Harry Potter Complete Book Spoiler Thread

[NCombs]

It's so funny to think about the 38 year old mom (me) getting into in depth discussions about these books with my 12 year old son and all his friends. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

We were wondering who was going to finish it first. I stayed up until 3:00 am so I bet I win!! Now, I have to wait for them to get done so we can talk about it.

 

[golfgal]

It's so funny to think about the 38 year old mom (me) getting into in depth discussions about these books with my 12 year old son and all his friends. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

We were wondering who was going to finish it first. I stayed up until 3:00 am so I bet I win!! Now, I have to wait for them to get done so we can talk about it.

Well, I am a 39 year old mom urging my 10 and 13 year olds to hurry up and finish the books so I can talk about them with them.

 

[snowy76]

Just finished! And my kids, who went away with friends for the weekend, are supposed to be here within an hour. Whew! Glad I have time to mop up my teary face and deal with the puffy eyes!

I agree with the earlier poster who mentioned the Star Wars parallel. Dumbledore really is an Obi-Wan type character IMO... I think we'll find that Dumbledore's trust in Snape is based on an Unbreakable Vow... I'm also thinking perhaps he killed D in order to fufill his vow to Malfoy's mom... saving Malfoy's soul would be part of protecting him, wouldn't it??

I didn't even notice the word slut in there... the whole "snogging" thing sounded just a little too suggestive for me! LOL... IS that a real word, or a JKR invention?? I remember reading an interview with JKR years ago where she basically intended for her audience to grow older with Harry as the years went on... and for the material to get more mature as well. My DH won't bother to re-read books 1 and 2 because they were too child-targeted for him... but he loves three onwards...

I was disappointed with this one. I agree with the fact that there was so much finality. And WHY did JKR make Dumbledore look so stupid? He's supposed to be the greatest wizard in the world...so why does he look like a moron.

I think JKR gets to the heart of that in the last chapter... Harry realizes that he cannot depend on others to protect him... until you remove the only person who really could protect him... he has someone to fall back on. Doesn't make him a strong adversary against Voldemort unless he can stand on his own.

When Harry found the note, and saw the signature, the first person I thought of was Sirius' brother.

OMG! I didn't think of this until you mentioned it! I DID wonder why they kept dropping his brother's name so much. Holy moly. Can't wait to see what comes of that!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Did anyone else find that there were a lot of words in this book that they weren't sure of? I'm not talking about snogging or horcruxes; there was enough context and info given to figure those out. But just other words that didn't make any sense. The book's too big for me to go back and find an example now, but I didn't know if we were finding more British vocab in here than ever before (though it wasn't usually used in dialogue) or if there were made up words, or if I really should have just studied all that SAT vocab the past couple years harder

 

[NCombs]

Well, I am a 39 year old mom urging my 10 and 13 year olds to hurry up and finish the books so I can talk about them with them.

So, it's not just me!! Good to know. Too bad I'm making my son finish his summer reading project for school before he can start HP.

 

[Dancind]

I woke up this morning thinking about the book, finished it last night. My first thought, Snape and Dumbledore had that death scene planned! Remember the overheard argument between them? And when Harry wanted to go get Madame Pomfrey, DD kept saying "it must be Snape". I agree that Snape must have done an Unbreakable Vow with DD too, a long time ago. Remember that the two witches were somewhat surprised that Snape knew so much about it? I think Snape will step up in the end and help Harry.

Snogging is well known UK term. Horcruxes, probably made up, but maybe a mythological term JKR found. DD loves the "Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging" series of books by Louise Rennison.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

It's so funny to think about the 38 year old mom (me) getting into in depth discussions about these books with my 12 year old son and all his friends. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Well, I am a 39 year old mom urging my 10 and 13 year olds to hurry up and finish the books so I can talk about them with them.

I got you both beat!! I'm a 36 yo mom with a 6yo and 3yo. I ignored them all day yesterday so I could read the book, and they cannot read well enough in order to discuss it with me! LOL

 

[katerkat]

I got you both beat!! I'm a 36 yo mom with a 6yo and 3yo. I ignored them all day yesterday so I could read the book, and they cannot read well enough in order to discuss it with me! LOL

25-year old Mom who made her 4 month old take long naps and go to bed early so she could read.

Honestly, I was rather disappointed. So many characters did stuff that seemed very out-of-character to me. The writing seemed rushed and her lack of skill was a lot more apparent than in earlier books. (Her ideas are good, her writing style is....not.) Book 7 better be really good to make up for the last two, in my opinion.

Also, why didn't Harry recognize Snape's handwriting in the Potions book? Mine hasn't changed all that much since high school. And again, it seems out of character for Snape to be calling himself a "half-blood." Plus, Harry said the book was 50 years old, so even if Snape used it, it wasn't originally his...

 

[monarchsfan16]

25-year old Mom who made her 4 month old take long naps and go to bed early so she could read.

Honestly, I was rather disappointed. So many characters did stuff that seemed very out-of-character to me. The writing seemed rushed and her lack of skill was a lot more apparent than in earlier books. (Her ideas are good, her writing style is....not.) Book 7 better be really good to make up for the last two, in my opinion.

