BOOK DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

[cmere]

CONSTANT VIGILANCE!Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published in 2000. At 636 (UK)/734 (US) pages, this book was by far the longest to date (although it didn’t stay that way for long!). In Book Four we were introduced to the Quidditch World Cup; to Durmstrang and Beauxbatons; to veela, merpeople, and Hungarian horntails; to the three tasks

Comments

[cmere]

What surprised you in Book Four?

[philstar22]

Book 4 was the first book where I found myself super surprised. The idea that Moody wasn't really Moody and was even never occurred to me. The idea that Voldemort wasn't trying to kill Harry in the tournament but actually wanted him to win also never occurred to me. This is probably part of why book 4 is my favorite.

[celestlyn]

Yes, but pleasantly surprised. It was an awesome story! The whole graveyard scene with Harry and the resurrection of the Dark Lord was amazing! David Tennant as Barty Crouch, Jr was genius!

[drinkingcocoa]

The perfection of BC Jr's equidistant hatred for Aurors and lapsed Death Eaters. It works so beautifully, it's hard to wrap my head around it. Stunning.

[cmere]

In your opinion, what were the most memorable scenes in the book?

[philstar22]

Graveyard. Oh the Graveyard. Also the Quidditch World Cup, the first task (I'm a sucker for dragons). All the tasks, really, but especially the first.

[shocolate]

Harry and Ron making up, after the First Task

Harry and Ron being the worst dates in history

Even Harry realising that Ron and Hermione fancied each other

His Wheezy

[drinkingcocoa]

The nighttime confrontation between hideous fake Mad-Eye Moody, embarrassing Snape in his gray nightshirt, comically ugly and ineffectual Filch, and Harry trapped with his foot in the trick stair while the mystery cat either did or did not see him, the map and the golden egg out of his reach, fake Mad-Eye seeing him clearly under the cloak, and Snape reaching out his fingertips to touch him. This was a moment of pure mastery. What a brilliant summit meeting. And then, in retrospect, realizing what a close call BC Jr had when he realized what the map could show.

[cmere]

Share your thoughts on the newly introduced characters in Book Four.

[philstar22]

Loved Moody. I was glad we got the real Moody in book 5 because I was sad to see him go.

I found Cedric interesting. He was the popular jock, and yet he was nice and innocent, and his tragic storyline and his father's mourning were great. He defied stereotypes and in spite of Harry wanting to hate him for being who Cho chose, Cedric was a genuinely decent guy.

Fleur was also interesting, I thought. She was pretty and part-veela, and many people wanted to categorize her as weak because of that. And yet she got into the tournament and was clearly smart and talented and more things than just pretty. And she had a sister and a family.

Krum was awesome. I loved Krum. I love that he was this jock who liked smart girls who weren't necessarily the most beautiful. I thought he and Hermione were adorable together.

[author_by_night]

Fun, but I really wish JKR hadn't given Viktor and Fleur accents, or had at least made the accents a little more subtle. Part of this is selfishness, because it's hard to write in fic. ;) But mostly, I just think almost everyone would have an accent of some sort to Harry, as Hogwarts covers a broad range of regions within the UK, and anyway, it seemed like a cheesy way to remind us Viktor and Fleur were foreign. But I liked how she wrote them as a characters, and I wish we'd seen more interaction between them. One detail I picked up on was that when Fleur was chosen to participate in the tournament, her classmates cried out of jealousy. Ouch! Poor girl.

[drinkingcocoa]

I love Viktor Krum. Best boyfriend in the whole series. He could have had any groupie, but he went for the bookworm, and he defied his totalitarian headmaster, had deep conversations with Hermione, and did his best despite being exploited as a prodigy.

[cmere]

Book Four is the first of the series that does not begin with Harry at the Dursleys, but in a totally different setting with other characters. How does this change the tone of the book?

[philstar22]

I think it makes it clear right from the beginning that things are about to change. This is no longer just a story of a boy going to school and maybe dealing with a villain or two but everything turning out all right in the end. People are going to die. Harry is going to have to grow up really quickly.

[celestlyn]

Yes, I agree. It was obvious from the start that things were taking a darker tone and that they were no longer children but becoming young adults. The first romances were beginning and the antagonist became a full, physical entity and people began dying.

[drinkingcocoa]

The first chapter of Book 4 is the first time this series includes adult writing. There is nothing of children's writing or even YA about the story of Frank Bryce. The tone, the ironic understatement, the thematic content. When I read The Casual Vacancy, I found that it was the same tone. And then the ghastly humor of Wormtail baby-feeding Voldemort with a bottle of snake venom was just wild.

[cmere]

This is where a lot of romance started picking up. What are your favorite shippy moments that took place? (All ships welcome! Put the ship in the subject line)

Hermione/Victor

[philstar22]

These were some of my favorite shippy moments in the book. Victor/Hermione is probably my second favorite Hermione ship. They are so adorable together. I love the pairing of a jock with a smart girl. Defies stereotypes in a good way. And he was genuinely nice and sweet to her and took an interest in her for who she was.

Re: Hermione/Victor

[madderbrad]

I love the pairing of a jock with a smart girl.

*gasps*

Does this mean ... is it possible ... that you like ... Ron (a lesser jock) / Hermione (the smartest girl)?!?!?!

And he was genuinely nice and sweet to her and took an interest in her for who she was.

Whew! Crisis averted. You don't. :-)

:-)

RE: Re: Hermione/Victor

[cmere]

Hi, mod here. Please refrain from bashing ships, characters, and the people who like them. It is okay to have an opinion and share it but jumping in on an unrelated thread to make a judgmental comment is not keeping in the spirit of a civil discussion. Smiley faces do not negate rudeness. Thank you.