 13:50, 2005
Comments
# 1 - Minna (on July 19, 2005 03:02 PM):

The prophecy says: "and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while other survives". That's not the same as "one can’t live without the other".


# 2 - Gina (on July 19, 2005 03:27 PM):

I agree about Snape, I don't think he's all that bad, especially at the end where he and Harry were at it. He freaked when Harry called him a coward, but didn't harm him. I think it took alot of self control for him to 1) not scream at Harry about how couragous he was by being "undercover" and 2) not throttle him at the same time!
I have a feeling Snape will be a big hero in the next book, but die helping.


# 3 - kolibri [TypeKey Profile Page] (on July 19, 2005 03:33 PM):

Thanks for the reminder, I didn't have the book with me so I couldn't check the exact wording. And that kind of screws my theory too... :( Cause that would mean that in order of Voldemort to die Harry must die, and in order for Harry to live, Voldemort must live - which is not what the prophecy states after all. Damn. I thought that was a good theory.


# 4 - J-Ko (on July 20, 2005 12:33 AM):

I agree about Snape. I think it would be pretty weak storytelling if the character who was pathetic in youth (as we have seen in flashbacks) just turns out to be bad/weak. Dumbledore's death was pretty obvious as he is the mentor who must die for the hero to emerge.

What I disagree with is the relationships. Yeah, they were pretty ok, but not for 17-year-olds. Relationshipwise these are the most childish 17-year-olds I have read about - or, indeed, know. I realize that these are children's books (as we can tell by the lack of teenage pregnancies and gays), but I would have wanted a little bit more real emotion and a lot more flesh.

Also, I think leaving Ginny at the end made absolutely no sense. Is love not the strongest magic?

(And I don't even want to think about all the slash.)


# 5 - kolibri [TypeKey Profile Page] (on July 20, 2005 08:44 AM):

Heh, it's a good think you didn't know me when I was 16 and 17 then ;) I was the most naive teenager ever, so I know they exist.

So ok they were naive yes, but then again just think about it - no exposure for mainstream TV or magazines, so it kind of makes sense. Although not stated explicitly, I'd still recon there are some kind of teenage mags in the wizarding world too, and they must have had some kind of sexual education at school too. Maybe there are very strict rules about sex that we don't know about - did you notice for example that Molly made Bill and Fleur sleep in different rooms?

What comes to Harry dumping Ginny - I think it made perfect sense for Harry's character, him trying to be the knight and save the princess. It won't work, of course.

But yeah, I know, I know. Your logic is impenetrable as always and I'm just trying to come up with excuses that would support the view that I like. I like how it's done in HP although it's probably not the way it happens nowadays. I like how it goes slow and they fall in love first and think about sex later.


# 6 - RelFexive (on July 20, 2005 11:01 AM):

It's true, they do seem to exist without the deluge of influences that affect Muggle teenagers or those in this world. It's not entirely surprising they come into romantic/sexual relationships later. But it's not as if they don't know about it.


# 7 - Emokolibri (on August 6, 2005 07:32 PM):

I just finished my copy of HP. So couldn't read these comments until now. I aggree with you about Snape. But why did Dumbeldore sacrifice himself? I think it was because of Draco Malfoy. AD saw that Voldermot wad driving Draco to kill him. What a horrible destiny for a child to become a murderer! AD, always set a high priority on his students security. May be there is something else in it, too. In any case, the fact that DM did not complete his task is a defeat to Voldermot. And may have other consequenses as well...


# 8 - Outi (on August 14, 2005 04:56 AM):

I avoided this entry like plague until I had actually read the book.

I agree that it was an excellent book - much, MUCH better than the Order of the Phoenix and definitely one of my biggest favourites in the whole series.

I find your theory on Snape fascinating. Really, really fascinating. It'd be a brilliant idea if it actually is the way you speculate: that Dumbledore sacrificed himself and that Snape killed him just so he'd get close to Voldemort and gain his trust.

Certainly that would make me feel better about it all - I was so very disappointed to find out Snape was a traitor and I found it rather shocking that he murders Dumbledore... and at the same time I kept thinking it made readers think Dumbledore was dumb and naive and surely that's not how the character has been portrayed all along.

Dumbledore wasn't dumb or blind, no. I refuse to think so. Perhaps you're indeed right.


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