OOP: Beginning at the Dursleys (was: OOtP A tad disappointed)

[Dicentra spectabilis]

No: HPFGUIDX 64612

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Matthew Huston"
<matthisattva at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Dicentra spectabilis"
> <dicentra at x> wrote:

> > I've read with interest the criticisms of OoP, and nearly all of
> them
> > hinge on "it wasn't what I wanted it to be" or "why didn't it do
> this
> > or this or this?"  That seems to be a little strange to me.  Isn't
> it
> > better to strap yourself into the ride JKR provides and enjoy it
> > without comparing it to what you wanted it to be?

> I was disappointed in that she ended the book the same way she does
> every book. And that when it had a chance to go off in an interesting
> direction, it simply fed us the same thing with new problems. 

If you're referring to the fact that the novels begin and end at the
Dursleys, with Harry going to school in the middle, then yeah, we're
getting the same thing over and over.  On the other hand, I found OoP
to be radically different from the rest.  We had no central mystery to
solve.  No one was unveiled at the end to be different from his/her
apparent identity.  Harry didn't win the Quidditch cup for Gryffindor
(and he played only in one game).  

But given that Harry really ought to finish school (so he can become a
fully qualified wizard) and until then he needs to return to the
Dursleys once a year so his mother's blood can protect him, we're
going to get that basic framework.  At least, we have in the first
five.  Who knows what 6 and 7 have in store?

I still think it's funny though: some people complain because OoP is
too different, others because it's too much the same.  It's a good
thing JKR is writing to please herself -- she'd go nuts if she
listened to her fans.

--Dicentra