Also, why didn't Harry recognize Snape's handwriting in the Potions book? Mine hasn't changed all that much since high school. And again, it seems out of character for Snape to be calling himself a "half-blood." Plus, Harry said the book was 50 years old, so even if Snape used it, it wasn't originally his...

Anytime the teachers write on the board, isn't it a magical thing where the writing just appears there? So would the magical writing actually look like the person's handwriting?
While it seems wierd that Snape is calling himself a half blood, he seems to always have a bigger issue with Harry being James' son, not so much whether people are pure bloods or not (though he has no problem with Draco referring to people as mudbloods). The part though about the book having been written in by him, but too old to have been used when Harry's father was in school definitely doesn't make sense.

 

[jellymanoffspring]

25-year old Mom who made her 4 month old take long naps and go to bed early so she could read.

Honestly, I was rather disappointed. So many characters did stuff that seemed very out-of-character to me. The writing seemed rushed and her lack of skill was a lot more apparent than in earlier books. (Her ideas are good, her writing style is....not.) Book 7 better be really good to make up for the last two, in my opinion.

Also, why didn't Harry recognize Snape's handwriting in the Potions book? Mine hasn't changed all that much since high school. And again, it seems out of character for Snape to be calling himself a "half-blood." Plus, Harry said the book was 50 years old, so even if Snape used it, it wasn't originally his...

I believe a relative of the HBP used the book before him......it is mentioned in the book.....

since the spoiler before me tells the HBP name....I will add his Mother used the book first...
Hermione was on track when she found the article about the woman....

So it makes perfect sense......

 

[AmyA]

I agree with the poster above who said that Dumbledore's death did not sit right. It lacks depth, IYKWIM. On another messageboard out there, someone has made a very convincing case for the idea that Dumbledore and Snape both knew of Draco's mission and had arranged for Snape to kill Dumbledore if necessary to save Draco's life and soul - Voldemort would have killed Draco outright had he failed to kill Dumbledore, and Draco would have crossed the line in killing another human being. Even Snape's snarl on the tower can in this case be interpreted as frustration that this had to play out this way, and Dumbledore's pleading was to remind Snape that this was the only way. After all, Snape did not try to kill or take Harry with them afterward, as well.

I could live with this - and it would make for some very interesting resolution in HP7.

I totally agree with this theory, and, by Draco not being able to force himself to kill Dumbledore, he shows that he is not completely irredeemable--a fact which I find surprising and somewhat comforting. I think it shows that Snape has not had nearly the evil influence over his Slytherins that Harry, Ron, and Hermione think he has had. All I can say is that I hope Snape does actually redeem himself properly, otherwise, JKR will have pulled a nasty trick on her readers. I have never "liked" Snape, but over the past 5 books I have come to respect him and count him among the "good guys".

I also immediately thought of Regulus Black when I saw the RAB initials--in OotP Sirius says that he doubts Voldy killed Regulus himself because Regulus wasn't important enough, but I think that Voldy did indeed to the deed himself. It appears that Sirius seriously underestimated both his brother's power and his inherent Black "evilness".

I agree with the others who have stated that the book didn't seem as well written as the others. Of course, I thought the exact same thing about OotP, but upon each rereading of it, I have grown to love it more. GoF still remains my favorite, though, at least til I get HBP read again.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

I got you both beat!! I'm a 36 yo mom with a 6yo and 3yo. I ignored them all day yesterday so I could read the book, and they cannot read well enough in order to discuss it with me! LOL

Yup..33 yo mom here, with a 5yo and almost 2yo...both too young for the book. While 2yo was taking her nap, I actually let 5yo play 2 HOURS of Playstation (don't worry, age appropriate games ), just so I could finish it. I hope he knows that 2 hours will NOT be the norm (at least until book 7)

 

[babar]

I feel Dumbledore is dead, but the fact that he "pleaded" with Snape means that he was pleading for Snape to go thru with it and kill him because Snape really didn't want to do it.

It would be waaaay too obvious for Snape to really be working for Voldemort.

I think Draco will turn out to be good in the end and unfortunately, I do think that Harry may be the final horacrux, somehow. Maybe something to do with his scar....

 

[Gupsmom]

so --- who is R.A.B.


Regalus Black?

That's what I think too. He fits perfectly. He obviously had a connection with the dark lord and died because he turned away....but assuming it is him, not before he took a piece of Voldermort with him...

Jess

 

[paigevz]

Well, I didn't read all of this thread, but did anyone notice (or is it in every book), when Ron is called "Rupert" at one point? That's the actor's name right? I can't remember who said it, but they are talking to Harry about Ron getting hurt and said, "your friend Rupert". Edited to say, I see Kejoda has mentioned this and it was Slughorn who said it.

I was very disappointed at the end. There wasn't a good wrap-up. I feel like I've just been left hanging for the next few years (or however long it takes for the next book).

