Harry Potter 6 – Over Analysed
Well, it actually won't be too badly overanalysed yet, as I'm attempting not to spoil any plot twists. I may come back and do a follow-up, complete with brutal spoiling, at a later date. I do, however, spoil the big death from the previous book, in case anyone's somehow remained unaware of it.
The fifth Harry Potter book did not quite work. On first reading, we thought "that was pretty good". After a little consideration, we admitted that it perhaps dragged a bit. Eventually, it came to our attention that large tracts of it were rather boring, in particular the first 200 or so pages loitering in the Black household, and that the death of Sirius was awful.
The sixth book, I'm thrilled to say, is a substantial improvement from that. Things actually happen, relevancy is obtained and much drama is wrought upon everyone. One thing that does remain from the fifth instalment is the inclusion of the pains of puberty, but it changes form from Harry's relentless capitalised tempter tantrums to the immortal question of "Who's going out with who?", which isn't quite as irritating, although it does go on a bit and some of the couplings are a bit bizarre.
Despite my annoyance with the sense in book five that nothing that significant actually happened, the "prophecy" revelation from that volume does play a substantial role here. It then pushes itself onwards to bigger and scarier things. It is hard not to be impressed how well all this fits together. A lot of things from earlier books are explained and drawn into the plot seamlessly, and whether it was planned all along or Rowling did make it up as she went, it works. Coming into this book, I was worried it would simply be "the set-up for the end", but it turns out that book five was the set-up volume and this one is just the first half of the headlong rush for the finish.
The downside of this, of course, is that a lot seems unresolved. There are many things that we will have to wait for book seven to see the anwers to. It's hardly a complaint, I know ("Author manages to make readers want to read sequel. That bitch."), and there are enough things that both start and finish in this book to make it satisfying, but the wait between books will seem even longer.
Negatives, you say? Well, luckily, I'm good at finding things to complain about. Apart from the wide-ranging and often quite random scattering of hormonal angst, I only have a few petty grievances. Like, there's an effort at the end to obtain a certain "It's all futile" effect, which skates dangerously close to "nothing which just happens matters". Actually, if I could change one thing, it might be the title. I think putting "the Half-Blood Prince" front and centre kinda skews the reader's approach to the sub-plot. I don't know what I'd replace it with, but still.
I may return in a few weeks to pick apart specific plot points, but for now I just wanted to give a solid recommendation. If you disliked book five and were reluctant to give book six a try, I think it might be worth it. Thank you.
16 Jul 2005 16:05
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[Skip to the latest comment]hehe, I'm using my comments box for people who want to discuss plot, I'm too desperate and I've given people fair warning on the front!
I agree the angst got a bit much but it's interesting that she's trying to add Jaqueline Wilson to J R R Tolkien and it's almost working!
19 Jul 2005, 21:49
rob c
do harry and hermione get it together?
27 Jul 2005, 00:50
No, and doesn't look like they ever will. But never mind, because practically everyone else does.
28 Jul 2005, 09:30
rob c
still a shame though :-/
28 Jul 2005, 19:03
Ed
A true tragedy of our times.
Oh, and by the way, a Weasley dies in the already-written final chapter of the final book. Which I believe is common knowledge. If it's not, I do apologise.
05 Aug 2005, 21:42
Edmund, I know you love Potter not, but that's some pretty heartless spoiling…
06 Aug 2005, 19:40
Ed
Crikey, I thought everyone knew that!
Eep.
runs
07 Aug 2005, 14:05
Sarah
I heard that the current Harry Potter book is the last one she is writing. This better not be true… anyone any ideas… I am realy annoyed with the way it ended and feeling very angry right now… Is this the last book?
22 Aug 2005, 15:45
Nick B
No, no, there's a seventh, coming in a couple of years I expect. Don't worry.
08 Sep 2005, 18:08
Ashley
Hi, after reading all but the book yet to be written I cant believe people are not asking the only question you are not given an answer to, who is R.A.B. I have searched high and wide to gather opinions on this and I must say that no–body has a clue, however as it would be impossible for Rowling to be making this up as she goes along as I noticed somebody hinted, it has to be linked with a character we already know, I heard one theory of how it is possible it could be Sirius's brother Regulus, they raised several good points about how the note refers to Voldemort as the 'Dark Lord' and this is a term used by death eaters and you are told in the fifth book I think of his activities and how he was killed by Voldemort himself or his death eaters, I however disagree with this theory as 1 the death eaters knew Voldemort had created the Horcruxes, as he mentions in the graveyard at the end of goblet of fire, and in this note, the writer says it was them who discovered the secret so that means it could not have been a death eater. I also think that in the Goblet of fire in the graveyard when Voldemort says"There are 6 missing death eaters, 3 are dead, one too cowardly to return – he will pay (Karkorff?), one who has left me – he will be killed (Regulus) one who remains my faithful servant – he will re–enter my service (Snape?)."
Now I have copied this from the last blog I was on and I would like to point out that this person has got it all wrong because by the time Voldemort returns in the Goblet of Fire Regulus is already dead so surely this must be Snape and the death eater re–entering his service will be Bartemious Crouch Jnr as at the end of this book he explains how he faked his own death with his mother and the polyjuice potion scenario, after all Voldemort cannot think snape will return after turning spy for the Order, strange questions remain unanswered like, why if Voldemort wanted Harry alive did Snape not take him after proclaiming he was the half blood prince? Why did Dumbledore not know someone had already stolen the Horcrux? Why would Dumbledore need his wand to perform magic against Draco? And why oh why did he not release Harry from the spell he was under so he could takle Malfoy?
Does anone have any idea's they are willing to share???
22 Aug 2006, 15:24
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