Jul 17, 2005 11:46 AM
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(Updated Jul 17, 2005 11:46 AM)
I just finished the Half-Blood Prince, about 24 hours after it came out. I am sitting here dumbfounded, because part of me feels like it was my favorite book yet, but the other part of me is still so upset and even slightly angry that I am having a hard time writing an objective review.
The story unfolds with a special flair in the first 4 or so chapters that make this book unlike the others, not following the same set-up as before. Harry's life starts looking good quickly, and the book picks up speed, puncuated with some truly halarious moments with the Weasleys (Fred and George's shop, for example).
Harry is the truly lovable part about this book, because he has grown and healed so much since the last book. He is truly growing up, becoming wise, becoming powerful. He has helpless moments, and a few insights he does not understand, but he has really become the main player of the game, now, not just along for the ride. Dumbledore is in this story more than any other, and he is quite wonderful, as you might imagine, treating Harry as an equal, perhaps more like a partner.
My favorite part in the book is on page 578. I was affected by this scene as I was by no other in any of the books. Dumbledore's verbal acknowledgement of Harry as a partner, a valuable and powerful wizard tugs the heartstrings as Rowling knew it would.
The conclusion of the book is jam-packed with surprises and horror-filled events, but I know that in the scheme of the storyline, it all had to happen, I'm sure. I think that Rowling is foretelling something on page 645 when she mentions all the people that stood in front of Harry. I know she says that there is a purpose that Sirius had to die, so the horrors of this book must have a purpose, too.
It is wonderful, and horrible. I'm sure that is what Rowling hoped we would think when we finished, so, for that, I say WELL DONE!
