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
6372 Views
Chapters 1-3: A different beginning
- 16/08/2010 09:30:26 AM
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Early characters
- 16/08/2010 09:32:12 AM
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Re: Early characters
- 16/08/2010 11:02:23 AM
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Early plotting.
- 16/08/2010 09:32:52 AM
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Re: Early plotting.
- 16/08/2010 11:02:09 AM
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Re: Early plotting.
- 17/08/2010 01:15:43 AM
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Any other comments/observations
- 16/08/2010 09:33:34 AM
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Mob mentality and British euroscepticism.
- 16/08/2010 10:37:10 AM
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people in groups and baffling violence. And the godawful recaps
- 16/08/2010 11:03:09 AM
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Yeah, I agree about the recaps, they're pointless at this point. *NM*
- 16/08/2010 11:17:37 AM
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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
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Chapters 4-6 - The Weasleys
- 16/08/2010 09:33:57 AM
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Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 08:22:33 AM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 11:07:43 AM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
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Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
- 17/08/2010 12:44:19 PM
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Re: Also on the topic of Amos' talk of Cedric and Harry... (spoilers for end of book)
- 17/08/2010 12:47:29 PM
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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
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*NM*
- 17/08/2010 12:51:50 PM
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And arguably another one of those fun names with a hidden meaning...
- 17/08/2010 07:47:43 PM
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Plotting - anything of note?
- 17/08/2010 08:23:53 AM
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Re: Plotting - anything of note?
- 17/08/2010 11:10:22 AM
2674 Views
The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
- 17/08/2010 12:29:50 PM
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Re: The Lovegoods? This is why reading in translation can be annoying...
- 17/08/2010 12:38:09 PM
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I thought that might be it. Yeah, different names in the Dutch translation then. *NM*
- 17/08/2010 12:40:45 PM
1392 Views
Any other comments/observations.
- 17/08/2010 08:24:20 AM
2657 Views
Chapters 7-9 - The Quidditch World Cup and Death Eaters
- 16/08/2010 09:34:26 AM
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Characters: Ministers, Mothers, other important people.
- 18/08/2010 12:44:16 AM
2623 Views
Plotting
- 18/08/2010 12:44:48 AM
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Other stuff.
- 18/08/2010 12:45:13 AM
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Krum Catching the Snitch
- 18/08/2010 02:28:58 AM
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It makes a certain amount of sense, I think...
- 18/08/2010 01:23:46 PM
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Clothes and other schools
- 18/08/2010 09:44:02 AM
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There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
- 18/08/2010 01:37:14 PM
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Re: There's a first mention of Beauxbatons in chapter nine.
- 18/08/2010 01:45:58 PM
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Chapters 10-12: Back to Hogwarts and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:34:48 AM
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Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. *NM*
- 19/08/2010 11:21:29 AM
1415 Views
Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
- 19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
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Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
- 19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
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There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
- 19/08/2010 04:23:16 PM
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Re: There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
- 19/08/2010 05:41:04 PM
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Chapters 13-15: First lessons, and the arrival of the foreign guests *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:09 AM
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Characters: The Trio, Neville, Moody, first impressions of Karkarov and Maxime *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:49:04 AM
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Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 12:59:41 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:10:03 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:20:22 PM
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:33:04 PM
2577 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
2545 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
1399 Views
Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
2598 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
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Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 02:04:07 PM
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Anything else to add? *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:52:05 AM
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Yes. Five things, actually. Magic, Snape, idiocy, apparating while presumed guilty aaand evil films.
- 20/08/2010 01:05:06 PM
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Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
- 20/08/2010 01:46:09 PM
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Chapters 16-18: The Tri-Wizard Tournament begins *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:31 AM
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Characters: The Champions, Hagrid, Karkarov, and of course Rita Skeeter in person *NM*
- 21/08/2010 01:10:53 PM
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Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 01:50:12 PM
2635 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:24:02 PM
2615 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
2592 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
2848 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
2594 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
- 21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
2797 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
2667 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2571 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2571 Views
Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2762 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2762 Views
Definitely true
- 23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
2800 Views
Re: Definitely true
- 24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
2869 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
2881 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
- 21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
2621 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
- 21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
1415 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
2888 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
2764 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
2863 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
2807 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
2842 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
- 21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
2641 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
2531 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
2518 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
2856 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
- 27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
2434 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
2616 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
2633 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
1408 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
- 23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
2586 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
2600 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
2726 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
2861 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
2530 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
2655 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
1425 Views
Good plotting in this section
- 23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
2690 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
1387 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
- 23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
1327 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
1311 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
- 24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
2753 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
- 24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
2826 Views
Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2537 Views
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2537 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2534 Views
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2534 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2633 Views
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2633 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
1462 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
2753 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
2584 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
- 24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
1467 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
2696 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
2612 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
2662 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
- 24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
2617 Views
Lasso comment?
- 24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
2632 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
- 24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
2621 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
- 24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
2687 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
2813 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
2669 Views
Holy crap.
- 25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
2584 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
- 25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
2694 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
- 16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
2580 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
1347 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
- 25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
2532 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
2793 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
2545 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
- 25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
2648 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
2462 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
2613 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
1413 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
- 25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
2626 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
- 25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
2651 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
- 25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
2537 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
2621 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
2615 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
2670 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
2559 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
2568 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
2705 Views
Marauder's Map.
- 05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
2618 Views
Other comments. *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
1402 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
2630 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
2628 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
2732 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
1339 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
1441 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
- 26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
2651 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
1407 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
2601 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
2845 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
2647 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
- 16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
2542 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
1438 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
2541 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
2498 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
2571 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
1410 Views
Stuff happens.
- 27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
2570 Views
Riddle Family.
- 05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
2580 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
1393 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
1384 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
1390 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
- 28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
2655 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
1394 Views
Revelations and then some
- 28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
2612 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
1412 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
- 28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
2721 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
- 16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
2571 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
- 16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
2680 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
- 28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
2744 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
- 16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
2747 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
- 17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
2594 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
2882 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
2844 Views

