Least favorites, was: Why to Like and Not Like OoP

[zebco606]

No: HPFGUIDX 70710

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "newdevilry9" 
<newdevilry9 at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Anne Robotti" 
<arobotti at l...> 
> wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: newdevilry9 [mailto:newdevilry9 at y...] 
> > 
> > Although I liked this book very much, I have my problems with 
it.  
> > OoP is not my favorite of the series, it is not my least 
favorite.  
> >  
> > 
You know, I think the reason that OoP is not many people's (at least 
judging by reactions here and other lists, and I'm not denying that 
it IS many peoples favorite) is that even many of the dangers in 
previous books had a lyrical element to them. Consider GoF, the 
challenges in the maze included a Sphinx, (charmingly historical), 
the challenge to get the egg, here there be dragons...

Harry's first ever encounter with Voldemort followed a giant chess 
game and flying keys. In CoS, the silliness, and oh so apropos 
downfall of Lockhart. 

In every book 'til now, we've discovered butterbeer, Floos, 
Ollivanders, Honeydukes, Hippogriffs or humorously gross (for the 
kids) troll boogers and Bubotuber Pus (eeew but my nephew loves it.)

In short, even though we are aware of a struggle against evil, we 
(or at least I) have been charmed and bemused. 

The dangers in OoP, while mysterious and absorbing, are not lyrical. 
And the twins do give us some good, fun magic but we are aware that 
it is vengeful. Ron's/Gryffindors Quidditch win is not witnessed and 
overshadowed by the discovery of Grawp.  

Was OoP a good book. Yes, it was. Even more so on the second read.

But I'll have to admit, even though I'm just as anxious for book 6 
as I was for 5, and still love all our "good guys",  the end of the 
book didn't leave me with feeling wistful that I don't live in 
Hogsmeade or can't walk just once down Diagon Alley...

Magic, oh yes! Magical, sigh...

Dorothy

 
>