Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
Darth_Katie Send a noteboard - 13/07/2010 01:14:01 PM
While her technique isn't bad (look at how she describes Dursley's day in the first chapter, for example -- when she mentions what he doesn't see), her language is at this point very naivistic, almost too simple. It does not flow naturally, and she repeats words too often. This is something that suggests a children's book to me. There are also a couple of phrases, like "he looked simply too big to be allowed" which ring like a child's language (or a grown-up talking to a child, at any rate).
But because she uses this language to point out things that normal children's books wouldn't, it appeals to us as well. The early description of Petunia, for example, is gold. As is Vernon's slow descent into madness.
I forgot how funny it was, the little details about him spreading marmalade on the newspaper and jumping at small noises. And Harry is quite the smartass, I forgot that too.
Yes, I keep being amased that he has kept that while being continually put down and locked in a cupboard. To still be answering back 11 years later when that life is all you can remember is quite a feat.
It really is amazing he turns out as well as he does. Of course, a broken and abused Harry would be a much more depressing hero ...
Insert theme music here.
Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans)
12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM
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Chapters 1-3: Introducing Harry
12/07/2010 08:28:49 AM
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Characterisation *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:02 AM
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My thoughts, such as they are.
12/07/2010 04:09:55 PM
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Re: My thoughts, such as they are. *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:43:49 PM
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Writing style *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:18 AM
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It is very clear it is a children's book at this time
12/07/2010 07:18:14 PM
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Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 04:03:26 AM
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Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 08:54:40 AM
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Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 01:14:01 PM
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Early themes *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:37 AM
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Chapters 4-10: Making Friends at Hogwarts *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:58 AM
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Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:29:38 AM
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I'd forgotten how annoying Hermione was
14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
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Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 04:58:04 PM
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Re: Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 06:13:13 PM
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Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
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Re: Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends.
14/07/2010 04:22:54 PM
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Agree. I loved the instant tension between Harry and Malfoy and with Harry and Snape too.
14/07/2010 05:03:20 PM
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Some thoughts before I run off to the library again
14/07/2010 06:11:45 PM
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It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
26/07/2010 03:08:38 PM
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Re: It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
26/07/2010 03:18:02 PM
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What about the magic?
14/07/2010 08:58:51 AM
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The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 02:13:41 PM
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Re: The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 08:53:08 PM
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I think
14/07/2010 04:34:30 PM
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Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing
14/07/2010 05:11:40 PM
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I really need a remembrall.
14/07/2010 08:57:10 PM
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But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten!
15/07/2010 02:51:47 AM
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Chapters 11-17: Harry the Hero *NM*
12/07/2010 08:30:29 AM
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What'd you think of the ending? *NM*
15/07/2010 05:21:38 PM
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Two separate things:
15/07/2010 07:14:08 PM
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Lovely
15/07/2010 09:00:11 PM
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Haha
15/07/2010 09:16:16 PM
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Re: Haha
15/07/2010 09:24:06 PM
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But I thought all girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice?
15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
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Oh, we are.
15/07/2010 09:35:17 PM
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Honestly, dumbledore is a bit of an ass...
15/07/2010 10:48:32 PM
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The decades of manipulation of a child doesn't bother you, but the House Cup does? *NM*
15/07/2010 11:37:54 PM
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Overall thoughts for the book
12/07/2010 08:31:37 AM
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Foreshadowing and setting up the future
12/07/2010 08:32:10 AM
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Harry's anger management issues?
12/07/2010 07:14:58 PM
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Heh.
