Book catch-up
Aug. 14th, 2005 12:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bookzombieFor ages I've been meaning to post a few comments about HP6. For the sake of the spoiler averse among us I'll put them behind a cut -
There is something rather pleasing about the fact that we got a copy of HP6 for nothing - a work colleague bought a copy for her boyfriend who turned out already to have one so she passed it on to me (there is no chance in hell that she would read it for herself - she is one of those annoying people who, while extremely intelligent, considers reading as something you only do when you are on holiday).
Anyway, what of the book itself? There was much I think that was better than the previous volume. Harry does not spend the whole book behaving like a sulky teenager. The whole thing didn't feel as much of a drag as HP5. The 'bad or good' stuff with Snape kept the tension up and the death of Dumbledore and its aftermath was well handled. I even (unlike many younger fans I understand) enjoyed the teen love story stuff which at least meant that the characters were showing fairly normal teenage behaviour for once (although, to be honest, totally lacking in any real sexual intent which seems rather unlikely).
But, but, but... I have real problems with the plotting. At least in the lack of plot advancement. In fact HP6 is a textbook example of how to delay the plot. For example, all the special sessions Harry has throughout the book with Dumbledore. If Harry's life was really in danger, Dumbledore would have taken him aside for several days, sod the lessons and given him all the information he needed straight away. Similarly there is absolutely no reason why Dumbledore couldn't have told him about the Horcruxes (excuse spelling, book not to hand) without Harry needing to get the information from the other teacher (name escapes me). These incidents are structured in this way for one reason and one reason only - to stop the plot happening. I have never seen it done so blatantly and it seems to run counter to my expectations of what is, after all, a plot-driven story.
Also, why is it that everyone, particularly Harry's best friends, so reluctant to consider his suspicions that Malfoy has become a Death Eater? Purely because the plot needs them not to believe.
These are all examples of what I have heard called 'idiot plotting'. And it gets very aggravating once you notice it is there.
Incidentally, is anyone else worried that when our heroes go out into the real world they are going to be rather scuppered by their lack of education in English, History, Science, etc. At least in the film Fame the kids had to study things other than the performing arts. Part of the problem here, of course, is that by allowing her characters to grow older, Rowling has to face that fact that she has scuppered herself with some rather silly stuff which is funny to an eleven year old, but just seems daft to a sixteen year old.
Other than that I've been catching up on some of Lindsey Davis' Falco novels, which are great fun, as always.
James Patterson's latest Alex Cross novel, London Bridges is far more outlandish than previous offerings and makes me suspect that he really needs to retire the series.
Laurel Winter's Growing Wings is a sweet coming of age story which I enjoyed, but almost feels like a prologue. I'd like to know what happens next.
Ian McDonald's River of Gods was as good as everyone told me it was (and I think would have been a better winner of the Clarke Award than Iron Council which is not China's best), although for obscure reasons it did put me in mind of Greg Bear's Queen of Angels.
Anway, enough of all that for today!
There is something rather pleasing about the fact that we got a copy of HP6 for nothing - a work colleague bought a copy for her boyfriend who turned out already to have one so she passed it on to me (there is no chance in hell that she would read it for herself - she is one of those annoying people who, while extremely intelligent, considers reading as something you only do when you are on holiday).
Anyway, what of the book itself? There was much I think that was better than the previous volume. Harry does not spend the whole book behaving like a sulky teenager. The whole thing didn't feel as much of a drag as HP5. The 'bad or good' stuff with Snape kept the tension up and the death of Dumbledore and its aftermath was well handled. I even (unlike many younger fans I understand) enjoyed the teen love story stuff which at least meant that the characters were showing fairly normal teenage behaviour for once (although, to be honest, totally lacking in any real sexual intent which seems rather unlikely).
But, but, but... I have real problems with the plotting. At least in the lack of plot advancement. In fact HP6 is a textbook example of how to delay the plot. For example, all the special sessions Harry has throughout the book with Dumbledore. If Harry's life was really in danger, Dumbledore would have taken him aside for several days, sod the lessons and given him all the information he needed straight away. Similarly there is absolutely no reason why Dumbledore couldn't have told him about the Horcruxes (excuse spelling, book not to hand) without Harry needing to get the information from the other teacher (name escapes me). These incidents are structured in this way for one reason and one reason only - to stop the plot happening. I have never seen it done so blatantly and it seems to run counter to my expectations of what is, after all, a plot-driven story.
Also, why is it that everyone, particularly Harry's best friends, so reluctant to consider his suspicions that Malfoy has become a Death Eater? Purely because the plot needs them not to believe.
These are all examples of what I have heard called 'idiot plotting'. And it gets very aggravating once you notice it is there.
Incidentally, is anyone else worried that when our heroes go out into the real world they are going to be rather scuppered by their lack of education in English, History, Science, etc. At least in the film Fame the kids had to study things other than the performing arts. Part of the problem here, of course, is that by allowing her characters to grow older, Rowling has to face that fact that she has scuppered herself with some rather silly stuff which is funny to an eleven year old, but just seems daft to a sixteen year old.
Other than that I've been catching up on some of Lindsey Davis' Falco novels, which are great fun, as always.
James Patterson's latest Alex Cross novel, London Bridges is far more outlandish than previous offerings and makes me suspect that he really needs to retire the series.
Laurel Winter's Growing Wings is a sweet coming of age story which I enjoyed, but almost feels like a prologue. I'd like to know what happens next.
Ian McDonald's River of Gods was as good as everyone told me it was (and I think would have been a better winner of the Clarke Award than Iron Council which is not China's best), although for obscure reasons it did put me in mind of Greg Bear's Queen of Angels.
Anway, enough of all that for today!
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Date: 2005-08-14 04:08 pm (UTC)However, I should note that they DO take "history of magic," and science courses of the Muggle variety wouldn't do them much good in the wizarding world. Hogwarts just isn't based on the idea that anyone's going to be going to (or back to) that world. Potions is pretty much their chemistry. Still, I take your point that the place is really rather like a vocational school. Surely there's some wizarding literature to study, at least.
And I couldn't believe Ginny would take Harry's dumping of her so calmly. Especially given that they could all be dead in a month; whatever happened to "gather your roses while ye may"? o.O