Ok, i'm in the middle of the fourth chapter right now, and I'd like to jot down some notes, share with fellow fans, yadda yadda yadda...
#1 - Physical descriptions - The characters are physically changing and she makes it quite clear that this is important - ron's taller, his mum is thinner, dudley is a bit stronger, and even aunt petunia seems to be taking on a different nature.
#2 - DARKER. More mature. Much more mature. The whole advance guard thing reminds me of real life - of my parents friends coming over to my house and interacting with them. Love it!
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Why would someone who has no interest in Harry Potter open a "Harry Potter reaction thread"? Go out and play in the traffic or something, Bods.
I'm at the same part of the book as you monolith and I agree with your observation so far. It's also noticeable already how Harry's character is changing, he's much more of an angst-ridden teenager in this one - he's got an urge to get rid of his frustration through physical violence, is insecure about his friends not telling him stuff and doesn't want to get out of the loop.
Good stuff so far. The Advance Guard bit was cool.
Since I don't trust certain people on this forum not to reveal spoilers I won't be visiting this thread again (I trusted you, monolith ) until I've finished it, which probably take 5 or 6 days.
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Originally posted by monolith94
even aunt petunia seems to be taking on a different nature.
The howler she got was very intriguing ... I wonder what's going on there? All sorts of consipracy theories are coming to mind.
PM me if you wanna discuss anything to do with the book over the next few days - just put the chapter number you've read up to in the title so I know whether I should be opening it or not.
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5-6 days??? Last time book 4 was released, I stayed up all night reading it, and was done, at most, in three! This time I just had to go to bed... I was too exhausted... I'm gettin' old!
Also - Percy has become of new importance!
I LOVE the return of Fleur Delacour! One of my favorite characters.
I don't really consider those last two sentences spoilers.
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Originally posted by monolith94
5-6 days??? Last time book 4 was released, I stayed up all night reading it, and was done, at most, in three!
/me checks that no evil people have posted in this thread.
/me opens it.
I finished book 4 in less time (including staying up all night to finish it), however back then I didn't have a job. I'll read alot of it this weekend, but will be at work for 8 hours on monday and won't be able to stay up late that night.
I've not got all that far in Book 5 yet, though, so it remains to be seen have it'll grab me. It might be necessary for me to come down with some kind of mystery illness on Monday
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Just read a few more chapters before dinner, and had to come here to share this.
Not a real spoiler, but I'll use the tags anyway to let people see it for themselves. About the character of the 'evil' house-elf:
Spoiler:
Is it just me or is Kreacher almost EXACTLY like Gollum? If you swapped "blood traitors" for "Bagginses" and "mistress" for "precious" then it would read like a section of The Two Towers.
I'm not complaining - I think it's funny - just wondering if anyone else noticed.
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Just read Chapters 1 & 2. I agree about the 'darker' and realistic angst-ridden parts. Harry is frustrated and jealous that people don't hold him up. He is definetly growing older. And evil in the first two chapters? Wow... started with a bang!
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There's also quite a bit of arrogance about him now, an "I've saved the world 4* times so people had better pay me more respect in future!" attitude - which seems realistic and good character development.
* - or three times, depending on how you view the end of GoF
The way the characters talk now seems a little different. I notice that Ron calls Harry "mate" a lot, which is consistent with how young English males express affection for each other. I expect both of them (and Hermione too) to have more advanced romantic relationships later in the book - there was some of that in book 4 but I get a definite feel that the raging hormones of puberty are getting a hold on our heroes.
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Originally posted by Zkribbler
Amazon.com hasn't come through for me yet. C'mon Amazon, shake a leg!
I was expecting the delivery of two other books from them today, but they never showed up. It looks like the HP shipments are taking top priority over here - everything else has been pushed to the back of the queue.
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Quote:
I expect both of them (and Hermione too) to have more advanced romantic relationships later in the book - there was some of that in book 4 but I get a definite feel that the raging hormones of puberty are getting a hold on our heroes.
As long as we don't get 'teen porno' it'll be alright .
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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
Yea, I know, 17 hours post-release, that's pretty sad, but I finished IV even faster (8 hours post-release)
I'm gonna try to be the first fan in the world to finish all 7.