12/07/2010 07:40:40 PM
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Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:14:20 PM
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Re: Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:55:32 PM
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I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:22:54 PM
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Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:39:25 PM
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Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:45:32 PM
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On Ginny:
12/07/2010 10:36:47 PM
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This was my interpretation too and why I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. *NM*
13/07/2010 02:53:08 PM
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I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
13/07/2010 04:45:28 AM
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Re: I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
13/07/2010 08:58:10 AM
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So much (chapters 1-3) *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:35:57 PM
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I missed the school roof thing this time around too! Good catch there. *NM*
12/07/2010 09:22:21 PM
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The thing that tipped me off
12/07/2010 09:53:01 PM
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Imagine how easy his test would have been if he remembered he'd done it as a child! *NM*
13/07/2010 03:20:27 PM
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You have to wonder why Hagrid and Dumbledore didn't suspect the truth about Sirius.
26/07/2010 04:04:05 PM
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I re-read a couple weeks ago, and I was highly amused by all the little things she worked in
14/07/2010 04:09:19 AM
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Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 09:18:35 PM
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Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 10:30:23 PM
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I can answer your consistency question!
15/07/2010 02:35:42 AM
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More stuff (chapters 12-17)
15/07/2010 08:55:34 PM
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Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12
17/07/2010 04:23:15 PM
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What made this book (and the rest of the series) such a success?
12/07/2010 08:33:00 AM
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I think it was mostly because it was a simple narrative with an identifiable protagnonist.
13/07/2010 11:59:06 PM
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It has tons of things in it that every kid dreams of doing
14/07/2010 01:56:05 PM
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It's a simple, well-done little book.
12/07/2010 07:46:48 PM
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you don't read instructions, do you?
12/07/2010 07:49:24 PM
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When did you pick up this book?
12/07/2010 11:30:46 PM
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I was 10.
13/07/2010 04:13:44 AM
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Ah book orders...man you just brought back nostalgic memories. I miss being a kid
13/07/2010 04:42:12 AM
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1999
13/07/2010 09:03:03 AM
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What do you mean by adult version?
13/07/2010 02:15:40 PM
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They started publishing copies with 'adult' covers so people wouldn't be caught out reading
13/07/2010 11:53:46 PM
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Got a boxed set for Christmas when Order of the Phoenix came out in hardback.
13/07/2010 03:06:42 PM
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The first five were out, waited for HBP.
14/07/2010 06:20:39 AM
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Very early. Beginning of 1999, so it had just come out in the States. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:54:06 AM
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I held out quite awhile because I don't like "fads"
14/07/2010 02:04:37 PM
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I did the same thing.
15/07/2010 06:39:16 AM
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I would have, if I had known there was hype. I know I would have.
15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
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Aged 13 or 14 - a while before the first movie (which was Christmas 2001). *NM*
26/07/2010 04:13:55 PM
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Jesus Christ.
26/07/2010 05:04:46 PM
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^That was me. *NM*
26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
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Aw. I was just feeling flattered as I didn't think Tor had read that many of my posts. *NM*
27/07/2010 12:15:52 AM
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Suggestions for the Re-read
12/07/2010 08:33:25 AM
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This is my first official time participating and its been fun so far!
14/07/2010 05:16:48 PM
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Unfortunately, no. (Silly me, pretending someone's still going to read all my posts... ) *NM*
26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
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Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death...
15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM
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Because they were tricked? They considered Peter and Sirius to be brothers.
15/07/2010 07:05:27 AM
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That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 01:08:40 AM
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Take it up with Rowling, since you don't believe me. *NM*
16/07/2010 08:19:58 AM
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What's there to believe?
18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM
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Peter + Sirius = family. I don't know how to explain it more simply. *NM*
18/07/2010 08:58:20 AM
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Re: That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 09:37:59 AM
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Also
16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM
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Huh?
18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM
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But Camilla explained it!
18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
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I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM
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Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM
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Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM
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Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM
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That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM
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Re: That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM
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Again...
18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM
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Re: Again...
18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM
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Re: Again...
19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM
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Re: Again...
20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM
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Yet another load of bosh.
21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM
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It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 12:11:20 AM
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Re: It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 09:20:46 AM
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You have to wonder if that's actually true.
26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM
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Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
18/07/2010 07:14:21 PM
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Re: Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
26/07/2010 05:07:48 PM
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^ And this, too, was me.
26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
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