Friday, July 29, 2005
Not for Muggles!
Name: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2005
Rating: 4 / 5
Note: I've avoided giving away important plot spoilers so that anybody can read this review. Still, I cannot avoid giving away some minor spoilers on the content of the book, so if you havent read the book and want the complete experience, don't read further!
JKR churns out yet another long novel, as HBP crosses the 600-page mark. In this regard and a lot of others, the book is just what the fans ordered! No longer does JKR try to explain any circumstance or place or spell already mentioned in one of the previous books. Another significant change in that she does not neatly tie up all loose ends at the end of the novel. There's a lot to look forward to in the final book!
Mostly, HBP is another rollicking Hogwarts adventure, with Harry and his friends continuing to learn new spells, playing quidditch, and growing up in general. Harry seems to have settled down from his touchy attitude in Order of the Phoenix, but JKR persists in including a lot of sinister elements and violence in the book. Thankfully, the Mahabharath-type wand-pointing and spell-exchanging is toned down but the teenage crushes, relationships and "snogging" are all annoyingly increased. One can understand JKR wanting to portray the process of growing up as inseparable from such things, but she could definitely have handled it better.
One more let-down is the fact that the identity of the Half-Blood Prince is not important, and not even central to the theme of the book. Further, it becomes guessable midway through the book, even though it is fully revealed only at the end. Still, the idea of Harry learning things from the Half-Blood Prince is well done, even though one wonders how Harry manages to learn difficult, including non-verbal or "silent" spells, so quickly, when he takes weeks to learn most spells in school!
Nevertheless, the good things about the book outweigh the bad. A really good insight is given into the psyche of Lord Voldemort, with glimpses into his childhood. One understands how he becomes the cruel, power-hungry wizard that we know him as. The key to his immortality is also uncovered, and Harry finds out exactly how difficult and daunting the task of killing him actually is.
JKR has also given some thought to the character of Draco Malfoy, who is more than just an obnoxious school bully in this book. It appears that Draco will play a vital role in the final book. Another thing to look forward to is the identity of Harry's mysterious benefactor, known only by the initials RAB. Anyone who has read the last three books can make an educated guess as to his identity, but knowing Rowling, one can never tell for sure!
Perhaps the best thing about the book is the ending. It is absolutely stunning and unexpected. Even after reading the book fully, I am not completely sure whether the whole thing is real or a ploy orchestrated by the Order. Either way I will give JKR full credit. If it actually happens, I congratulate her on her boldness, and am extremely curious to know how Harry handles things from now on. If it is just a ploy, then full marks to her on conceptualizing such a devious plot!
Overall I would deem the book not as brilliant in plot as Prisoner of Azkaban or having the sheer adventure value of Goblet of Fire, but definitely a must-read for anyone who has read the previous books. Oh well... its not as if I needed to say the latter in words anyway!!
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2005
Rating: 4 / 5
Note: I've avoided giving away important plot spoilers so that anybody can read this review. Still, I cannot avoid giving away some minor spoilers on the content of the book, so if you havent read the book and want the complete experience, don't read further!
JKR churns out yet another long novel, as HBP crosses the 600-page mark. In this regard and a lot of others, the book is just what the fans ordered! No longer does JKR try to explain any circumstance or place or spell already mentioned in one of the previous books. Another significant change in that she does not neatly tie up all loose ends at the end of the novel. There's a lot to look forward to in the final book!
Mostly, HBP is another rollicking Hogwarts adventure, with Harry and his friends continuing to learn new spells, playing quidditch, and growing up in general. Harry seems to have settled down from his touchy attitude in Order of the Phoenix, but JKR persists in including a lot of sinister elements and violence in the book. Thankfully, the Mahabharath-type wand-pointing and spell-exchanging is toned down but the teenage crushes, relationships and "snogging" are all annoyingly increased. One can understand JKR wanting to portray the process of growing up as inseparable from such things, but she could definitely have handled it better.
One more let-down is the fact that the identity of the Half-Blood Prince is not important, and not even central to the theme of the book. Further, it becomes guessable midway through the book, even though it is fully revealed only at the end. Still, the idea of Harry learning things from the Half-Blood Prince is well done, even though one wonders how Harry manages to learn difficult, including non-verbal or "silent" spells, so quickly, when he takes weeks to learn most spells in school!
