OotP: SPOLIERS : First impression & female characters

[donna_immaculata]

No: HPFGUIDX 63702

Hello everyone,

I only got the book yesterday and finished reading it early this morning. As I didn't yet have the opportunity to re-read any passages and revise my ideas, here come my very first thoughts on the book:

Somehow, OotP left me with the feeling that it is a) more character than plot-driven (relatively speaking!), and b) that it is truly (only) a part in a series. (That's no criticism!) 

I'll try to explain: Different from the previous novels, OotP hasn't got one specific conflict that is solved at the end. (cf. PS: The search for and destruction of the Stone; CoS: The search for and destruction of the monster; PoA: The search for and solving the mystery of Sirius; GoF: The Triwizard Tournament)

In OotP, the main plotline is basically waiting-for-something-to-happen. I know that many things are going on, but somehow, an atmosphere of vaguely paralysed terror is predominant. The characters wait for Voldemort to show himself, and in the meantime, there are many, many smallish conflicts going on. ('Smallish' of course relatively speaking; in comparison to the danger caused by Voldemort's return.) The characters react rather than act.

To me it seems as though JKR has taken the chance to show the variety of ways in which the characters try to cope with the situation, and not one central conflict which is solved by Hero!Harry in the end. Also, OotP established the setting for the major events to happen. Does this make sense to any of you?

Don't get me wrong: I don't think that the mystery regarding the prophecy is an unimportant, minor plotline. But within all the situations that occur, I think that JKR put the strongest emphasis on character development. Which is quite logical considering that Harry is growing up and notices much more about what is going on around him, including how other people act and react in different situations.

As to Harry, I like him much more in this book than in any of the previous ones. He feels so real. Although I don't like his behaviour at times, I like him as a character, who acts very plausible, very much in-character - as a teenage boy carrying a too-large burden.

I am most pleased about Minerva and Ginny being so nicely fleshed out. Minerva has always been my favourite female character, and I always felt that Harry's point of view in the student-teacher relationship didn't do her justice. She has so many brilliant moments in OotP, when she positively conspires with Harry while dealing with Umbridge. 

Another female character I always liked is Ginny Weasley, in whom I felt great potential, which is now finally displayed. There is one thing that really annoys me about the HP universe: the lack of female characters with a sense of humour. Ginny is the only one who actually laughs at the - sometimes silly or childish, but basically *funny* - jokes and antics of her brothers. Hermione only says things like: "oh, be serious, Ron", and "this is no laughing matter", or just hmphs indignantly. And don't even get me started on Molly Weasley!

Ginny has the ability not to take things seriously. She also has the ability to downright lie to her mother (a craft none of her brothers seemed to have mastered) and to do her own thing without even attempting to justify her actions, if she thinks that's unneccessary. I love her!

Seeing as this post is getting much too long, let me add only this:
Has anyone else thought that Kingsley Shacklebolt is just wickedly cool? I want more of him!

Donna Immaculata