The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Rebekah Send a noteboard - 16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
Hi Rafonauts
It's now time to begin our discussion of the fourth book in JK Rowling's fabulous YA series. There are 37 chapters in this book, so we'll keep to three chapters a day and do the last four together. This works because that last bit is rather tense so it's better not to break it in two! And we're going to include Saturdays this time to fit it all in before I head off up north!
Thus our schedule looks like this: today chapters 1-3, Tuesday 3-6, Wednesday 7-9, Thursday 10-12, Friday 13-15, Saturday 16-18, Monday (23 August) 19-21, Tuesday 22-24, Wednesday 25-27, Thursday 28-30, Friday 31-33 and Saturday 34-37.
I've set up the basic thread below, and will add more questions as the days progress. Feel free to ask your own under the appropriate headings.
Rules:
- Please keep your replies under the sub-threads below. You are welcome to start your own main headings as well.
- Although this is a re-read, it is possible that people haven’t yet read the books and are just reading this to help them decide whether they’re finally going to take the plunge and start the series. Accordingly, please keep spoilers out of subject lines.
- If you’ve got any suggestions for the rest of the re-read then post them in the suggestions thread below.
Have fun!
If this is the first you've seen of our re-read, then why not check out the other threads?
Book One: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Book Two: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
It's now time to begin our discussion of the fourth book in JK Rowling's fabulous YA series. There are 37 chapters in this book, so we'll keep to three chapters a day and do the last four together. This works because that last bit is rather tense so it's better not to break it in two! And we're going to include Saturdays this time to fit it all in before I head off up north!
Thus our schedule looks like this: today chapters 1-3, Tuesday 3-6, Wednesday 7-9, Thursday 10-12, Friday 13-15, Saturday 16-18, Monday (23 August) 19-21, Tuesday 22-24, Wednesday 25-27, Thursday 28-30, Friday 31-33 and Saturday 34-37.
I've set up the basic thread below, and will add more questions as the days progress. Feel free to ask your own under the appropriate headings.

Rules:
- Please keep your replies under the sub-threads below. You are welcome to start your own main headings as well.
- Although this is a re-read, it is possible that people haven’t yet read the books and are just reading this to help them decide whether they’re finally going to take the plunge and start the series. Accordingly, please keep spoilers out of subject lines.
- If you’ve got any suggestions for the rest of the re-read then post them in the suggestions thread below.
Have fun!
If this is the first you've seen of our re-read, then why not check out the other threads?
Book One: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Book Two: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
*MySmiley*
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
This message last edited by Legolas on 14/09/2010 at 06:34:56 PM
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- 16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
6440 Views
Chapters 1-3: A different beginning
- 16/08/2010 09:30:26 AM
2589 Views
Early characters
- 16/08/2010 09:32:12 AM
2655 Views
Re: Early characters
- 16/08/2010 11:02:23 AM
2991 Views
Early plotting.
- 16/08/2010 09:32:52 AM
2705 Views
Re: Early plotting.
- 16/08/2010 11:02:09 AM
2814 Views
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
2773 Views
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
2788 Views
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
2997 Views
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
2663 Views
Re: Early plotting.
- 17/08/2010 01:15:43 AM
2641 Views
Any other comments/observations
- 16/08/2010 09:33:34 AM
2578 Views
Mob mentality and British euroscepticism.
- 16/08/2010 10:37:10 AM
2922 Views
people in groups and baffling violence. And the godawful recaps
- 16/08/2010 11:03:09 AM
2720 Views
Yeah, I agree about the recaps, they're pointless at this point. *NM*
- 16/08/2010 11:17:37 AM
1536 Views
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
1497 Views
Chapters 4-6 - The Weasleys
- 16/08/2010 09:33:57 AM
2619 Views
Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 08:22:33 AM
2684 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 11:07:43 AM
2792 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
2759 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
2740 Views
Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
- 17/08/2010 12:44:19 PM
2825 Views
Re: Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
- 17/08/2010 12:47:29 PM
2813 Views
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
1485 Views
*NM*
- 17/08/2010 12:51:50 PM
1485 Views
And arguably another one of those fun names with a hidden meaning...
- 17/08/2010 07:47:43 PM
2621 Views
Plotting - anything of note?
- 17/08/2010 08:23:53 AM
2858 Views
Re: Plotting - anything of note?
- 17/08/2010 11:10:22 AM
2734 Views
The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
- 17/08/2010 12:29:50 PM
2746 Views
Re: The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
- 17/08/2010 12:38:09 PM
2662 Views
I thought that might be it. Yeah, different names in the Dutch translation then. *NM*
- 17/08/2010 12:40:45 PM
1410 Views
Any other comments/observations.
