The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Rebekah Send a noteboard - 16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
Hi Rafonauts
It's now time to begin our discussion of the fourth book in JK Rowling's fabulous YA series. There are 37 chapters in this book, so we'll keep to three chapters a day and do the last four together. This works because that last bit is rather tense so it's better not to break it in two! And we're going to include Saturdays this time to fit it all in before I head off up north!
Thus our schedule looks like this: today chapters 1-3, Tuesday 3-6, Wednesday 7-9, Thursday 10-12, Friday 13-15, Saturday 16-18, Monday (23 August) 19-21, Tuesday 22-24, Wednesday 25-27, Thursday 28-30, Friday 31-33 and Saturday 34-37.
I've set up the basic thread below, and will add more questions as the days progress. Feel free to ask your own under the appropriate headings.
Rules:
- Please keep your replies under the sub-threads below. You are welcome to start your own main headings as well.
- Although this is a re-read, it is possible that people haven’t yet read the books and are just reading this to help them decide whether they’re finally going to take the plunge and start the series. Accordingly, please keep spoilers out of subject lines.
- If you’ve got any suggestions for the rest of the re-read then post them in the suggestions thread below.
Have fun!
If this is the first you've seen of our re-read, then why not check out the other threads?
Book One: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Book Two: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
It's now time to begin our discussion of the fourth book in JK Rowling's fabulous YA series. There are 37 chapters in this book, so we'll keep to three chapters a day and do the last four together. This works because that last bit is rather tense so it's better not to break it in two! And we're going to include Saturdays this time to fit it all in before I head off up north!
Thus our schedule looks like this: today chapters 1-3, Tuesday 3-6, Wednesday 7-9, Thursday 10-12, Friday 13-15, Saturday 16-18, Monday (23 August) 19-21, Tuesday 22-24, Wednesday 25-27, Thursday 28-30, Friday 31-33 and Saturday 34-37.
I've set up the basic thread below, and will add more questions as the days progress. Feel free to ask your own under the appropriate headings.

