HBP, first reaction
I didn't cry when Dumbledore died, or at any other part of the book - but I've been almost-crying for the last hours, because the book is over and so many things I wanted to see, to be resolved and to make me feel with the characters, especially Harry, have not happened.
The book is over, the next one won't be around for a long time, and I feel lost.
The problem is, I didn't connect with Harry at all in this book. The only scene where my heart started beating a little faster was the one where he cursed Malfoy and couldn't believe what he had done - and one second later the plot moved on, and on, like it did for the whole book, and I felt this unease which didn't leave me for the whole time: did I miss something? Has Harry felt something, anything?
Don't get me wrong, I accepted that Harry had to grow up, talk back to the Minister of Magic, stop alternately shouting and sulking. But the transition was so aprupt, it lost me on the way. I felt like trying to keep up, to make sense, but it was all like a "question answered - next question?" sort of marathon.
And Harry's grief for Sirius? Was JKR bored to write about it? "He didn't eat properly for 2 weeks, then he realized he was hungry again." End of matter. I waited for some breakdown as well, and now the book is over and so much is missing .
It's another thing with Snape. I'm fully satisfied with every thing he did and said in the book. From the fantastic 2nd chapter to the end, where Harry flings every curse he can think of at Snape, while he doesn't hurt him at all - I cannot see how anyone can still wonder if Snape is on the good side or the bad.
Why did noone ask for the reason Snape just left Harry on the Hogwarts grounds? He was unarmed. Snape, was he really working for Voldemort, would have petrified him and carried him off - even if Voldemort wants to kill Harry personally, he wouldn't have objected to someone delivering him to him, defenseless and weak.
And Dumbledore begging for Snape not to kill him? That would never happen. More begging to do what he had promised all along.
So, this leaves us with the real tragic character of the book: Snape. Condemned and hated by the Good now, forced to kill the only one who ever trusted him, sharing a flat with Peter ;), and officially Voldies most trusted servant, who has to do what LV tells him to, even if he's still fighting for the good guys. If he makes it through Book 7, I'll be surprised.
The problem is, this all is so much less fun without me loving Harry, who on top of everything has become pretty heartless (Hagrid????).
So, in conclusion: Harry is supposed to fight Voldemort with love .
The problem is, I didn't feel it through the whole book.
And shipping? I'd love to see Harry/Luna, but I guess that's out of the window, with the perfect understanding between Harry and Ginny (I fear they will get together again in Book 7, Harry's noble gesture was a bit unreal after all).
My problem is, I can't understand anyone being around Ginny and not wanting to kick her, but probably she's really sexy or Harry likes dominant, bullying women.
Ginny ridiculing Ron at every occasion, attacking Hermione over Quidditch, and being much-too-cool all along - well, she's never exactly nice or caring, is she? I prefer Luna, she's funny and I think she understands much more than people think she does.
Remus/Tonks? Didn't see that coming, I would have preferred her mourning for Sirius, if nobody else does already.
And Fleur: thank you JKR, I thought you were being needlessly cruel at the beginning of the book, but all is well now. Thank you.
All in all, I think I need a reread over the next week, I'm still shocked by all that new information. I didn't hate the book, but I'm not exactly sure if I liked it.
Much information, little characterization (at least for everyone except Snape and Draco).