OOP: I was disappointed, too

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 64681

David observed:

> Yes, quite a few 'major things' are left undeveloped, aren't they?

You ain't just whistlin' Dixie, David!

<pauses to wonder whether a Brit will know that expression>

In addition to what you mention, we don't know the deal with the 
Giants, really.  Or the dementors (lots of unanswered questions about 
who is controlling them on a practical level).  And what was the deal 
with the numerous mentions of Trevor, which went nowhere vis a vis 
the plot?  She got my hopes up that Toadkeeper might make an 
appearance.  But no!  


 
> I can't help feeling that, although OOP stuck to the formula of 
> summer at the Dursleys, followed by a visit to a part of the WW, 
> followed by a school year, followed by the train journey back, in 
> significant ways it departed from the formula.

It did, and it didn't work as well as I had hoped. 

For instance, the structure of GoF (following the formula) worked 
beautifully.  Each task gave the reader a bit of a rush -- Harry was 
in mortal danger again and again.  And you know how much I love that 
sort of thing!  ;-)

Here, though, major school holidays just kind of passed without 
turning points and without Harry being in danger.  Instead of being 
in danger when Arthur was attacked, Harry got some bad vibes and 
hurled, IIRC.  It's just not the same thing, is it?

 
> In the other books, IMO, there is a central mystery that is raised 
> and solved pretty well within the confines of the book, and the 
> subpolts are closed off.  In OOP there isn't a mystery.  

True.  Indeed, one of the things I liked about GoF is that it had its 
main layer of events, with the danger and surprise lurking in the 
background.  


>OTOH there 
> are many unresolved subplot issues: Percy, the Centaurs, James, 
> Grawp, Harry's gift to Fred and George, etc.  At the same time, 
>many of the foreshadowed things of GOF are not taken up: what 
>happened to Karkaroff?  

And Bagman!  <weeps openly at apparent demise of ESE!Bagman>

But . . . 

<brightly>

I did get Ever So Dead Sexy Kingsley Shackleford!  But he didn't have 
enough to *do!*


> I think this means that it is likely to contain a lot of stuff that 
> will turn out important later on.  

Yeah.  That's we said about GoF, if you think about it.  I feel a 
little swindled, myself.  That JKR is such a *tease!*


> Finally, Cindy, did you realise what that dais and arch are?  They 
> may *look* like a low platform and your standard-issue 
> interdimensional gateway, but in terms of their narrative essence, 
> they are a rickety catwalk and a river of molten lava.  That must 
> count for something, surely.

Nice try, David.  ;-)

"Narrative essence" is a poor substitute for the dangerous swaying of 
a catwalk missing a few too many boards as the hero and Evil Overlord 
struggle to push each other into the lava below, especially when the 
Evil Overlord invariably hurls our hero overboard and then *stomps* 
on his fingers.  Man, I was really waiting for that scene!

Cindy -- who cannot believe JKR teased her like that by having Moody 
use the Put Outer for no real reason, but who is deeply relieved not 
to have had to swallow MemoryCharmed!Neville