Bought the book yesterday morning. but couldn’t start it because we were out for a motorcycle ride – it was calling to me from the saddlebags all day. Got home at 7 PM and read until midnight. Got up at 6 AM and read on to the end, stopping only for lunch.
So:
[spoiler]Harry’s attitude change: I’m surprised to remember that Rowling doesn’t have a teenage son. She got them pretty much exactly right in this book. A late-teenage boy’s default position is “asshole.” And I say this lovingly, as the mother of a 16 year old. Think about it – they are physically men and yet they are treated as children – no wonder pissed-off is the standard mode.
I loved the glimpse into Harry’s dad’s past – Look! More teenage-boy-assholery! This was great both for the added insight into Harry’s dad (and his mom, and Sirius and Lupin) but, especially, for the added insight into Snape.
The death of Sirius: Well, I was feeling a bit manipulated by all the previous near-misses so it didn’t hit me as hard as it could have. And, frankly, I’m not a huge Sirius fan… Personally, I like Lupin better and would have been more bothered by his dying – not to mention Hagrid or Ron or Hermione or Neville… That said, almost no other death would have bothered Harry more and that is the material thing. If he really is dead. We didn’t see the body, did we?
Neville – I am really loving Neville a lot! He’s a good deal more powerful than he thinks he is and than his Gran gives him credit for. I’m not 100% sure that Neville isn’t still wearing the red shirt – there are 2 more books left, right? – but if he goes down, he’ll be going down in a spectacular and heroic way, I’m sure.
Weasly twins – I also really, really love the twins. What I said before about the teenage-boy-default being “asshole” still stands, but the Weasley twins show why I still love teenage boys so much. I’m absolutely terrified, though, that one or both of them are wearing red shirts…
Female characters in general: Rowling is good at writing females, I think. No stereotyping – her women are all over the map. Professor Umbredge was awful! What a creepy gal. And Mrs. Lestrange also. But I loved Tonks and hope to see a lot more of her. Cho – who cared? Harry liked her for her looks and athletic prowess and once he got to know her he found there wasn’t much else there. This was a good lesson for him to learn at an early age. I loved Ginny, BTW – like Neville, I think we’re going to be seeing a lot more from Ginny.
The two most moving moments: When Dumbledore tells Harry why he wasn’t made prefect, definately. But worse – when Mrs. Weasley fought the Bogart… I guess because I’m a mother, it just broke my heart. And her saying, “I’m so silly. I’m so silly.” when she’s not! Because, as somebody mentioned, last Wizarding war there were lots of casualties and nobody in her whole family is the type to hold back… Some Weasley or other is definately wearing the red shirt. I can only hope it’s Percy. Although I’m sure poor Molly won’t feel that way…[/spoiler]
I have to go and do all the stuff I haven’t gotten done this weekend because I was reading this silly book! I’m sure I’ll think of more stuff later.