OoP: Some thoughts and questions

[Emily]

No: HPFGUIDX 62116

Wow, I think I'm actually caught up with all the messages!  Though 
I'm sure I've missed some things, so I apologize if I've duplicated 
anyone else's posts.  I've really tried not to.

I had a lot of questions, but other people beat me to it.  So, the 
few remaining...  
1. Why on earth does the MoM have a lift?  After they make fun of 
the ways Muggles try to live without magic, they borrow a Muggle 
idea?  (And no, I don't buy that the wizarding world invented lifts.)
2. Can Voldemort tell that Snape is an Occlumens (sp? and usage? 
still not sure about that word)?  If not, he's probably the ultimate 
spy.  But if so, will Snape be in danger?
3. Call me stupid, but why are Death Eaters wasting time dueling 
with the Order?  Surely they're not frightened of using the Killing 
curse, so why aren't they using it?  Seems like it would save them 
lots of time and energy, though admittedly it would take quite a bit 
out of the plot.  :-)

As for my review, doing my best not to repeat stuff that's already 
been said:  Overall, I enjoyed it, but it just seemed like there was 
something missing.  The plot really let me down.  I was expecting 
much more backstory (if you think about it, we really didn't learn 
THAT much – we got snippets here and there, but most of the 
information merely leads us to speculate rather than giving us hard 
facts).  Very few loose ends were wrapped up, though I can forgive 
that knowing that there are still two books left.  Nonetheless, I 
have a feeling that many of our biggest questions will never be 
answered.  I was particularly upset that she killed Sirius (one of 
my favorites) with no explanation.  I realize we may get an 
explanation in 2-5 years, but that doesn't make me feel better in 
the meantime, and I can only imagine how it will make Harry feel 
over the summer and beyond.

I enjoyed Umbridge as a character, but there was too much of her.  I 
found myself getting bored in the middle, when it seemed like she 
was the center of the plot.  I know it's Rowling's story, but it 
irritated me, and she should've consulted me.  ;-)  I just feel as 
though that space could have been devoted to more intriguing topics.

I loved Ron's success as Keeper after Fred and George were gone.  
He's finally out from under the shadow of his brothers (at least, 
physically).  Good for him.

I thought Kreacher's name was very interesting.  Could house-elves 
be named by their masters?  I was thinking of Sirius' quote: ". . . 
and dear Aunt Elladora . . . she started the family tradition of 
beheading house-elves when they got too old to carry tea trays . . ."

And I especially agree with everyone who thought that the ending was 
a disappointment.  I kept thinking, that was it?  That's what I've 
been losing sleep for?  And I loved the fact that as soon as Fudge 
turned up, he admitted that Voldemort was back.  What???  He didn't 
try to spin it, hide it, etc.  That's not the Fudge we know and 
hate.  How incredibly convenient.  I almost felt like... she got 
lazy at the end.  I suppose it is a possibility that she was under 
pressure to keep it a little shorter, but this is J.K. Rowling we're 
talking about.  Considering the pre-order success alone, methinks 
she had the publishers in her hands.  I would accept the fact that 
writing a book this large (God knows I've never tried) makes one a 
bit weary, and she probably wanted to be done with it and move on.  
Still, she disappointed me.

Emily, who will dearly miss having Fred and George at Hogwarts