Deathly Hallows, chapter 8
Aug. 22nd, 2008 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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deathtocapslockThe Wedding
* I must take a moment off from my readthrough to draw you attention to the cover art of the British children's edition. To me, Harry looks like a determined hero, Ron like an idiotish sidekick (see his expression--doesn't he look like a blundering idiot), and Hermione like a damsel in distress. I shouldn't be surprised at that, especially not Ron's depiction, seeing how it's been firmly established that he is as stupid as they get. Yet I can't help but be slightly offended by the art. Now, tell me, do you agree with my interpretation or am I only seeing what I expect to see?
* We are on page 115 (British edition), and so far next to nothing has happened in the book. Over a hundred pages of faffing around.
* The good thing about this wedding business is that Harry is probably forced to take a shower.
* At first, I read Harry's new name to be "Cousin Barmy". Alas, it was not to be.
* The wedding seems like quite a grand do. I wonder, who is paying for it? The Weasleys? If so, does this mean that the Weasleys' credentials as a Poor Family are now officially a thing of the past?
* Wizards wear cravats. I wonder, are they like modern neckties or lacy cloths à la 17th century?
* I wouldn't have thought one could wear a cravat with a robe. Or maybe Rowling has been a bit too much influenced by the films.
* Lupin is miserable, again. I would have thought that he would have had the decency to pretend to be happy when he's a guest at a wedding.
* Hagrid's being a blundering idiot. Why couldn't he have died when he had the chance? It would have made the hundred pages of nothing more palatable.
* Yes, Rowling, we get that the Lovegoods are excentric. Now please stop bludgeoning us with the anvils.
* That said, I rather like Xenophilius's belief that one ought to wear sun colours to a wedding for luck. It sounds... authentic.
* *giggles* Auntie Muriel, I can safely say that Harry is just as, if not more, gormless as he looks in press photographs.
* I have to ask, why are there seating plans for the seats under the marquee? What does it matter where people sit during the ceremony? Or is Molly just being a control freak?
* Ron's jealousy over Krum is getting old.
* Mrs Weasley is wearing amethyst-coloured robes with a matching hat. Does anyone know what Mrs Weasley's hair colour is? Because if it's red, I don't want to imagine the effect that creates.
* Bill and Charlie wear roses in the buttonholes of their dress robes. Tell me, where exactly does a robe have a buttonhole?
* Oh my god, Harry is waxing poetic over the "afternoons spent alone with Ginny in lonely parts of the school grounds. They seemed so long ago; they had always seemed too good to be true, as though he had been stealing shining hours from a normal person's life, a person without a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead ..." *gags*
* I'm rather disappointed that Bill's real name isn't Bilius.
* Oh dear, bonding is now canon. Why couldn't they have had a nice, traditional Christian ceremony? Or am I supposed to believe wizards are anti-religious? Then what does the Fat Friar do at Hogwarts?
* The waiters serve Firewhisky. You know, I've never been to a wedding where the first thing people are offered is hard liquor.
* Krum is getting violent over the sign Xenophilius is wearing. A sign that Grindelwald carved into a Durmstrang wall when he was a student there. So Krum is getting shirty over a schoolboy graffiti, so much so that he has beaten his schoolfellows over it, or at least that's what's being implied.
* The verbal match between Doge and Muriel is the first interesting thing that happens in the book. I'm not overly fond of the Dumbledore storyline (there were other, worthier storylines (*cough*Draco*cough*) to develop), but beggars can't be choosers and it definitely beats wedding preparations and sitting in a tent for three hundred pages.
* So Dumbledore's mother is a Muggle-born. One would have thought that Dumbledore's attitude towards Muggles would have been less condescending given his ancestry. Then again, the book's token Muggle-born, our beloved Hermione, mind-rapes her parents for their own good, so Muggle ancestry clearly guarantees nothing.
* Still, the Dumbledore storyline contributes to the scattered feeling this book has. There are so many things that are conmpletely disconnected from the previous books, plus almost no storyline, except the Horcruxes, have survived from the previous books. The effect is a collection of random things happening without any overarching theme.
