Book 5 Attitudes.

[jared2402]

I found it really hard to read the start of the book because of Harry's attitude, and throughout found myself becoming anoyed by his constant mood swings. Did anyone else find that distracting? I read the first 2 chapters and had to stop bnecuase I was getting irritated by Harry's Ignorance. Although he did kinda have good reason. Oh, and Dumblore's actions throughout, In book 4 he loved harry, and in this one it took him 37 chapters to look or speak to him. And on a last point. I really hate Umbridge, i think she is such a troll!! But I found Kreacher cool until the end!

[sone]

I had very little problems with Harry's mood swings. He saves his ungrateful cousin's life and not only does he get more resentment from the Dursley's but the Ministry Of Magic tries to expel him in a hearing that no less looks like a criminal trial proceeding.

Then after that, he gets little to no information about what is going on in the wizarding world even though it would be in his best interests (meaning his life) that he did know.

Of course, eventually he does hear the delightful news that the part of the Daily Prophet that he is not reading is saying that he is out of his mind. Some insane, lying prat who has nothing better to do than to try and gain popularity.

Let us not forget the new DADA professor. By far one of the most sadistic characters in the entire HP series. Harry already has a sadistic professor in potions. Half of (if not more of) Harry's troubles came from that woman's sincerest efforts to make his life a living hell. Not to mention Snape and Malfoy and the students who believe the Daily Prophet. Then Voldemort, the Death Eaters. The O.W.L.s

Put all that on the back of 15 year old kid who has more than enough trouble just being who he is and you can expect terrible things to happen. I'm with Dumbledore, Harry was not nearly as upset as he should have been.

[JB Murdock]

I know what you mean! It's weird because harry was never as cranky and sad like this before.I really don't like the mood of it either.Doesn't feel like the usual HP book.
I guess it's his coming of age.

[Tim37ninjageniu]

Obviously you people arent 15 year old boys. Let alone 15 year old boys trapped in a house with 3 people who hate you cut off from your entire world and wondering who is going to be killed and to top it all off he is attacked be 2 you know whats. After all hes done he deserves so much more than he gets so yes if he is having trouble keeping his emotions under control he is completely within rights.

[Kerry from Cali]

Originally posted by jared2402
I found it really hard to read the start of the book because of Harry's attitude, and throughout found myself becoming anoyed by his constant mood swings. Did anyone else find that distracting? I read the first 2 chapters and had to stop bnecuase I was getting irritated by Harry's Ignorance. Although he did kinda have good reason. Oh, and Dumblore's actions throughout, In book 4 he loved harry, and in this one it took him 37 chapters to look or speak to him. And on a last point. I really hate Umbridge, i think she is such a troll!! But I found Kreacher cool until the end!

I understood, or could at least empathize, with him on his troubles, but there were times when his reaction seemed to be out of character. Not that he hasn't been angry or scared before, or that he had *every* reason to want to just blast things into a million pieces, it's just *how* he did it that seemed so "off" to me. There were times that he acted irrational to what was happening at the moment. Yes, he was mad at not hearing from Ron and Hermione. (anyone would be furious at being kept in the dark after what he faced in #4) but how could he have thought they would have just been having a grand old time without him? They wouldn't have done that to him.

And yeah, he was a jerk quite a bit to Ron and Hermione, through the whole book, (unnecessarily angry at them, or angry in general and just taking it out on them) but maybe that was because, deep down, he knows they are truly his friends, and friends will forgive you for being an ass. Well, a real friend would anyway.

I wondered about how Dumbledore said Voldemort couldn't reside in a body so full of the force he detests. (meaning love) Did Dumbledore mean some force *was* inside Harry at some times? Remember how there were times when Harry wanted to strike out at Dumbledore, to bite him? Maybe he had this essence in him, and that's what made him react in such an uncharacteristic way.

And Umbridge was a first class b****. She didn't get anywhere *near* what she had coming to her! That stuff with his detentions... I kept waiting for McGonagall or Sprout or SOMEONE to notice his damn hand. Couldn't *someone* see it?!? I don't care if she was frightened in the forest. I don't care if she was chased from the school. She wasn't punished for what she did to Harry. What about the dementors??? Hello... Azkaban, room for one!

Kerry =)

[LOTRfan]

Harry did seem extremely out of character at times but he always realized what he was doing very soon after. You may have something there, Kerry, about Voldemort causing these sometimes violent reactions (if that's what you meant). But J.K. did say Harry is ALOT angrier in this book so maybe it was purely himself and no outside forces.

