[HPforGrownups] Re: CHAPDISC: HBP1, The Other Minister

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 141810

CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1, The
Other Minister
Q.1:The Opening Chapter of Book Six
Does this scene work?  If so, what made it work here in contrast to 
the other potential locations in the series?  Is it simply that 
Fudge has more information to disseminate or are there thematic or 
stylistic reasons to include this scene now?

 

Sherry:

i loved this chapter!  I thought it was a great way to tell the reader the
condition of things without having to do it from Harry's POV.  Eventually,
the trouble in the WW had to spill over into the muggle world, and this was
a good way to show it.  Actually, since POA, I'd wondered about the
relationship between the minister of magic and the Prime Minister.  And
besides, it was funny.  I mean, one of the funniest lines in the book is
when the Prime minister says,

"He's only quacking."

that really cracked me up.  I kept trying to picture Tony Blair saying that
about one of his officials.

Sherry