If I could get through these books while "Deathly Hallows, Part 2" is still in the theater, I will be able to count myself as part of the final tally. But I'm not betting on it.
If you haven't seen this movie, my daughters say it is the best of the lot. And they recommend taking a box of tissues. Here's a story on the record-breaking weekend that took down Batman.
Monday, July 18, 2011
The postman rings twice
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapter 9
He got off, he did
Harry Potter is going to Hogwarts
More trouble ahead
So much to celebrate at the House of Black. The decontamination, of course, is forging ahead. Sounds like they could get some EPA galleons as a Superfund site, or, at the least, some hazmat suits.
There was little time to celebrate Harry’s innocence. The unexpected prefect news brought great joy to the Weasley household, and some humor from the underachieving twins. I’m not a big fan of Ron, but I agree that it was nice for him to catch a break. Yeah, he’s a good friend to Harry, but he does complain and whine and sulk quite often.
Hermione’s selection was certainly not surprising. She will be the perfect prefect. At least that’s what’s expected.
I’m wondering what being prefects will mean for Ron and Hermione. Will they be able to help Harry when helping Harry requires breaking a rule? Or maybe this is part of the Order’s plan. While they won’t tell state secrets, they have to know that our three amigos will somehow get involved, and having prefect badges might come in handy. After all, one of V’s top priorities is killing Harry. V has to save what face he has.
Meanwhile, Harry is working out his priorities. It’s good that he has realized that he “don’t need no stinking badges.”
He got off, he did
Harry Potter is going to Hogwarts
More trouble ahead
So much to celebrate at the House of Black. The decontamination, of course, is forging ahead. Sounds like they could get some EPA galleons as a Superfund site, or, at the least, some hazmat suits.
There was little time to celebrate Harry’s innocence. The unexpected prefect news brought great joy to the Weasley household, and some humor from the underachieving twins. I’m not a big fan of Ron, but I agree that it was nice for him to catch a break. Yeah, he’s a good friend to Harry, but he does complain and whine and sulk quite often.
Hermione’s selection was certainly not surprising. She will be the perfect prefect. At least that’s what’s expected.
I’m wondering what being prefects will mean for Ron and Hermione. Will they be able to help Harry when helping Harry requires breaking a rule? Or maybe this is part of the Order’s plan. While they won’t tell state secrets, they have to know that our three amigos will somehow get involved, and having prefect badges might come in handy. After all, one of V’s top priorities is killing Harry. V has to save what face he has.
Meanwhile, Harry is working out his priorities. It’s good that he has realized that he “don’t need no stinking badges.”
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Reading the book, not going to the movie
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapters 6, 7 and 8
I just dropped off my three daughters at the theater for the midnight showing of "The Deathly Hallows, Part 2." I was hoping to be all the way through the books so that I could watch with them, but I've been under a non-reading spell lately. I had to drop them off early because of the long line. I thought about just having them apparate there and back to save me the two trips, but I looked on my iPad and there wasn't an app for that.
It has been my practice to write about each chapter, but I am leaving that path at least for this post. These three chapters could have been one long one leading up to Harry's hearing.
We learned lots about the House of Black how lots of magic people are related. All very interesting, but not much action other than Fred and George apparating and the cleaning of doxies out of the curtains.
Then we get a tour of the Ministry of Magic in the next chapter. I kept wondering what floor the sporting goods were on.
The hearing was peculiar. Fudge, of course, trying to keep the Voldemort thing quiet tried his best to run a kangaroo court and convict Harry. But Dumbledore is about 10 times smarter than Fudge, and the other members of the Wizengamot were obviously not intimidated by Fudge.
So Harry is free to return to Hogwarts and see what kind of trouble he can get into. Not sure what kind of showdown is coming with Voldemort or his minions in this book, but I'll keep trying to push ahead this next couple weeks and finish it up.
Meanwhile, I need to rest up to go get the moviegoers who are undoubtedly witnessing the magic world's version of "The Gunfight at the OK Corral."
I just dropped off my three daughters at the theater for the midnight showing of "The Deathly Hallows, Part 2." I was hoping to be all the way through the books so that I could watch with them, but I've been under a non-reading spell lately. I had to drop them off early because of the long line. I thought about just having them apparate there and back to save me the two trips, but I looked on my iPad and there wasn't an app for that.
It has been my practice to write about each chapter, but I am leaving that path at least for this post. These three chapters could have been one long one leading up to Harry's hearing.
We learned lots about the House of Black how lots of magic people are related. All very interesting, but not much action other than Fred and George apparating and the cleaning of doxies out of the curtains.
