What's right and wrong with OOP; a prediction (woof!)

[barbara_mbowen]

No: HPFGUIDX 70933

I've read a lot of the posts complaining about/defending book 5 
and found myself agreeing with both sides (typical Libra).  Here 
are my 2 knuts worth:

While I think OOP is NOT as good, for instance as PoA, which 
was more tightly plotted and compelling, or the first four in 
humor (there was indeed too much suffering going on for big 
laughs), I still think it's a worthy book. 

First, what's wrong:  I can't imagine how hard it is for JKR to keep 
all the hundreds of threads in her hands without dropping a few!  
And in OOP, I think she did drop a few.  Dumbledore's behavior 
towards Harry is inexplicable.  Unless DD has become almost 
paranoically secretive (possible, given his age and history, but 
she didn't show it), there was no reason not to let Sirius or Mad-
Eye or SOMEONE tell the poor kid what they were all afraid of.  
Nobody at Hogwarts studies psychology, obviously.  It was also 
a mistake, I think, to kill off Sirius.  You don't kill off interesting 
characters two books from the end.  However you felt about him, 
Sirius was a complicated and very interesting character.  In order 
to doom him like she did, she had to change his personality,and 
it just didn't work for me.  The authors heavy hand was only too 
obvious; first you make him suffer, then diminish him, then kill 
him off.  Not fair to character, not fair to readers.   And then 
there's Harry.  In the earlier books, Harry's resilience to the 
extreme abuse he took from the Dursleys would be utterly 
unbelieveable in the RW.  Okay, suspension of disbelief perfectly 
acceptable; that is, until in Book 5 JKR shoves cruelty and abuse 
in our faces and demands we take them seriously.  Snape was 
abused, Sirius abused, James was a monster, all this 
awfulness is NOT to be taken humorously or lightly.    So, how 
do we explain Harry?  He should be throwing himself off the 
highest tower in Hogwarts, or running around using 
Unforgiveable curses against everyone who crosses his path. 
He is a very damaged  kid; the most real moments in OOP for 
me, were his suicidal refusal to defend himself against 
Voldemort and his demand of Dd to let him out.He has indeed, 
had enough.  Too much awful suffering.

Okay, the awful suffering and inadequate humor made this not 
an enjoyable read for me. But I didn't put it down.  I'm not giving 
up on the books or on JKR.  She's attempting to do something 
extremely difficult, and so far, she's done a damn good job.  
Here we all are, arguing about it, for one.  Because we all still 
care.  And I will indeed race out to buy book 6 when it comes out.  
She has upset me, but she has kept my interest, and that is the 
most important thing.  I liked the SF Chronicle review that said 
this book is about disillusionment.  So it is!  And some of its 
readers are now disillusioned.  But not me.  How IS Harry going 
to deal with this awfulness?  What is wrong with DD, after all?  
And don't kill off Lupin, please.  And oh, yeah, love him or hate 
him, Snape will do something interesting in the next two books.

If you've made it through this far, here's my prediction:  Sirius 
knew he was doomed.  He not only made out a will giving 
everything to Harry, he also created a little momento for Harry.  In 
book Six, Harry will find a shaggy black puppy with Crookshanks-
like magical abilities and a fierce loyalty to Harry.  He will not BE 
Sirius, though Sirius will have let something of himself pass into 
the dog.  And this dog will be pivotal in Harry's final confrontation 
with V.  

Also, I agree that Luna is a seer.  Luna was one of the best new 
things in OOP.  I want to see lots more of her.

I guess that was more like 6 knuts worth.

Marmelade's Mom