Harry Potter V - discussion thread (SPOILERS GALORE)

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I haven't read it, but go on, the Potterati, discuss away. You know you want to!

― Mark C (Mark C), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

harry potter dies haha!!!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Does he?

― Cozen (Cozen), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:29 (twenty-two years ago)

yes.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Dumbledore has his way with him in a secret love chamber and, well, you know...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

don't forget the bit where they all lez up.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, so who died?

― Ed (dali), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I did, for one

― Millar (Millar), Sunday, 22 June 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I am going to have to stop looking at this thread. My blase-ness about not caring about the book is crumbling, and I am finding myself actually rather looking forward to reading it now.

― Mark C (Mark C), Sunday, 22 June 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Harry doesn't die. The first thing I read was the last page, and he was still alive then.

I'm about half way through now. Enjoying it.

― C J (C J), Sunday, 22 June 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm going to read Sentimental Education.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 22 June 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The Sentimental Education Of Harry Potter?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 22 June 2003 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I looked at the last chapter in Borders and couldn't remember who [PERSON WHO DIES] even was!

I also think the fastest selling book in the history of everything could have chosen a slightly less nasty shade of yellow.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Sunday, 22 June 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i quite like it - Autumnal Mustard if i'm not mistaken

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 22 June 2003 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

American version is a nice deep blue cover. Reminds me of the album "Rift". When I saw the yellow European version, I thought, "how the hell would you market a book that looks like that to kids?"

I also spoiled it for some guy on the subway. I had at first thought his book looked like the HP book, but realizing it didn't come out yet and thinking it was way too thick, I figured it was some more serious adult book and began talking about HP related things, one of which was the fact that a main character dies. The guy looked up at me. Then, as he was getting off, someone next to him asked to see the cover and how he got it prior to its official release. It was the new HP book afterall. Sorry, stranger!

― Scaredy Cat, Sunday, 22 June 2003 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747551006.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0439567629.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Did the Harry Potter movies have different key art in the posters in Europe as well? This lightning bolt logo is on all the American ones.

― Scaredy Cat, Sunday, 22 June 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

It was most excellent!!!

But I am pissed - some bratty little kid was being interviewed on CNN last night and she spilled the beans about the whole death issue - didn't say who it was, but gave one statement that made it impossible to *not* know - I wanted to strangle her!!!

Aside from some small editing complaints I must say that I was very impressed - I'll be interested in discussion on the topic whenever folks are ready.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Monday, 23 June 2003 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Hagrid. R.I.P.

bwahahaha........................ha

― Chris Radford (Chris Radford), Monday, 23 June 2003 02:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't like it - I think knowing that someone important or whatever was going to die made it a bit worse - like everytime a major character gets injured gravely - I'm thinking oh here it comes, and then nothing. I liked this one less than book number 4 - it didn't seem to have as many mini-adventures as the previous book did considering the size, and that made it a bit laborious to get to the point. The ending was a bit lame - discovering what the Dark Lords 'secret weapon' is - and not really a weapon at all.

There was only one big surpise for me in the book, something I totally wasn't expecting and that came pretty soon in the beginning.

There were predictions that there would be some huge revelations about Harry's ancestry, and his Aunt and Uncle etc, and they weren't huge revelations at all. There could have been a major story twist - and there wasnt. So, yeah, I guess I was hopeing for something more at the end. Even the spoiler from the back cover, with Dumbledore telling Harry something he should have told him from the beginning, it wasn't anything that big either. Maybe I'm getting too old and bitter. :)

― marianna, Monday, 23 June 2003 09:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Classic or dud, a kids book too heavy for kids to lift?

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 23 June 2003 09:48 (twenty-two years ago)

You must know some puny kids Pete.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 23 June 2003 09:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I was really disappointed about death person, cause I didn't give a rats bout em I wanted it to be ron. I love ron.

― Nellie (nellskies), Monday, 23 June 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

where are the spoilers... i have read the whole thing, and i liked it though i agree with the lack of an major twists. i think i said on the other thread that this was sort of transitional... like... the book was just to set up the war... i think also as this conflict looms larger, the minutae of life at hogwarts, which is what gives the series it charms, will have to be de-emphasized.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 23 June 2003 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I do agree that this book is serving as the transitional point toward the war against Voldemort. And I also agree that this book was not as fast-paced or as adventurous as The Goblet of Fire. But I like the more introspective moments. And that I could get really pissy at Harry for being such an ass at times (I like my heroes to have foibles). I was not overly impressed with the choice of people to knock-off --> it seemed to me that there were other characters that could have been disposed of that would have been more, well, emotionally tugging for the audience. But, at the same time I think that her point was to choose someone important to Harry and and whose loss would devestate him.

