I have a feeling the book could have used a stricter hand editing along the way. Yes, she does a lot of stuff right, and it is a more complex book than the preceeding, but there were several times when I stopped and thought that she should have skipped a bit. Descriptive passages in particular. They are not her strong suit.
They're not, but I haven't seen many places where she could really have omitted much of a descriptive passage... of course, I'm reading these in translation, and not much of a style judge anyway.
I agree with this. She develops her themes more skilfully in this one. They are more clearly in the forefront. We don't have to go digging around for them anymore. Then again, I like the digging.
Yeah, digging is fun.
It's convenient that her characters grow older and so more aware of these themes while she becomes a better writer and more equipped to deal with them. True. Although the more she makes them teenagers, the more I want to kill them. Then again, I suppose that is realistic 

Pretty much.

Aiden Chambers?
British youth author who writes by far the best teenager characters I've read, with the possible exception of William Bell (and I suppose Salinger's Holden Caulfield). The complex, searching, confused kind of teenager, that is. "Dance On My Grave", "Now I Know", "The Toll Bridge" are all great.
Death and how to approach it. And the power of choice. Those are the only two I can think of that you didn't mention.
Ah yes. Those are big ones.
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Four Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- 16/08/2010 09:28:48 AM
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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
2925 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
2952 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
3125 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
2790 Views
Re: Early plotting.
- 17/08/2010 01:15:43 AM
2787 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
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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
1567 Views
Chapters 4-6 - The Weasleys
- 16/08/2010 09:33:57 AM
2763 Views
Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 08:22:33 AM
2830 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 11:07:43 AM
2928 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:18:30 PM
2899 Views
Re: Characters - a few new ones
- 17/08/2010 12:24:41 PM
2884 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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*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
2867 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
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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
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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
1541 Views
Re: Characters: introducing Rita Skeeter and Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
- 19/08/2010 05:23:11 PM
2434 Views
Any other comments, observations or revelations? *NM*
- 19/08/2010 11:23:48 AM
1515 Views
There was that Durmstrang reference I was waiting for.
- 19/08/2010 04:23:16 PM
2516 Views
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
1476 Views
Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 12:59:41 PM
2895 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:10:03 PM
2999 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:20:22 PM
2986 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:33:04 PM
2759 Views
Re: Hagrid, Rita, Moody, Neville, Harry, Hedwig, Cedric, McGonnagall, Hermione and Madamme Maxime
- 20/08/2010 02:36:50 PM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:51:43 AM
1497 Views
Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:04:01 PM
2786 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 01:55:29 PM
2943 Views
Re: Plotplotplot (plot makes a funny noise if you say it like that).
- 20/08/2010 02:04:07 PM
2990 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
- 20/08/2010 11:52:05 AM
1392 Views
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
2800 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
1517 Views
Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 01:50:12 PM
2828 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:24:02 PM
2805 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 04:40:39 PM
2795 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
3018 Views
Re: Karkaroff, Moody, Fleur, Krum, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Rita
- 21/08/2010 05:10:53 PM
2771 Views
Oh, you're right, it is then. I thought you meant she said it to Harry.
- 21/08/2010 05:31:49 PM
2991 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
2865 Views
The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2768 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:20:18 PM
2768 Views
Re: The teeth comment was by far the best Snape one liner in the series.
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2955 Views
- 23/08/2010 09:22:26 PM
2955 Views
Definitely true
- 23/08/2010 10:02:46 PM
2977 Views
Re: Definitely true
- 24/08/2010 06:20:53 PM
3070 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 21/08/2010 01:12:24 PM
3063 Views
plotting both for the book alone and the series as a whole
- 21/08/2010 01:39:10 PM
2812 Views
Other comments, small details you noticed,...? *NM*
- 21/08/2010 01:12:53 PM
1524 Views
House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 01:35:38 PM
3083 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:55:10 PM
2939 Views
Re: House-elves, Hufflepuff and minds in gutter.