- 17/08/2010 08:24:20 AM
2711 Views
Chapters 7-9 - The Quidditch World Cup and Death Eaters
- 16/08/2010 09:34:26 AM
2569 Views
Characters: Ministers, Mothers, other important people.
- 18/08/2010 12:44:16 AM
2668 Views
Plotting
- 18/08/2010 12:44:48 AM
2667 Views
Other stuff.
- 18/08/2010 12:45:13 AM
2601 Views
Krum Catching the Snitch
- 18/08/2010 02:28:58 AM
2778 Views
It makes a certain amount of sense, I think...
- 18/08/2010 01:23:46 PM
2614 Views
Clothes and other schools
- 18/08/2010 09:44:02 AM
2616 Views
There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
- 18/08/2010 01:37:14 PM
2664 Views
Re: There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
- 18/08/2010 01:45:58 PM
2617 Views
Chapters 10-12: Back to Hogwarts and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:34:48 AM
1433 Views
Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. *NM*
- 19/08/2010 11:21:29 AM
1448 Views
Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
- 19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
2285 Views
Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
- 19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
1442 Views
There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
- 19/08/2010 04:23:16 PM
2374 Views
Re: There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
- 19/08/2010 05:41:04 PM
2340 Views
Chapters 13-15: First lessons, and the arrival of the foreign guests *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:09 AM
1405 Views
Characters: The Trio, Neville, Moody, first impressions of Karkarov and Maxime *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:49:04 AM
1399 Views
Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 12:59:41 PM
2743 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:10:03 PM
2858 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:20:22 PM
2830 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:33:04 PM
2612 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
2594 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
1422 Views
Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
2643 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
2795 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 02:04:07 PM
2861 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:52:05 AM
1319 Views
Yes. Five things, actually. Magic, Snape, idiocy, apparating while presumed guilty aaand evil films.
- 20/08/2010 01:05:06 PM
2605 Views
Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
- 20/08/2010 01:46:09 PM
2660 Views
Chapters 16-18: The Tri-Wizard Tournament begins *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:31 AM
1458 Views
Characters: The Champions, Hagrid, Karkarov, and of course Rita Skeeter in person *NM*
- 21/08/2010 01:10:53 PM
1432 Views
Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 01:50:12 PM
2687 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:24:02 PM
2653 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
2646 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
2886 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
2638 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
- 21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
2851 Views
Re: Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
- 21/08/2010 05:41:44 PM
2718 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2626 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2626 Views
Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2809 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2809 Views
Definitely true
- 23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
2841 Views
Re: Definitely true
- 24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
2914 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
2933 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
- 21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
2663 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
- 21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
1444 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
2941 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
2806 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
2913 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
2844 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
2880 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
- 21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
2697 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
2575 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
2565 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
2887 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
- 27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
2479 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
2661 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
2680 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
1430 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
- 23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
2630 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
2647 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
2764 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
2902 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
2582 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
2707 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
1447 Views
Good plotting in this section
- 23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
2740 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
1415 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
- 23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
1352 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
1331 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
- 24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
2803 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
- 24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
2877 Views
Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2587 Views
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2587 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2575 Views
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2575 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2670 Views
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2670 Views
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
1487 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
2796 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
2626 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
- 24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
1485 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
2745 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
2666 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
2715 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
- 24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
2658 Views
Lasso comment?
- 24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
2686 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
- 24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
2662 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
- 24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
2734 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
2861 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
2708 Views
Holy crap.
- 25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
2631 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
- 25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
2742 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
- 16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
2642 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
1378 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
- 25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
2569 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
2846 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
2589 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
- 25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
2711 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
2510 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
2654 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
1431 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
- 25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
2669 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
- 25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
2694 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
- 25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
2573 Views
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
2660 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
2664 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
2727 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
2600 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
2618 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
2748 Views
Marauder's Map.
- 05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
2661 Views
Other comments. *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
1427 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
2665 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
2682 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
2766 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
1367 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
1465 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
- 26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
2695 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
1428 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
2643 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
2881 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
2686 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
- 16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
2608 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
1461 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
2584 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
2558 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
2621 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
1438 Views
Stuff happens.
- 27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
2611 Views
Riddle Family.
- 05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
2634 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
1423 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
1404 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
1402 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
- 28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
2704 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
1416 Views
Revelations and then some
- 28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
2664 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
1433 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
- 28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
2777 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
- 16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
2619 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
- 16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
2732 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
- 28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
2793 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
- 16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
2790 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
- 17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
2646 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
2922 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
2885 Views

