Hmmm. What's your favorite *now*?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 182982

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" <susiequsie23 at ...> wrote:
>
> Well, poor Mike thinks he may have killed the list with his last 
> post.  There's been a stunned silence around here for 24 hours now, 
> anyway. ;)
> 
> So I thought I'd break that silence to ask a very mundane sort of 
> question of all y'all.
> 
> 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?
> 
> 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?

Geoff: 
I think my favourite is a close run thing between GOF and POA. Why? 
Because in both of them, the baddie or, in Sirius' case, the presumed 
baddie is unmasked until well towards the end of the book.

I think the winner is GOF by a head. I can remember reading it the first 
time and my surprise when Crouch Junior suddenly pulls a wand on 
Harry in his room after Harry's return.

I have mixed feelings about DH. Some of it, I don't like, but I feel that, 
from "The Prince's Tale" to the end of the book (excluding the epilogue), 
JKR excels herself and the build up and the power of the writing is 
terrific. And I think my favourite piece of all JKR's writing occurs in this 
book - to me sheer magic:

"A red-gold glow burst suddenly across he enchanted sky above them, 
as an edge of dazzling sun appeared over the sill of the nearest window. 
The light hit both of their faces at the same time, so that Voldemort's 
was suddenly a flaming blur. Harry heard the high voice shriek as he, 
too, yelled his best hope to the heavens;"
(DH "The Flaw in the Plan" p.595 UK edition)

Magic. 

It reminds me so much of "The Two Towers":
"Then suddenly upon a ridge appeared a rider, clad in white, shining in 
the rising sun. Over the low hills the horns were sounding. Behind him, 
hastening down the long slopes, were a thousand men on foot; their 
swords were in their hands. Amid them strode a man tall and strong. 
His shield was red. As he came to teh valley's brink, he set to his lips 
a great black horn  and blew a ringing blast.

With the dawn comes hope and an unexpected victory.
(LOTR:TTT "Helm's Deep")

SSS:
> Then, if you're game, how 'bout these:
> *Which is/has become your least favorite book of the series?  Again, 
> can you express why?

G:
I have never liked HBP. The "feel" of the book was different to OOTP which, 
in turn, seemed more claustrophobic than GOF. Some people criticise the 
camping sections in DH as being slow and laborious. In the same way, I 
found the various visits by Harry and Dumbledore and their viewing of 
Pensieve records seemed repetitive.

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

Geoff:
Harry, because I can see so much of myself as a teenager in him. And 
Draco because I still have a soft spot for him. Pourquoi? Parce-que.

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

G: 
The two above.

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

G:
Das erste Kapitel von COS. Dobby's antics make me squirm with 
embarrassment, the Gringotts capture and the Bathilda chapter in DH 
inter alia.

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

G:
The duel between Harry and Voldemort in GOF. The chapters I mentioned 
above in DH.

SSS: 
> *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?

G:
Perhaps the events outlined in the epilogue. As I have said in the past, I 
am not a Ginny fan and do not think she is right for Harry.

My selection of thoughts to add to the mix.

Just one man's views (with apologies to Steve).