Mr Weasley: I love, love, love the man. His collection of batteries and plugs. And his shocked reaction to the Dursleys' treatment of Harry as he leaves. Very endearing. It is very sad that Vernon interprets it as a threat. The whole point is that it is not. Mr Weasley is speaking out because he is shocked at another adult's actions, not attempting to force that adult to do something.
I suppose that speaks volumes to the difference between the two men. But it is also another reminder of the massive threat magic poses to the Dursleys. Not merely in the "oh, my, don't show the neighbours, they'll think we're freaks" sense, but in that they have no way of defending themselves against it -- if a wizard wants to make them do something they are entirely powerless.
The twins and Dudley: I always keep in the back of my mind the future Dudley v Dementor moment, and it struck me that his absolute terror and powerlessness in the face of magic could have something to do with it. The Hagrid moment in book one clearly still has a major effect (possibly not only because he got a tail out of it, but because of the unpredictablesness of magic -- he cannot predict what the retaliation to what he considers common actions will be.
And the twins' trick cannot have helped matters. I feel quite sorry for him. It is very bad of Fred and George. They are usually quite able to put themselves in someone else's position, but they fail utterly to imagine the horror of a muggle faced with a magical prank toffee. A wizard's reaction to the toffee would be very different simply in that he would know that it could be fixed -- he would have the conceptual apparatus to recognise it as an engorgement charm, for example. It would not be a life-threatening sudden and inexplicable swelling of the tongue.
I can see why Mr Weasley is angry. It also feels a little out of character for the twins. But I suppose the core of it is that they have heard so many horrible things about Dudley from Harry, and that they consider it very different to do something to someone because you have power and they do not than because he is a bully (powerful and abusing that power) and deserves a taste of his own medicine.
Percy: His unhealthy tendency to attach himself to people in authority is showing up. First Mr Crouch, later Fudge. I also like (well, maybe like is the wrong word) how he copies the language of the people above him, repeating "office talk" in entirely the wrong setting. It is rather reminiscent of how Draco acted in the first scene in the shop.
Amos Diggory: His way of acting towards his son reminds me of the Dursleys, but Cedric has still managed to become an upstanding gentleman. Perhaps his mother is more sensible?
I suppose that speaks volumes to the difference between the two men. But it is also another reminder of the massive threat magic poses to the Dursleys. Not merely in the "oh, my, don't show the neighbours, they'll think we're freaks" sense, but in that they have no way of defending themselves against it -- if a wizard wants to make them do something they are entirely powerless.
The twins and Dudley: I always keep in the back of my mind the future Dudley v Dementor moment, and it struck me that his absolute terror and powerlessness in the face of magic could have something to do with it. The Hagrid moment in book one clearly still has a major effect (possibly not only because he got a tail out of it, but because of the unpredictablesness of magic -- he cannot predict what the retaliation to what he considers common actions will be.
And the twins' trick cannot have helped matters. I feel quite sorry for him. It is very bad of Fred and George. They are usually quite able to put themselves in someone else's position, but they fail utterly to imagine the horror of a muggle faced with a magical prank toffee. A wizard's reaction to the toffee would be very different simply in that he would know that it could be fixed -- he would have the conceptual apparatus to recognise it as an engorgement charm, for example. It would not be a life-threatening sudden and inexplicable swelling of the tongue.
I can see why Mr Weasley is angry. It also feels a little out of character for the twins. But I suppose the core of it is that they have heard so many horrible things about Dudley from Harry, and that they consider it very different to do something to someone because you have power and they do not than because he is a bully (powerful and abusing that power) and deserves a taste of his own medicine.
Percy: His unhealthy tendency to attach himself to people in authority is showing up. First Mr Crouch, later Fudge. I also like (well, maybe like is the wrong word) how he copies the language of the people above him, repeating "office talk" in entirely the wrong setting. It is rather reminiscent of how Draco acted in the first scene in the shop.
Amos Diggory: His way of acting towards his son reminds me of the Dursleys, but Cedric has still managed to become an upstanding gentleman. Perhaps his mother is more sensible?
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
- 4027 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
- 1932 Views
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
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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 12:16:16 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
- 1019 Views
Chapters 4-6 - The Weasleys
16/08/2010 09:33:57 AM
- 1806 Views
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
- 1872 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
- 1846 Views
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
- 967 Views
Any other comments/observations.
17/08/2010 08:24:20 AM
- 1879 Views
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
- 1770 Views
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
- 1825 Views
Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
- 976 Views
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
- 1789 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
- 1768 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
- 963 Views
Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
- 1801 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
- 1950 Views
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
- 854 Views
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
- 1835 Views
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
- 974 Views
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
- 1819 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
- 1784 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
- 2065 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
- 1808 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
- 1956 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
- 1894 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
- 1774 Views
Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
- 1954 Views
Definitely true
23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
- 2025 Views
Re: Definitely true
24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
- 2082 Views
Plotting and writing.
21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
- 2091 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
- 1828 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
- 966 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
- 2104 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
- 1932 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
- 2040 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
- 2000 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
- 2038 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
- 1880 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
- 1747 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
- 1717 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
- 2090 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
- 1659 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
- 1818 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
- 1846 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
- 966 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
- 1786 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
- 1800 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
- 1893 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
- 2082 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
- 1726 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
- 1878 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
- 979 Views
Good plotting in this section
23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
- 1892 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
- 939 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
- 873 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
- 858 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
- 1987 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
- 2069 Views
Makes sense.
24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
- 1779 Views
Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
- 1776 Views
Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
- 1880 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
- 1027 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
- 1976 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
- 1798 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
- 1029 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
- 1952 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
- 1842 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
- 1901 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
- 1845 Views
Lasso comment?
24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 1851 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
- 1850 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
- 1926 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
- 2000 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
- 1879 Views
Holy crap.
25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
- 1792 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
- 1925 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
- 1823 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
- 918 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
- 1755 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
- 1999 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
- 1785 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
- 1863 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
- 1689 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
- 1816 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
- 967 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
- 1873 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
- 1875 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
- 1768 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
- 1825 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
- 1818 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
- 1883 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
- 1772 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
- 1784 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
- 1929 Views
Marauder's Map.
05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
- 1820 Views
Other comments. *NM*
25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
- 944 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
- 1885 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
- 1850 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
- 1962 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
- 895 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
- 979 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
- 1834 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
- 949 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
- 1842 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
- 2067 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
- 1880 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
- 1769 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
- 990 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
- 1737 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
- 1730 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
- 1796 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
- 952 Views
Stuff happens.
27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
- 1777 Views
Riddle Family.
05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
- 1794 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
- 940 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
- 933 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
- 955 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
- 1862 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
- 931 Views
Revelations and then some
28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
- 1816 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
- 971 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
- 1931 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
- 1841 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
- 1855 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
- 1928 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
- 1979 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
- 1816 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
- 2087 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
- 2064 Views