MsVetra
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Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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I noticed there isn't a thread on the wonderful Harry Potter books, yet.
So here it is.
What do you Dan Brown fans think of J. K. Rowling's masterpiece?
Do you have a favourite book in the series and if yes, why? And again, who is your favourite carachter?
Ohhh, I am going to enjoy this thread!
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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Well, to answer your questions...
I think Jo's books are fabulous. Some of my favourite books of all time.
It's impossible for me to pick a favourite - all are special and important to the series in their own particular ways.
My favourite characters are Harry, Hermione, and Ron. A great team. I'm so glad that they all fought that troll together in the first book; otherwise the three of them might not have become close.
In terms of actors in the movies, I think Emma Watson (Hermione) does a great job.
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MsVetra
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Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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I find it hard to pick a favourite book too. I, however, have special memories linked to Book no.1 and no.6. The Philosopher's Stone was my first time with Harry and everyone knows that women get sentimental about their first times.
The Half Blood Prince was a fabulous insight into Voldemort's life, a priceless piece of information leading to an amazing climax in book no. 7.
As far as my favourite carachter is concerned, no doubt there: it was love at first sight with Harry. He's like the son I've never had.
I can also tell you that my least favourite carachter is Dolores Umbridge: she is possibly the most odious carachter I've ever met in a book.
And finally, Emma Watson should be imprisoned in Azkaban before she is given the chance to ruin Hermione again with her hysterical portray of the bushy-haired brainy student...
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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I love Umbridge! She's the character we all love to hate! My least favorite is actually Ron. Never cared much for him. My favorite is, and always will be, Albus Percival Wufric Brian Dumbledore. I think that may be for archetypal reasons. I always love the Old Wizard/mentor archetype. Severus Snape is a close second, though, just because he is fascinating, ditto for Voldemort.
I really like the books, though I only got hooked a year ago, when I finally read no. 4. Before that, I thought they were jeuvenile.
In terms of the movies, major props go to Alan Rickman for his Snape and a very large round of applause to Ralph Fiennes for his Voldemort. That was a masterful performance.
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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MsVetra
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Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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I agree: Ralph Fiennes gave an absolutely flawless performace. Couldn't have been scarier than that, lol! Alan Richman is also great in his role of the evil-or-not Snape.
Dumbledore is an extremely likeable carachter too, I've always liked him even though I think he could have clued up Harry about the truth of his past, a little earlier in the series...
I've always had a special place in my heart for Sirius, bless him.
Ron and Hermione are not a well-designed couple at all. I hope Ron gets out of the way and Harry finally sees sense and gets it on with Hermi!
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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naah. I like Harry with Ginny. It was bound to happen ever since book 2. Ron and Hermione was always clear to me, though I doubt they would have been together in real life. Still, JKR did drop enough "anvil-sized" hints about that.
I love book-Dumbledore, but whats-his-name in the movies is horrible. He never even read the books.
As for Sirius, that is truly one of the great tragedies of the series. trapped at Grimmauld place, it's no wonder he became depressed and an alcoholic.
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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MsVetra
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Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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Yes, Sir Michael Gambon as Dumbledore was a completely wrong casting choice. I have no prolems believing that he never read the books, he certainly seems totally clueless about Dumbledore's soul and style.
My least favourite has to remain Emma Watson: since film 4 - The Goblet of Fire, she seems to have transformed Hermione into some hysterical bi**h. I am seriously wondering whether she reads the books and if she is actually awake during the reading.
And last but not least, my dear Sirius: I was so disappointed that he didn't feature in film 4. Small consolation that he will return in film 5, just to meet his sad end... Still, I can hear whispers behind that wall, can't you?
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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I agree Sephia - it's tragic what happened to Sirius. I pray that we haven't quite seen the end of of the Blacks though. Perhaps we will see a little of Sirius's brother. I think it's unlikely he's really dead. RAB - I think Regulus Alphonso Black - is on Voldemort's trail... just a couple of steps ahead of Harry... at least I think so.
Also, I have my doubts that Dumbledore is really gone. I suspect Albus is an animagus (he was the transfiguration teacher, before he was headmaster), and can transform into a Phoenix... which I suspect he did when he fell off the castle ramparts, enabling him to fly safely to the ground.
Also agree that the current Dumbledore actor - Michael Gambon - isn't great in this role. Richard Harris was perfect.
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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Remarkable-- I agree that RAB is probably Regulus, but where did you get the middle name? I was kind of assuming his middle name is the same as Sirius' uncle...something starting with an A, who left Sirius all that money in his will.
