Harry Potter

[jmfargo]

On Sunday, Maria bought me the latest Harry Potter book as an early anniversary present. I started reading it around eight that evening, and by four the next morning I was done with all but the last fifty pages, which I would have been done with, but I wanted to save something for the next day. I'm funny that way, I supposed.

The writing in this book is probably the best so far, and it's probably my favorite out of all of them, so far. I hope the next one comes out soon.

Just wanted to keep this short since there's so much livejournal drama going on right now about it.

Good storytelling.

Comments

[cieo.livejournal.com]

It's become my favorite as well. It's been PoA for such a long time, but this one tops it. Very emotionally draining, I'll tell ya that. I actually finished the book while sitting in the bookstore. Yeah, I got a few stares from the employees, but I didn't care. I'd paid for it already, and I'd earned my seat.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that PoA was my favorite before this, and to be honest I hadn't really placed one in that spot. They were all good, and they were all flawed. I guess I thought they just balanced each other out in their own way.

This book, however, overcame what I saw to be many of the flaws I had seen in the previous books, and so took place as my favorite.

Of course, to tell you what flaws I'm talking about, I think I'd have to reread all the books! I know they're there, but as I write this I'm having difficulty coming up with what I'm talking about.

Damn this human mind of mine!

(Oh, and welcome to my journal! Thanks for reading.)

[cieo.livejournal.com]

:)
I actually had a few problems with this book. Something I can't put my finger on. But this is the first one I've read where I felt real discomfort. The other ones, I had some security, knowing that everyone was going to be alright--I mean come on! They're just kids! You can't kill kids...But now they're growing up, and all the little things you'd come to count on in the previous volumes are slowly being taken away--and I loved it.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I get the feeling that this book was written from the perspective of an author realizing that her book will probably be made into a movie, instead of the past books which she thought ~might~ be made into a movie.

I know that sounds odd, but it's kind of just a feeling I got.

And yes, the safety blanket is being drawn off of everything, which makes me very happy. I'm expecting the next book to be slightly less emotionally draining, but still feel just as dangerous.

[(Anonymous)]

Aha! We are indeed of the same mind...ish. That's actually one of the problems that I was referring to. She had the same problem in book 5, most notably in the death scene. Written more like a script than a book.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

*nods* I did have that problem with it, but will still say that this book was the best out of all of them so far. :)

It has problems. It just has less problems than the others.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Oh, also? I've done the "sit around and read at the bookstore" thing too. Honestly though, the workers have never cared enough about their store/job to even think about looking at me oddly. I could sit there and read the entire stock, and I don't think they'd say anything.

Hmm. Must put that in my "book of things to do some day."

And yes, it was definately emotionally draining. I liked that about it.

[cieo.livejournal.com]

Oh, did I mention that I had a look of almost maniacal joy on my face, that I giggled sporadically throughout my near 10 hour stay there, that I didn't get up once, and that it was a college bookstore?

Nope, I guess not....:-D

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Okay, everything except the college bookstore part I've done. I think that alone makes the people care a little more. :)

Too Light of a Read

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

Ehh, I'm not a fan of the whole Harry Potter thing.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is great that it is getting kids to read (about fantasy nonetheless!) but as far as an adult reading choice it doesn't make my list of good reading. They're just too much fluff, not enough...I'm not sure I even know if there's a word for it. They just seem to be missing something.

Granted, they're getting better, but they don't seem to have the same draw to me as some other authors have, such as J.V. Jones, Brooks, or some of my favorite sci-fi author's, Steakley, Ringo, or Weber. Though Ringo has released a fantasy book (not all that recently ago) that I haven't gotten around to reading yet. Of course I could sit here all day and list authors, but I think you get my point.

Re: Too Light of a Read

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Actually, please do sit around and list fantasy authors that you enjoy. I need to broaden my horizons! :)

Authors

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

What type of reading do you prefer?

Fantasy? Sci-Fi? Those happen to be my two favorites, although of late I must admit I haven't been reading my typical monthly amount of books. I usually put away 4-5 books a month (even when I'm super busy), but I have been lucky to get 1 done a month or every other month. Buying a home and doing construction/repair work tends to tire me out.

I can compile a list though not at the moment. But consider it done...just not quite yet. ;)

Re: Authors

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Fantasy, mostly, with some sci-fi thrown in from time to time. I'm willing to read just about anything, as long as the author is a good storyteller, or the story itself at least has some interesting complexities that I can ponder on when the book is done.

