Chapter 2 Discussion - SPOILERS

[plinsenmayer]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C4562
From: plinsenmayer
Subject: Re: Chapter 2 Discussion - SPOILERS
Reply To: [Yahoo! #4560] Chapter 2 Discussion - SPOILERS
Date: 7/18/00 8:52 pm  (ET)

Hi:

This is the spoiler warning for those who still need it -- la dee da,
la dee da. Hopefully, this is enough text to not be a problem for
anyone. Here goes

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<<<Why was chapter 1 in the book at all? Why not follow CoS and PoA with
the first chapter being Harry's birthday and then moving onto the dream?>>

Well, it makes the point that it's not *just* a dream. I think it was
also a powerful statement that this book is a change in tone; it's
not starting out with Harry's birthday & miseries with the Dursleys as
usual. Perhaps also it's a sign that the books are being geared to an
older audience. All guesses on my part.

<<Does Harry ever have a decent nights sleep?>>>

I wondered why he doesn't dream about Voldy & Wormtail again -- why
did he have a dream/premonition about Frank Bryce's murder (and why not
about the doings of Voldy & gang later on in the book)?

<<Why does he avoid looking at himself while getting dressed?>>>

I have no guesses on this one. Maybe he doesn't want to see the worry
that's in his eyes?

<<<Do we need all this description of the main characters? Are we meant
to believe that anyone would try and start the series with book 4?
Could anyone read this book with no knowledge of the first three?>>>

No, no and no. <g> I really hope this stuff can be drastically cut down
or eliminated in Book 5. It's this sort of thing that might keep the
books being labeled "children's books" forever, even as Harry clearly
ages into adolescence & adulthood. I do think this book includes less of
this basic background info than the previous 3, but I could have lived
with even less of it myself.

Oh, I don't mean to imply by my above comments that I think it's a
bad thing if the HP series is considered a "children's series." But,
I do think the books are appealing more & more to an older audience and
that the latter 4 books (possibly the latter 5 books) could one day be
considered more adult (or at least 12 & up). But, the background info
in each book is getting tiresome and is a technique that I think is
probably more common to young children's books.

I have adult friends who didn't read them in order (one person read Book
3 first -- which might be a good thing since men seem to like that one
the best in general). He then read Books 1 & 2. Another friend read Book
2 first, then 1, and then 3. They said it worked okay, but they wished
they'd read them in the proper order. I don't really see how anyone could
pick up Book 4 and fully "get it" without reading the other 3 though.

Penny