* That was a nice little infodump about Dumbledore, the treatment of Squibs in late 19th century, etc.
* I just noticed that Harry hasn't been drinking Polyjuice during the reception. I thought Polyjuice only lasted an hour.
* I don't see how the Ministry having fallen must mean that the DE are about to attack the Burrow. The Ministry's protections aren't the only ones the Burrow has, and if the DE were going to attack it, they could have done it whether the Ministry had fallen or not.
* Still, at least something is finally happening.
Atomic Grenade:
Doge vs. Muriel
Idiot Picture:
The Weasleys have organized a grand do. Didn't I tell you in an earlier post that it was like a come hither look for the Death Eaters? Well, I was right.
Selling Wood:
Harry is emoting.
Final score: 3.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 06:51 pm (UTC)*runs for communal sick bucket*
* I just noticed that Harry hasn't been drinking Polyjuice during the reception. I thought Polyjuice only lasted an hour.
When Harry drinks it, it lasts hours. He is just that chosen.
* I don't see how the Ministry having fallen must mean that the DE are about to attack the Burrow. The Ministry's protections aren't the only ones the Burrow has, and if the DE were going to attack it, they could have done it whether the Ministry had fallen or not.
You would that that since the Weaselys are famous for buttering up the chosen one, they would be first on the DE list. If I were the villain, they would be on my "evil list of things to do". But never mind all that, they have to party! In the middle of a ...war? skirmish? fascist uprising? I guess whatever point the author is trying to make now. I don't know, I guess less loving folk would have just settled for a quiet ceremony with friends and a large dinner party...waiting for danger to be over before throwing a huge fiesta. But then again those type just aren't Gryffindors. More like Slytherins.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 08:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 06:38 pm (UTC)Molly, however, would never have stood for anything Foreign. She would have had a lot to discuss with Uncle Vernon if neither of them were raging bigots.
I wonder what Fleur's family thought about the Weasely deal, I mean...what the really thought about it all.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-05 11:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 10:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 06:41 pm (UTC)Because truthfully Harry didn't have to kill Voldie himself. He just had to die taking that piece inside him. Lupin and the others could have done the rest.
It certainly would have cut out the horrendous camping trip.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 07:02 pm (UTC)* The wedding seems like quite a grand do. I wonder, who is paying for it? The Weasleys? If so, does this mean that the Weasleys' credentials as a Poor Family are now officially a thing of the past?
Of course not, it just means they have their priorities in order. Why buy new robes, a wand for your son, or a bigger house, when you can scrimp and save for one child's wedding?
* Ron's jealousy over Krum is getting old.
Definitely. He lives in Bulgaria, Ron, so unless Hermione's been taking really long trips without you noticing, they're clearly not dating, and it shouldn't be a big deal.
Does anyone know what Mrs Weasley's hair colour is? Because if it's red, I don't want to imagine the effect that creates.
According to the lexicon, her hair is indeed red.
* The waiters serve Firewhisky. You know, I've never been to a wedding where the first thing people are offered is hard liquor.
If wizards drink firewhisky as their beverage of choice, that would certainly explain a lot of their behavior.
* Still, the Dumbledore storyline contributes to the scattered feeling this book has. There are so many things that are conmpletely disconnected from the previous books, plus almost no storyline, except the Horcruxes, have survived from the previous books. The effect is a collection of random things happening without any overarching theme.
That pretty much sums up my disappointment with this book. So many of the plots introduced in this book were either unnecessary, or should have been introduced in earlier books. And then the plots from the earlier books went ignored. And Hagrid survived.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 10:57 am (UTC)Why buy new robes, a wand for your son, or a bigger house, when you can scrimp and save for one child's wedding?
And have the wedding in the middle of a war so that the quests can have a little more added excitement. What's a wedding without mortal danger?
And Hagrid survived.
I would have forgiven Rowling a lot if only Hagrid had died.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 07:54 pm (UTC)We are on page 115 (British edition), and so far next to nothing has happened
How can you say that? Charity and Hedwig have kicked the bucket!