I did figure out that Snape was the HBP late in the story, when Hermione told Harry that he'd have known about the benzoar if he'd listened to Snape in the first year...........and something had made me suspect it just before that, but I'd shrugged it off since they said the book was too old for James or Sirius and Snape was in school the same time as them, but then I thought he could've made those notes as a teacher and not as a student, since they were classroom copies. So I was wrong about that.

I never would have thought Snape would do what he did, and I still wonder if there wasn't some twist there. I actually thought because of the unbreakable vow, that Draco would fail, and Snape would be in the position to do the job, but refuse to and so be the one who died.

I was very surprised that the kids are leaving school. They are of age, but still.

I left my house to get my book at 12:01 am on the 16th, and was home by 12:25. I started it then, but life is happening in the middle, so I finished it noon today. That's, what, 36 hours? Not as fast as you guys!

Oh, and I loved the part when Harry told Snape "you don't have to call me sir, Professor"...............I laughed out loud, and I'm not a laugh out loud reader, so dh was very surprised! I thought he'd be in WAY more trouble though, as he gets in so much when he does nothing wrong, and that was pretty bad................

 

[glass-slipper]

I believe a relative of the HBP used the book before him......it is mentioned in the book.....

since the spoiler before me tells the HBP name....I will add his Mother used the book first...
Hermione was on track when she found the article about the woman....

So it makes perfect sense......

I was thinking maybe it was Voldemort's old book (50 years-exactly the right time) .

Did anyone notice that Harry could suddenly swim when he and dumbledore were searching for the horcrux? In GOB he was worried about completing the task in the lake because he couldn't swim?

I am really hoping DDs "death " was planned and it was just to mislead Voldemort. I am wondering, did Snape know DD was searching for the horcruxes? Snape helped DD with his hand injury after DD destroyed the ring and DD only wanted Snape's help after returning with the locket?

Book 7 is going to be long in order to cover all that was left unexplained in HBP.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Did anyone notice that Harry could suddenly swim when he and dumbledore were searching for the horcrux? In GOB he was worried about completing the task in the lake because he couldn't swim?

No, Harry is worried about completing the second task because he wasn't a strong swimmer, not because he couldn't swim at all. p. 464 GOF " He wasn't a very good swimmer, he's never had much practice." He did swim laps in the prefect's bathtub, but the lake with all the merpeople was quite a different feat....plus having to breathe underwater.

 

[FigmentGuy]

I attended a wedding yesterday..Alot of the guests had this book in their hands. Ha ha. Dont worry once the reception got going the booze reminded them to celebrate the 'occasion'. I read this spoiler in advance so when my family is talking about the book I can understand what they are conversing. Well, I slipped a copy of SS into my book bag and my Sig.other has no clue I got his copy. Perhaps its time I start reading this series?

 

[Brightsy]

My thoughts:

First I was totally surprised by Dumbledore's death...of course I had so completley avoided any rumors about this novel that all I knew going in was the title.
I figured out the HBP identity 'bout the same time many of the rest of you did I think.
Now, I still don't quite firmly believe Dumbledore is dead... Or not really. I mean I keep getting this flash in my head of an old guy in robes with a nifty glow-in-the-dark swishy-poke telling this evil black-robed guy "Strike me down and I will be stronger than you can imagine" or words to that effect.
I wonder if somehow Dumbledore will pop up in the book 7, either as a ghostly type thing or even alive and whole. I mean we don't actually see his body later on, it's all wrapped up. And as powerful as Albus is he could certainly fake his own death.
I keep thinking it might be some kind of ruse to lure LV into a flase sense of security. After all with the only wizard he ever feared gone he might do something far more rash and public. He might put himself into a vulnerable position. And of course now Snape is most likely firmly, truly firmly, back in LVs good graces, what better way to convince LV and the other DEs that he's back in evil form than to "kill" Dumbledore?

Well, here's hoping the wait for the last book isn't too awfully long... and in the meantime we have Nov. and HP: GoF to look forward to on the big screen!

Sara

 

[zurgswife]

Kelley again:

I think this book is mostly a precursor for book 7. I seem to be the only one to think it was better than book 5. I think her prose is simplistic, yes. But I think the only people who snivel at that are literary critics and people who have a lot of experince in the feild of English. I think that's why kids like them so much, no fancy sentence structures or overly lyrical prose. I can't stand Lord of the Rings for that very reason. The excessiveness of the writing.

But what she lacks there she makes up for in plot, and character development. JKR is very good with suspense. She keeps you wondering, and as things start to dull out she reveals something that makes you keep wondering. Which shouldn't be disgarded because plot and character developing are equally hard to come up with, as it is to write good prose.

Dumbledore has to have had something planned. He knew Harry couldn't go on with him, so I'm sure he at least had a small part in making sure he was no longer in the way. Dumbledore has surely not finished guiding Harry.

I agree that for a decent part of the next book it will probably just be the trio. But it's Harry's capacity to love that sets him apart from Voldemort and I think that at least will bring Ginny & Neville to his side.

Also - "Remember My Last" was never explained. Hopefully it will be during Harry's final visit to Privet Drive.