(no subject)

[pegkerr]

Done.

Devastated.

Comments

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Eep. O_O

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I'm on page 14. (It arrived in the mail from Amazon today.) But I have a testimony to write, so I need to not read it now.

B

*tiptoes around naming person to avoid spoilers*

[queerasjohn.livejournal.com]

I know. >:D< Although...I have to say that the numerous characters who could have died (and were placed into mortal peril) earlier on in the book (not to mention that scene) would have saddened me more. I think that JKR actually set up the death quite well by making us less sympathetic towards the character because of the Pensieve events.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

yes. that is the only real way to describe it.
i *just* finished, helped along by several generous shots of dewars. so it's not even 3 pm. if hagrid can do it, so can i.

amazing. excellent.
i think i am going to go curl up and cry.

[lostbutton.livejournal.com]

ARRRRRRRRRRGH!

haven't gotten mine yet. Silly me, I ordered a UK version through a canadian bookseller and now I won't get it until at least next week!

[pinkfinity.livejournal.com]

: hides book from siriologist. I dread her reaction.

[corinnethewise.livejournal.com]

I cried. But only a little, because I had to finish. I agree with John that she made it easier by making him seem relatively awful with the Pensieve. That never did get resolve though, with Harry's thoughts on his father, and Harry and Snape. One this that I felt it was missing. But yeah, no crit now, too busy rejoicing in the glory that is OotP. That was one of the best seven hours of my life.

Also done

[somedaysawriter.livejournal.com]

Devestated..and a bit disapoointed too.

[jingdono.livejournal.com]

*nods* The rest of the book was a blur for me because it is hard to read while bawling. Now I have to pretend it doesn't bother me in front of those who do not yet know or they will guess.

[morganmalfoy.livejournal.com]

All I can see from here on out are severe denial fics, lots of "what were Lupin and Black doing all alone in that house" and angst beyond all telling.

-M

[vass]

Me too. But not as shocked as I was for a minute before I realised you meant you'd finished *reading* a book, not writing it.

Re: *tiptoes around naming person to avoid spoilers*

[metmamandy.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- I was wondering why she did that. It didn't really fit together, if you ask me. Why bring down the character she's going to kill? The pensieve incident never tied back back in at the end and the book ended with it unresolved. Why'd she include it at all?

Re: WARNING: SPOILERS

[metmamandy.livejournal.com]

That does make sense. I'm just used to the amazing way JKR has of making every little comment, made in passing, come back into a huge bang surprise ending.

I miss that. I always thought it was the thing that made her such an amazing writer -- more so than the imagery, the imaginative storyline, the humor, or anything else. The fact that she could plant tiny clues like that and then have them come back for some off-the-wall ending that fits perfectly.

Sadly, I think we're going to have to wait for book 7 for that ending. *pouts*

WARNING: SPOILERS (reposted because I am an HTML-cretin)

[queerasjohn.livejournal.com]

WARNING: SPOILERS

Well, my thoughts on this are as yet completely formed. However, far be it for me to resist an invitation to pontificate.

I think that many of us (myself included) expected Dumbledore to die. It fitted the genre -- the mentor dies so the fledgling hero has to strike out on his own and begin his own journey, not the journey chosen by others.

With the death of Sirius and the de-deification of Dumbledore as no longer omnipotent or omniscient in Harry's eyes, JKR has fulfilled those expectations -- Harry will no longer blindly listen to others. Of course, he has the added complication that he allowed himself to be tricked into "rescuing" Sirius; however, I (and possibly he will) rationalise this by pointing out how frustrated Harry was with Dumbledore, how frightened/wary he was of Snape, and how he is only fifteen and cannot be expected to be perfect, much as we'd all like.

The Pensieve incident, I think, was basically character development, a way to further encourage Harry to think for himself (and not attempt to emulate his parents), and a reason why Harry wouldn't have gone to Snape after McGonagall left the Hospital Wing. I suspect, also, that it will impact future books.

*sigh* I want more! More books!

Re: *tiptoes around naming person to avoid spoilers*

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Well, for one thing, she included the incident to show Harry that he really had a lot in common with Snape, which I'm sure was a surprise to him. She also did it to show that his father (and Sirius) were not demi-gods, but were once thoughtless 15 year olds, too. Just as Harry has been.

And being imperfect doesn't mean that you "deserve" death. We try to forget it, but being human means that you are inevitably going to die some day, ready or not. Whether you are angelic or cruel. You will die. And, like Sirius, you may die before your time.

[(Anonymous)]

Peg:

I can't believe you read the whole thing! I can't read any of your comments for fear I'll see something I don't want to see yet. I am sorry you are devastated. We all have our guesses!!! It is Sunday 12 midnight or thereabouts. Leigh is on page 408 & was forceably thrown into bed. She barely got dressed today.

We bought the tapes, so I can listen in the car - since I can't keep up with my daughter. Georgia is starting the second book (I'm reading).

love to all - heather

[rachet.livejournal.com]

heartbroken

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I finished it on the plane ride to California today. I thought it was okay, but not great. Definitely want to talk about it sometime.

B