- 21/08/2010 04:59:55 PM
3051 Views
I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:02:47 PM
2984 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:08:40 PM
3012 Views
I associate blancmange more with Britain than with anywhere else...
- 21/08/2010 05:26:17 PM
2816 Views
Re: I love the bouillabaisse thing.
- 21/08/2010 05:12:54 PM
2724 Views
No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:24:50 PM
2703 Views
Re: No, no, the pudding and the bouillabaisse are two different things.
- 21/08/2010 05:39:06 PM
3009 Views
Hermione really comes into her own in this book.
- 27/08/2010 11:30:38 PM
2616 Views
Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:36:20 PM
2795 Views
Re: Agreed, but spending really all her time with those two boys does make it easier...
- 27/08/2010 11:48:19 PM
2819 Views
Chapters 19-21: The first task and House-Elves at Hogwarts *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:35:53 AM
1508 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Moody, Dobby and Winky,...
- 23/08/2010 10:40:21 AM
2757 Views
The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:07:50 AM
2780 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:35:56 AM
2908 Views
Re: The trio, Neville and the House-elves.
- 23/08/2010 11:44:08 AM
3070 Views
Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:19:21 AM
2720 Views
Re: Ron and Harry, Winky, various other thoughts.
- 23/08/2010 11:56:37 AM
2839 Views
Plotting and writing: the first task and other events *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:20 AM
1530 Views
Good plotting in this section
- 23/08/2010 11:08:50 AM
2887 Views
Anything else you want to comment on? *NM*
- 23/08/2010 10:41:39 AM
1492 Views
I love that there is a book called Men Who Love Dragons Too Much. *NM*
- 23/08/2010 11:09:15 AM
1429 Views
Chapters 22-24: The - rather eventful - Yule Ball *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:36:30 AM
1409 Views
Characters: The Trio, Champions and their dates, Karkarov, Hagrid and Olympe,...
- 24/08/2010 11:09:33 AM
2919 Views
Ron and Hermione, mainly.
- 24/08/2010 11:47:49 AM
3008 Views
Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2744 Views
- 24/08/2010 01:15:37 PM
2744 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2711 Views
- 24/08/2010 03:53:20 PM
2711 Views
Re: Makes sense.
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2811 Views
- 24/08/2010 05:00:59 PM
2811 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
1562 Views
Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 11:48:30 AM
2958 Views
Re: Yule Ball, preparation and aftermath
- 24/08/2010 02:18:04 PM
2778 Views
Whatever else you want to say about these three chapters. *NM*
- 24/08/2010 11:12:33 AM
1575 Views
Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 11:49:16 AM
2875 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 02:27:51 PM
2788 Views
Re: Gender roles, Dobby, national stereotypes, creepy magic and gobbledegook.
- 24/08/2010 04:15:15 PM
2844 Views
Ron's lasso comment is brilliant. Absolute genius.
- 24/08/2010 02:23:37 PM
2781 Views
Lasso comment?
- 24/08/2010 04:20:35 PM
2844 Views
When discussing methods to separate girls from their gang.
- 24/08/2010 04:27:47 PM
2795 Views
Ah. Hehe. Yes.
- 24/08/2010 04:30:34 PM
2877 Views
It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:45:34 PM
2997 Views
Re: It's not really a humourous pun, just a nice find by the translator.
- 24/08/2010 04:48:50 PM
2853 Views
Holy crap.
- 25/08/2010 02:44:57 PM
2776 Views
Yeah, I don't know if the Google pictures are entirely representative...
- 25/08/2010 03:06:25 PM
2878 Views
Chapters 25-27: The second task and Padfoot's return
- 16/08/2010 09:36:55 AM
2770 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Fleur, Sirius,... *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:18:49 AM
1461 Views
Snape, Percy, Hermione, Ron, Mrs Weasley and Sirius.
- 25/08/2010 05:31:18 PM
2700 Views
I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:41:43 PM
2993 Views
Re: I'm a bit worried about people's reactions to Snape during these discussions
- 25/08/2010 05:45:30 PM
2735 Views
Agreed. Snape is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read
- 25/08/2010 05:57:12 PM
2850 Views
Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 10:54:11 AM
2674 Views
Re: Fleur shows that, when push comes to shove, she has her priorities straight.