The wedding seems like quite a grand do. I wonder, who is paying for it?
Well, traditionally (at least in my country) that was up to the bride's parents (they were the lucky ones to get rid of a daughter, after all).
Ah - and the wedding! What is it with Rowling and gold? Golden balloons and golden dance floors and golden everything. Back in PS I liked the golden goblets for the children at Hogwarts but meanwhile it gets REALLY tacky. And of course all the females are crying because of the wedding. I've been to several weddings in my life and never knew anyone who cried. Guess we are emotionally shallow then. And Fleurs beauty has scar-vanishing abilities! Being a bride is the truly accomplished state of a woman. Get it?!
Oh my god, Harry is waxing poetic over the "afternoons spent alone with Ginny in lonely parts of the school grounds...." *gags*
- hands you a sick-bag. - Honestly, I don't know what's more cringe-inducing: the saccharine beginning or the self-pitying ending.
In fact, this rubbish in combination with Luna's recognizing Harry even under polyjuice got my hopes up for the love potion theory. Yeah! Harry was going to dump the bat bogey menace and find his one true love in someone who wasn't in love with his scar. And she complimented him on his robes and sucked on a finger... Sigh. But I really liked Ron for appreciating her when she danced all on her own.
BTW, did anyone else think of Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the future when Xenophilius made his entrance?
I just noticed that Harry hasn't been drinking Polyjuice during the reception. I thought Polyjuice only lasted an hour.
That was so CoS. IIRC, we are told later (when Hermione polyjuices into Bellatrix), that the duration depends on how much you drink. That's why Harry is reported to have drunk a large dose here. But it still won't wash because with a dose depending potion, there'd be no reason to say it lasted an hour in the first place.
Also - don't you love it how nasty Muriel is made into a kind of second Aunt Marge with her drinking and xenophobia? Not at all like the author who informs us in the same chapter that it's those French hussies who are lusting after international Quidditch stars. Whereas they are lusted after by British boys - and in both cases that's just what's to be expected of them!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 11:05 am (UTC)But alas, not Hagrid. His death would have made the hundred pages far more tolerable.
Well, traditionally (at least in my country) that was up to the bride's parents
In my country as well. I just assumed that since the Weasleys were hosting the wedding, they were also paying for it. But like
What is it with Rowling and gold? Golden balloons and golden dance floors and golden everything.
And golden Harry!juice. It is indeed getting a little over-the-top.
Also - don't you love it how nasty Muriel is made into a kind of second Aunt Marge with her drinking and xenophobia?
I was reminded of Aunt Marge as well, what with Muriel's belching a lot and having a strident voice.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 02:24 pm (UTC)To be honest, I don't believe that idea occurred to Rowling in the first place. Because we all know there is no intelligent life outside the British islands, which is why hagrid was astonished that a people east of Minsk does really not understand English. Why would they have another language?
no subject
Date: 2008-08-24 04:17 pm (UTC)It didn't read to me like Ron appreciating Luna as a person, just enjoying the fact that she could always be counted on to do something goofy and entertaining.
BTW, did anyone else think of Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the future when Xenophilius made his entrance?
No, but I definitely will now!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 09:18 pm (UTC)Now? JKR has dumbed down her characters to the extent that the films and the books are on a par and that is *not* a good thing. Maybe there’s a limit to what she could do to deal with Hollywood’s simple-minded devotion to two dimensional characters. (I mean Hermione, film Ron could only *dream* of having two dimensions) And the fan girls who dote on Emma Watson, whoops, I mean Hermione, are a very loud group (though not necessarily the largest going by Azkaban’s financial performance) so WB go with the easily marketed actress, not with being true to the book. But why did JKR damage her characters in the books themselves? The main ones at least were all initially likeable despite their flaws. They usually acted according to character, not just plot demands. Now they’re appalling, unlikeable, and the plot’s worse. Gah - and I haven’t even started on the recap yet! I'll post that later.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 11:15 am (UTC)Now it's all a thing of the past. Harry and Ron are idiots, and Hermione is just an exposition machine. I wouldn't mind too much, but the character assassinations Rowling does to most of her main characters are even interfering with my enjoyment of fics. I want my fandom baaaaack!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 05:58 am (UTC)Haha, I know exactly what you mean. These days I just simply refuse to read fics that involve Harry and Ginny. Whenever their names pop up in a fic I'm reading that's not about them I seriously feel like I'm going to vomit. The I scroll real fast.
Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-22 09:29 pm (UTC)Did Bill insist that Fleur was entitled to a proper wedding, and they weren’t going to run away and elope? It might have calmed my questions as to why this was happening at all. And if it had to happen, why not just close family, and a handful of even closer friends so that they could put a Fidelius Charm on the Burrow.? Also, if this war is in Britain, then why not hold the wedding in France? Maybe the muggle tradition of the Bride’s parents hosting the wedding and footing the bill doesn’t hold sway in the Wizarding World, but isn’t being on the brink of a major conflict a good decider?
I like Aunt Muriel - I can’t wait to be 100, so that I can be as blunt in real life as I am on this site! I bet she’d not crawl up the mighty Harry Potter’s unwashed behind. (Shower? You think? I don’t blame Ron for leaving that tent).
Word to the Hagrid hate.
Ron’s jealousy over Krum got old by the end of Book 5. It started to smell early in Book 6. After Lavender’s daily ravishing of him, he should certainly have gained a lot of confidence. JKR could still have her ‘moving’ locket scene just with the Molly prefers Ginny/Harry and Hermione think you’re an idiot points, and dropped this ancient and yawnsome ‘Hermione loves everyone but me‘ nonsense.
In fact, even the Horcrux didn’t bother with the Viktor Krum crap. He was bought back to please the fans - there was no need for him plot wise - Diggle or Aunt Muriel or any Wizard over 30 could have told Harry the info. If Krum came back, he should have killed one or other of Hermione’s parents then escaped. It’s an obsession of mine, but if Hermione was grief struck and guilty, then Harry would have had to do some thinking for himself and GROW UP. (And no doubt died horribly within 20 pages.)
Plus if Krum *and* Ginny died in the Battle, we could have saved Tonks or Remus for Teddy‘s sake. Though probably not both, since I wouldn’t give that relationship 2 years. Then Tonks could marry Mr Granger or Remus - Mrs Granger (or Mr Granger if certain shippers are to be believed)
I also wish Bill’s name was Bilius - and Ron’s was Orion or something. So Hermione’s sniping of ‘Ronald’ for the past 5 years has been completely wrong. But he didn’t tell her because he thought it was funny.
A lot of what we assumed made the Wizarding World different disappeared during the later books. JKR read too much fan fic. and we started getting ‘By Merlin’, button holes in robes, and Bonding ceremonies. I’d have preferred a Christian ceremony, perhaps with Wizarding extras on top. But JKR never defined the nature of magic, so what do we know? Good point about the Fat Friar, but he belongs to the time when JKR took care with her work and remembered what she‘d written before, eg that Polyjuice only lasted 1 hour. That‘s all over the place in this book. And I repeat, surely a glamour makes more sense? They don’t have time limits, do they? Why go to the trouble of the potion? Why drag the image of some unsuspecting muggle (especially if they live close by) into trouble here (Or at Godric's Hollow)? It was only needed for the 7 Potters, The Ministry and Gringotts.
Still, remembering the early (good) books became more difficult for her as she got further into the series. And God, I mean, Merlin forbid she re-read her own work.
Re: Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-23 11:23 am (UTC)Almost everything in this book could have been told more concisely. I'm pretty sure that the "true" length of this book is no more than that of Philosopher's Stone.
Anyway,the first 115 pages weren't a total write off - the owl exploded!
Much can be forgiven for the exploding owl. Now, if only Hagrid had bitten the dust as well.
Also, if this war is in Britain, then why not hold the wedding in France?
