Am I the only one....

[Catwoman99]

*steps quietly up to the mic*

Um...am I the only one here that actually liked the book?

Reading through the posts on here, I would say that the majority of you guys don't like it. Sure, I agree with some of the points on Lies' rebellion thread, but overall, I liked the book. Notwithstanding the death, obviously, but I had a feeling that would happen.

And did anyone else notice the odd coincidence in the first chapter, with the Prime Minister worrying about a bridge collapse and houses being destroyed by a "tornado" or "hurricane" and the real PM, who I'm sure is worrying about what happened in London?

*slowly stepping away from mic and prepared to go into hiding, if need be*

- April :-)

[TartanPhoenix]

Be not afraid. You aren't the only one. I liked the book as well. There are somethings that I'm not happy about, the ending for one, but there is still one more book left. She may very well have had a good reason for the way she wrote this one.

[rogueinker]

Respect the work - Yes. Like the book? I didn't hate it outright but I wasn't thrilled either for obvious reasons. As a setup to Book 7 it works. I suppose that means that I'm leaning in the Like direction.

[Rikki]

Well, I'm a bit torn, I have to admit that. The point is, if you just see it as a book and not as Harry Potter, then it's ok. Well, perhaps a bit too much snogging for my liking - could have read a teenybopper magazine then as well, but generally it was pretty ok.

I basically have a problem with the different writing style and so many characters being completely ooc. At parts I felt like reading... I don't know what but certainly not a HP book. It differed too much from the previous books. And then the strange behaviour of some characters - sorry but I think she'll have to give many explanations in book 7. And she didn't really clear up any questions but gave us more.

Perhaps the problem is just that our expectations were way too high so she didn't really have a chance to meet those. But I really have to agree with the others, in parts the book felt as if JKR hadn't even written it.

But of course you can like the book. Don't have to go into hiding. There's a freedom of speech and opinion after all.

Love, Rikki

[MiniPrincess]

For my part I enjoyed the book as well. I was discussing it with my HP-illiterate partner last night and after running through the back story etc etc. he agreed with me that whilst it differed from JKR previous writings in style and methodoligy that there has been a large period of time between the first and sixth books and not only has she matured as an author and the reader has matured but that the characters themselves have, we spoke of the difference between your average 11 and 16 year old.
So from personal experience I think that the change in the characters is justified, this does not by any means imply that I am happy about the lack of Minerva action, but that as the book isn't centred around her and hasn't been from the beginning I suppose I'll just have to deal with it.
*Anyone for a spin-off series?*
I'm not 100% sure which thread I'm replying to (probably both this one and the final chapter spoilers one!) as I've tried to read most comments on it, but essentially I think that the book was a thrilling read, I know I barely put it down for 2 days and have continually gone back to check references etc, and I am already eagerly awaiting the final installment as I do believe that this was simply "setting the stage" and the final book will tie it all in.
Hope so anyways...

[RMR]

No, you're not the only one. The only reason people are complaining that this book is too obviously setting the stage for the final book is because it's the book before the final book. Of course she's setting the stage. On the other hand, she left us a lot of important clues as to where the story is going to lead.

For example, is it only obvious to me that Snape is not a villian? At least not in the sense that Harry and the others think he is. In order to believe that Snape is a nasty traitor, you would have to accept that Dumbledore has terrible judgement. I don't think Rowling has ever given us reason to believe that. Why would Dumbledore crumble in front of Snape and plead for his life? He wasn't pleading for his life, he was pleading for Snape to kill him. I'm sure we'll find out why in the final book.

[punurple]

Actually, I really enjoyed the book. I wasn't surprised when Dumbles died. And even though it made me sad, I have accepted it for what it is. I'm not going to let it or any of the other events to keep me from enjoying JKR's work.

punurple

[Catwoman99]

Why would Dumbledore crumble in front of Snape and plead for his life? He wasn't pleading for his life, he was pleading for Snape to kill him. I'm sure we'll find out why in the final book.

I agree with you there, RMR. That and the scene where Harry calls him a coward has me thinking that Albus ordered Snape to kill him. Albus has always seemed to me to be the kind of man who would do anything for the greater good, even sacrifice himself. As to why, I'm sure we'll find out in book 7.

Of course, I have an unhealthy soft spot for Snape, so perhaps it's my own wishful thinking that he has not gone back to the Dark Side.

- April :-)

[mugglemin]

The more I discuss the book with people, the more I like it. I'm getting a lot of brain activity with it (especially as a beta reader for Foci, whose brain just seems to be overflowing with new ideas!) and people keep pointing me in the direction of really interesting points and clues. It may have depressed me first time round, but each time I've dipped into it since, I have learned something more...

I've even found a shipper moment, I think...well, possibly.

[Alesia]

Mugglinmin – you are right the more you think about the more there is to ponder.

