As previously said, I am reading the fifth installment in the "Harry Potter" series right now. I haven't seen the movie yet or listened to the audio books, so no one PLEASE post anything that will give anything away. My hairdresser actually let slip that an important character leaves us in this book, and, well, I was devastated. There's just something about not discovering it for myself....
Anyway, this book is far darker than the last four. Harry is now 15 years old, and his moods are shifting as quickly as his hormones. (Many props to J.K. Rowling for taking that bit of realism in to account, btw.) The language begins to shift with the aging characters, as well. Ron, his brothers, and Harry have taken to calling one another "mate," possibly the British (or Australian?) equivalent of "bro" or "dog." Harry finally encounters his first bit of romance and his thinking patterns emulate that of a boy coming of age.
Perhaps my favorite part of this book thus far is the deep-set struggle between good and evil, even within the ranks of those on the "good" side and those on the "bad" side. Professor Umbridge (bad) of the Ministry of Magic (good) lands the coveted Defense Against the Dark Arts position, but immediately abuses her position by acting as spy (bad) for the Ministry. She particularly gives Harry and his peers in Gryffindor a hard time, while favoring Slytherin students. (And everyone knows Slytherins are eeeviiil.)
What most impresses me about these books is Rowling's ability to produce vivid images for the reader absent of flowery language, which so many writers overuse. Her attention to detail is uncanny and she subtly satirizes those things which we "Muggles" so easily accept. Take for instance, the use of "Muggle medicine" in book five. "Healers" (the magical community's equivalent to doctors) attempt to use stitches instead of magic to heal a patient. Molly Weasley thinks this is absolutely preposterous, and though Rowling doesn't dwell for long on the absurdity of trying to sew someone up like a garment, the reader is led to note that, well, it is odd, isn't it?
I'm on page 553 of 870, and though I have a bookshelf full of other books I want to get to, I'm savoring the magic that is "Harry Potter" while I can. I only hope another series as gripping comes along soon.
Anyway, this book is far darker than the last four. Harry is now 15 years old, and his moods are shifting as quickly as his hormones. (Many props to J.K. Rowling for taking that bit of realism in to account, btw.) The language begins to shift with the aging characters, as well. Ron, his brothers, and Harry have taken to calling one another "mate," possibly the British (or Australian?) equivalent of "bro" or "dog." Harry finally encounters his first bit of romance and his thinking patterns emulate that of a boy coming of age.
Perhaps my favorite part of this book thus far is the deep-set struggle between good and evil, even within the ranks of those on the "good" side and those on the "bad" side. Professor Umbridge (bad) of the Ministry of Magic (good) lands the coveted Defense Against the Dark Arts position, but immediately abuses her position by acting as spy (bad) for the Ministry. She particularly gives Harry and his peers in Gryffindor a hard time, while favoring Slytherin students. (And everyone knows Slytherins are eeeviiil.)
What most impresses me about these books is Rowling's ability to produce vivid images for the reader absent of flowery language, which so many writers overuse. Her attention to detail is uncanny and she subtly satirizes those things which we "Muggles" so easily accept. Take for instance, the use of "Muggle medicine" in book five. "Healers" (the magical community's equivalent to doctors) attempt to use stitches instead of magic to heal a patient. Molly Weasley thinks this is absolutely preposterous, and though Rowling doesn't dwell for long on the absurdity of trying to sew someone up like a garment, the reader is led to note that, well, it is odd, isn't it?
I'm on page 553 of 870, and though I have a bookshelf full of other books I want to get to, I'm savoring the magic that is "Harry Potter" while I can. I only hope another series as gripping comes along soon.
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