What really annoyed me about this book was not Harry's attitude (probably because halfway through it seemed to subside somewhat) but the word MATE! It was soo inconsistent with the other books which, as I remember, never used it. In this book it was like at least once every couple pages. The words an autor uses helps me grasp their style. Mate threw me completely out of whack. My friend pointed out that phrases like " 'SUp Figgy" and " Harry we're trying to explain it, mate " could just be a sign of the changing times, as it is supposed to be a ficitonal but modern world. Is that word really big in Scotland now or something? Or was it just because they are full-fledged teenagers and are using a type of slang? (like "dude")

[Kerry from Cali]

Originally posted by LOTRfan

What really annoyed me about this book was not Harry's attitude (probably because halfway through it seemed to subside somewhat) but the word MATE! It was soo inconsistent with the other books which, as I remember, never used it. In this book it was like at least once every couple pages. The words an autor uses helps me grasp their style. Mate threw me completely out of whack. My friend pointed out that phrases like " 'SUp Figgy" and " Harry we're trying to explain it, mate " could just be a sign of the changing times, as it is supposed to be a ficitonal but modern world. Is that word really big in Scotland now or something? Or was it just because they are full-fledged teenagers and are using a type of slang? (like "dude")

You bring up an interesting point. Someone did a timeline once, and I believe (dusting the cobwebs off my brain) that they were able to prove the year Harry would have been born (based on the day of the week his birthday fell that year, I think it was '81 or '82). What this mishmash is trying to say, is there was some evidence suggesting he was attending school in the early 90's, not 2000's. If that *is* the case, (and I grant that's a pretty big if) were the phrases being used *now*, as popular *then*. Does that make sense?? ;)



ps, i do remember Ron telling Harry, "take a bit of toast, mate" before his first quidditch match against slytherin.
Kerry =)

[Iben]

Originally posted by LOTRfan
What really annoyed me about this book was not Harry's attitude (probably because halfway through it seemed to subside somewhat) but the word MATE! It was soo inconsistent with the other books which, as I remember, never used it. In this book it was like at least once every couple pages. The words an autor uses helps me grasp their style. Mate threw me completely out of whack. My friend pointed out that phrases like " 'SUp Figgy" and " Harry we're trying to explain it, mate " could just be a sign of the changing times, as it is supposed to be a ficitonal but modern world. Is that word really big in Scotland now or something? Or was it just because they are full-fledged teenagers and are using a type of slang? (like "dude")
JK once said that the books would grow with the characters (Ron, Harry, Hermione etc.) and since they're teenagers now, maybe she's trying to give the book a more teenage-like style, hence the slang. Just a guess.

[Iben]

as for Harry's attitude in the beginning, I think it is kinda cool. I like that he's not some little pansy boy. Harry has always been my favourite character because he's so human, he's not perfect, he goes through all of the emotions we as humans go through: anger, jealousy, suspicion, resentfulness, guilt, feeling sorry for himself and so on and so on. I think it's great that JK didn't make Harry out to be some saint.

[LOTRfan]

Kerry: i had just been wondering if the word "mate" has recently become popular in the area in which J.K. lives because of it's spontaneous recurring appearance in the 5th book. I really wasn't referring to the time it's supposed to be taking place. (hadn't considered it).
I see you have recalled other instances in which "mate" was used in her previous books, but in the 5th book specifically it seems extremely overused. So, if J.K. had outside influences causing her to adopt it as her favorite piece of vocabulary in the book she lastly completed in real time and place, then it would make sense.

[eclipsedman]

Harry seemed to be like Anakin in SW AOTC sometimes. He would be really angry sometimes, other times he was acting like a spoiled little *****.

[Martinnyg]

Well since Harry is a teenager that's the behaviour you could expect from him, and with all the hard things happening to him, it would be really wierd if he didn't get mad at times.

Also the book OOTP takes place in 95-96

[hpk37067]

I wonder what he got in the O.W.L.s.

[Tim37ninjageniu]

Originally posted by hpk37067
I wonder what he got in the O.W.L.s.

It damn well be good enough for him to be an auror. assuming hes alive to do it when he gets older

[Martinnyg]

Nah, Harry should become DADA teacher not Auror. Look at how great he did with the DA. That's what he's meant to do.