Also I have to agree with Kegan - regardless of what you think of Snape - good or bad, plan or no plan - I don't believe Albus was pleading for his life. I honestly believe it was ‘Severus please make the right choice’.

I hadn’t really thought about whether or not Albus would ask someone to kill him or not. I think the only way 'the plan' can be a valid theory is if Albus isn't really dead. (I am still working through Foci’s theory and have some questions about it so I am withholding my opinion about it until she gets back and can answer my questions.) Again I agree with Kegan, I don't think Albus would ask someone to kill him. If the whole scene was an elaborate ruse ("Draught of Living Death" potion, an AK curse with no meaning or power behind it, etc) then the Good Snape makes sense and Albus's line means 'Severus please trust me this will work. Do what we planned, Severus.' Because if no one else knows of ‘the plan’ and Albus is really dead then what good is Severus as a spy? And the only way that works is if ‘the plan’ includes complete instructions to the very end. If Albus is dead and it was a plan then Snape just forfeited his life, because no one on the side of Light will believe him now. Someone from the Order will kill him no questions asked and no quarter given.

If it isn't a plan and Snape is really bad, then Albus's line is 'Serverus please think about all you have done to come towards the Light, make the right choice, Severus'. Snape makes the right choice for him, which is the wrong one for Albus.

I also think the inhuman pain on Severus's face is because either way - good or bad Snape, casting that curse was the hardest thing he ever did. Good or bad, he killed (or cast an AK curse - effective or not) on the one person who had unwavering faith in him, probably the only person in his life to have that type of faith in him (and with faith comes love).

The COWARD line plays both ways as well. Bad Snape retaliates because he just made the hardest choice he has ever had to make – he made the final step towards evil with no foreseen way of returning to the Light. Good Snape retaliates for the same reason but with a different purpose behind it, he choose to leave his life and reputation behind to fulfill a mission and probably forfeit his life in the process.

The argument between Albus and Snape is interesting because it only goes one way. Good Snape – ‘Albus I am worried about the plan working, what if I kill you?’ They argue. The Bad Snape in the light of the argument is tougher to justify. Why would a spy blow his cover by complaining he wouldn’t do something or wanted to quit? Albus has asked him to risk his life before why would it be a problem now?

The existence of the Unbreakable Vow between the two just makes things more complicated and multidimensional. Could Good Snape make the right choice to kill Albus and fulfill his vow and work against the DEs from the inside but alone? Or would Good Snape believe his life was worth less then Albus’s (sacrifice again) and choose to die? Or does Snape (either good or bad remember we have heard "I would rather die then sacrifice my friends" - Sirius in PoA) choose what is easy by killing Albus and preventing the other DEs from doing it and making Albus’s death worse? (There is a certain amount of love and nobility in that choice)

It all certainly gets your brain going in the morning. So although different and not what we expected and lacking some of the answers we wanted, the book does tend to grow on you.

[TheEmeraldRose]

I loved this book; I thought it was her best yet! There was so much life in this book, whereas OotP was very dark and foreboding. I think we as the readers needed that calm before the storm, especially for what happened at the end, and for what will evidentially take its toll in Book Seven.

JKR stayed true to her plotline, it seemed, and I was glad to have guessed many of her ideas before HBP came out. I was also very happy about how human and vulnerable she made her characters out to be this time around. We AD/MM shippers have built our little world out of the invincibility of Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, forgetting momentarily the mortality of them both. The end of HBP is a testimony to that mortality...

Many people are upset about this book for so many different reasons, it's hard to decipher between them. From the die-hard Snape fans disheartened over his crime, to the Harry/Hermione shippers who've had their ship shot-down, there are many hard feelings about! What everyone doesn't realize is that the fate of this series depends solely on the author, and we can only make an educated guess over what's to come. If we're wrong with our theories – and many of us have been – we must learn to shrug it off and continue to lose ourselves in the storytelling abilities of JK Rowling. After all, Harry Potter is her story, and will always remain as such.

All in all, I’ll remain JKR’s girl – through and through.

[snowcat]

*pulles from her hiding place*
I liked the book alot, mainly becouse I love Albus (not that way)
and there was so much about him in this one. I was dissapointed that Minerva was not
much in the book. very.very. It sometimes felt like a fanfic I agree with that.
But personally * goes halfway into hiding place, please do not ban me*
I think that Minerva was reacting very much to Albuses death. Despice the fact that she was probably in a shock. This was Albus for heavens, her Albus. Paralized is my opinion.
When the shock wore of she probably cried her heart out.
She also could not react like hagrid. But remember that Min has a VERY big handerknief and it was soaking. That takes a lot of tears. She also blames herself.
That is something I waliue as a motor in our board. or a sail.

Love,

Elisabet xx