July 19, 2007
I finished The Half-Blood Prince yesterday.
I'm so glad I waited to read it! I would have gone crazy along with the rest of you for the last two years if I'd given in to the peer pressure and read it right away, instead of waiting as I'd planned.
It was so worth the wait, and now that the final installment is going to be out in less than two days, I'm feeling like I can handle it.
(Spoilers for the HBP below)
Now, as for Snape. You all know I'm an Alan Rickman girl, and I can't believe he would be playing the Bad Guy yet again (and of course, legend says that Jo Rowling had a private phone call with him that somehow convinced him that he needed to play this role)…but the book sure makes us believe it.
That's why I don't.
It's so heavy-handed (with the Unbreakable Vow and the actual witnessing by Harry of what happens) that I don't believe it. In fact, since the book is so heavy on using nonverbal spells, I'm sure that what happened was he used a nonverbal spell when he first pointed the wand at Dumbledore, in that moment of pause, and then used the death curse, and somehow something happened in between that we don't/won't know about until this last book.
I could be wrong. But I'm optimistic. (Did I tell you my other name is Pollyanna?)
So, what do you think? Is Snape good or bad? What do most people think?
Oh, and the winner of the 'Fess Up Tuesday contest is indeed Diana P…I'm dying to know how she smuggled a whole pizza in. I could use a few tips!
July 19th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Colleen- I’m about six chapters into the Half Blood Prince. I already knew most of the spoilers, mainly from sitting on a couch opposite my roommmate watching tears roll down her face as she read the book last year. She’s already ordered HP7, so I’ll get it when she’s done.
I did the exact same thing you did, though, waited to read the book. Mainly for me, it was because I hated book 5 and couldn’t get through it. So I waited to see the movie, had my roomie explain a couple of missing things from the movie and moved on the Book 6.
I’m looking forward to finishing the series!
July 19th, 2007 at 10:23 am
W00T!
The secret is to wear a large, boxy peacoat. The downside is that the cheese can all kind of slide to one side. Which it did, but if you just hold it the other way for a bit, it mostly slides back.
I’m re-listening to HP6 on my iPod right now.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Oh, yes, I know whereof you speak about the Cheese Slide. That’s what happens every time my 6 yo answers the door when the pizza’s delivered.
Congrats again!
July 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
That’s what I thought, too
Glad you finished!
July 19th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I finished reading The Half Blood Price yesterday as well. I loved it ! As, Snape has been one of my favorite characters through out the series, I’m really holding out hope for him to be on the “right” side in the end.
Thank goodness Deathly Hallows comes out Saturday. I couldn’t wait another year for my HP fix. I am beginning to feel a wee bit melancholy, that the series is coming to an end however.
July 19th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Snape is good. Most of the people I know (parents, coworkers, husband, friends) all think that he will help Harry in the end.
I guess that we will find out soon enough. I’ve got my figners crossed.
July 19th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I actually think that Draco will end up being heroic in some way at the end too. He was so hesitant to kill Dumbledore, that I think deep inside he doesn’t really have what it takes to be completely Dark.
He reminds me of Rolf, from The Sound of Music, and that scene were the Captain confronts him while the family is hiding in the convent and plucks the gun right out of his hand: “You’re not like them.”
So we’ll see.
July 19th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I think he’s good as well…but not. Does that make sense? I think he’ll do something to redeem himself, probably dying as he saves Harry from Voldemort.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
I’ve been in love with Snape from book one. The casting of Alan Rickman then sealed my fate.
Of course Snape is good. He was still trying to get through to thick-headed Harry right up until the end of HBP. Rowling may kill him off though. Snape may earn his complete redemption by sacrificing his life for Harry. It wouldn’t be original, and I’m hoping she won’t do it, but it’s a distinct possibility.
My daughter and I are picking up the book at 12:01 on the 21st. It’s her birthday!