That's a major Idiot Picture moment here. There was at least a 90 per cent chance of a DE attack during the wedding, but they still went ahead with it. *headdesk*
(And no doubt died horribly within 20 pages.)
And that would be a bad thing how exactly. ;-D
Re: Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-23 02:11 pm (UTC)Since they stupidly had a huge wedding with even marginally known people attending (btw, where were some goblins from Bill's work?), why didn't the DEs just kidnap someone and use the Polyjuice and subvert from the inside? They do know about Polyjuice - Barty Jr. used it four years before. It would have served them right if, on the signal that the Ministry had fallen, instead of DEs beginning to Apparate in, DEs disguised as guests had started shooting the place up before the Ministry contingent arrived. A few Order members (and innocent bystanders - do they realize how many people they endangered by having this wedding?) would have been killed or captured at that point, which would have been more realistic no matter when the DEs showed up.
Re: Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-23 03:55 pm (UTC)Re: Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-23 05:47 pm (UTC)Re: Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-23 06:01 pm (UTC)Re: Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-24 08:40 am (UTC)I also like how it didn't occur to them to surround the area with anti-Disapparition jinx. They were only supposedly trying to capture somebody, after all.
And how the Delacours managed to immediately Disapparate to France, whilst later British Muggleborns were unable to come up with the same notion and aimlessly wandered through the woods, whilst Voldy opted to flatter around like a demented bat. Honestly, was it so difficult to come up with consistent Apparition limitations that would have allowed for dangerous situations, chases and fights, yet still allowed the characters to move around quickly, when required?
Re: Recap Proper
Date: 2008-08-24 04:08 pm (UTC)Hostages. Luna could have been captured then, but the trio not told (to protect them from the bad news, a real-life adult concern for kids they don't see as being as grown-up as they are) until during or after their disastrous visit to Xenophilius. Imagine how different his chapter might have been if he'd broken down sobbing and told them instead of going on and on about that diadem.
With all the stuff Harry never seemed to learn in the books, I'm not too surprised that the Beaux Batons alumni thought of Apparating across the channel (weren't we told that people didn't Apparate across bodies of water at one interview point?) while the Hogwarts alumni didn't.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 09:28 pm (UTC)Oh, Krum. With his new personality of being a womanizer. He's grown so since he didn't want to talk to anybody but Hermione. (Clearly she's really awesome if she got his attention!)
And then he's also gotten self-righteous with his arguing over Xeno wearing what is obviously the wizard version of a swastika even though nobody's ever seen it in the books. Don't they study Grindelwald at all?
Btw, didn't Viktor mention that his family members were killed by Grindelwald? Looks like he's got the right creds--that's why he's the good Durmstrang student. Blood will out.
Dumbledore and Hermione are kind of living proof of why Muggle prejudice is so consistent. Muggleborns seem like the worst when it comes to this sort of thing.
I had forgotten the new rule about Polyjuice. Or should I say, the hastily invented rule that clearly was not the case in GoF. Why didn't the trio just make more back in CoS?
So true about the Dumbledore story, and we'll hear it like 3 more times without advancing anything. It just occurred to me that one of the many problems with it is that first, it's hard to understand how Dumbledore's past could make him a bad guy now, and second even if it turned out he was a bad guy it's unclear how this effects Harry badly, exactly. I mean, it's not like there's any implication that Dumbledore likes Voldemort, right? The worst it could imply is that they shouldn't be following Dumbledore's plan, but there's already far better reasons in the text for not following Dumbledore's plan. Reasons like: a) There is no Dumbledore plan that they know of b) It's a stupid plan c) Dumbledore's dead.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 10:25 pm (UTC)And then he's also gotten self-righteous with his arguing over Xeno wearing what is obviously the wizard version of a swastika even though nobody's ever seen it in the books. Don't they study Grindelwald at all?
That's what I wonder as well. One would imagine that if the symbol was associated with Grindelwald, people would know that. As it is, my guess that it's the equivalent of a schoolboy graffiti and that Krum is a bit too trigger-happy seems perfectly credible.
a) There is no Dumbledore plan that they know of b) It's a stupid plan c) Dumbledore's dead.
