Hmmm. What's your favorite *now*?

[Jerri/Dan Chase]

No: HPFGUIDX 182977

Siriusly Snapey Susan, asked some questions:
>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?

All of the books have good points and bad, but I really fell in love 
with the series with PoA, and I still find it to be a masterful piece 
of plotting, misdirection and EXPLAINATION at the end.  Yes, there are 
plot holes and inconsistencies, in light of the entire series as a 
whole.  But finishing it leaves me with a feeling of satisfaction. 
(Especially if I don't think about what is to come to characters, 
especially Lupin.)

>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?

I don't think it has changes, and I explained above.

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

DH.  Not enough explanation or consistency etc. as previously 
discussed in pervious posts.

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

Neville.  And his grandmother.  I had not liked her in earlier books, 
but in DH she did come through like a trouper.  I loved it when she 
appeared out of the tunnel toward the end of DH and what we heard 
about her from Neville in DH.

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

Tonks's mother, who has lost husband and (apparently) only child, and 
has a grandchild to raise.  How does she deal with her losses and 
assume her responsibility without being bitter?  I assume/hope that 
she will be more understanding of Teddy than Neville's grandmother 
seemed to be prior to DH.  Lots of others as well.  Mostly, I would 
like more back story about various characters.

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

There are lots of parts of OoP which now seem without purpose. 
Hagrid's story, some of the rooms at the MoM, etc.

>*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?

Until I read DH I had never expected to feel so let down.  And I am 
also surprised that I can't just let go either.  I have just about 
finished listening to GoF, and listening to the detailed explanations 
makes me understand why I was able to enjoy GoF in spite of things 
like "what was the audience doing during task 2 and 3" and "WHY can't 
quidditch continue", and "Why didn't FakeMoody just turn something in 
his office into a port key and send Harry away long before the task 
ended", etc.  And it was the wonderfully detailed explanations at the 
end.  Lord V. explains to Wormtail, the death eaters and Harry, Barty 
C. Jr. explains, Winky adds some explanation, DD explains, Hermione 
explains Rita, the Twins explain Bagman, etc.  There is so much 
explanation of so many of the issues that the mind doesn't easily 
remember the other issues that were not explained.

Which brings us back to DH.  Yes, we have some explanations prior to 
the final confrontation, but after that just a few pages and the 
epilogue.  Every other book in the series has lots of post-action 
explanations.  DH doesn't, and that is probably the main reason I like 
it least, in spite of some very good parts in it, to go back to an 
earlier question.

Jerri