Death (was Re: Why now? (other books / series))

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 110905

MacFoTUK wrote:
>>I've for a long time unwillingly thought that Harry might (have to)
die at the end. It's a neat way for JKR to make certain the series
has 7 books and only 7 books as she says was always planned.<<

HunterGreen:
I feel the same way, although the idea of Harry dying at the end 
doesn't bother me. To me a story is never over if the main character 
is still alive, especially a series like this one. The Flowers in the 
Attic series is a good example of this, it could have gone on forever 
if Chris and Cathy hadn't died in the last book. Also, we know the 
series is over after book seven, so it doesn't matter (IMO) if Harry 
dies since its the last we're going to hear from him anyway. Its not 
like the deaths in the middle of the series...

MacFoTUK:
>> I have to say that my first reading of OotP was definitely
coloured by the pre-hype from JKR that someone significant would
die. She set up many instances where, variously, one thought Ron, Mr
Weasley Sr, Hagrid and only at the end Sirius would be 'the' one to
die. Reading this way spoiled for me, to an extent, what I knew even
then was a book as well written as any of the others. Although
Sirius' death was shocking it would have been even more so to me
without the hype. <<

HunterGreen:
I had the opposite experience. I didn't know beforehand that there 
was going to be a death, and when it happened I was truly shocked and 
went through the same steps of denial as Harry did. To be honest I 
was completely pulled out of the book from that point on. I think it 
might have helped to know ahead of time to expect a death, because 
then it might not have horrified me as much. However, it would have 
been annoying to be 'fooled' into thinking it was Hagrid or Mr. 
Weasley.

MacFoTUK:
>>I know that after the first read I was left feeling that despite its
being a very enjoyable read, OotP was the least of the 5 books since
its main plot despite the gorgeously vile Umbridge was to kill
Sirius. I always found the prophecy (enigmatic though it remains) a
bit of a let down to hang the whole book on, but yes in hindsight I
recognise that a lot was revealed or introduced in book 5<<

HunterGreen:
I felt the same way. The other books were leading up to a big twist, 
and I felt cheated at the end of OotP (especially since I see the 
prophecy as completely self-fulfilling). However, on the second read 
I appreciated and enjoyed it much more, and saw its place in the 
series a little better. This was the first time I'd ever grieved for 
a literary character (by nature of this being the only series I've 
gotten into where a major character dies in the middle), so I had to 
wait until I was done grieving before I could enjoy the book 
properly.