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]

The Yule Ball and pretty much everything surrounding it (dress robes, dancing lessons) are full of delightful teenage awkwardness. What are your favorite parts?

[cherrytide]

I loved what utterly terrible dates Ron and Harry were. The Patil twins were way too nice about it.

Also Snape yelling at couples canoodling in the bushes. Oh, Snape, ever the cold bucket of water.

[shocolate]

Worst dates ever and I adore them.

[moreteadk]

Yes, very much this! And Ron being so shocked that Hermione might have made plans with someone else already.

[cmere]

What did you think of S.P.E.W. and Hermione’s passion for the movement?

[cherrytide]

S.P.E.W was great - it really highlighted both Hermione's strengths and her flaws as a character. She's got a strong sense of justice, and a commitment to doing what is right but also she isn't terribly sensitive especially once she's committed to a goal. In ploughing ahead for House Elf rights she sometimes treated the actual house elves pretty badly.

I liked the conflict with Ron over this, because they are both right and both wrong. Hermione shouldn't' be advocating for elf rights while ignoring what the elves themselves have to say about it. But conversely Ron should not accept the status quo simply because elves seem happy on the surface. A combination of their perspectives would be perfect.

[philstar22]

I'm totally Pro-S.P.E.W. Slavery is wrong. Period. there is no justification for it. Hermione, in her teenage way, went about it a bit wrong because you don't force things on an oppressed group, but her heart was in the right place.

[author_by_night]

I liked it as a concept, and think Hermione was spot-on about how wrong it was. I actually wish the origin of House Elves had been explored more, because I honestly can't believe they were always willing. (I have a feeling they were once normal elves who were essentially cursed into submission, but it was so long ago you'd have to do a lot of digging to know that, even beyond Hogwarts, A History.) However, Hermione launched into it without understanding what House Elves themselves wanted, so she was wrong on that end of it. I like to think as an adult she handled it better though, because as much as I love the books, the House Elf component has always bothered me a little.

[cmere]

Some fans love the overarching plot of this book; others find the plan to get at Harry a bit convoluted. Where do you stand? Has your opinion changed since you first read the book?

[madderbrad]

Crouch waiting an entire year to snatch Harry *is* ludicrous, isn't it, but I didn't really notice it when I first read the book. Maybe because I read books 1-4 all in one go.

But afterwards I was to realise that the phoniness of GoF should have prepared us for the ever-increasing artificiality of books 6 & 7, which were even more disjointed. As a friend said afterwards, "what were we expecting? Something different?".

[cherrytide]

I think someone pointed out that fake!Moody could basically have enchanted Harry's pillow and taken him to the graveyard - it really didn't need to be the Triwizard trophy! But you know it doesn't really bother me. I think there are a few points where the plot and worldbuilding in HP don't really stand up to close investigation but in a weird way that's part of HP's enduring charm - it doesn't take itself too seriously. The plots are twisty, turny and whimsical but they aren't necessarily rock solid and realistic.

In short, it makes very little sense but to me that's a feature, not a bug.

[philstar22]

I think that the plan had to be convoluted to make sure that Dumbledore didn't figure it out. Harry is the most protected person in the Wizarding World. I think that maybe as an adult I can see that it might have been a bit too complicated, but I think it works.

[cmere]

Which of the three tasks did you find most interesting, challenging, etc.?

[cherrytide]

Tricky - I have less affection for the first task in retrospect mainly because that scene in the movie really annoyed me. Dragon fights have never been less interesting IMO. Though of course, I did like Ron and Harry being (finally!) reunited at the end of it

[philstar22]

Most interesting: first task all the way. What can I say. Dragons.

Most challenging: Probably the third one because there were so many parts to it. You had to figure out the maze, deal with all the challenges within the maze, and beat the other three champions.

[drinkingcocoa]

The first one. Wow. Daring and all about nesting mothers.

[cmere]

This book’s climax is a turning point in the series as the scene in the graveyard culminates in the rise of Voldemort once more. What was your immediate reaction to this scene? What thoughts and opinions have you formed since you first read it?

[philstar22]

It instantly became my favorite scene in the series so far. I loved it. I still say it is one of my favorite scenes, even if I like a couple other more now.

[patoo_tee]

It is, I loved how dark it was. However, I just actually finished the GOF book in Pottermore and I found they sort of trivialised that chapter. I felt it needed to be more serious, and not actually put in things for you to collect, especially with Cedric's dead body near by. I think that chapter could've been handled a little more sensitively given it had the death of a character.

[author_by_night]

I can't remember my immediate reaction, but I remember coming away with an "oh my god, the wizarding world really is screwed now" feeling. Probably what got me reading so much fanfic. I think I was also a little surprised Voldemort came back so early on, though in hindsight it makes perfect sense. I really wish I had my reaction written down - I actually found a diary from when I read GoF (as in, the very month), but while IIRC I briefly mentioned having the fourth Harry Potter book, my next entry had nothing about my thoughts on it. I should look again though, I'll put in an ETA if I find anything good. :)

Since then... hm. Well, it was definitely where the series "grew the beard", so to speak. I mean, the series grew a stubble in PoA, but for someone we knew to actually die (a student, no less!), for the day not to have been saved except for Harry getting away... it was definitely one of the series' biggest turning points.