[HPforGrownups] Hmmm. What's your favorite *now*?

[Laura Lynn Walsh]

No: HPFGUIDX 182967


On 2008, May 20, , at 13:20, cubfanbudwoman wrote:

> That question is:  Now that we're almost a year out from the release
> of DH and the completion of the series, which of the books has become
> your favorite?

I guess my favorite now is DH.  I think it has the most complex
dealings with character development.  We see Dumbledore's
history and Snape's.  We see big changes in Ron, and lesser,
but important changes in Hermione and Harry.

> Tangential questions relating to that one might be:  Has your
> favorite changed over time, or since the series has ended?  Can you
> explain WHY this book is your favorite?

My favorite seems to change quite often.  I like the innocence,
astonishment, and camaraderie of SS/PS.  I like the revelations
of PoA.  I like the teenagery anger of OoP.

> *Which is/has become your least favorite book of the series?  Again,
> can you express why?


I think my least favorite up until HBP was GoF.  GoF seemed
too long for what it was worth.  And the plausibility of the crowd
scenes still bothers me.  I mean, the dragon thing, I could get,
but what in the name of Godric's Hollow were the spectators
watching for an hour while the competitors were in the lake?
And what were they watching while Harry et al. rambled through
the maze?  The hedges were so high they couldn't see the
champions, or else the champions could have seen them.
And in the German version (which I listen to on CD), I really
hate the Rita Skeeter (Rita Kimmkorn) voice, making the whole
book rather distasteful to me.

I couldn't stand HBP until DH came out.  I had to skip over
some of the chapters because they were so painful to me -
Spinner's End in particular.  I don't dislike it as much now,
as I can see the craft in Snape's words and actions.  I don't
like Snape, unlike many posters here, but I do respect him.

> *Is there a character you find yourself especially fond of now that
> it's all over?  Any pourquoi to add?

I like Neville a lot better now.  He has grown out of his insecurity
into an interesting person.

> *Which character would you just love to follow from here on out if
> you could?  Por que?

I am ever the future-looking reader.  I would love to know what
Albus Severus, Rosie, Hugo, Lily, and even James Sirius get
up to at Hogwarts.

> *Are there chapters or scenes (or whole books) that you skip when you
> (if you) re-read?  Warum?

I still find the hippogriff scene with Draco's injury difficult.  I long
for Hagrid to be aware enough to yell at Draco to pay attention.

I often skip GoF when I re-read or re-listen to the series.  See
reasons above.

> *Are there chapters or scenes (or whole books) that you find yourself
> turning to again and again?  Perche?

I am still pondering the ending of DH, especially the parts when
Harry is mostly alone or on his own.  I am still thinking about how
he managed to put it all together, so I keep going back to any
scene that might have helped him "get" it all.  Yes, I know that
pretty much the whole series is relevant, but I am thinking in
particular about the hallows vs. horcruxes question.

> *Are you surprised at any of your responses?  IOW, is there anything
> about how you feel about the series now that you never expected you'd
> feel?

I am a bit surprised that my views about individual books are
still changing.

Laura W.
-- 
Laura Lynn Walsh    lwalsh at acsalaska.net
http://llwcontemplations.blogspot.com



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