I avoided all spoilers, as best I could - including not reading the back of the book or the flaps or anything else - but it was hard to avoid the rumors that someone was going to croak.

I kind of liked Harry starting that Dumbledore's Army - it seems as though he needed an outlet where he could be liked for his skills, not just because he's the one that Voldemort hasn't been able to kill, so far.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Tuesday, 24 June 2003 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree about Harry's "foibleS". I like that he in an obnoxious adolescent now, completely pissy and etc., although it was a bit annoying at the beginning of the book. I liked the sort of play between alienation/isolation and community. Ultimately, he is alone in having to defeat Voldemort, but on the other hand, he is part of an important group as well. I thought this was the spoiler thread? Sirius dies, everyone, Sirius :-( I hope that the next book explains better why Snape chose to become a spy, and i wonder what is going to happen when he is finally shown to be (ultimately) too good (in terms of the side he is fighting for) for Malfoy, Slytherin, etc.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 24 June 2003 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree, Aaron - seeing Harry in this light (as a little twit) is interesting - he's coming to feel much more tangible to me - not as endearing, but more realistic, somehow. And I like it that Ron and Hermione are going through the same struggles - she's (er, Rowling, that is) doing a good job of capturing those moments of teenage hell.

And I do want to know just what is going on with Snape - I liked how in this installment we were shown Harry's father at a bad moment - taking him down from that pedestal is an interesting move, I think. And a good kick in the ass for Harry, too. But somehow I am starting to develop some sympathy for Snape, whereas before I just thought him to be an ass. (Of course, it may just be my infatuation with the actor who plays him in the movies - or, rather, his voice).

I didn't like Fudge coming around at the end - I want him gone and out of power - he's an idiot (hmmm...maybe this is commentary on the current political situation?).

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't like Fudge coming around at the end - I want him gone and out of power - he's an idiot (hmmm...maybe this is commentary on the current political situation?).

I think Hagrid calls Fudge a "blunderer" or something like that in the first book, so i dont think it is commentary on very recent events.

I think I shouldnt have read the thing so fast as now the wait has begun again ;-)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

*laughing* I am in the same boat - the anticipation is already building, again. Only thing that beats this for me is the anticipation related to all of the Lord of the Rings stuff.

But I am going to go back and re-read the Potter series this fall - and make myself take it slow and savour the stories. (I know that I read this latest one so fast that I couldn't keep-up with some of the names.)

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 02:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I liked it. I'm thinking the next book will be a total bloodbath; she seems to be striving for some sort of mass trauma among 11-year-olds.

Luna = my new favorite character!

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 26 June 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I was thinking the battle at the end of this one would be a total bloodbath. But somehow only one character died.

It was definitely worse than the last two books and I think it will make a lousy movie, but I still enjoyed it. It was nice to have many of the secondary characters' personalities fleshed out. But this was clearly a transitional book. Previous books had a final revelation which explained the weird ongoings and concluded everything, while this one had almost everything explained just after it happened and an abrupt ending.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Thursday, 26 June 2003 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

true

I also think that there was simply less novelty in this one... by now we are used to the magic... the last book at least had a twist with the Tournament, etc... i think the books will continue to lost a little charm each time if they are only about a) trials and tribulations of boarding school life, and b) more duels with voldemort. i am looking forward to Cuaron's interpretation of PoA. i just watched #1 again and i really hate Columbus' style.. has anyone noticed how he leaves the camera on individuals for too long, expecting them to pull faces?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 26 June 2003 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Why do none of you care that Sirius died?! Heartless fools! Sirius rox u r all gay! (or something) I am really mad now. Kill Ron, kill Harry, I don't care about them. Also that prophecy was lame, we all knew that already, anyway.

― Maria (Maria), Sunday, 29 June 2003 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes- you would have thought the plot would have advanced slightly after 750 pages.

― Richard Jones (scarne), Monday, 30 June 2003 09:51 (twenty-two years ago)

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