Then we get a tour of the Ministry of Magic in the next chapter. I kept wondering what floor the sporting goods were on.
The hearing was peculiar. Fudge, of course, trying to keep the Voldemort thing quiet tried his best to run a kangaroo court and convict Harry. But Dumbledore is about 10 times smarter than Fudge, and the other members of the Wizengamot were obviously not intimidated by Fudge.
So Harry is free to return to Hogwarts and see what kind of trouble he can get into. Not sure what kind of showdown is coming with Voldemort or his minions in this book, but I'll keep trying to push ahead this next couple weeks and finish it up.
Meanwhile, I need to rest up to go get the moviegoers who are undoubtedly witnessing the magic world's version of "The Gunfight at the OK Corral."
Friday, June 3, 2011
After-dinner ghost stories
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapter 5
The meeting wasn't official
But Harry got the scoop on V
Danger surely lies ahead
I'm with Harry on this one. Make him a member of the OOTP. There is no doubt an egomaniac like Voldemort will devise a new way to finally kill the boy. What better way to stop Voldemort than to have Harry in the inner circle.
But what do I know? I'm just a muggle.
This little after-dinner chat has served to catch us up on what the OOTP and V have been up to for the past month while Harry has narrowly survived his Privet Drive sentence. Lots of peaking around corners, slithering up dark alleys, looking through keyholes, apparating to and fro and wand waving is sure to carry us through this 870-page book (I'm only on page 98).
Dumbledore appears to be firmly in control of the OOTP. And as strange things begin to happen, it seems that the OOTP will be able to convert more to their side.
Still, what was said about V trying to stay under the radar might keep this war from being front-page news. I think it will be more fun if the story continues to be one clandestine operation after another.
So let's all keep this to ourselves.
The meeting wasn't official
But Harry got the scoop on V
Danger surely lies ahead
I'm with Harry on this one. Make him a member of the OOTP. There is no doubt an egomaniac like Voldemort will devise a new way to finally kill the boy. What better way to stop Voldemort than to have Harry in the inner circle.
But what do I know? I'm just a muggle.
This little after-dinner chat has served to catch us up on what the OOTP and V have been up to for the past month while Harry has narrowly survived his Privet Drive sentence. Lots of peaking around corners, slithering up dark alleys, looking through keyholes, apparating to and fro and wand waving is sure to carry us through this 870-page book (I'm only on page 98).
Dumbledore appears to be firmly in control of the OOTP. And as strange things begin to happen, it seems that the OOTP will be able to convert more to their side.
Still, what was said about V trying to stay under the radar might keep this war from being front-page news. I think it will be more fun if the story continues to be one clandestine operation after another.
So let's all keep this to ourselves.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
QUIET PLEASE ... DON'T WANT TO WAKE THE PAINTINGS
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapter 4
I suppose Harry has cause for being angry. He has proven he can take care of himself. A bit of explanation about how the summer would go, etc., would have been in order from Dumbledore. Alas, it didn't happen that way and Harry got to speak in ALL CAPS. (By the way, when you get an email or text in ALL CAPS does it feel like the sender is shouting at you?)
So Harry's ANGRY and the Order of the Phoenix is meeting in this rather odd safe house that apparently hasn't been used since the last time Voldemort was on the loose. Funny how others still shudder at the mention of that name.
Percy's allegiance to all things Ministry isn't surprising. He goes where the prestige is and where his ambition will pay off. If the Order of the Phoenix ever gets to work above ground, his tune will change.
Now that Harry is reunited with Sirius, will his tune change as well? OR WILL HE STAY ANGRY AT DUMBLEDORE?
Sorry for the long break since my last post, BUT I'M TRYING.
I suppose Harry has cause for being angry. He has proven he can take care of himself. A bit of explanation about how the summer would go, etc., would have been in order from Dumbledore. Alas, it didn't happen that way and Harry got to speak in ALL CAPS. (By the way, when you get an email or text in ALL CAPS does it feel like the sender is shouting at you?)
So Harry's ANGRY and the Order of the Phoenix is meeting in this rather odd safe house that apparently hasn't been used since the last time Voldemort was on the loose. Funny how others still shudder at the mention of that name.
Percy's allegiance to all things Ministry isn't surprising. He goes where the prestige is and where his ambition will pay off. If the Order of the Phoenix ever gets to work above ground, his tune will change.
Now that Harry is reunited with Sirius, will his tune change as well? OR WILL HE STAY ANGRY AT DUMBLEDORE?
Sorry for the long break since my last post, BUT I'M TRYING.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Have broom, will travel
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapter 3
A chapter with another good-bye to the dreaded Dursleys and a slew of new characters with more funny names.
