PoA 1: Owl Post
Apr. 26th, 2004 01:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pauraque_bkAs I mentioned before, I'm going to be re-reading PoA slowly and posting my thoughts on each chapter. This is easily my favorite of the five books, and I love it dearly; I want to savor it one more time before I see the film. I'll be reading the UK paperback edition, so that's what page numbers will refer to.
PoA 1: Owl Post
Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework, but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard. (7)
This is the last time JKR will open a book with this type of simplistic fairy-tale exposition. It really isn't necessary here, given that she immediately goes on to describe his homework, which would probably get that whole "wizard" point across. The opening of GoF is different and brilliant, presenting a new situation and a suspenseful mystery. The opening of OotP uses the same at-the-Dursleys' formula, but is written much better, showing us the situation through action and dialogue.
PoA is a transitional book, taking a huge leap foward from CoS in complexity of plot and character. It asks us to accept as the high point of the story an emotional climax rather than a physical, violent one, and we do. But it does show lingering "kid's book" tendencies that sometimes drag on the action.
[...]his essay, 'Witch-Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless -- discuss'. (7)
For his essay topic, Harry is asked to expound on the "right" way of thinking about witch-burning rather than dare consider the actual reasons Muggles feared magic. Reads as a jab at the WW's inability to see the Muggle POV -- the very inability that allowed Voldemort to come to power.
Bill's taken us round all the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff. (13)
Eh? Wizards have the concept of mutation, apparently. Perhaps describing Apparition into a sealed tomb, since we Muggles haven't ever come across multi-headed skeletons in tombs we've opened.
I'm on holiday in France. [...] -- but then Hedwig turned up! (14)
Are owls charmed, or inherently magical? Do they have super-speed, or powers of Apparition?
P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. (14)
Ron and Hermione communicate regularly over the summer, it seems.
Broomstick Servicing Kit (14)
Snerk. Oh Hermione, you dirty girl...
And that's about it. I'll use LJ cuts as I start to get long-winded on later chapters, which should address any concerns over spoilers if there are people out there who haven't finished the book.
PoA 1: Owl Post
Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework, but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard. (7)
This is the last time JKR will open a book with this type of simplistic fairy-tale exposition. It really isn't necessary here, given that she immediately goes on to describe his homework, which would probably get that whole "wizard" point across. The opening of GoF is different and brilliant, presenting a new situation and a suspenseful mystery. The opening of OotP uses the same at-the-Dursleys' formula, but is written much better, showing us the situation through action and dialogue.
PoA is a transitional book, taking a huge leap foward from CoS in complexity of plot and character. It asks us to accept as the high point of the story an emotional climax rather than a physical, violent one, and we do. But it does show lingering "kid's book" tendencies that sometimes drag on the action.
[...]his essay, 'Witch-Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless -- discuss'. (7)
For his essay topic, Harry is asked to expound on the "right" way of thinking about witch-burning rather than dare consider the actual reasons Muggles feared magic. Reads as a jab at the WW's inability to see the Muggle POV -- the very inability that allowed Voldemort to come to power.
Bill's taken us round all the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff. (13)
Eh? Wizards have the concept of mutation, apparently. Perhaps describing Apparition into a sealed tomb, since we Muggles haven't ever come across multi-headed skeletons in tombs we've opened.
I'm on holiday in France. [...] -- but then Hedwig turned up! (14)
Are owls charmed, or inherently magical? Do they have super-speed, or powers of Apparition?
P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. (14)
Ron and Hermione communicate regularly over the summer, it seems.
Broomstick Servicing Kit (14)
Snerk. Oh Hermione, you dirty girl...
And that's about it. I'll use LJ cuts as I start to get long-winded on later chapters, which should address any concerns over spoilers if there are people out there who haven't finished the book.
