Before you ask, no, I have not read the entire book. I have read enough, however to ensure that I'm not judging the book by its cover, which is entirely artistic and tasteful - I'm judging it by the last few chapters I speed-read through.
If you're a Harry Potter fan or plan to read the book, I'd advise you to stop reading now. Because what I'm going to say will spoil your taste for it.
As you probably know by now, I have developed a contempt for the series over its fourth and fifth books, and it is my belief that the characters, despite having survived several mishaps and misadventures, not to mention 6 fairly lucrative books - have hardly developed as people, if at all.
In Book 5, Harry came across as a whiny little prat who thought the world of himself because he had been the only one thus far to face Voldemort, which really disgusted me. I felt that after all he'd been through, he'd want to stay *out* of trouble and at least be a little more grown up. I've no idea what Harry is like in book 6, but my main grouse here are the few plot twists I managed to pick up through my brief reading.
Plot twist #1: Snape is the half-blood prince. At least I think he is. Well. As if he wasn't a complex enough character. Only, as you'll learn later, he's less complicated than that. Oh yes, J.K. Rowling makes up for that by making him less complicated. This twist I feel, is hardly exciting nor ... interesting. Snape as a character torn between his past and present as a reformed Death-Eater was interesting enough. Snape, a reformed Death-Eater AND a half-blood prince is just... too much. Which leads to plot twist #2 - Snape is a double-crossing double-crosser. I had no problems with Snape in all the books despite his sneering and oiliness because ultimately it seemed like he was making an effort to turn his back on his past. Oh well. Guess that got thrown out the window because Snape kills Dumbledore (Plot Twist #3). That's right. As if not enough people had died already - I'm wondering if Rowling thinks killing off characters will make the book sales increase. I'm all for a little drama, but 2 main characters in 2 books? That is just too much, and at this point I feel a little sorry for Harry.
Come on. Two of his closest and dearest die - BOTH are parent-figures and mentors. Rowling seems determined to make Harry out as a really tragic hero. What makes Dumbledore's death worse was the gratuitously dramatic sequence before it. As far as I could tell, Dumbledore was on the brink of death, but was brought back by some very impassioned spell casting by Harry. Right, fine, so the reader thinks .. Hmm. Guess it's not Dumblefore that dies after all. Then ... Snape happens.
I'm sorry. I think I'll have to go into Emo-mode to fully express my rage.
OMFG. WHAT THE **** IS THIS?! How can you play with your reader's feelings like that? It feels my soul with indescribable sorrow and rage. JK Rowling doesn't love us anymore - she only loves the money, and she thinks outrageous plots like these will sell. Harry should just kill himself because he's got nothing left to live for - Hermione and Ron will end up together ANYWAY. And Snape! Far from being an interesting character he's now dull and completely evil. For crying out loud. The world isn't a black and white place where all evil is evil and all good is good - where's the tension and the maybes? Harry potter isn't worth living for anymore. The magic has gone out of this relationship and ...and.. I hate it!
It's no good. I don't hate the original series enough. I'm just filled with utter contempt because I have experienced the glory that is Cassandra Claire's fanfic, and nothing else will suffice. *mournfully* If that series ever ends, I shall cry.
If I ever read the book I'll reassess... but... I don't really want to sully my image of it any further.
:: nimezs @ 11:32 pm [+] ::