There are many theories as to why Dumbledore is alive (see www.dumbledoreisnotdead.com) but I doubt it. The simple reason is, would JKR put her fans through all that grief and millions of gallons of tears just to say, "nope, he's alive! Gotcha!"... I doubt it. WHile the Pheonix thing rising from the coffin and the similarity of the lake water to the descriptions given of the draught of living death are very suspicious, I still am not sure. The clues point both ways. Another thing is that in JKR's world, Dead is Dead. James, Lily and etc. are not coming back. WHy make Dumbledore the exception. So far, the only characters we have coming back from "death" have been Voldy and, in a sense, Peter Pettigrew. Both are the "bad guys". It would be weird to have good guy do the same. Still, I guess there is hope and we certainly haven't seen the last of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Maybe through the portrait or somehow...he'll be back.
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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Ooops - I made a mistake with the name, Sephia! It's Alphard, of course... exactly the person you suggest. As for Dumbledore, I really think Jo has laid too many clues for us about him still being alive. My bet is that it's all part of a plan to lure Voldemort out into the open.
However, I do take on board your comments about dead really meaning dead in the wizarding world. As you say, there are many theories why Dumbledore is alive. For me there a few compelling reasons, which fit in with the way Dumbledore died. Taking into account the fact the Jo likes to lay her clues carefully.
1) In Book 1, Jo mentions a potion - The Draught of Living Death - which makes someone appear to be dead, when they're not. It makes sense then, that Dumbledore would enlist the help of the potions master, to fake his death.
2) In Book 2 (I think) - she tells us that Dumbledore used to be the transfiguration teacher. And she makes sure that current transfiguration teacher is an animagus. We could reasonably infer that a required qualification for that job is to be an animagus.
3) She shows us how a wizard can fake their death by transfiguring i.e. Wormtail.
4) All sorts of unexplained Phoenix-like things going on around Dumbledore's funeral.
5) We never heard the story of why Dumbledore's hand was "dead". Dumbledore kept saying that it's an interesting story, but the time isn't right to tell Harry about it. Why? Because it's all part of making Voldemort think that Dumbledore was slowing down, and becoming weak.
There are just so many pointers to suggest he's still alive.
But... time will tell!
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MsVetra
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Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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Quote:
Sephia said:
So far, the only characters we have coming back from "death" have been Voldy and...
Please don't call him 'Voldy' - he is, after all, the most powerful dark wizard of all times.
Let's show some respect.
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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You think Voldemort deserves respect? He is nothing but a filthy mudblood, masquerading as a pureblood wizard.
I hope Harry points that out to him, in front of the Death Eaters.
Honestly, blood counts for less and less the days. What are things coming to.
Bottom line is - Voldemort deserves to be ridiculed - calling Voldy is a good start! Well done Sephia!
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MsVetra
enthusiast
Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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Wow, you are now resorting to name-calling?
Hermione won't be too impressed that you descended to Draco's level.
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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No disrespect to Mr. Riddle intended. I merely hoped to save some time. Actually, though, isn't "Lord Voldemort" just a tad ostentatious, considering the lack of wizarding rank (except for pure-blood so-called supremacy)?
As for the (supposed) death of Albus, there are a lot of points for it being fake, certainly. My two favorites are 1) Why would his body be blasted off the roof? Avada Kedavra, as seen with Cedric, does not do that. and 2) There is a line in the American edition that is not in the British version of the book. When DD is talking to Draco Malfoy at the end, he says, in the American version "He cannot kill you if you are already dead. Come over to the right side, Draco and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine" (p. 591, American Hardcover). In the British version, the first sentence is missing. It is a VERY interesting clue.
Still.... I don't know. We shall see. I certainly HOPE he is alive. This was the second book ever to make me cry...
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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Yes the differences between the US and British editions are interesting, and the "wrong" Avada Kedavra behaviour are good ones.
What was the first book to make you cry, by the way? Was it Order Of The Phoenix when Sirius dies?
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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no. It wasn't an HP book. "Wizards First Rule" by Terry Goodkind.
I loved Sirius in books 3 &4, but by OOTP, I agreed with Hermione's assessment of him. Plus, I knew beforehand that he would die, so ::shrug::
Of course, I suspected DDs death as well, and was 99.99% certain by ch. 4 of HBP, but still....::Sniff!::
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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Wizards First Rule. Wow. That's a *serious* book. I've not read it; to be honest, the reviews kinda put me off a little bit ;-/
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MsVetra
enthusiast
Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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Quote:
Sephia said:
Plus, I knew beforehand that he would die, so ::shrug::
Of course, I suspected DDs death as well, and was 99.99% certain by ch. 4 of HBP, but still....::Sniff!::
I guess being super-intelligent has its downsides. Poor you.
