From: Suzanne Fondrie <fondrie>
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 18:51:01 -0500

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My six-year-old waited eagerly for the HBP release and even made her own countdown calendar to help her keep track. In the meantime, she re-read all of the other books to get ready.

Her main reaction to the book wasn't centered around the startling event at the end, however. She wanted to talk about how the book made her feel sorry for characters she had never liked before: Draco, Snape, and even Voldemort himself. She pointed out how awful Voldemort's upbringing was and how little love there was for him at any point in his life. As she put it, "It's no wonder he turned out like that. No one ever loved him." She compared Harry's mother's love protection to the corrupting influence of what she called the
"not-love" that Tom Riddle experienced. She also felt new sympathy for Draco, being caught in the position he was. I totally missed Moaning Myrtle's reference to Draco crying in the bathroom, but she didn't.

There's a different, more analytical and psychological aspect to this book that I appreciate. It's not that I enjoyed it more or less than the others, but I found different things to think about in this latest story. Also, as usual, I liked being to go back to the other books and find the little hints Rowling drops about upcoming books, such as the
"oddly furtive" look (p. 866) Ron gives Harry after Ginny breaks up with Michael Corner in Order of the Phoenix.

My dad, who's nearing 80, is waiting to get his hands on our copy when we're done and keeps asking when we'll be finished. Such is the power of the Potter.
Received on Fri 05 Aug 2005 06:51:01 PM CDT