I'm gonna say some general stuff so no real spoiler worries here. My first thoughts:
1. Wow, Umbridge is an awesome character.
2. The acclemency lessons allow Rowling to do some excellent character development.
3. The Harry and Cho story was the part where I needed most suspension of disbelief. Not the crazy stuff involving Harry and Voldemort.
4. I cried twice in the book. Once when a certain thing happens, (you'll know it when you come to it) and once when Peeves saluted Fred and George when they left.
5. The action starts quick, but I found the section at the hideout to be extroardinarily boring for what I consider to be the best book yet.
6. Rowling's descriptive ability has improved greatly since book 1.
7. The loose ends were tied up astoundingly well.
Very very very minor spoilers: (I've been vague on purpose)
Spoiler:
8. I really like the idea of the wizarding community splintering into two. (Three if you include Death Eaters.)
9. I love the poetic justice in Dumbledore's midyear teacher appointment.
10. I also love the choice of person for Harry to share fate with. (That's a really awkward sentence, but I'm trying to give little away.)
Except this loose end bothers me. (You really should be at the end before reading this):
Spoiler:
How come Sirius didn't just tell Harry to use the mirror instead of the complicated "floo powder in Umbridge's office" trick?
Also, unrelated, but I didn't expect it to be Sirius. I'll really miss him.
That's all I feel like writing for now.
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I expect both of them (and Hermione too) to have more advanced romantic relationships later in the book - there was some of that in book 4 but I get a definite feel that the raging hormones of puberty are getting a hold on our heroes.
As long as we don't get 'teen porno' it'll be alright .
It was pretty tame...
but Ginny... how many boyfriends did she have over the course of 890 pages?!
Hermione Spoiler:
Spoiler:
Hermione doesn't get any in this one... I was sure that Hermione and Ron would be involved with each other when Harry met them. After all, they had been together, all alone, trapped indoors, with nothing to do...
Smileys appear in my spoilers whether you highlight it or not. Hope I didn't give anything away.
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"You're the biggest user of hindsight that I've ever known. Your favorite team, in any sport, is the one that just won. If you were a woman, you'd likely be a slut." - Slowwhand, to Imran
Neville cause the cactus to 'splode on Harry in the Train, with Cho walking in
But the best part so far was when
Spoiler:
The Bloods wasted the Dursleys in the drive buy shooting. Who knew the gangs were in Britain?
__________________ With such viral bias, you're opinion is thus rendered useless. -Shrapnel12, on my "bias" against the SS. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy!" "Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I ****ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective." --Barack Obama
Gaaaar! I can't stand the sight of all the spoilers!!! I've gotta go finish it NOW!
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Quote:
My copy is 760-ish pages.
Yeah, the American version has bigger text apparently.
And JW, that list STILL had spoilers in them... you should label that better (even if the spoilers were a bit vague)... especially with Ginny and her b/f's .
--
I'm up to page 140 (or something) and it is really getting fun. Of course [*minor spoiler*] I'm eagerly awaiting the school year (I pretty much know the result of what happens at the Ministry).
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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Why would someone who has no interest in Harry Potter open a "Harry Potter reaction thread"? Go out and play in the traffic or something, Bods.
I believe he was expressing his reaction, wasn't he?
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Yes, he revealed himself as another who wants to make others miserable because he isn't "in" with the group.
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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
I'm up to the same point that Lonestar said he was at now. I love the new character of Luna!!!
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"mono has crazy flow and can rhyme words that shouldn't, like Eminem"
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"get contacts, get a haircut, get better clothes, and lose some weight"
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ZKrib
I feel for you man! HANG IN THERE!
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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
Hahaha what are we going to do now, form a Harry Potter support group?
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"mono has crazy flow and can rhyme words that shouldn't, like Eminem"
Drake Tungsten
"get contacts, get a haircut, get better clothes, and lose some weight"
Albert Speer
) until I've finished it, which probably take 5 or 6 days.
C'mon Amazon, shake a leg! 
how many boyfriends did she have over the course of 890 pages?!
Hope I didn't give anything away.
.
