HBP thoughts three months later.

[amanuensis1]

What will my reaction be to Half-Blood Prince after the last book?

I still feel like the series peaked at OotP for me. Every volume has felt better than the last except for this last one--I'm still wigged that anyone, Rowling included, believes that Snape's motives are ambiguous, justifying leaving Harry in suspense at the conclusion of this book. I found Harry and Dumbledore's pensieve jaunts puzzlingly expository, and was waiting--am still waiting--to find out what was going on during those. Tom Riddle's history could have been related in two pages; what the heck happened in those pensieve jaunts that made them so crucial? I want there to have been more motivation on Dumbledore's part than exposition, or the idea that Harry had to see those moments for himself to gain understanding of Voldemort and of himself. It's not enough.

I loved the main plot of the book, the main plot being the Half-Blood Prince. Did I know who it was? Hell, no. The concept that "Prince" was a last name never crossed my mind--even when Hermione brought it up I couldn't see how that fit in. I didn't get it until I saw the chapter title "Flight of the Prince."

But I still believed that Slughorn gave him that book deliberately. Bah.

Will the last book draw it all back together for me? Will those unanswered questions finally fall into place? Or will I be happier admitting that HBP was the weak moment in the series for me and let it be?

Comments

[mereol.livejournal.com]

I want there to have been more motivation on Dumbledore's part than exposition, or the idea that Harry had to see those moments for himself to gain understanding of Voldemort and of himself. It's not enough.

I had the feeling that Dumbledore was trying to teach Harry how he was going to figure out the Horcruxes for himself. I think DD obviously knew he wasn't scheduled to be in Book 7 and knew Harry would be on his own so I'm not so sure that it was all exposition.

Also, I really don't think Rowling intended for anyone to believe Snape's motives to be ambiguous, the "don't call me coward" line pretty much explained his entire position, but I think I wanted to see it that way and Harry doesn't. He has never thought anything good of Snape, with good reason I admit, but he needs to come around on his own.

I think Slughorn did it on purpose too. Harry is to be the jewel in his crown, his ultimate Mary-Sue.

Personally, I loved this book more than I loved GoF and GoF is one of my all time favorite books, any genre. Mostly it was the rampant humor ("and the fifth group were Hufflepuffs") and snarky Harry. Most people love PoA to death, I'm sort of meh about it.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

My beef with Harry being left in the dark is that Harry's eyes have always been the reader's eyes, and for the reader to know something this obvious at the end of the book but for Harry to remain ignorant seems an affront to her protagonist. Harry seems clueless as a result. Of course, he IS, because the reader was given the chapter of Spinner's End and Harry was not. But to do that to Harry to and through the end of the book? Not right.

Harry is to be the jewel in his crown, his ultimate Mary-Sue. Is it okay that that makes me all aroused-shivery, that statement?

[mereol.livejournal.com]

I'm not commenting but I might be ill if I see a rush on Slughorn/Harry slash.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Hee, it was one of the first pieces of fic I saw after the book. I think it was Sunday.

[mereol.livejournal.com]

Urgh. My poor little Harry.