I'm going to enjoy the story of Harry Potter, the boy who lived.
Yes, I think this is the key point. Canon was always about Harry. And in that respect, I think she did a great job. Harry really grew as a character. He was never perfect (though the last line still bothers me), but he was the hero of the series.
Also, well said about the Slytherins. I actually think your fanfiction is one of the ones to best withstand the closure of canon. Even if plot points are different, your themes actually remained quite in line with those in canon. So, congrats! :-D
Thanks, Sophie. I'm finishing up my final WIP, and I'm excited to write from the new canon. We'll have a challenge up at RTW next week.
I'm relieved my favourite characters (to write) are still alive! I do feel for the Remus/Tonks people, but I think Snape could be easily written as he's alive. Sirius...not so much any longer, but we've got Regulus -- the Slytherin Seeker to play around with now too. Of course, there's nothing wrong with writing AU, I'm beginning to realise.
JKR is going to write an HP Encyclopedia. I hope it's Hogwarts: A History and it doesn't mess with our new canon -- again. *g*
I'm glad you enjoyed the book. I did while I was reading it, up to a point. I cried for Dobby, too, the only character I had ever cried for up to that point. In retrospect, however ... ah, well, you may already know what I think.
I just read your post. I can see where you're coming from. I didn't read the book in the same way, perhaps because I just bought whatever Rowling was trying to sell! But I do see what you mean about unresolved characters. In the end, Rowling cared most for Harry. Too much, in a sense. (*growls at "All was well" line once again*) I don't have the book nearby, so I don't remember what chapter was 32, but I also agree that there was a point after which the book started to become weaker. I just felt that the book, as a whole, was entertaining. And I do think that Snape is more complicated than we see in this book. I'm just telling myself that Snape only "leaked" a few select memories for time's sake. ;-D And I tell myself that I always have your Snape for a more complex read!
I'm with you...miss_thropeJuly 25 2007, 23:12:42 UTC
in that I enjoyed the book and series more than some people from the Snape fandom, I guess. Most of my RL friends enjoyed them as much as I did.
I loved how Snape was treated in the canon. And I agree that this really is Harry's story. If some characters got the shaft or had adventures 'off-screen' we coulnd't see, that's how it has always been; the story was alwasy from Harry's perspective. That is, after all, what allowed for Snape to be such a mystery in the first place.
Many more thoughts to share, I guess. But for now, adieu!
Re: I'm with you...sophieromJuly 26 2007, 00:47:56 UTC
Good to see you! I'm really glad you enjoyed the book.
As far as Snape goes, I'm not surprised that people are upset, and yet ... if you really think about, as vanityfair00 has said, this was the best we could have hoped for canon!Snape, really. I can see that some are upset because Snape's death seemed so meaningless or that Snape himself didn't seem to be master of the situation. Some have found him one-dimensional because he did all of his spying because he loved - and ultimately failed - Lily. I can see their points ... and yet, here's how I see it
( ... )
Re: I'm with you...miss_thropeJuly 26 2007, 04:53:11 UTC
I think that there was probably too much pressure on Rowling to finish the books, and if she'd written at her own pace she may have better reasoned out some of the plots she started. Tonks death bothered me more than Remus. I've said elsewhere that it made sense that all the Marauders and peers, including Snape, would be dead in the end. And I too found it odd that Tonks powers were so wasted in a book where polyjuice potion was overused at every turn. Seriously, wouldn't wizards have figured out a means to determine if someone was polyjuiced or not, considering that both sides were using it ALL THE TIME? I guess that made it fool proof but it was somewhat boring
( ... )
What irked me was that she made such a point in the 5th book, with the sorting hat song, to point out that they were better as a united front. Though I suppose it was her intention to make that point, and then show what happens when they aren't...I'm not sure
( ... )
I was disappointed. Not that Snape died, really -- I expected it and don't blame her for that, it's the tried-and-true way of dealing with complex characters -- but I disliked some of the messages the book seemed to reinforce, unless one reads subversively (and I really don't think JKR intended readers to do that for "Deathly Hallows
( ... )
And I think this was a brilliant switch on Rowling's part. It was the Slytherin who taught Harry bravery and the Gryffindor who taught him cunning and cool logic.
A good point. I'll have to think about that.