Nevertheless, the good things about the book outweigh the bad. A really good insight is given into the psyche of Lord Voldemort, with glimpses into his childhood. One understands how he becomes the cruel, power-hungry wizard that we know him as. The key to his immortality is also uncovered, and Harry finds out exactly how difficult and daunting the task of killing him actually is.
JKR has also given some thought to the character of Draco Malfoy, who is more than just an obnoxious school bully in this book. It appears that Draco will play a vital role in the final book. Another thing to look forward to is the identity of Harry's mysterious benefactor, known only by the initials RAB. Anyone who has read the last three books can make an educated guess as to his identity, but knowing Rowling, one can never tell for sure!
Perhaps the best thing about the book is the ending. It is absolutely stunning and unexpected. Even after reading the book fully, I am not completely sure whether the whole thing is real or a ploy orchestrated by the Order. Either way I will give JKR full credit. If it actually happens, I congratulate her on her boldness, and am extremely curious to know how Harry handles things from now on. If it is just a ploy, then full marks to her on conceptualizing such a devious plot!
Overall I would deem the book not as brilliant in plot as Prisoner of Azkaban or having the sheer adventure value of Goblet of Fire, but definitely a must-read for anyone who has read the previous books. Oh well... its not as if I needed to say the latter in words anyway!!
# posted by Prashanth @ 11:18 AM 
Comments:
<< Home
Oops... I read the e-book, and wasn't actually sure of the length of the book, but it seemed quite long. Ok, mistake number one. Will change it ASAP.
You're right again on the second point, but I still found it a let down.
You're right again on the second point, but I still found it a let down.
The book had left lotsa concepts unexplained...
And most importantly....Harry's scar never twitched!!
And I feel the portrayal of Harry in this book was dampened.He was jus shown as jus another student of Hogwarts.
I feel...JKR has to explain lotsa plots in her forthcoming books!!
And most importantly....Harry's scar never twitched!!
And I feel the portrayal of Harry in this book was dampened.He was jus shown as jus another student of Hogwarts.
I feel...JKR has to explain lotsa plots in her forthcoming books!!
thanks for contributing to the internationally pervasive hype about the book.Dark side and the lighter side! necotine addiction and depression etc!
I think you've rated the book too high.. sheer publicity and hype carries hbp through to the top of the best seller list!!! harry was quite common, the order uninspired and dumbledore's death quite ordinary for a wizard of his magnificience. The only redeeming features are that j.k manages to keep you hooked to the plot, puzzles you with R.A.B( ensuring you will be in the queue to buy the next book to add to her millions!!) and though paling is still quite an extroardinary writer!! hbp was pure dissapointment for me .
Oh, actually Order of the Phoenix was a big disappointment. HBP was a slight disappointment, but I didn't have the heart to give JKR less than 4 :)
well ;-) this is what i meant then by sheer publicity! scared of getting stoned for thrashing it??? :-)
Prashanth, I do agree that HBP was a bit of a letdown.. I was looking forward to more action and introduction of new characters but somehow it was not to be.
But lets do give credit to JKR for keeping us entertained for the past 8 years.
Did you notice how Harry was shown as an average student..he was struggling with his homework..uff.. anyway lets see what JKR has in the final book.
But lets do give credit to JKR for keeping us entertained for the past 8 years.
Did you notice how Harry was shown as an average student..he was struggling with his homework..uff.. anyway lets see what JKR has in the final book.
HBP kept me through 4 days of being stranded in mumbai during the rains that canceled my flight to the US...
It was a good book, I must say, but so far, nothing has come close to her 3rd book. It's easily my favourite by miles. Sure will be tough imagining the story to come now that Dumbledore's gone ...
Let's just wait and see...
Post a Comment
It was a good book, I must say, but so far, nothing has come close to her 3rd book. It's easily my favourite by miles. Sure will be tough imagining the story to come now that Dumbledore's gone ...
Let's just wait and see...
<< Home
