Hmmm. What's your favorite *now*?

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 182972

Potioncat:
Well, Mike, you've topped me. I've brought countless threads to a 
screaching halt, but never the entire list!

But that was such a good post, I think everyone was laughing too hard 
to write.
>
> SSSusan asked: 
> > 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?
Potioncat:
My first reaction was that I don't have a favorite one. But perhaps 
it would be SS/PS because it was the first. Then as I read other 
posts I began to agree "yeah, PoA, that's it." "No, no, I mean HBP 
and for all those reasons." "No, wait, OoP was good too."

So I'll stick with my first reaction, I don't really have a favorite 
book. It's hard to evaluate HP as simply books in a series. We have 
dicussed them so much and brought so much more to the table, that for 
me, HP is an experience. So I have a number of favorite moments that 
were either a pleasure to read and "get" on my own, or to have 
dicussed and experienced with the group.
 
 
> SSSusan asked:
> > Then, if you're game, how 'bout these:
> > *Which is/has become your least favorite book of the series?  
> > Again, can you express why?
> 
Potioncat:
Again my first reaction was to say DH beause that book ended it all. 
(In more ways than one.) I didn't enjoy a lot of DH...I mean, who 
could say they enjoyed reading about Regulus and the Lake, or Nagini 
anytime--but DH also had lots to like. So I'll remain consistent--
just this once---and say I don't have a least favorite.
> 
> 
> SSSusan asked:
> > *Is there a character you find yourself especially fond of now 
that 
> > it's all over?  Pourquoi?

Potioncat:
Dumbledore. I don't think that's very popular either. But after DH, 
earlier moments made so much sense. His background was such a 
surprise and his reasons for trying to do the right thing even when 
he wasn't going about it in the right way...I don't know, I just see 
him differently.
 
> SSSusan asked:
> > *Which character would you just love to follow from here on out 
if you could?  Por que?

Potioncat:

Well, I would have liked to follow Snape, but since I can't--

Interestingly, I think Minerva McGonagall.  She's always been a 
favorite, and I just find myself thinking about her, missing her wit, 
appreciating her overall fairness, pondering her strength & her style.

No, wait, SSSusan said that, I'm just repeating it. I would like to 
see what happens after the battle. How she pulls it all together. I 
imagine she is the next Head of Hogwarts. I'd like to hear her 
thoughts about DD and Snape. And I bet she's so mad at them for never 
confiding in her, that she never ever speaks to either of their 
portraits. 

 
> SSSusan asked:
> > *Are there chapters or scenes (or whole books) that you skip when 
> > you (if you) re-read?  Warum?
> > *Are there chapters or scenes (or whole books) that you find 
> > yourself turning to again and again?  Perche?

Potioncat:
I haven't re-read any of the books since DH. I've decided to wait a 
while before starting them again. It's all too new. I am only in the 
second read of DH. I'm reading it with my son and we haven't even 
finished it! I did go back and re-read some chapters in DH for 
myself, more for a cooler-headed look at them.

 
> SSSusan asked:
> > *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?

Potioncat:
I was surprised at how sad I was at the end. Even the sugary epilogue 
didn't help. Things had gotten so dark before the end. I guess, goofy 
person that I am, that I went into mourning.


  
>SSSusan: 
> I think I was surprised, though, how hard it was for me to move on 
to 
> other books.  Also disappointed how little there was to say 
> afterwards.  There WERE things to say -- but it didn't take so long 
> to do it... and there was no more wacky and sometimes hilarious 
> postulating going on... and there was difficulty at times for those 
> who strongly disliked and those who strongly liked the series, 
being 
> together.  That part didn't totally surprise me, but it was hard to 
> have anticipated how all of that would feel.

Potioncat:
Me too. I think it was Carol who referred to this as like a family. 
It's hard to give this experience up, and I miss the ones who already 
dropped out. I think I'll still be popping in until the lights go 
out. Unless of course we can something else to talk about.

Hmmm, I wonder how long before JKR's next book?