OOP My review FULL OF SPOILERS

[jotwo2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 64419

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I'm writing this review before I read anyone else's.  That way I can 
be certain that the opinions contained herein are entirely the 
writer's own, as the saying goes.

I thought the book had an exciting beginning with the Dementors' 
attack.  The momentum was maintained throughout the introduction to 
the Order, with fun characters like Tonks and Mundungus Fletcher, and 
Harry's hearing.

Unfortunately when Harry got back to school the pace flagged.  I 
remember being on page 335 and actually thinking: "this is boring."

Yes, I know what people are going to say.  That this section 
introduced vital subplots about media manipulation and political 
control.  It was also necessary for character development, such as 
Harry's anger and revealing what a nasty piece of work Umbridge was.  
I admit that the lines scene was effective.  I just think that these 
themes needed to be dealt with in fewer pages.

For me, the excitement didn't pick up again until the first Quidditch 
match and the return of Hagrid.  (Regarding Hagrid I was even 
thinking that we'd find out he was already dead, but JKR wrongfooted 
me there.)  After this JKR kept the pace and suspense going.  The 
attack on Mr Weasley was a set piece that came across well, as did 
Dumbledore's escape.  Overall, the book then had JKR's usual page 
turning quality until the end.  (The only bit I felt turned out to be 
irrelevant was Grawp.  It didn't tell us anything more about Hagrid's 
character, as we already know he's a big softie who sees no danger in 
wild creatures.  Plus I think the centaurs would still have been 
upset enough over Firenze to be a threat, without Grawp's presence.)

I also felt the 'love interest' subplot was handled with subtlety.  
Harry's first kiss was tastefully done by merely being implied.  I 
don't see how anyone could object to it.  The end of Harry's crush on 
Cho was realistic too.

I was also pleased with Ginny's character development.  I had 
wondered if with a real name like Virginia and JKR's liking for Jane 
Austen she would be mooning after Harry until he noticed her in book 
7's epilogue, like Fanny Price does over Edmund Bertram in Mansfield 
Park.  Thankfully, instead, she came over as smart, funny and daring.

I liked loony Luna Lovegood as well.  I wondered when we first met 
her if she was going to be involved with Ron.

I also found some parts of the book hilarious, like Fred and George 
causing chaos and then making their spectacular exit.  The teachers 
colluding in the general mayhem was also funny.  I just wish that 
Umbridge's downfall had been even nastier.

My biggest concern before OOP's release was that I knew too much 
already.   Even though I tried to avoid spoilers, I was still exposed 
to speculation by being in HP fandom.  Therefore I wasn't surprised 
to meet Mrs Lestrange and Neville's parents.

Similarly, Trelawney's prophecy that only a 'Chosen One' could 
destroy Voldemort and Voldemort accidentally bringing this to pass by 
attempting to kill Harry was much what I expected.  I was pleased to 
see, however, that it seems to have nothing to do with Harry being 
the Heir of Gryffindor.  It was a nice twist too that it could so 
easily have been Neville. 

The downside of already guessing the prophecy was that it muted the 
emotional impact of Harry's realisation that it will be Voldemort or 
him, at least for this reader, but that's not JKR's fault.  I was 
also surprised that it was the prophecy itself that Voldemort was 
after.  Seemed like a waste of Death Eater resources to me.  If he 
really wants to conquer the world Voldemort needs to get his 
priorities right! <grin>

There were a few things I thought would be there that weren't.  
Whatever happened to the late bloomer in magic?  I couldn't really 
see that Pansy Parkinson had an enlarged role either.

Finally - the Big Death.  Well that was a turn up, wasn't it?  After 
all, the odds-on favourite had been Hagrid.  When it happened, I 
thought: "Gosh, I can't believe she's killed off Harry's godfather."  
I thought that Sirius still had mileage as a character i.e. Would he 
be captured?  Would he be cleared?  It was daring of JKR, and almost 
too cruel, as it's like Harry losing his parents all over again.  

I think too that it's obvious that JKR believes in an afterlife.  She 
is a more than nominal churchgoer after all.  However, I'm an 
agnostic, so while I understand the desperate yearning to see a dead 
loved one again, the idea that you will one day do so seems like 
wishful thinking to me.  (I hope no-one is offended by me saying 
that.)

To sum up: I think for most people, OOP would have got an Outstanding 
or Exceeds Expectations.  The fact that I'm marking it as Acceptable 
is more to do with my own values than any failings by JKR.




   
Jo