I liked the scene back home at the Burrow - Rowling showing us that the family is still close despite the tension about Fred and George's future career choices. Nice touch with their poking fun at their mother about how the Hogwarts Express could derail. And those who love Mr. Weasley will do so even more here, I'd imagine - he's evidently the more permissive and less strict of the two parents, and is a bit afraid of his wife's temper on occasion (I'm thinking of that excellent scene in the hospital in OotP), but he's quietly competent. Even if I still think it's ridiculous how little he knows about Muggles considering the Department he's in - what, they couldn't have found Muggle-borns who actually had a clue to staff that Department?
I do love Mr Weasley. Next to Lupin (and possibly Sirius, although that is difficult to say because they are so different) Mr Weasley is my favourite. He is lovely. And yes, "quietly competent" is a nice description. Muggle-borns probably don't find that work as interesting as he does. He has an absolute passion for it. Which I suspect is in part due to how much their way of life baffles him.
The money matter leads to a painful scene between Ron and his mother, followed by Ron being mocked about the robes by Draco, all of it further building up to the big Harry-Ron fight.
Yes.
Hermione is really on a different level of development in this book, even more than in the previous one, or at least it leads to more differences in vision between her and the male two-thirds of the Trio. The "Boys!" moment when Harry turns out to prefer Quidditch over resting and considering his issues, but also the house-elves issue - part of her growing up and having more of a personal vision on issues instead of merely what she reads in books, while Ron and Harry still seem largely too focused on themselves to have much interest in the subject. Ron's reaction to the money issue might be viewed through the lens of puberty too, I guess. And Harry's crush on Cho. We'll get a lot more about this around the time of the Yule Ball, of course.
Yes, they are setting her up to be a girl, not just a female friend. This culminates at the ball, of course, and then in the Hermione/Ron relationship.
First mention, though not yet appearance, of Rita Skeeter, queen of the Daily Prophet's sensationalistic gutter journalism. Its insidiousness is shown particularly by how Mrs. Weasley, despite really knowing better, does let herself be convinced sometimes - in this case because she really doesn't have any other information sources, of course, but later on in the book also on a matter she really should know better about.
True. Although I have always felt that was a bit unfair to Mrs Weasley on the part of Rowling. It does not entirely suit her character. She should know better.
Percy's reaction on the other hand, that is spot on.
And then Moody of course. Quite the entrance there (and first sip of the hip flask, I have a feeling we'll discover a few more throughout the rest of the book).
Indeed.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
- 4132 Views
Chapters 1-3: A different beginning
16/08/2010 09:30:26 AM
- 1856 Views
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
- 2022 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
- 2023 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
- 2249 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
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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
- 1101 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
- 1065 Views
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
- 2009 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
- 1977 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
- 1958 Views
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
- 1070 Views

And arguably another one of those fun names with a hidden meaning...
17/08/2010 07:47:43 PM
- 1900 Views
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
- 1985 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
- 1013 Views
Any other comments/observations.
17/08/2010 08:24:20 AM
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Chapters 7-9 - The Quidditch World Cup and Death Eaters
16/08/2010 09:34:26 AM
- 1825 Views
Characters: Ministers, Mothers, other important people.
18/08/2010 12:44:16 AM
- 1924 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
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Skeeter, Moody and more Weasleys.
19/08/2010 04:03:20 PM
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Re: Skeeter, Moody and more Weasleys.
19/08/2010 05:46:27 PM
- 1807 Views
Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
- 1927 Views
Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
- 1024 Views
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
- 1985 Views
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
- 2109 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:20:22 PM
- 2079 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:33:04 PM
- 1890 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
- 1867 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
- 1007 Views
Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
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Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
- 2047 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 02:04:07 PM
- 2134 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
20/08/2010 11:52:05 AM
- 901 Views
Yes. Five things, actually. Magic, Snape, idiocy, apparating while presumed guilty aaand evil films.
20/08/2010 01:05:06 PM
- 1881 Views
Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
20/08/2010 01:46:09 PM
- 1927 Views
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
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:24:02 PM
- 1909 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
- 1882 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
- 2166 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
- 1913 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
- 2108 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
- 1961 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
- 1859 Views

Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
- 2051 Views

Definitely true
23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
- 2116 Views
Re: Definitely true
24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
- 2169 Views
Plotting and writing.
21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
- 2195 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
- 1927 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
- 1024 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
- 2207 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
- 2030 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
- 2143 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
- 2097 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
- 2138 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
- 1969 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
- 1852 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
- 1821 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
- 2182 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
- 1762 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
- 1920 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
- 1947 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
- 1009 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
- 1876 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
- 1898 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
- 1990 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
- 2175 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
- 1823 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
- 1971 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
- 1033 Views
Good plotting in this section
23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
- 1991 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
- 991 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
- 926 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
- 913 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
- 2076 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
- 2162 Views
Makes sense.
24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
- 1881 Views

Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
- 1872 Views

Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
- 1969 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
- 1076 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
- 2074 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
- 1900 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
- 1080 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
- 2043 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
- 1932 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
- 2002 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
- 1943 Views
Lasso comment?
24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 1940 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
- 1933 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
- 2017 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
- 2085 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
- 1971 Views
Holy crap.
25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
- 1882 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
- 2010 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
- 1916 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
- 957 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
- 1853 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
- 2102 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
- 1880 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
- 1963 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
- 1790 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
- 1924 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
- 1016 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
- 1955 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
- 1975 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
- 1866 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
- 1917 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
- 1910 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
- 1981 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
- 1881 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
- 1878 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
- 2030 Views
Marauder's Map.
05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
- 1925 Views
Other comments. *NM*
25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
- 995 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
- 1974 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
- 1944 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
- 2051 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
- 938 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
- 1034 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
- 1927 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
- 998 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
- 1937 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
- 2163 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
- 1972 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
- 1857 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
- 1036 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
- 1830 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
- 1824 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
- 1890 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
- 1007 Views
Stuff happens.
27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
- 1866 Views
Riddle Family.
05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
- 1877 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
- 989 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
- 974 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
- 1005 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
- 1960 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
- 978 Views
Revelations and then some
28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
- 1910 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
- 1024 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
- 2036 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
- 1927 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
- 1964 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
- 2024 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
- 2071 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
- 1917 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
- 2223 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
- 2169 Views