Except for Kingsley Shacklebolt ... let that name run through your mind in a British accent. It's what all British names should be made of. Can't you just hear the queen saying, "Kingsley dear, do pour me another cup of tea."
Smashing.
I do say it was interesting to meet the real Alastor Moody. This Mad-Eye acts a lot more like the Mad-Eye that was described in Goblet of Fire. This one is way more paranoid, eccentric and irritable. Tonks (I promise not to call her Nymphadora) is apparently along for the ride to provide balance to Mad-Eye. And Lupin is there to make Harry feel comfortable.
Note to self: If you are ever invited on a night-time broom ride, wear a coat, gloves and a ski mask.
This story might be getting a little TV-crime-drama-like with Harry being taken to a safe house in a London slum. I guess I will soon find out who and what this secret society called the Order of the Phoenix is.
Maybe they are about to rise again.
A chapter with another good-bye to the dreaded Dursleys and a slew of new characters with more funny names.
Except for Kingsley Shacklebolt ... let that name run through your mind in a British accent. It's what all British names should be made of. Can't you just hear the queen saying, "Kingsley dear, do pour me another cup of tea."
Smashing.
I do say it was interesting to meet the real Alastor Moody. This Mad-Eye acts a lot more like the Mad-Eye that was described in Goblet of Fire. This one is way more paranoid, eccentric and irritable. Tonks (I promise not to call her Nymphadora) is apparently along for the ride to provide balance to Mad-Eye. And Lupin is there to make Harry feel comfortable.
Note to self: If you are ever invited on a night-time broom ride, wear a coat, gloves and a ski mask.
This story might be getting a little TV-crime-drama-like with Harry being taken to a safe house in a London slum. I guess I will soon find out who and what this secret society called the Order of the Phoenix is.
Maybe they are about to rise again.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Not much private on Privet anymore
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapter 2
I couldn't remember what a Squib was so I Googled it. How crazy is it that I found a wiki that had the definition and an entire entry devoted to what a Squib is. I would say it's ridiculous for people to put this much work into fictional characters, but then look at me. I'm pretty sure some people think I'm crazy, and more would if they knew about this little blog.
"A Squib is someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn’t got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards, but Squibs are quite unusual."
— Ron Weasley discussing Argus Filch
And I thought a squib was when you bounce a kickoff along the ground to prevent the dangerous return man from making a big play. Anyway, I'm sure we'll see more of Mrs. Figg if she doesn't get thrown into Azkaban for murder.
This episode of the Dursley's trying to uncover what happened to Dudley is comical. Vernon must have a strong heart, because he's not one to take things in stride. Harry, on the other hand, was just the opposite. He doesn't care what the Dursleys know and he tells them everything. What's the point in hiding it with owls in and out of the house and Dudley trying to blame him for everything?
Of course, when Petunia reveals that she knows what Dementors are, the whole scene changes. Harry finally gets some Privet Drive cred even though Vernon tries to throw him out. Then the Howler shows up and Petunia is shown to know even more about wizarding. "Are you in touch with wizards?" Harry asks. I would love to hear the answer to that one as well.
I want lots of answers, but I must be patient ... one chapter at a time (no wiki leaks please).
I couldn't remember what a Squib was so I Googled it. How crazy is it that I found a wiki that had the definition and an entire entry devoted to what a Squib is. I would say it's ridiculous for people to put this much work into fictional characters, but then look at me. I'm pretty sure some people think I'm crazy, and more would if they knew about this little blog.
"A Squib is someone who was born into a wizarding family but hasn’t got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards, but Squibs are quite unusual."
— Ron Weasley discussing Argus Filch
And I thought a squib was when you bounce a kickoff along the ground to prevent the dangerous return man from making a big play. Anyway, I'm sure we'll see more of Mrs. Figg if she doesn't get thrown into Azkaban for murder.
This episode of the Dursley's trying to uncover what happened to Dudley is comical. Vernon must have a strong heart, because he's not one to take things in stride. Harry, on the other hand, was just the opposite. He doesn't care what the Dursleys know and he tells them everything. What's the point in hiding it with owls in and out of the house and Dudley trying to blame him for everything?
Of course, when Petunia reveals that she knows what Dementors are, the whole scene changes. Harry finally gets some Privet Drive cred even though Vernon tries to throw him out. Then the Howler shows up and Petunia is shown to know even more about wizarding. "Are you in touch with wizards?" Harry asks. I would love to hear the answer to that one as well.
I want lots of answers, but I must be patient ... one chapter at a time (no wiki leaks please).
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