Hagrid:
the more I think about it, the more problematic the first introduction of him is. Primarily turning Dudley into a pig. That is what Death Eaters do. It is funny in the context, because the Dursleys are at that point set up as the baddies who deserver to be put down, but in the wider context of the later books it is deeply problematic. Especially as he punishes Dudley, not Vernon for Vernon's provocation.
That said, his division of the world is clearly people he respects vs people he doesn't, and that dictates his actions. But I still find that first meeting a little off key, considering.
I never really gave much thought to Hagrid's actions when he met the Dursleys. Probably because I disliked them so much and I found the whole pig tail pretty funny. But you make a really good point. Hagrid is one of the "good" guys and picking on muggles is a favorite past time of the death-eaters. I think it just shows the gray scale of the characters. The "good" guys aren't always good and the "bad" guys aren't always bad. I really like it when authors characters have that depth because it makes them more real. Not so one-dimensional. And at least his heart was in the right place. Standing up for Harry and not just because he can.
Draco:
The comparison to Dudley sets him up as distasteful. But it is strange to see how everything he says in the first meeting is so clearly just a repetition of what he has heard from others (his father, mainly, I suppose). He is saying "the right thing" based on the circles he is used to, and does not seem aware that it is not on outside of that circle. He is trying to bond with Harry and is rejected.
And then he is rejected again in the train, while his lackeys are standing by. Like what she does with Dumbledore, Rowling gives the character first, then the background information: Ron only tells us Draco's family is Bad after Draco has shown himself to be bad, or at least contemptible, on his own.
The Weasleys:
That really is Rowling at her best. She gives such a wonderfully vivid snapshot of that family. They are nice, poor, happy, with a bustling, fussy mother, a shy sister, twins who play practical jokes and the stuck up Percy (how did he get into Gryffindor? Talk about not living up to his potential). And then Ron's description of his brothers serves not only to gives us the Weasley brothers in a nutshell, but also defines him as a character for … well, most of the books, really.
I know. Percy should have been in Hufflepuff.
Dumbledore:
I like what Rowling did with the chocolate frog cards. We have already met Dumbledore, of course, but all we have are his character (eccentric, fan of weird candy, wise old man) -- here are his credentials. And I like how Grindewald is introduced this early, considering his importance to the last book. It reinforces the eccentricities in mentioning his enjoyment of chamber music (fairly normal) and tenpin baling (not so much?). The chocolate frog card is really quite well packed. The first time I read the book I was impressed that she had introduced Nicholas Flamel that early (my expectations were low), but now I am even more impressed.
And then there is Dumbledore's speech in the first banquet. It is glorious. "Before we begin the banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
Dumbledore's speeches are awesome!
Hermione:
I would say I love her if that wouldn't be tantamount to saying I love me as a child. She has all the bad habits that I have (had? maybe?) when insecure: make sure everyone knows you have read everything. She is so insecure in the beginning, and like Draco she reacts by pretending to have complete control. I haven't noticed that similarity between the two, before. Of course their ways of pretending to have control are what separates them.
She gets a little insufferable there for a while, but it is all good. "killed -- or worse, expelled". But the mountain troll episode redeems her (yes, I am stating the obvious today).
I had a soft spot for Hermione from the beginning. Even when she was being obnoxiously smart. I could relate to her too, I guess.
I love Ollivander.
Neville:
Poor Neville. He is just plain pathetic in the beginning. Of course, that is what makes him so brilliantly wonderful later on. Why does he love that toad? Does it have a significance that I have forgotten? Or does he just fear his grandmother?
Scabbers:
It is uncharacteristic of Pettigrew to show courage. I am wondering why he bit Goyle. Do we ever get to know? I suppose it might be some resentment because he has to hide as a rat while other ex-Death Eaters' children get to bully people and eat chocolate.
Pettigrew is a coward but he does have some self-preservation skills or he wouldn't have been alive that long. So I think he was just afraid Goyle would squish him.
Snape:
So sinister. I like how Rowling makes use of our assumption that correlation implies causation in order to make Snape scary from the beginning (the pain in the scar just as he looks at Harry). And then the potions class…
The first time I read it, I swallowed the red herring whole (yes, I mixed the expressions on purpose). I was so sure he was the bad guy… But once that was disproved, I never believed Snape was evil again.
McGonnagall:
Her character is really only drawn when she reacts to Harry's flying without permission. Before that she is very two-dimensional: strict teacher who expects the rules to be followed. Suddenly she is revealed as someone who is able to prioritise. This is (and her lack of being Evil) is what sets her apart from Umbridge later on.
Wood:
Ok, he is two-dimensional, but I don't care. His enthusiasm for Quidditch is the only reason I care about the game.
Filch:
The more I think about it, the more I must say I am impressed with him. He has no magic ability, yet he works in that school which is full of magical students who hate him with a passion. Never mind the scary things that show up later.
Hogwarts:
I feel the school itself should be mentioned if we are talking about characterisation. It is clearly a living thing with quirks of its own. Especially in the beginning of chapter eight, but it keeps propping up throughout (ending with the Room of Requirement later on).
Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans)
12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM
- 3021 Views
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
- 881 Views
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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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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Good points
14/07/2010 08:45:56 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
- 1342 Views
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
- 742 Views
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
- 1509 Views
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
- 820 Views
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
- 1429 Views
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
- 1563 Views
Unfortunately, no. (Silly me, pretending someone's still going to read all my posts... ) *NM*
26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 998 Views
Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death...
15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM
- 1957 Views
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
- 897 Views
What's there to believe?
18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM
- 1616 Views
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
- 1733 Views
Also
16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM
- 1962 Views
Huh?
18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM
- 1536 Views
But Camilla explained it!
18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
- 1856 Views
I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM
- 1551 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM
- 1564 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM
- 1871 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM
- 1568 Views
That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM
- 1630 Views
Re: That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM
- 1481 Views
Again...
18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM
- 1803 Views
Re: Again...
18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM
- 1587 Views
Re: Again...
19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM
- 1784 Views
Re: Again...
20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM
- 1603 Views
Yet another load of bosh.
21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM
- 1591 Views
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
- 1500 Views
You have to wonder if that's actually true.
26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM
- 1569 Views
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
- 1884 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
- 1599 Views