- 26/08/2010 11:21:59 AM
2794 Views
Plotting and writing: clues, red herrings and recapitulation *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:19:47 AM
1507 Views
Merpeople and the second task.
- 25/08/2010 11:34:40 AM
2812 Views
And something else I never understood about the second task
- 25/08/2010 02:32:51 PM
2839 Views
That's a good point, yeah...
- 25/08/2010 03:07:30 PM
2692 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
2804 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
2814 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
2856 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
2739 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
2767 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
2888 Views
Marauder's Map.
- 05/09/2010 05:27:17 AM
2792 Views
Other comments. *NM*
- 25/08/2010 11:20:11 AM
1507 Views
Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:24:26 PM
2802 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:36:29 PM
2819 Views
Re: Two completely unrelated things.
- 25/08/2010 05:42:20 PM
2909 Views
Chapters 28-30: Moving towards the climax *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:37:22 AM
1442 Views
Characters: The Trio, Krum, Karkarov, the Crouch family,... *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:15:59 PM
1542 Views
Madame Maxime, Crouch, Snape, Twins, Fudge and Neville
- 26/08/2010 02:48:04 PM
2826 Views
Plotting and writing: increasing signs of danger, and revelations about the past. *NM*
- 26/08/2010 12:16:50 PM
1508 Views
Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 02:50:29 PM
2784 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:38:53 PM
3019 Views
Re: Some good plotting here, and some recurring issues.
- 26/08/2010 03:51:32 PM
2844 Views
Chapters 31-33: The third task
- 16/08/2010 09:38:01 AM
2768 Views
Characters: The Trio, the Champions, Voldemort, Wormtail,,... *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:32:11 PM
1528 Views
Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 03:50:03 PM
2729 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:09:48 PM
2703 Views
Re: Ron, Mrs Weasley, Madame Maxime, Wormtail, Voldemort, Quirrel
- 27/08/2010 05:23:14 PM
2768 Views
Plotting and writing: thrilling action, but also a fair bit of infodump/flashback. *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:13 PM
1517 Views
Stuff happens.
- 27/08/2010 03:50:33 PM
2770 Views
Riddle Family.
- 05/09/2010 05:39:29 AM
2776 Views
Anything else to add? *NM*
- 27/08/2010 01:34:39 PM
1494 Views
Chapters 34-37: The climax and the aftermath *NM*
- 16/08/2010 09:38:22 AM
1484 Views
Characters: Well, pretty much all of them, I guess. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:04:41 AM
1487 Views
Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Ron and Hermione
- 28/08/2010 11:57:25 AM
2859 Views
Plotting and writing: tying up, explanations and setting up the future books. *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:05:33 AM
1494 Views
Revelations and then some
- 28/08/2010 12:02:36 PM
2801 Views
Any other thoughts? *NM*
- 28/08/2010 11:06:03 AM
1504 Views
Two questions and one other thing.
- 28/08/2010 12:03:14 PM
2915 Views
The book as a whole: overall thoughts, comments and obversations
- 16/08/2010 09:39:24 AM
2762 Views
What do/did you think of Rowling's writing in this book?
- 16/08/2010 09:40:03 AM
2866 Views
I think she has more room to display her talent in this book.
- 28/08/2010 11:27:20 AM
2938 Views
I am not sure that is a good thing
- 28/08/2010 12:17:56 PM
2817 Views
Re: I am not sure that is a good thing
- 28/08/2010 11:00:29 PM
2970 Views
Suggestions for the re-read.
- 16/08/2010 09:41:01 AM
2927 Views
Is it possible / easy to make the post an Announcement while it's ongoing?
- 17/08/2010 03:08:31 PM
2778 Views
When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 11:09:07 AM
3061 Views
Re: When should we start the next book? And at which pace?
- 28/08/2010 12:05:31 PM
3041 Views

