More Thoughts
Firstly, JK's brain: it is astonishing. I was absolutely stunned about Snape, and that chapter was perfectly delivered. I think this book made me appreciate the intricacy of this world/story she has created and I am in awe of her for that reason.
Secondly, list o' randomness:
- Chapter 1 = Chapter of Love. Me and Irene were sat there giggling 'Tony' at intervals. I'm really glad she held this chapter off until now, as the mention of the Chancellor's attempts to wrench the portrait off the wall made me think of the current Labour rivalry. Tony/Gordon -> animosity/love. Also, Kingsley would be a super fantastich secretary.
- The Cissy thing of course, but more than that, that Snape actually seemed warm towards her. He also plays regal surprisingly well, with the way that he was bossing Wormtail around - perhaps this should have been a clue for me but no, I am dense. Regarding the Black sisters, I'm pleased that we saw them interacting with each other and Bella is not all cold bitch and Narcissa is not all silent ice queen.
- Was I the only one that thought that Scrimgeour was all camp male bitch to steely!Percy? Probably - though dense, I am accustomed to seeing such humorousness - "I don't want to intrude, wouldn't be here at all if Percy hadn't wanted to see you all so badly ..." HAHAHA.
- Okay, *love* that Harry admitted that he had hoped for letters from Lupin, and Remus made a point of explaining why that had not happened. This might possibly be my favourite aspect of the book. They seemed more at ease with each other than two years of fanfiction has suggested.
- I felt the book was too shippy. This will sound hypocritical given my major concern but so be it. I got bored in areas. At times I felt I was reading fanfiction. Though I am pro Ron/Hermoine, Harry/Ginny ... I dunno, I felt it went on for too long, and I much preferred the tone from Goblet of Fire (more tension, less detail about snogging). The realisation about Harry/Ginny was quite nice, though.
- Crying Draco. Awww, poor lad. He never wanted to be a Death Eater!
Thirdly - Regarding Remus/Tonks (duh):
I need to purge here before I retreat into the arms of my friends. So. The pairing has never appealed to me, for the main reason that my major investment in the books is based on the Marauder back story and Remus/Sirius specifically. I do not claim to be rational and detached on this issue! If Remus/Tonks is now canon it still doesn't interest me. This is no animosity towards Remus/Tonks shippers - I am also not particularly interested in Ron/Hermoine and I accept that pairing happily. Anyway, fact of the matter is a) I like Tonks, which is to say I do not dislike her (not so much in this, really, as she was all mopey with The Love) b) I can't articulate why I don't care for the pairing, apart from obvious reasons. Maybe it's slash lenses, maybe it's the element of adoration from her - I have never seen anything that made me think there was mutual interest.
So having disclaimed my bias, the following:
- pining!Remus at Xmas. Oh how I squeeed at the time! He is missing Sirius! In retrospect - please to God may it not have been Tonks that he was wishing was stirring his cauldron.
- Bill's bedside. I was reading along happily, actually feeling quite moved by the Fleur/Bill-ness and the Fleur sass when that curve ball arrived! So we can say that Tonks is pushing for this and so is everyone else as they are clearly both lonely. We can say that Remus is not really giving anything away, he is uncomfortable with the situation, and he might be giving the kind of excuses that a gentleman would give to not hurt a young (and didn't I totally just type 'wrong' there? Oh me) girl. But then ...
- They're holding hands. So - mutual comfort? Fair enough, but Tonks is happy again and since when does Remus hold people's hands? I think you can still argue the one-sided thing but it seems such an obvious gesture from JK that I find it hard to deal with.
Also, I am crap at arguing and easily crushed by authorial intent. Am so so open to being given hope.
Fourthly - Remus Lupin (yay!):
- It's interesting to me that given that Remus knows that Greyback attacked him out of grudge towards his father, he still (in PoA) speaks as though it was his fault that he was bitten.
- I love Lupin :) And given that, I am open to him having some happiness if it is a situation that I could believe could make him happy.
Finally - SNAPE:
- Either he is the bestest most loyal Order member evah or he is the bestest most loyal servant of Voldemort evah. I do not know. I am still SHOCKED.
Also, chocolate cauldrons - yum yum.
And that is the longest entry on HP that you will ever get out of me.
Oh god, I am so fatigued, I cannot believe I am to go out tonight. I have a headache and I need to shower before i can even contemplate this. Nevertheless, lining up was fun - narie may post some pics when she has recovered from Carl! squee.
I am finally using tags!