Dark is rising again - final post reread impression

[marion11111]

>Alla said:
 I love the books, I really do and Will's 
> character is still sympathetic and fascinating for me, but OMG I 
> cannot stand Merryman and I realised what is the main reason - I 
see 
> no remorse, none.
> (SNIP)
> To go back to Dumbledore for a second, I think that he behaved 
> coldly and manipulatively towards Snape and towards Harry.
> 
> Of course I saw no remorse about Dumbledore's treatment towards 
> Snape, but that's the thing, it does not put me off Dumbledore 
> because I think Snape totally asked for and deserved how 
Dumbledore 
> treated him.
> 
> I think Dumbledore also behaved coldly and manipulatively towards 
> Harry, but I bought into his struggle between his love for Harry 
and 
> plan and what is more important, I bought his remorse, since Harry 
> contrary to Snape in my view totally did not deserve to be treated 
> as weapon and if Dumbledore was not remorseful, I would hate him.
> 

marion11111:
I still go back to my argument that Merriman is less offensive to me 
because he is that way -  always - to everyone.  What you see is 
what you get.  Dumbledore is full of * as far as I'm concerned.  
Now, of course, I only came to this decision after HBP when it was 
clear as day to me that he set up the whole death scene and was 
hiding so much from Harry. I didn't buy the "I did it for love" 
story because he STILL didn't tell him the truth.  

> 
> Anyways, so here is my thing. Did Merriman choose the time for 
Gwen 
> to bring Bran out of time deliberately, **knowing** that the boy 
> would have destiny to play and battle to fight?

marion11111:
I'm sure he did.  It's about the battle and you're right, the people 
take a backseat.

> 
> Did he even manipulate Gwen ( in Cooper take on the myth of 
course) 
> that  she needs to hide Bran?

marion11111: 
I don't think he needed to.  Now, I've forgotten the details, but 
didn't she think Bran might be someone else's son?  Or did she think 
that Arthur would think that?  In any case, it was most likely not 
safe for him in his own time.  

> 
> What the heck would give her the idea that he would cast out the 
> child if he would even think the boy is not his?

marion11111:
I think at that time in history and when dealing with royal blood 
and the concept that it is a God-given birthright, a child not of 
his blood would be unacceptable as an heir.

> 
> Did Merryman by any chance put it in her mind? HATE if he did and 
> forced Bran to grow up there instead of with his real father.
> 
> I mean, his adopted father loves him, but seems like Arthur loves 
> him very much too, no?

marion11111:
I have to say that this notion in books that people LOVE someone 
they have never met is odd to me.  I love my adoptive parents.  They 
raised me, nutured me, have known me all my life. I have absolutely 
no love for my birth mother.  Never met her. If I met her I 
certainly wouldn't expect to love her.  Why would I?  DNA does not 
cause love.  If it did, there would be no abused children. I think 
some people love the idea of a blood offspring.  Arthur most likely 
loves that he has an heir.  He can't possibly love Bran yet.  Owen, 
however, does.

> 
> 
> Oh yeah cannot stand memory loss of Drews and Bran of course.

marion11111:
Yeah, agreed on this one.  And really, why was it necessary?

So, I looked at my schedule the weekend this movie mess comes out 
and I'm working all weekend.  Boo.  I'll have to wait until a 
weeknight to go.  If you see it first, so ahead and post.  I don't 
imagine spoilers will matter. :-)