[hpk37067]

He's probably going to become a top notch Quidditch player or something. JR probably just made him want to be an auror so that none suspects him being a Quidditch player.

[LOTRfan]

I hate to be sadistic....but I have a really bad feeling about Harry's future. I didn't think this during the first few books but more recently I've been considering the possiblity Harry may not make it out of school to pursue a career. His death will probably save the entire world or something big like that. Plus, if he dies, it would definitely leave no room for an 8th book. This goes along with J.K.'s firm position that there will only be 7. And no one else can write sequels to it after she dies or retires if Harry is killed off.

If Harry just destroys Voldemort it would be too obvious after the prophecy in the 5th. There has to be something that goes wrong. We know Voldemort isn't going to win so it could be like a double -edged sword. (voldemort finally kills Harry but in doing so is destroyed himself. The only way to kill voldemort is for harry to die so harry makes this sacrifice for the rest of the world.)
alright, i'm done...i really don't want to ponder harry's death or, hopefully, lack thereof anymore.

[hpk37067]

Unless she does something like resurrect him or something which would make me start an anti Harry Potter club and start the burning of every Harry Potter item known to man.

[Mobycat]

Maybe Harry will kill Voldemort, but in the process, end up like Neville's parents and be stuck at St. Mungo's.

Naaaaaaaaahhhhhh

[LOTRfan]

Originally posted by hpk37067
Unless she does something like resurrect him or something which would make me start an anti Harry Potter club and start the burning of every Harry Potter item known to man.
haha...i'll help. I feel like doing that after the death in the 5th. But I've decided to give J.K. a fair chance. I trust her so maybe the death really was necessary. We shall see in the 6th. (only 3 years from now!):applaud:

[hpk37067]

3 years? I can't wait that long. Oh, I'm going to cry.

[LOTRfan]

Originally posted by LOTRfan
What really annoyed me about this book was not Harry's attitude (probably because halfway through it seemed to subside somewhat) but the word MATE! It was soo inconsistent with the other books which, as I remember, never used it. In this book it was like at least once every couple pages. The words an author uses helps me grasp their style. Mate threw me completely out of whack. My friend pointed out that phrases like " 'SUp Figgy" and " Harry we're trying to explain it, mate " could just be a sign of the changing times, as it is supposed to be a ficitonal but modern world. Is that word really big in Scotland now or something? Or was it just because they are full-fledged teenagers and are using a type of slang? (like "dude") Originally posted by Iben
JK once said that the books would grow with the characters (Ron, Harry, Hermione etc.) and since they're teenagers now, maybe she's trying to give the book a more teenage-like style, hence the slang. Just a guess.
Originally posted by Kerry from Cali
i do remember Ron telling Harry, "take a bit of toast, mate" before his first quidditch match against slytherin.
Kerry =)
Originally posted by LOTRfan
Kerry:I see you have recalled an instance in which "mate" was used in her previous books, but in the 5th book specifically it seems extremely overused. So, if J.K. had outside influences causing her to adopt it as her favorite piece of vocabulary in the book she lastly completed in real time and place, then it would make sense.

OK I have an explanation for all these Britishisms some people have noticed lately. We are not crazy. The editors have started to leave the original version more intact for the U.S. Here's an article about it from the August 4th newsweek:
Harry Potter: Mum Shall Stay Mum
NEWSWEEK
Aug. 4 issue — Notice how British “Harry Potter” has seemed lately? If you’re reading the Scholastic-published edition of the most recent installment, it’s not just in your head. THE SERIES, WHICH is “translated” from British English to U.S. English by Scholastic editors (all changes are OK’d by author J. K. Rowling), is now leaving in more of the original Brit language than ever. The reason? “Readers have become more accustomed to the world,” says Arthur Levine, one of Rowling’s Scholastic editors.
That, and a backlash by “Potter” purists who prefer the charm of British words such as nutter (“maniac” in book two) or crumpets (“English muffins” in book one). “I get into very heated debates about this,” says Ngaio Palmer, an Oxford grad student who ships the British versions to her 16-year-old brother in Chicago. “The lack of faith in the intelligence of U.S. readers has been insulting.” There have been so many requests by Americans for the British edition, in fact, that all e-mails sent to U.K. publisher Bloomsbury receive an automatic response saying the publisher can’t sell its version in U.S. stores. (Zealous fans buy it online from the U.K. or Canada, which also uses the Bloomsbury book.) But there’s little need for imports anymore. The changes in book five are slight, like changing “colour” to “color,” and Levine says the remainder of the series will retain most of Rowling’s original wording. “Mum,” in other words, is no longer changed to “Mom.” “Potter” fans are relieved. “I mean, really, would we want Ron calling Percy a butthead instead of a git or prat?” asks self-described ” ‘Potter’ fanatic” Becky Boushley. But with the Britishisms intact in book five, she’s pleased as punch. Or as Rowling would pen, she’s chuffed to bits.
—Elise Christenson

