Thursday, May 13, 2004 AD Harry Potter and the Orthodox Presbyterians (Or, uh, some other O.P.)
I'm on the last tape of my second listen-through of the fifth HP novel and am full of complaints:
The ruddy thing is way too long. Get on with the story, already.
Yes, Dolores Umbridge is a witch in the vernacular as well as the technical sense of the word. Is it really necessary to tell us so again and again on every other page?
What's with the therapy session between HP and Dumbledore near the end? Cut the touchy-feely crap.
Why are HP&Co. too stupid to disarm their opponents even after they've stunned them? There's a Death Eater stone cold on the floor, but he's going to wake up soon. Break his wand, you nitwits! For that matter, why not just use "Expelliarmus" every time? That's always a quick end to a duel, but I guess it would kind of put a damper on the drama. Kind of messes up every fight scene for me, though.
For all the touchy-feely crap, you'd think that HP could muster some, small level of sympathy for Prof. Snape, and vice-versa. Rowling just seems to be building up to a big future emotional scene when they both finally get it and fall crying on each other's necks.
Sirius's death was lame-o. All the drama is in Harry's reaction. The death itself is deadly dull.
I probably have several more gripes but the durn thing's so long I've forgotten them by now. But Mrs. Rowling doesn't need to fear she's lost a customer for the rest of the series. Overall I'm still enjoying it quite a bit. Anybody heard any rumors of when book six will be out? Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 5/13/2004 01:41:00 PM
• • Permalink
