Year 6 at Hogwarts and the battle begins to focus. Plus, the editors show back up and help shape this into the best crafted book of the series.

This volume we find Harry back at Hogwarts, under the careful guise of Dumbledore. This time out, Dumbledore watches over Harry and instructs him himself. This creates a cool plot device that JK uses and in this volume the writing takes a tick up and is much more focused. After the sprawl of HP5, it is nice to see the length again carried by the story; closer to HP4. I think this maturity in the writing led to this perhaps being the most enjoyable read of the set.

One of the things she does in HP6, and was needed, is give us Voldermort’s backstory. This is done in the cleaver fashion of lessons with Dumbledore. It gives him, Voldermort, more meat on his bones. Instead of being the infamous baddie with a mission, he is a person. That is important. It is like the humanizing of Darth Vader to some level.

Some notes on this volume:

• Narration: Like HP4, we get some narration without it being a restrictive 3rd person view (aka only if Harry is there) . This allows more feel, more plot, and more intellegence in the writing. In this volume we get 2 chapters , the first 2, in a different narration view. I really think this helps create mood
• Harry’s lessons with Dumbledore, or how to get flashbacks into a book: I think the lessons with Dumbledore were great because we get flashbacks - a first! And they are used very wisely.
• Major Characters: After the ending of this, they are all on the stake. Anyone or everyone could die. I have some ideas of about this, and will post a “Theories, Ideas and Whims about Harry Potter” soon so we can all discuss the possiblities

I have mixed feelings about the ending in this one. And it is over the relationships thing. I think the ending of things with Ginny to “protect her” is a little thin. First, he is still “groovy” for her and so using her - as suggested by what happen in HP2 - would still result in heroic efforts. Second - since he is choosing the bad-ass loner method, he then says OK-DOKY to Ron and Hermione coming along for the ride. Thought this was kinda lamish (did I just make that word up??).

As far as the future and my feelings towards or about characters and where they are headed- that will end up in my “Theories, Ideas and Whims” post. I will have that up soon.