Warning: Major Spoilers!
The book’s too long for me to give a detailed breakdown of it. I’ll just share my thoughts on some main events.
The book opens with Harry back at Dudley’s. Turns out that he’s been cut off from the magical world (we found out why later) and he’s frustrated about it.
Dementors attack (and he finds out his neighbour’s not so ordinary after all), Harry manages to ward it off. He’s later whisked to safety @ Sirius Black’s house, but not before the clash between Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore (over Harry’s alleged illegal use of magic).
We find that rules & the breaking of rules is a commonly recurring theme, with Dumbledore vs. MOM being the most exemplifiying. Well, Dumbledore’s removed from the Headmaster post, with this irritating MOM official replacing him.
We learn that Harry’s been having visions, through the ‘link’ he shares with Voldemort. Besides his recurring visions, Harry is able to sense extreme emotions in Voldemort.
Harry is lead into a trap and he faces of with He-who-must-not-be-named, and is eventually rescued by Dumbledore. In the epic battle, Sirius dies, and Harry is left to cope with the loss.
Well, I think it’s an improvement over the last book; though there are obvious parallels. We find that Harry is older this time, and Rowling seems to be pitching the book at slightly older children, perhaps adolescents. It is not the first time she ended the book with the death of a character, though Sirius is among the major characters in Phoenix. She deals with teenage angst pretty well, with Harry often questioning about adult responsibity and with him coming to terms over his godfather’s death.
However, points i’d like to take note of:
-I feel that the ending was a little too rushed. Sirius’ death was an anticlimax. Also, the ending a little too convenient. Think deus ex machina. However, we need to bear in mind that this is ultimately a kiddie’s book.
-Some characters were a little one-dimensional. Think Cho Chang- we don’t really get to know her or why she broke up with Harry. Their relationship seems a little strained/awkwardly written. (Though it is Rowling’s first attempt)
-credit should be given to Rowling for successly depicting the magical world in a realistic fashion. SHe brings in centaurs, giants and flying/invisible horses and ties them smoothly in the story
Overall, i’d give the book a solid B+.
OTher comments (i’m assuming you read the book):
-throughout the book, i caught snippets of british slang.eg ‘gits’ I heard that there are different versions of the book released in the States. If so, besides obvious spelling changes, are there modifications to the use of such slang in the book?
-Rowling doesn’t wrap up her loose ends very well. One is left wondering why Harry doesn’t end up (well, not in jail considering this is a children’s fairytale, but…) punished when he uses the Unforgivable curse. Ditto for the fake headmistress. Also, the children miraculously recover from their injuries. Think Ron being suffocated by the brains.
-If Dumbledore is depicted as so powerful (think final battle, where Voldemort flees, even before the other aurors come), then why should he be scared of the Dark Lord?
-IMO, Rowling should have done a ‘twist’ and revealed that Longbottom was the REAL wizard instead of HP. That would have been a major shocker. Pity the missed opportunity.
-I note that Rowling’s style has improved, although baby language (by that i mean sentences which obviously smack of a children’s book a la hardy boy sentences) is still present. Rowling does attempt humour, and is largely successful. Also, the use of foils and flashbacks, one in particular, the 2 way comms mirror, particularly impressed me. Sirius ultimately died because Harry didn’t unwrap the present in time.
One last comment. I feel that the book, while enjoyable, is too long. AFter reading, the events in the book are hazy at best. Rowling would have done better to cut down the lenght of the bok and focus on the main plot (which she did only in the last eighth of the book)
All that said, i still enjoyed the book. Go read it if you havn’t.
OTher comments? Opinions?