Still, take someone of average intelligence like me: I didn't know Dumbledore was going to die, nor I wanted to know. But I still found out, somehow... ;-)
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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it was foreshadowed in book 4. Since then, I was just waiting for it to happen, though my guess was book 7. However, his appearance on Privet Drive convinced me.
Wizards's First Rule is a rather good book, I think. It's early enough in the series that the author doesn't bludgeon you to death with his philosophy. There was a rather touching death scene near the end that got a few tears on my reread.
HBP is the only one that made me cry on my 1st readthrough. I STILL haven't finished my reread of it. I just can't bring myself to read that chapter!
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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I'll have to re-read Book 4 (again) to see if I can spot the Dumbledore clue. As the for the Book 6 re-read - Ablus being killed is actually much less traumatic second-time round; especially if you're looking for clues to his actually being alive!
As the for Wizard's First Rule - are the reviewers on Amazon correct about the graphic rape and paedophilia scenes? Sounds a bit harrowing.
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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pedophilia? not that I've noticed. there's one or 2 small (half a sentence) references to it, but always in the past.
There is one 30-pg scene which can be considered graphic, though most of it is psychological.
It's an almost protoypical sword-and sorcery novel, except for the underlying philosophy of the wizard's first rule.
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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MsVetra
enthusiast
Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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Back to topic: Harry Potter.
You've probably already seen this but I've just recently discovered it and I think it's a very informative website!
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/index-2.html
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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yup. seen it a few times.
I usually prefer Mugglenet.
Though, for theories, there is no better site than www.redhen-publications.com/Potterverse.html
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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MsVetra
enthusiast
Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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Cool website, Supreme Goddess, thanks!
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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I like the Leaky Cauldron (the web-site, not the pub, I mean). Just type "Leaky" into Google to find it, if you don't know where it is.
Actually, on the topic of pubs, I think someone should open a *real* pub called The Leaky Cauldron in London. It would be a massive success!
Now - a question: does anyone have a good recipe for Cauldron Cakes?
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MsVetra
enthusiast
Reged: 09/29/05
Posts: 300
Loc: UK
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How about this one?
http://www.britta.com/hogwarts/recipes.html#cauldron
Or:
100g caster sugar
100g butter
2 medium-sized eggs
100g self-raising flour
a few drops vanilla essence
25g cocoa powder
1 tbsp milk
To decorate:
2 x 300g packs milk chocolate cake covering
175g icing sugar
You will also need 20 paper cases
Cost:
15p each (£2.75 for 18)
PREPARATION:
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
2. Cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
3. Crack in one egg at a time, adding 1 tbsp flour to prevent the egg separating.
4. Add the rest of the flour, a few drops of vanilla essence and whizz until pale.
5. Put two-thirds of the mix into a separate bowl.
6. Add the cocoa and milk to the remaining third and mix thoroughly.
7. Return the cocoa mix to the rest of the cake mixture and stir in slightly; this will give a marbled effect when cooked.
8. Stand the paper cases in a bun tray and add a heaped teaspoon of mixture to each.
9. Place in the oven and cook for about 10 minutes until golden and the top bounces back when prodded. Remove and leave until cold.
10. If the cakes have risen into peaks, cut off the top to leave a flat surface.
11. Break the chocolate into a heat-proof bowl and place over a pan of hot water until it has melted.
12. Cover each cake with the chocolate topping and leave to set.
13. Make up the glacé icing and place in the piping bag with a line nozzle. (If you don't have an icing set, drizzle the spiral on using a teaspoon.)
14. Starting in the centre, pipe a spiral on one cake at a time with the chocolate topping. Drag a cocktail stick across this like spokes on a wheel to create a cobweb effect.
PREP/COOK
INFORMATION:
Prep time: 1 hour Serves: 18
Or:
Cauldron Cakes ( spice cakes from Harry Potter) Recipe #11119
These cakes are from the Harry Potter series. You'll love them even if you don't read the books.
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ginger
21 servings 21 small cakes Change size or US/metric
35 minutes 10 mins prep
ADVERTISEMENT - Remove ads with Recipezaar Premium
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix eggs, sugar, butter,cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla in large mixing bowl on whip for 2 min.