He probably counted on being dead before the time to put the plan into effect came so that no one would dare to criticize him. Don't speak ill of the dead, and all that.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-24 02:59 am (UTC)Note to self: Find more Finnish cover art)
I still cling to the hope that Dumbles was expecting the Trio to come to his portrait asap. After all, they were bound to come before his funeral probably, and McGonagall would hardly refuse them time alone with him (and he could stop pretending to sleep, to avoid Scrimgeours masterly interrogation as to the circumstances of his death)
Maybe, if they needed things to die down, they'd pop back a few days after term ended. Then, he could pass on the location of his carefully prepared notes and the Book on Horcruxes that he was far to savvy to leave lying about in his office where any shrew could 'accio' them through the window.
They were in the small cottage in the middle of nowhere that he had prepared, with Remus/Arthur as the Secret Keeper. This would be used as their top secret hideout - after all, he wouldn't want them wandering round the forest for months on end! Ha Ha HA!
His portrait waited, and waited, then the Ministry fell and realised with horror that they weren't coming! It's my story and I'm sticking to it.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-24 05:48 pm (UTC)As for Umbridge - well I fear he might have taken the description of toad-like and dropped the 'like' part.
Hella Cool!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-30 01:29 am (UTC)*de-lurks*
On a reread of the books (after DH, when I was trying to remember why I liked the things) I noticed that Draco was never described as having blond hair in the first few books. Off the top of my head, I'd say that the first mention is when he gets hit with mud outside the Shrieking Shack in PoA. I could be wrong, though, but I'm positive it never comes in the first two books. Lucius's hair color may have never been described, except as an implied extension of Draco's description, since they look exactly alike.
I also noticed in my reread that I used to like Harry, and even identify with him. *shudders*
no subject
Date: 2008-08-30 07:19 pm (UTC)I also noticed in my reread that I used to like Harry, and even identify with him. *shudders*
Same here. The Harry of the earlier books, brat though he may have been at times, was someone I could like. So much has changed. *sigh*
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 11:51 pm (UTC)Don't forget Tommy "fauxaristo" Riddle. It doesn't matter if he's descended from Slytherin and the Peverells. His father was a Muggle and he was raised in a Muggle orphanage. Both blood and nurture was Muggle for him and look at what he did.
Oh, and once they get Purebloods to like or follow them, it's practically curtains for the old families. Look at Bellatrix, Lucius, Narcissa, and a host of other DEs. Look at Emmeline Vance, Madam Bones, and other red-shirted Order members. Maybe the worst thing is an actual Muggle-born like Hermione. See Marietta Edgecomb and Delores Umbridge. See poor little Sevvie, and James "Born-To-Die" Potter.
I had forgotten the new rule about Polyjuice. Or should I say, the hastily invented rule that clearly was not the case in GoF. Why didn't the trio just make more back in CoS?
Why didn't Barty Jr. just make a mega-batch and drink the day's worth for breakfast instead of swigging off that hip flask? Barty Jr. is the one character I can't see trying to look bad-ass by constantly drinking from a hip flask, even if it did emulate the real Moody. I doubt if the real Moody drank from his flask once every hour. A give-away if there ever was one once Harry's name came out of the goblet.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 11:55 pm (UTC)Don't you hate hitting "post" too soon? Now look at everyone connected with Harry Potter. He was the son of a Muggle-born and a wizard, making him (by WW standards) a half-blood. In his case we can see what happened - he was born without a logical bone in his brain. His stupid mistakes got people around him killed from Quirrel to Sirius to anyone who died in DHs. Maybe it's an allergic reaction to the lack of a magical gene, something like the Rh factor, only just affecting others instead of the carrier.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-24 10:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-24 03:54 pm (UTC)**********************************************************
The Weasleys stopped being poor at the beginning of HBP, when Arthur got a promotion at the ministry and the twins' joke shop became hugely successful. And also because that whole poor/rich conflict theme between Harry and Ron is soooooo GoF.