[Queen Me]

I don't see what the problem is-- If you're parents had died before you got to know them, if you had to leave a wonderful place and be imprisoned in a small non-magic house every summer, if you had seen a friend die the previous year, if you had just lost the most father-like person in your life, and if you had saved someones butt every year, only to be teased and laughed at because someones making rumors that youre mental, youd prolly have mood swings too :p

[hpk37067]

I was just thinking. They said mate in the time of Harry Potter, but when Harry went into the Penseive, Sirius was babbling about mate, mate, mate.......Weird, huh?

[Tim37ninjageniu]

I think the reason there is so much British slang in Book 5 is that they released it in America the same time they released it in Britian. I don't think they edited it like they used to with different American and British versions. Before they changed words that meant different things there than they did here and I wonder if they had time to do that since they got released at the same time in both countries.

[LOTRfan]

I don't think it had anything to do with a time constraint. They had enough time to edit specific words like "colour" why not words like "mate?" I think the article is correct in that they finally realized how stupid they are being by changing the original words to something "those Americans" will understand...I mean who doesn't get the general idea of the word "nutter?" Totally insulting that they thought "maniac" suited our comprehension better.

[LOTRfan]

Originally posted by hpk37067
I was just thinking. They said mate in the time of Harry Potter, but when Harry went into the Penseive, Sirius was babbling about mate, mate, mate.......Weird, huh?
I noticed that as well...maybe it has nothing to do with when the word was/is popular. Because if Harry uses it why would the generation before him also say it. (I think that's what you were referring to) Maybe it's just always been around...not just slang at a specific "time." Anybody British that can help me out?

[hpk37067]

I guess it must be like a fad. Like Pokemon was all the rage but it died. And Magic was unpopular before but it's making a comeback. Like they say, fads repeat themselves.

[starphoenix]

yeah, i noticed it as well.......

as for my overall attitude, i thought it was the best book in the whole series... or.... at least tying with book 4......
funny.... they seemed to get bigger and better year by year......
anyway, i was saying, i thought the book was great because now that they're getting older you start to find out more about how they actually feel about things.... about eachother.

Yes, maybe harry was throughly depressed throughout the book, but who wouldn't be if you were him?

i mean, first he had no idea what was going on, then he got in trouble with the ministry for saving his cousin's life.... then he had to deal with not being able to see dumbledore.... being distanced.... that damn umbridge woman (she's absoulutely awful).... occulemcy lessons with none other then Snape....... Cho Chang....... and losing Sirius. On top of that, he learned about the Prophecy and that either him or Voldemort but defeat the other one day...... he doesn't exactly have a life full of daisys.

I suppose that he didn't have to take it out so hard on Ron and Hermione.... but who else would help him? Not dumbledore, he was miles from Sirius or Lupin... or anyone in the Order.....
I just can't wait too see what Rowling will bring for the 6th book.

[hpk37067]

I also noted something else. In GOF, everyone was freaking out because Voldemort was back. You could tell everyone was scared. In OOTP, everyone was kinda happy and excited. I don't know, just might be overanalyzing.

[Mobycat]

Here's a question... (maybe it should be in a new thread, but oh well)

I'm listening to GoF right now. When Harry and Viktor come across Mr. Crouch at the edge of the forest, Crouch is wavering between being controlled and trying to get Dumbledore.

He keeps talking to "Weatherby." now, we know he called Percy Weatherby, but when he's babbling, he's talking to Weatherby in a time frame when his kid was still in school - passing his O.W.L.'s. I wonder if there was a Weatherby before Percy? And if so, does that have any future significance? Probably not...just something I noticed.

[jared2402]

Hey yeah. That was something I noticed, that he wsa talking to his kid and percy, but I never even thought of that.........;)

[Laterose]

or maybe he just calls all his assisants weatherby

[hpk37067]

Or maybe his assistant back then was weatherby.

[jared2402]

Nice thought..............

[hpk37067]

Why thank you.