I do acknowledge that the Slytherins had no reason to trust Harry or believe he'd win. But I would argue that seeing Voldemort overthrown IS in their best interest -- why on earth ambitious people would make up the majority of Voldemort's hem-kissing crowd is beyond me. If they can see that everyone else in the school seems to be united in the overthrow-Voldemort plan, it's less about trusting Harry than taking this last best chance.
The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
By the way, I agree with you about Lily. I don't think less of her for doing what she thought was right for her own health and sanity. I don't even think Snape loved her, I
( ... )
The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
Yes, you're right. Also, I agree that the Slytherins could have been better handled. I think someone - sigune, perhaps? - said that Rowling bit off more than she could chew. She ended up creating more characters than she could actually deal with effectively
( ... )
Re: And, Battlestar Gallactica!sophieromJuly 27 2007, 13:09:33 UTC
Yes, Season 3 was not as good as the first two seasons. But I did love the references to current-day politics. And I'm a sucker for most all of the characters, so even when they do funky, inexplicable things, I still tend to like them. ;-D Other fans have suggestsed that Season 3 just wasn't as well thought out as the other two, that certain plot devices were thrown in to keep the story moving. I hope this long break before Season 4 will give Ronald Moore and company plenty of time to develop a strong resolution to the series. I'm glad that Season 4 will be the last season, even though I love the show. I'm hoping that this will mean that each and every episode will be strong and will fit into the larger story arc. We'll see ... in January!
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Yes, I think this is the key point. Canon was always about Harry. And in that respect, I think she did a great job. Harry really grew as a character. He was never perfect (though the last line still bothers me), but he was the hero of the series.
Also, well said about the Slytherins. I actually think your fanfiction is one of the ones to best withstand the closure of canon. Even if plot points are different, your themes actually remained quite in line with those in canon. So, congrats! :-D
Reply
I'm relieved my favourite characters (to write) are still alive! I do feel for the Remus/Tonks people, but I think Snape could be easily written as he's alive. Sirius...not so much any longer, but we've got Regulus -- the Slytherin Seeker to play around with now too. Of course, there's nothing wrong with writing AU, I'm beginning to realise.
JKR is going to write an HP Encyclopedia. I hope it's Hogwarts: A History and it doesn't mess with our new canon -- again. *g*
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Thank you for your birthday wishes!
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I just read your post. I can see where you're coming from. I didn't read the book in the same way, perhaps because I just bought whatever Rowling was trying to sell! But I do see what you mean about unresolved characters. In the end, Rowling cared most for Harry. Too much, in a sense. (*growls at "All was well" line once again*) I don't have the book nearby, so I don't remember what chapter was 32, but I also agree that there was a point after which the book started to become weaker. I just felt that the book, as a whole, was entertaining. And I do think that Snape is more complicated than we see in this book. I'm just telling myself that Snape only "leaked" a few select memories for time's sake. ;-D And I tell myself that I always have your Snape for a more complex read!
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I loved how Snape was treated in the canon. And I agree that this really is Harry's story. If some characters got the shaft or had adventures 'off-screen' we coulnd't see, that's how it has always been; the story was alwasy from Harry's perspective. That is, after all, what allowed for Snape to be such a mystery in the first place.
Many more thoughts to share, I guess. But for now, adieu!
Reply
As far as Snape goes, I'm not surprised that people are upset, and yet ... if you really think about, as vanityfair00 has said, this was the best we could have hoped for canon!Snape, really. I can see that some are upset because Snape's death seemed so meaningless or that Snape himself didn't seem to be master of the situation. Some have found him one-dimensional because he did all of his spying because he loved - and ultimately failed - Lily. I can see their points ... and yet, here's how I see it ( ... )
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A good point. I'll have to think about that.
I do acknowledge that the Slytherins had no reason to trust Harry or believe he'd win. But I would argue that seeing Voldemort overthrown IS in their best interest -- why on earth ambitious people would make up the majority of Voldemort's hem-kissing crowd is beyond me. If they can see that everyone else in the school seems to be united in the overthrow-Voldemort plan, it's less about trusting Harry than taking this last best chance.
The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
By the way, I agree with you about Lily. I don't think less of her for doing what she thought was right for her own health and sanity. I don't even think Snape loved her, I ( ... )
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The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
Yes, you're right. Also, I agree that the Slytherins could have been better handled. I think someone - sigune, perhaps? - said that Rowling bit off more than she could chew. She ended up creating more characters than she could actually deal with effectively ( ... )
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