Let's let Kreacher do the talking:
"Tearing apart my beloved franchise like a Kneazle on the sidewalk, befouling the books of my brothers, oh my poor mistress, what would she say if she knew, oh yes, she wouldn't be happy at all, would she, knowing what they were doing to her two decades of work?"
Okay, Kreacher tends to exaggerate, but you get the point. This series was not meant to be picked apart and analyzed, simply a good story with good writing and a Dickensian amount of coincidence. As hypocritical as this may sound coming from me, I've come to realize over the past few days that analyzing every aspect of the series does not do the series justice. Frankly, I'd gladly suspend all disbelief just to enjoy the books without picking them apart. And isn't that what any medium is meant to do at its core: entertain?
Thus, my reasons for requesting a lock.
My current project: Something mysterious (oooooh!)
My username is all lower-case letters. Please get it right :(
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
theenglishman wrote:
Okay, Kreacher tends to exaggerate, but you get the point. This series was not meant to be picked apart and analyzed, simply a good story with good writing and a Dickensian amount of coincidence.
A story is supposed to be cohesive. Good story yes. Good writing? Definitely not.
theenglishman wrote:
As hypocritical as this may sound coming from me, I've come to realize over the past few days that analyzing every aspect of the series does not do the series justice.
The series doesn't do itself justice.
theenglishman wrote:
Frankly, I'd gladly suspend all disbelief just to enjoy the books without picking them apart. And isn't that what any medium is meant to do at its core: entertain?
As entertaining as it is, it's not mindless drivel focused entertainment. This isn't some beat 'em up, there's a story, and as such, it should make some sense.
I don't mind that it never explained how to make a marauder's map, or even anything remotely like that. But it'd be nice if the books never contradicted itself.
Also, it wouldn't be that hard to rewrite parts here and there to flow properly. This last book also reeks of not having enough editing.
You brought up this story which you loved, and when people show it's problematic, you want it locked because people don't agree with you. Truth is, from a literary standpoint, this last book sucked, and was a let down to anyone who expected otherwise.
If you ignore details and specifics, then yes it was a good story, kind of like an action movie which has some kind of plot which seems to make sense on the surface but not much deeper than that. I don't think anyone would mind so much if it didn't try to make sense most of the time.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Joined: 6/22/2007
Posts: 181
Location: Eastern Michigan University
I just wanted to rant a little, I understand the book has plot holes, but it's a book. I mean come on, humans make mistakes, but overall the books are a worldwide hit. I remember my childhood dreams... I used to want to be able to do spells and stuff. I didn't think of explaining details. You have to remember that while writing a seven book series, you have to keep it going. Maybe she will release a small book filling in the gaps? Who knows, but who cares... they are books.
Enjoy them for what they are worth ($20 US).
- okaygo
I noticed something. In the third book, Voldemort is said to be the most feared dark wizard in the last centry (pages 10-11). By that logic, there was someone much worse 100 years ago. You'd think the MoM would be better prepared for a less evil wizard than the one they had defeated a century ago. The only time progress in the wizarding world is ever mentioned is the "newly developed" wolf-bane potion. Wizards are rather stagnant technologically.
"In the third book, Voldemort is said to be the most feared dark wizard in the last centry (pages 10-11). By that logic, there was someone much worse 100 years ago."
This doesn't necessarily mean there have been "worse" wizards earlier in history. In fact I'm pretty sure it's mentioned in several places throughout the books that Voldemort is the worst one ever.
Another mention of magic progress I just thought of is Dumbledore's discovery of the 12 uses for dragon blood in his youth.
Joined: 11/27/2004
Posts: 688
Location: WA State, USA
The ending would have been much better if Harry crossed the pieces of his broken wand and yelled something like "THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELLS YOU, VOLDEMORT!"
Nach wrote:
I also used to wake up every morning, open my curtains, and see the twin towers. And then one day, wasn't able to anymore, I'll never forget that.
Joined: 2/13/2007
Posts: 448
Location: Calgary, Alberta
You know, the book also didnt mention how Ron and Hermionie got out of the chamber of secrets.
And about Ron learning parseltongue, I thought it was a genetic fluke or something like that.
?
I also laughed at the grammatical error that happened just after that.
Renting this space for rent.
Trying to fix image on this site. Please cut slack.
As of April 6th, 2012:
After a long absence, here we go again?
Delailah: How does dumbledore understand parseltongue?
J.K. Rowling: Dumbledore understood Mermish, Gobbledegook and Parseltongue. The man was brilliant.
... so you can assume one can learn parsel just like any other language.
That's like the old joke:
Mary: I adopted a Chinese baby
Lucy: You don't speak Chinese, how would it understand you
Point being: You can't be born speaking a language.
I wonder, a baby was born knowing Parseltongue, could the parents talk to the baby if they also spoke Parseltongue?
I'll give this thread a bump.
Just finished the last book a couple days ago. I felt that, although books 1-6 were suspenseful, book 7 tried to explode my brain with way too much action that doesn't flow well.
I'll give this thread a bump.
Just finished the last book a couple days ago. I felt that, although books 1-6 were suspenseful, book 7 tried to explode my brain with way too much action that doesn't flow well.
I think that's part of what makes it awesome!
But yeah I think you're probably right, it could probably have worked better to have the plot of book 7 spread out in 6 and 7. Book 6 is probably the slowest one, you could ditch the whole half blood prince subplot and focus on Dumbledore's lessons and having him and Harry start searching for horcruxes and or hallows much earlier in that book so there's no need to rush in number 7.
Actually that would be unfair to Snape to skip the half blood prince stuff. Meh I dunno, I just felt book 6 was really slow and book 7 felt too short for everything that's in there.