I understand about buying a home/doing repairs cutting into the reading time. I usually finish around the same amount of books as you seem to, and lately I'm having trouble doing two a month.

I'm going to have to work on that.

Re: Too Light of a Read

[periannth.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read The Phoenix Legacy trilogy by M.K. Wren? It's sci-fi, not fantasy, but it's about politics more than spaceships. ;) I'm rereading it right now and remembering how well I liked it the first time. It really makes you think about culture/society.

Re: Too Light of a Read

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

Not that I recall. But that doesn't mean I haven't. I tend to remember the cover art more than the name of a book, and/or the author. This is sometimes bothersome, especially when they reprint older books with newer artwork on them. I can't tell you the number of books I've purchased only to find out that I've already purchased the book before.

Re: Too Light of a Read

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I love it when my friends remember things I say in passing about my passions. Thank you for remembering that when I read sci-fi, I like the politics aspect more than the spaceships. :)

I haven't read it, and as soon as I can I'll look for it at the library! Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: Too Light of a Read

[periannth.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome! I remember you mentioning that when we were talking about the Star Wars books. As soon as I started reread this trilogy, I thought to myself, 'You know, I bet Miah'd really like these.' :) I've finished book one, so I could bring it with me the next time I see you so you can borrow it, if you want. And as I finish the other two, I could send them along as well.

Re: Too Light of a Read

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Speaking of the next time you see me, will you be coming here on Saturday? We're thinking of doing an early game...like ~start~ my game at 4? I'd be feeding people my world-famous* spaghetti sauce at around 7, and then, whene everyone's done eating, we'd switch to Tim's game for the rest of the evening.

Think you'd like that plan?

And yes, I would love to borrow the first book. If you think about it, please remind me to retunr the books I've read of yours back to you. I keep forgetting. :)

Re: Too Light of a Read

[periannth.livejournal.com]

Do you know what time that Woods Between the Worlds thing is gonna end? I was thinking of going to that for the afternoon, but I'm definitely up for D&D after.

I'll definitely bring the first book, and the second one if I'm done with it by then.

Re: Too Light of a Read

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not sure about that. I was thinking about that too, and I think maybe I might change my plans for this Saturday. Maybe move it back to just eating and only playing Tim's game.

Mostly because this Woods Between the Worlds thing sounds like a lot of fun, especially since Jason (you might know his as Palotano) is the one running it! He's a good GM.

Re: Too Light of a Read

[periannth.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm interested to see what he's got planned. It sounds like it will be tons of fun. I'm curious to see who it is he managed to convince to play the White Witch for him. ;)

[(Anonymous)]

*Phew* I finished it last night (had to wait for Becky to read it first, then I had to finish reading "Drawing of the Three", then it took me 4 days to read it (I'm a slow reader, so sue me!)

*Spolier section*

So, I still have hope for Snape. Anyone else? It would be kind of boring if he were just "bad". And Harry will get to speak to Dumbledore again, just only his portrait in the Headmasters office, so it won't really be the same. Hmm.... How long till book 7 comes out?

-tt

SPOILER ALERT FOR HP VI

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I do have hope for Snape. Remember the argument that Hagrid overheard Snape and Dumbledore having? It was never resolved what that argument was about. I think Dumbledore was telling Snape that he ~had~ to fulfill the Unbreakable Oath. I think Dumbledore knew, and when he was begging Snape at the end, he was actually begging him to ~do what had to be done~.

That's my 2 cents. And honestly? I'd be pretty upset if Snape was just "Irreversibly evil."

And four days isn't slow at all. It's actually pretty fast.

I have no clue how long until book 7. Sorry.

Re: SPOILER ALERT FOR HP VI

[(Anonymous)]

I agree whole-heartedly with the Snape/Dumbledore argument bit there. That's actually what I was thinking when I was reading the book. Unfortunately, I read the whole book with the knowledge that Snape was going to kill Dumbledore... I'll never look through /b on 4chan again :(

-tt

Re: SPOILER ALERT FOR HP VI

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, unfortunately I had the same problem. For some reason, a bunch of jackasses thought it was funny to hit all the livejournal sites that were talking about HP with huge comment posts that couldn't be missed.

However, I was fairly able to put it out of my mind for most of the book, thankfully. I didn't think about the argument thing until afterwards.

Here's hoping neither of us knows anything about the next book. :)