Sep 21, 2005 06:39 AM
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(Updated Sep 21, 2005 06:46 AM)
I just caught the film trailer of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire last night (releasing in November, for the uninitiated) and it got me so excited that I just had to do something. Hence this review ... even though there are almost 40 reviews before this one!! To anyone who hasnt read the book as yet (is there anyone left :D), dont worry, I dont believe in revealing the plot, my review will just talk about generalities ..... so what are you waiting for?? Read on!!
'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' sees the return of Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione to the sixth term at Hogwarts. All the sixth term students at Hogwarts, have got the results of their O.W.L.S. and they are able to choose subjects that they want to sit for in their N.E.W.T.S. next year. The events of the last year (HP and the Order of the Phoenix), have taken a toll on Harry and his friends, especially Harry who has suffered a major loss, and they are all more mature in their outlook. Of course, all is not going on well in the wizarding or the Muggle world. With the proof of Lord Voldemort returning, we see a new Minister of Magic, an Auror, Rufus Scrimgoer, who has a tougher image than the unfortunate Cornelius Fudge.
At Hogwarts
Some things remain the same ...
Harry is as mistrustful of Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape as ever, but this time around not too many people share his fears. Ron and Hermione's relationship remains as confused as ever. It looks like Rowling is waiting till the 7th book to finally bring them together. In the meanwhile, Ron spends his time playing tonsil hockey with Lavender Brown (who has just grown more irritating with time). Professor Trelawney remains her usual ditzy self and surprisingly plays a minor role in the proceedings. Hermione continues to play 'Devil's Advocate' and the voice of reason to all the ill-judged things Harry and Ron insist on doing.
... while some things have changed!
Harry is now Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. There is a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Snape, who has finally realised the ambition closest to his heart. Hence, there's a new Potions teacher Professor Slughorn who likes to surround himself bright, young students. Surprisingly, and with the help of the 'Half-Blood Prince', Harry is able to be at the top of the class in Potions. This book also sees the development of Ginny from the shy, young girl who runs behind the Hogwarts Express in the first book into an interesting, mature character. Rowling kindof set the ball rolling in the Goblet of Fire but, here we really see Ginny come into her own.
Thoughts on the book
This book is by far the most interesting one in the series and has surpassed Prisoner of Azkaban to become my favorite one in the series. In the first place we see all the students develop into distinct characters, especially Harry and Ginny. It also performs the part of bringing the whole story together, in other words, it's just plot, plot and more plot. People who wanted a bit more action might be disappointed but I was delighted with the way the story has been brought together in this book. We see Professor Dumbledore start to tell Harry the story of Tom Marvolo Riddle and how he grew up to be Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore feels that to know the enemy is the only means of defeating him. We learn a lot from these lessons especially how Voldemort survived the 'Avada Kedavra' spell and basically this book brings together books 1-5 in a brilliant manner. Of course, the end of the book has all the page-turning, heart-pumping action and more that any Potter lover could ever want. And, it has the death of a major influence in Harry's life! The book is felt to be darker than the others and it's true since the effects of Lord Voldemort's return are felt throughout the wizarding world and we see a lot of deaths and disappearances being reported. But, Rowling has always maintained that she did not like to hide death from children. It might not be suitable for very small children but, any child in their teens should be able to read it. The one thing that irritated me was the whole Ron-Lavender thing, I think it could have been done a bit better by not being there at all :D. ALso, we dont see too much of Hagrid as in the other books, and that saddened me a bit.
The message of love
Rowling seems to want to reinforce the message of love in this book. In some of the earlier books, Dumbledore has told Harry that the only difference between them and Lord Voldemort is that they were still able to love people. So, we see the common element of love threaded through the book. Whether it's Harry and Ginny, Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour (yes, she's back!), to some extent Ron and Hermione and some other adults (who I wont divulge) and of course, Mrs. Weasley and family. This is also evident in the love Harry feels for Dumbledore when he tells Rufus Scrimgoer proudly that he is 'Dumbledore's man', when the Ministry tries to get Harry on their side. This is opposed to the Death-Eaters and other followers of the Dark Lord who do things for him out of fear. Those who have read the book will know what I mean, when they recall the scene betwenn Narcissa Malfoy, Professor Snape and Bellatrix Lestrange.
The genius of Rowling
I had read time and again that Rowling liked to sprinkle red herrings though out her work but nowhere is this as much evident as in this - the 6th book. She does a masterful job of bringing the plot together here. I had lost faith in her after the 'Order of the Phoenix', thinking that she had run out of story for the rest of the books, but she's proven me (and hundreds of other people) wrong and HOW!! And another thing that I've always loved Rowling for is her ability to bring fairy or other folklore and incorporate them into her book. For instance, I had read about the Mandrake root in the 'Mandrake the Magician'comics (anyone remember those! :)) when I was a child and she brought those in, she talks of leprechauns and their gold, gnomes and a hundreds of other different things. The most that I admire her for is that just by reading her books any child can learn to grow to love the English language and learn an entire vocabulary of words and their meanings. For example, Remus Lupin, the name is derived from 'Remus', the mythical founder of Rome who was raised by a she-wolf and 'lupus', the Latin word for wolf. Remus Lupin is a wizard who is a were-wolf in the books. Similarly, the name 'Dementor' derived from 'dementia', 'Expelliarmus' from 'expel arms', or 'Put-Outer', a thingamajig to put out lights (ok, I admit her genius failed her there :D). And, we also have the word Nagini, which is the the name of Voldemort's python, derived from the Indian word 'nagin' for snake. These are just a few examples, but the books are full of them!
So, finally I just wanted to say again that I LOVED this book. Even people who think that it was a little boring, have to admit that the climax of this book was nail-biting from start to end and the cliff-hanger that she's left us with has given rise to intense fodder for speculation on the Internet. But, I trust in Rowling's master plan :D. Anyways, this just means that I am heartily sorry for ever, ever doubting Rowling and I am waiting for the release of the 7th and final book with bated breath. Of course, until it is unleashed upon the world :D, I can content myself with the release of the GOF in November.
Felix Felicis!!!