3. Mix other solid ingredients and milk in gradually in the large mixing bowl.
4. Put batter in muffin tins (DO NOT FILL TO HIGH THESE CAKES SHOULD BE SEMI-FLAT) Bake 25 minutes.
5. Decorate with sprinkles and frosting if desired.
6. These cakes go well with honey.
And finally:
Cauldron Cakes
_____________________________________
Insipred by the Harry Potter books series!
Ingredients:
One yellow cake mix
One 24 oz. Jar of strawberry or raspberry jam
Chocolate frosting
Thin, black licorice
Directions:
Prepare the cake mix according to directions and bake in muffin tins. Remove from tin after cooling. Scoop out a small indentation on top of cupcake and fill with jam. Frost only the outside of the cupcake and insert a length of licorice into opposite edges to look like a cauldron.
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Remarkable
enthusiast
Reged: 09/30/05
Posts: 326
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Thanks for those recipes MsVetra. But... you know... I can't help feeling a Cauldron Cake should be made in a cauldron (pewter, standard size 2).
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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naah. THose cauldrons are big enough to carry most of Harry's stuff. A cake in one of those would be big enough for all of Gryffindor.
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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Esperanza
stranger
Reged: 05/22/06
Posts: 7
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I love the HP books. My favourite one is the Prisoner of Azkaban and the one I like the least is the Half Blood Prince. Too much romance for my taste.
What do you think about the movies? I think the books are much better, although I liked Cuarón's work.
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Sephia
Supreme Goddess
Reged: 11/28/03
Posts: 876
Loc: MA, USA
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I dunno.. I sorta liked the 1st 2 movies, though their artistic worth is below 0. At least they stayed true to the book. 3 was ok, but I disliked no.4. Not for the things left out, but for the horrible editing and the choppiness and the randomness of the scenes.
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"Your life is yours alone, rise up and live it" ~Terry Goodkind
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CMWarren
newbie
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 35
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I still cant belive people are pushing dumbledore being alive.
jo had confirmed before the book was released that there was a big death in book6. she also noted that she had to kill dumbledore because in the end, harry has to go it alone. this was the day after the release in the TLC mugglenet interview.
also, you nor I nor harry actually sees cedrics death in book4. reread the passage, harry is blinded by the pain in his scar and only sees the flash of green light through his eyelids. the pain did not happen at the exact moment the killing curse was casted. infact, there is a period of time before the curse that harry was blinded by pain, and then, he heard the command by voldemort, then wormtail saying the curse, and the flash of green light, then the sound of a rushing wind. cedrics death was not visually witnessed outside the flash of green light.
also, people need to remeber, that death is final. if the killing curse did not kill him *death to those who claim dumbledore made horcruxes, they should be shot for such a sick claim* the fall from the highest tower of hogwarts certianly would have.
with jk rowling confirming a big death in the book, and dumbledore being hit with the killing curse with no one steping forward to save him.
the reasons harry survived was because voldemort game lily the chance, the choice to step away, and she refused. it was voldemort giving her the choice that jo said caused the curse to rebound. no one stepped forward. possibly, thats why he stunned harry.
if harry had been able to step forward, we might have seen snapes true loyalty. if he is true to dumbledore, he would not kill harry. yes, he has the excuse that they are to leave potter for the darklord, but in the end, killing harry would go against everything dumbledore and the order has been working for. by stunning harry, jk rowling keeps us in the dark on snape.
would harry have died for dumbledore? I think yes.
in the end, there was no one to step forward to save dumbledore. snape had a very strong hatred in his eyes, and casted the charm with a air of hatred.
people who love snape and claim he is pure suger goodness and sunshines and fart claim it was his hatred for what he was doing. that I am sorry to say would be a rightous action. hating what he was doing would not make the curse work. to acutally work the curse you have to want it to work. people claim legilmency makes it so you can lie about casting a charm, but he casted a charm that had every single element that the charm entails.
when voldemort killed bryce, he was in a very weakend state. however, the only other time we see a fully grown and powerful wizard kill with the curse, the victem those get pushed back by the force of the curse. IE, the spider.
the facts on snapes loyalty is a moot point, as jk rowling has written a charactor that has stayed out of or rader in a way to his nature. however, dumbledores death is something jo made final by saying she had to kill him, giving the reason why.
death is final, and living in denile about the death of a fake person, who those not exist, that is extremly unhealthy, more so then denying that a real death has happened.
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AAnnAArchy
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