I like your explaination of why Voldemort calls Peter Wormtail
Seriana Sedai Send a noteboard - 17/08/2010 07:49:22 PM
Voldemort: What is he at this point? I mean his shape. How did he get this shape?
Also, Voldemort calls Peter Wormtail, which I find interesting since that is his Marauder name. I imagine Voldemort has seized on it because he knows the memory of the betrayal is painful to Peter, and I also imagine that the unpleasant connotations of the name are much more emphasised when Voldemort uses it than when the Marauders did (pre-betrayal).
Wormtail: Well, he did try to sidetrack Voldemort from Harry. And I find I feel sorry for him. He has a horrible life.
Harry: Already in the second chapter he decides to keep problems to himself rather than share them with his friends. As Legolas pointed out in the last discussion, this isolation of Harry begins already in book 3, but this is the book where it really takes off, I think.
But I am very glad that he has some leverage over the Dursleys. It feels right and lightens these scenes and keep them from being repetitions of earlier ones.
The Dursleys: I like how it is made clear that the Dursleys' coddling of Dudley is not in fact doing him any favours. It lays the ground neatly for Dumbledore's later comment to that effect. It was also one of the main reasons why I thought Snape wasn't a bad guy. I turned out to be wrong about that particular motivation, but I thought his badgering of Harry in Potions was a covert attempt at making Harry excel without seeming to help him (thereby maintaining his cover in case Voldemort should return), and that his overlooking Draco's faults was in fact a conscious disservice. I still suspect that the latter part of that theory is not entirely unlikely, but I have since abandoned the first half.
The Weasleys: I love their attempts at Muggle normalcy (the stamps) -- quite lovely.
Hedwig: Hedwig is really becoming a character. I like that. She has a personality, and I especially like her when confronted by Pig.
Pig: I love him. I want him. It. Whatever.
Also, Voldemort calls Peter Wormtail, which I find interesting since that is his Marauder name. I imagine Voldemort has seized on it because he knows the memory of the betrayal is painful to Peter, and I also imagine that the unpleasant connotations of the name are much more emphasised when Voldemort uses it than when the Marauders did (pre-betrayal).
Wormtail: Well, he did try to sidetrack Voldemort from Harry. And I find I feel sorry for him. He has a horrible life.
Harry: Already in the second chapter he decides to keep problems to himself rather than share them with his friends. As Legolas pointed out in the last discussion, this isolation of Harry begins already in book 3, but this is the book where it really takes off, I think.
But I am very glad that he has some leverage over the Dursleys. It feels right and lightens these scenes and keep them from being repetitions of earlier ones.
The Dursleys: I like how it is made clear that the Dursleys' coddling of Dudley is not in fact doing him any favours. It lays the ground neatly for Dumbledore's later comment to that effect. It was also one of the main reasons why I thought Snape wasn't a bad guy. I turned out to be wrong about that particular motivation, but I thought his badgering of Harry in Potions was a covert attempt at making Harry excel without seeming to help him (thereby maintaining his cover in case Voldemort should return), and that his overlooking Draco's faults was in fact a conscious disservice. I still suspect that the latter part of that theory is not entirely unlikely, but I have since abandoned the first half.
The Weasleys: I love their attempts at Muggle normalcy (the stamps) -- quite lovely.
Hedwig: Hedwig is really becoming a character. I like that. She has a personality, and I especially like her when confronted by Pig.
Pig: I love him. I want him. It. Whatever.
I always wondered why Voldemort would use that name, but as a further extension of his cruelty it makes sense.
It is also great to see someone get through to the Dursleys...of course, we know what Dudley's diet eventually does for him, but it is still a great moment.
I think a big part of Harry's isolation also demonstrates the growing importance of Sirius in his life. He does finally decide to send the letter to Sirius.
Poor Harry. I was sad reading the bit about him almost getting to go live with Sirius and being back with the Dursleys. I don't know why it never affected me before this read, but it really made me sad this time.
You are right about Hedwig too. Now that the Dursleys are afraid of Sirius and Hedwig can be out and about she has more opportunities to show us her personality and she is great.
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
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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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I like your explaination of why Voldemort calls Peter Wormtail
17/08/2010 07:49:22 PM
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
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Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
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Re: Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:41:44 PM
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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
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plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
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Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
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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
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Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
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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
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I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
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Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
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No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
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Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
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Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
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Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
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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
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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
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Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
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Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
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Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
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Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
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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
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I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
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Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
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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
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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
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Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
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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
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Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
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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
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Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
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Lasso comment?
24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
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When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
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Ah. Hehe. Yes.
24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
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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
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Holy crap.
25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
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Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
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Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
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Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
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Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
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I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
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Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
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Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
- 1862 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
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Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
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Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
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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
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That's a good point, yeah...
25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
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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
- 1817 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
- 1771 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
- 1783 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
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Marauder's Map.
05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
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Other comments. *NM*
25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
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Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
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Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
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Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
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Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
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Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
- 978 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
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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
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Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
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Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
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Chapters 31-33: The third task
16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
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Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
- 989 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
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Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
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Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
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Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
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Stuff happens.
27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
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Riddle Family.
05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
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Anything else to add? *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
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Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
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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
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Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
- 930 Views
Revelations and then some
28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
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Any other thoughts? *NM*
28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
- 970 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
- 1930 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
- 1840 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
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I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
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Suggestions for the re-read.
16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
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Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
- 1815 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
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Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
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