As much as I hate to admit it

[keire_ke]

I am deeply impressed with the work Rowling's done with HBP. I am slightly disgruntled that Ron didn't die though... But since it is, formally, still a book for kids, I really wasn't expecting it. I loved the humour bits though.

Anyway. I am still majorly pissed off at her for killing Sirius. Silly move there. I want him back, damn it! I braved the five book just to get more of Sirius, and he barely appeared and then got killed in the end! Am however curious for the resolution, what with the Horcruxes and all. Hm... The thing with Snape wasn't entirely unexpected - for a 'good' character he was much too childish throughout the series. So, no big surprise there. Even if something did strike me as odd in that confrontation, somewhat. Can't put my finger on it though.

The bit about the Half-Blood Prince was dismissed rather casually, with no dramatic impact. I felt there should be more.

Rowling has no understanding for fanservice. Nosir, everything had to be plain as the lights of day. *rolls eyes* I did like Lupin/Tonks though. A little random, but they rocked. *grins* Ginny rocked from book five, so no major complaints from me here. Pity there wasn't so much Neville though.

I admit to chanting 'oooooh, Harry will bring balance to the Force'. Heh. I couldn't help it really! Rowling was so watching SW. Dumbledore even got a space for a roboclaw! One thing that bugged me and never got resolved was the moment when Dumbledore asked Harry whether he feels sympathy for Voldemort. I  was not impressed by the fact that he didn't mention or implied Harry should, when he spent so much time showing Harry that Tom Riddle was very much human.

All in all - the book really was good. I don't care much for Harry as a character, but I liked it, overall. Third book is still best in my opinion, but this one comes as a close second. *grins* The romantic parts sound as if written by a fangirl though.

Comments

[solanum-d.livejournal.com]

I wanted to wait to read this until I'd finished the book, too. ^_^

I thought, in the end, the title was a bit of irony, in that Harry spent the vast majority of the book depending on the Prince only to be betrayed by him in the end. Not massively climactic, but a little thought provoking. As for the identity of the Prince, well, it wasn't completely predictable. My husband guessed it, way at the beginning. (side note: isn't it funny that Hermione thought Snape had girly hand-writing?)

I agree that something was amiss with the entire Snape confrontation at the end. Both when he killed Dumbledoor and when he was facing off with Harry. I'm sure more of that will be revealed in book 7... I'm actually looking forward to/ hoping for a good twist.

I totally agree that she needs a clue in the fanservice department. ^_~ Why do authors want to shut down fanfiction sites? I just don't get it. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery and all that. I like Tonks, though, so I don't really mind her with Lupin.

My favorite of her romantic fangirl moments was when Harry's insides were doing the conga. *snerk*

[keire-ke.livejournal.com]

That's what you call ironic, yes. As for the predictability, I meant the fact that Snape turned evil (despite the weird feeling), not the HBP identity. He is okay, I guess, but he his temper tantrums, a five year old would be ashamed of. That's why I kind of expected him to go bad.

I'm waiting for Rowling to resurrect Sirius. Or at least give agood explanation why he is now dead. All I saw was him disappear. *pouts* Yeah, denial is not just a river in Egypt, I know.

I know Anne Rice for example doesn't like ff based on her works. In my opinion, the yare just insecure. Majority of the fan writing is crap, but I can name two HP fics that I like way better than the book itself, and I haven't been in the fandom for several years. As I recall though, it had something to do with NC-17 and slash.

[solanum-d.livejournal.com]

Mmm... after reading an interview with JKR it would seem that she's fine with fanfiction... heterosexual, non-explicit fanfiction. So, cutsie, teeny-bopper fangirl tripe is acceptable. >_ Sirius' cousin afterall... perhaps Remus sees a bit of old Sirius in Tonks to help the healing process along... whether or not it's valid definitely holds fiction potential.