Re: Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
Camilla Send a noteboard - 20/08/2010 01:56:53 PM
It struck me this time when reading that chapter that when Trelawney makes her guess about Harry being born in the winter, and he says "July, actually", that it's really quite disturbing how Trelawney doesn't have the slightest idea about her prophecy. And hence about the crucial role she has played in Voldemort going after the Potters', and in his downfall. It's a brilliant variation on Cassandra: rather than a Seer knowing her own value but doomed to never be believed by anyone, we have a Seer who is frustrated that she doesn't have the gift, when in fact she does have it but nobody wants to tell her that.
Heh. I hadn't thought of the Cassandra inversion. That is a good point.
It also sounds like the astrology classes, as useless as they are in predicting the future, might be serious classes in terms of having students practice mathematics and astronomy. Hermione might have had more interest in that part; for Harry and Ron it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
Yes. Although it doesn't seem like the maths and astronomy bits are actually evaluated by Trelawny.
Rita Skeeter's article: shouldn't she at least try to make sense? She bashes Arthur Weasley for "involving the Ministry" in that incident, but what exactly does she suppose would have happened if the Ministry had pulled its hands off of the matter? Covering up magical accidents involving Muggle witnesses is an important task of the Ministry, surely. It seems a bit odd, that article.
This is an exact reflection of my thoughts of most of the main newspaper controversies in the real world.
Malfoy: Touchy about his mother, evidently. Very close with her, one might suppose, what with being an only child.
Yes.
Snape's nasty temper: Might have to do with the ending of book three, too.
Maybe.
Since Camilla dislikes moments from outside Harry's PoV: ending of chapter 14 has another one of those, which probably wasn't entirely needed.
Yes. I didn't actually notice that one. But it is a good example. It could easily have been done more elegantly. Then again, this is not as clear a break as the first chapter was. Here the focus only pulls out a little from Harry. It doesn't go somewhere else entirely.
I should note that some of my favourite scenes in the books are not Harry's PoV -- he is after all a terribly annoying character much of the time, and being released from him is like a breath of fresh air (ok, I am exaggerating, but you get my point). I just think it does not fit in with Rowling's plot strategies.
The Imperius-class: only intended to see how Harry would react to it, surely?
Maybe? Quite possibly, actually. As I said above, I find it hard to see Dumbledore ordering it.
Hermione's comments on the Hogwarts history book: she's depicted as exaggerating, but like Percy earlier with the vampire thing, she actually has a point. It *is* a significant oversight, and one that might be explained by a not very pretty way of viewing the house-elves issue.
Indeed. And I know she is right. And it makes me even more annoyed. Gah. It is a perfectly legitimate major theme of the series, and this is one of the key points of its development, and I just can't get past how annoying I find Hermione's way of going about it. I may need therapy.
*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
- 3905 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
- 1852 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
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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
- 1750 Views
Re: Early plotting.
17/08/2010 01:15:43 AM
- 1719 Views
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
- 1004 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
- 975 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
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Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
- 1778 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
- 1761 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
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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
- 1800 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
- 918 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
- 1653 Views
Characters: Ministers, Mothers, other important people.
18/08/2010 12:44:16 AM
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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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Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
- 1744 Views
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
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Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
- 1685 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
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Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
- 1727 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
- 1760 Views
Re: Trelawney, or how one can be a Seer and not even know it.
20/08/2010 01:56:53 PM
- 1911 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
- 1730 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
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Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
- 1982 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
- 1732 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
- 1881 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
- 1804 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
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Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
- 1881 Views
Definitely true
23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
- 1949 Views
Re: Definitely true
24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
- 1999 Views
Plotting and writing.
21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
- 1998 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
- 1746 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
- 932 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
- 2026 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
- 1847 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
- 1946 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
- 1923 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
- 1966 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
- 1804 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
- 1670 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
- 1638 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
- 2016 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
- 1586 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
- 1727 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
- 1769 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
- 932 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
- 1719 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
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Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
- 1812 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
- 1997 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
- 1643 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
- 1801 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
- 943 Views
Good plotting in this section
23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
- 1804 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
- 903 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
- 834 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
- 818 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
- 1907 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
- 1976 Views
Makes sense.
24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
- 1701 Views
Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
- 1694 Views
Re: Makes sense.
24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
- 1797 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
- 993 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
- 1890 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
- 1704 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
- 990 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
- 1875 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
- 1758 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
- 1825 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
- 1763 Views
Lasso comment?
24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 1771 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
- 1772 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
- 1852 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
- 1919 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
- 1799 Views
Holy crap.
25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
- 1719 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
- 1854 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
- 1749 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
- 885 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
- 1678 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
- 1913 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
- 1705 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
- 1787 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
- 1612 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
- 1733 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
- 927 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
- 1798 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
- 1794 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
- 1684 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
- 1738 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
- 1742 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
- 1790 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
- 1688 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
- 1698 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
- 1847 Views
Marauder's Map.
05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
- 1741 Views
Other comments. *NM*
25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
- 910 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
- 1804 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
- 1757 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
- 1891 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
- 859 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
- 948 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
- 1758 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
- 910 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
- 1770 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
- 1973 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
- 1805 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
- 1697 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
- 953 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
- 1662 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
- 1646 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
- 1718 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
- 919 Views
Stuff happens.
27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
- 1703 Views
Riddle Family.
05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
- 1714 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
- 902 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
- 898 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
- 914 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
- 1782 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
- 899 Views
Revelations and then some
28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
- 1737 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
- 931 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
- 1849 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
- 1764 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
- 1780 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
- 1847 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
- 1909 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
- 1743 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
- 2012 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
- 1989 Views