The first time I read DH I thought the whole wedding scene sounded like on of those boring parts that William Goldman "edited" out of The Princess Bride.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 12:01 pm (UTC)I can buy the Weasleys being short of money back when the children were small and lived at home, but ever since the beginning of the series, most of the Weasley children have spent the better part of the year at Hogwarts, which doesn't seem to have tuition fees. That means a huge saving in the living costs.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-24 04:05 pm (UTC)I've been annoyed with the British cover art since Prisoner of Azkaban, which showed Harry and Hermione on Buckbeak's back. I can't find a really high-res version of it, but Harry looks determined and heroic while Hermione is clutching him in panic, her mouth open as if in a frightened scream or moan. In the book itself, Harry didn't much enjoy the experience of riding Buckbeak, and I don't recall Hermione's reaction being mentioned at all.
* Ron's jealousy over Krum is getting old.
Well, this isn't the same Krum, so Ron has to get jealous all over again.
* Oh dear, bonding is now canon. Why couldn't they have had a nice, traditional Christian ceremony? Or am I supposed to believe wizards are anti-religious? Then what does the Fat Friar do at Hogwarts?
I don't think we're supposed to believe wizards are anti-religious. In addition to the Fat Friar, there's also St. Mungo's hospital, the fact that they celebrate Christmas (although the celebrations we actually see are fairly secular) and the Bible quotes on the tombstones in Godric's Hollow. Which makes the wedding even more surprising. Maybe it's just the Weasleys who are anti-religious, since if it had been Fleur's idea I'm sure we would have heard Molly sniffing about it.
* So Dumbledore's mother is a Muggle-born.
This makes the name "Kendra" even less forgiveable. I'd forgotten that detail, and I'd been consoling myself with the thought that maybe it was more popular in wizarding circles than muggle ones in the 19th century. (I almost wonder--did JKR name the character after somebody she knew?)
no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 11:53 am (UTC)Good catch.
I could buy the WW being secularized, but even then I'd expect a quasi-religious wedding, much like in modern Muggle societies. This "bonded for life" stuff just doesn't make sense.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-25 05:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-26 10:07 am (UTC)Cressida probably channeling JKR: "My pairings are FINAL and CANNOT BE DISSOLVED..."
The only problem with that is, Muggle marriage ceremonies also bond the couple "till death do [they] part." That doesn't stop divorce, nor should it. Divorce is the result of internal collapse of the marriage. I think the original stuff about any objections and only death (an outside force) parting them is to stop meddlers like mothers-in-law and ex-sweethearts trying to subvert the marriage.
I think the bonding ceremony was Rowling reading too much fanfic by authors who are taking a huge leap and equating Potterverse witchcraft and wizardry (a genetic thing) with Wicca witchcraft (a religion).
no subject
Date: 2008-08-26 08:22 pm (UTC)Anyway, she had a really good opportunity to say so much with so little if only she remained consistent with her naming (and other aspects, of course). I.e. traditional purebloods - Greek, Hebrew or Latinate names, more relaxed ones with traditional English or Celtic names, older Muggleborns with names typical for the decade of their birth, etc. Instead, kids names were all over the map. She had a "Tracy" in Slytherin, for Pete's sake!
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Date: 2008-08-28 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 05:30 pm (UTC)Then Hollywood intervened and changed her to be more Daphne-like, because all clever but plain women are *obviously* gay and that market's not big enough to cater to. Emma Watson was keen to portray herself on sceen, rather than some dull, unglamouress fictional character so that's what we got. (Now, she's so bad, she's actually incapable of even portaying herself - I presume that's why she makes Daniel Radcliffe look like Daniel Day-Lewis)
Worst of all, JKR had completely run out of inspiration and made the very bad decision to mould her character like that in the film, instead of insisting on vice-versa. From a realistic 3 dimensional girl, who was an excellent role model, to run of the mill, spunky, 'girl power' cliche, as invented by middle aged men