Rules:
- Please keep your replies under the sub-threads below. You are welcome to start your own main headings as well.
- Although this is a re-read, it is possible that people haven’t yet read the books and are just reading this to help them decide whether they’re finally going to take the plunge and start the series. Accordingly, please keep spoilers out of subject lines.
- If you’ve got any suggestions for the rest of the re-read then post them in the suggestions thread below.
Have fun!
If this is the first you've seen of our re-read, then why not check out the other threads?
Book One: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Book Two: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
*MySmiley*
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
This message last edited by Legolas on 14/09/2010 at 06:34:56 PM
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
- 4110 Views
Chapters 1-3: A different beginning
16/08/2010 09:30:26 AM
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Early characters
16/08/2010 09:32:12 AM
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Re: Early characters
16/08/2010 11:02:23 AM
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Early plotting.
16/08/2010 09:32:52 AM
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Re: Early plotting.
16/08/2010 11:02:09 AM
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It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 11:38:14 AM
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Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 11:47:16 AM
- 2005 Views
Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 12:16:16 PM
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Re: It's the things behind the scenes setting up the big plan (spoilers for this and later books)
16/08/2010 12:36:30 PM
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Re: Early plotting.
17/08/2010 01:15:43 AM
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Any other comments/observations
16/08/2010 09:33:34 AM
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Mob mentality and British euroscepticism.
16/08/2010 10:37:10 AM
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people in groups and baffling violence. And the godawful recaps
16/08/2010 11:03:09 AM
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Yeah, I agree about the recaps, they're pointless at this point. *NM*
16/08/2010 11:17:37 AM
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Good news! HP really caught on after this book and so the last books don't have a recap! *NM*
16/08/2010 03:27:24 PM
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Chapters 4-6 - The Weasleys
16/08/2010 09:33:57 AM
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Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 08:22:33 AM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 11:07:43 AM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
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Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
17/08/2010 12:44:19 PM
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Re: Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
17/08/2010 12:47:29 PM
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Oh, I can think of a few more things that will prove relevant. But that's for tomorrow.
*NM*
17/08/2010 12:51:50 PM
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And arguably another one of those fun names with a hidden meaning...
17/08/2010 07:47:43 PM
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Plotting - anything of note?
17/08/2010 08:23:53 AM
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Re: Plotting - anything of note?
17/08/2010 11:10:22 AM
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The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
17/08/2010 12:29:50 PM
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Re: The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
17/08/2010 12:38:09 PM
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I thought that might be it. Yeah, different names in the Dutch translation then. *NM*
17/08/2010 12:40:45 PM
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Any other comments/observations.
17/08/2010 08:24:20 AM
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Chapters 7-9 - The Quidditch World Cup and Death Eaters
16/08/2010 09:34:26 AM
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Characters: Ministers, Mothers, other important people.
18/08/2010 12:44:16 AM
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Plotting
18/08/2010 12:44:48 AM
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Other stuff.
18/08/2010 12:45:13 AM
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Krum Catching the Snitch
18/08/2010 02:28:58 AM
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It makes a certain amount of sense, I think...
18/08/2010 01:23:46 PM
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Clothes and other schools
18/08/2010 09:44:02 AM
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There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
18/08/2010 01:37:14 PM
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Re: There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
18/08/2010 01:45:58 PM
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Chapters 10-12: Back to Hogwarts and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. *NM*
16/08/2010 09:34:48 AM
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Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. *NM*
19/08/2010 11:21:29 AM
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Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
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Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
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There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
19/08/2010 04:23:16 PM
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Re: There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
19/08/2010 05:41:04 PM
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Chapters 13-15: First lessons, and the arrival of the foreign guests *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:09 AM
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Characters: The Trio, Neville, Moody, first impressions of Karkarov and Maxime *NM*
20/08/2010 11:49:04 AM
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Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 12:59:41 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:10:03 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:20:22 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:33:04 PM
- 1867 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
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Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
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Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
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Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 02:04:07 PM
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Anything else to add? *NM*
20/08/2010 11:52:05 AM
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Yes. Five things, actually. Magic, Snape, idiocy, apparating while presumed guilty aaand evil films.
20/08/2010 01:05:06 PM
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Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
20/08/2010 01:46:09 PM
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Chapters 16-18: The Tri-Wizard Tournament begins *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:31 AM
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Characters: The Champions, Hagrid, Karkarov, and of course Rita Skeeter in person *NM*
21/08/2010 01:10:53 PM
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Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 01:50:12 PM
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:24:02 PM
- 1889 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
- 1862 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
- 2144 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
- 1889 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
- 2069 Views
Re: Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:41:44 PM
- 1939 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
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Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
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Definitely true
23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
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Re: Definitely true
24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
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Plotting and writing.
21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
- 2175 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
- 1907 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
- 1003 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
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Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
- 2011 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
- 2118 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
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Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
- 2117 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
- 1948 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
- 1823 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
- 1802 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
- 2162 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
- 1741 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
- 1901 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
- 1929 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
- 998 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
- 1858 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
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Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
- 1969 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
- 2155 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
- 1804 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
- 1949 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
- 1019 Views
Good plotting in this section
23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
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Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
- 978 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
- 914 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
- 900 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
- 2059 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
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Makes sense.
24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
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Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
- 1853 Views

Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
- 1950 Views

Plotting and writing: a bit of a lull in the tension, perhaps, but there's still a lot going on. *NM*
24/08/2010 11:11:49 AM
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Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
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Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
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Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
- 1066 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
- 2027 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
- 1912 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
- 1980 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
- 1924 Views
Lasso comment?
24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 1921 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
- 1918 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
- 2000 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
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Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
- 1952 Views
Holy crap.
25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
- 1863 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
- 1994 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
- 1897 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
- 948 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
- 1830 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
- 2080 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
- 1862 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
- 1947 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
- 1760 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
- 1906 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
- 1001 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
- 1937 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
- 1957 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
- 1849 Views
Maybe they should have had a magical big screen projection of what was going on in the lake lol
25/08/2010 03:57:48 PM
- 1901 Views
Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
25/08/2010 05:23:30 PM
- 1890 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
25/08/2010 05:40:39 PM
- 1961 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
25/08/2010 05:42:52 PM
- 1862 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
26/08/2010 11:09:20 AM
- 1860 Views
Re: Lots of stuff -- I may have to change my opinion of Rowling's plotting in this book.
26/08/2010 11:17:36 AM
- 2010 Views
Marauder's Map.
05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
- 1901 Views
Other comments. *NM*
25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
- 980 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
- 1957 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
- 1923 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
- 2033 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
- 926 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
- 1016 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
- 1909 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
- 986 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
- 1920 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
- 2146 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
- 1955 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
- 1841 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
- 1024 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
- 1812 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
- 1805 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
- 1870 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
- 991 Views
Stuff happens.
27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
- 1845 Views
Riddle Family.
05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
- 1862 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
- 978 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
- 965 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
- 995 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
- 1936 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
- 965 Views
Revelations and then some
28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
- 1889 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
- 1013 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
- 2016 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
- 1910 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
- 1941 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
- 2003 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
- 2052 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
- 1894 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
- 2193 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
- 2146 Views