What a Book!

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 183545

 
> 
> SSSusan:
> Wow!  How wonderful for you that this 2nd experience was so much 
> different and *better.*  Can you say more, 'cat?  Can you tell us 
> what you think might have been different this go-round?

Potioncat:
One difference, I think, is that it's been nearly a year since I read 
it the first time--so there was time to recuperate from the emotions 
of the first session. We read these books so fast when each of them 
came out; Hedwig, Moody, Snape, Lupin, Tonks, Fred, and all the 
others died within hours of each other. For me, DH was one dark book. 
As I finished it this time, I realised Harry felt the same way at the 
end of the day that I had---only he had 19 years before the epilogue.

More importantly, I read it with someone who had fresh eyes. All 
Michael wanted to know was 'Does Harry live?'. Well, and to a much 
lesser degree, 'Is Snape friend or foe?'. He was convinced Snape was 
foe, up to the moment the memories started pouring out. He didn't 
need to know what they were, he just knew. 

It's taken us nearly a year to read it and I thought several times 
that he had lost interest, but he wanted to continue. It was at 'the 
Sacking of Severus Snape' that his interest really became piqued. I 
guess that's when the adventure began. 

It was so much fun to see his reaction as the plot moved on. He'd 
stop me to make some comment, much like the ones we've made here. But 
it was a new idea to him, not one that he had endlessly debated.

(Oh, but the look on his face when he saw Snape's Silver Doe Patronus 
and there was the beat in time while it sunk in. I wish I'd had a 
camera.)

He was in it for the adventure and that grounded my reading of it. If 
I started getting teary-eyed or choked-up, the amused look on his 
face would make me laugh and we'd keep reading. Yes, he was moved by 
deaths---particularly Fred's, Lupin's and Tonks's, but not to same 
extent as I was. I'm something of a goof-ball about fictional 
characters' deaths; I still have to leave the room when Bambi's 
mother dies.

He was very concerned for Harry, but his eyes shined as Harry pushed 
on. He cheered as Neville challenged LV after they thought Harry had 
died. It was watching his reaction to the characters' bravery that 
made me see the book differently. Because you know, I had never 
picked up on that bravery before. I hadn't seen the spirit and 
determination to fight to the end. 

It was also pretty cool that Michael had decided earlier that it was 
going to be Neville and Harry who brought down LV. As far as he's 
concerned, he was right.

> SSSusan:
> Honestly, I know some folks who truly enjoyed it the first time but 
> thought perhaps re-reads might not be as positive after reading a 
> great deal of criticism and hearing a lot of disappointment and 
even, 
> well, some anger about DH.  
>snip> 

Potioncat:
There are still areas of the book that have flaws and areas that seem 
a bit off to me. That didn't keep me from enjoying DH this time. But 
I think it's important to just read the book, and to avoid the 
temptation to stop and critique it as you go along.

What I would really suggest to everyone, is that if you ever have the 
chance to read these books to a young person, do it! And if you don't 
like to read aloud, get the audio-books and listen together. 

It is so much fun to see the difference a few years makes!