What is very different this time is a distinctly political tint. Most younger readers are going to be puzzled by the opening scene, not Privet Drive and the unlovely but entertaining Dursleys, but what looks very much like No 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister is waiting anxiously after a terrible week. Then he's interrupted by his "magic" (and of course more powerful) compatriot, the Minister for Magic, or rather the former one, who's just fallen in a political coup:
"Fudge was looking distinctly careworn. He was thinner, balder, and greyer, and his face had a crumpled look. The Prime Minister had seen that kind of look in politicians before, and it never boded well."
That sounds very like descriptions of Tony Blair during his recent bad patches, and the Prime Minister waiting hopelessly in No 10 while waiting for a more powerful government to tell him what is going on and what he should do—well the comparisons are obvious.
That continues even when we finally get to Privet Drive, where a purple leaflet lies on the floor of Harry's room, titled "Protecting Your Home and Family Against Dark Forces". It suggests a collection of obvious or ridiculous safety measures, much like the ones the British Government sent thudding through our letterboxes after 9/11.
It is gently mocked soon after by Dumbledore:
"I received one myself," said Dumbledore, still smiling. "Did you find it useful?"
"Not really."
"No, I thought not. You have not asked me, for instance, what is my favourite flavour of jam to check that I am indeed Professor Dumbledore, and not an imposter."
"I didn't ...," Harry began, not entirely sure whether he was being reprimanded or not.
"For future reference, Harry, it is raspberry ... although of course, if I were a Death Eater, I would have been sure to research my own jam-preferences before impersonating myself."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - LegendaryMonkey
Some excellent points here... now when I re-read, I'll have to hunt for more of this.
2 - aisling balfe
this is the best book ever!!!!j.k.rowling you are a genious and harry will be loved everywhere
3 - Rebecca
Utterly fantastic, I just finished it, I truly ony put the wonderous tale down to eat and go to the bath room.
This latest instalment had everything I had hoped for, except of course for the untimley passing of a wonderful character, which was handled beautifully in my opinion.
4 - Natalie
Lovely to hear such enthusiasm.
I might add that I'm tending to the view, having read lots of other people's comments, that there was more to that passing than met the eye. It may be that the person who died "chose" to die, as part of a greater plan, or even (and I don't think J.K. will go that far, but who knows), even didn't die.
There's some interesting, if sometimes OTT discussion here.
5 - Hermione J. G
Personnaly i think that book five is best, the half blood prince does have very unnessecary chapters like the first two. I am sorry to say this but i was dissapointed with how slow chapters went by. AND NO MORE D.A!!!!! I love the Harry Potter world but JK unfortunately seems to be loosing her touch.( please dont spam me or virus me for saying that, i still love the HP world. and please visit www.harrypotterfanfiction.com
6 - stinkypete
I thought the end of this book was a particularly dissapointing mess, it ruined the book for me.
7 - Naman Luhadiya
It is a magnificent book , but not the best of J.K.
8 - Natalie Bennett
I'd agree the ending seems a bit rushed - but perhaps that is JK's attempt to capture Harry's feelings of what happens.
9 - John
JK fucked up the Harry Potter series by killing Dumbledore. BITCH. He better come back to life in the 7th book.
10 - E L Frederick
As I understand it, as long as Dumbledore was alive, Harry was pretty much safe.
Now that Dumbledore is no longer around to watch over Harry, the story can end with the final book.
I think was a good idea to remove Dumbledore in this book. It is early enough where the last book won't be utterly depressing if Harry and Voldemort end up pulling a "Neo/Smith" ending like in the Martix.
In the end, both may have to die, in order to vanquish the other.
11 - KC
"In the end, both may have to die, in order to vanquish the other." E L Frederick
I think you're right. That Harry can speak to snakes, knows what Voldermort is doing etc. makes me think... oh, well we'll see.
12 - dont worry about my name
I have to agree that J.K. could have done a better job with this book.
But, im sure the 7th book is going to make up for it.
As for Dumbledor's death, we all knew it was going to happen, i just think we all thought it would happen in the 7th book and with him going down in a more heroic way.
The fact that J.K. allowed Dumbledore to die...begging for his life...from Snape?! i think its outragous she had him die like this...but there must be some reason as to why Dumbledore trusted him beyond everything else
13 - wolverine
SPOILERS******************** ************* ******** *******
I agree that Dumbledore's death wasn't exactly unexpected. In fact, I had a great suspician that he would die once he told Harry his ideas about the seven horcruxes; he had served his purpose by preparing Harry as well as he could with the events of the past, and his plans for the future.
John's comment above about how JK "fucked up" the book proves how marvelous of a writer she is. She has been able to upset the reader due to the events that have taken place. She has guided the readers' feeling to mimic Harry's, anger, sadness, and the urge to finish this war.
Bravo J.K. Rowling
14 - santiago
any thoughts and/or rumors what will happen in book 7.
15 - ryan
i hada thought that possiblie could infact save voldimort from death (god 4bid of course) and that would to of made a harry a horcruxe so thta to destroy the last part of sole exept the one inside voldimort him self as the proficy states tht only harry can destroy him it would kinda make it impossible 2 do with in the process killing himslef
16 - Jasmine
STINKIN"SPOILERS!!!! ************* ************** **********
It looks like Dumbledore chose to be sacrificed for some greater good for the wizarding world. Otherwise his death does not seem to be justified, seeing that he is one of the greated wizards who knows what is going on in everyone's minds!
17 - jia123
Cho Chang and Harry's relationship is damn interesting as a part of the story. I hope the 7th book will not end their relationship in a disappointing way.
18 - Natalie Bennett
The Guardian has an interesting view today. Whatever the critics might say about the series, when you read a selection of reviews you are reminded there are an also lot of angles and elements to explore.
19 - Aaman
Thank you for the Guardian reference - I see the UK version has a lighter cover than the US version.
I'm putting off writing my own review for a while longer
20 - Aaman
Love the last lines, and the choice of reviewer
21 - Natalie Bennett
I must admit I prefer the UK covers; the US ones look a bit trashy to me. (But maybe that's just cultural difference.)
22 - Fawn
I hated this book. It ruins too much. Harry Potter leaving Hogwarts. Yeah, stupid way to end. Not the best of J.K.
23 - Rebecca
Personaly I loved this book. I think harry is alot diffrent and sometimes acts older than his age but still it was great. As for "he must die at the hands of the other" as it says in the book is not nesicarily true as he said in the book. I loved the relationship between Ginny and Harry! And i also agree with what alot of you are saying about how He had to die sometime. I can't wait for the next book and it'll be sad when there wont be any new ones.
24 - Derek
I have two outcomes to Dumbledore - 1. I agree that if dumbledore died it was for a greater cause. I think the cause was he needed to and, was preparing to die by the end of the year. Giving Harry Special lessons which only turn out to be letting harry know EVERYTHING that he knew about voldermort. 2. I have a small suspision or maybe even a hope that snape mearly made him seem dead by saying a non-verble charm to make him appear dead which would be orders from his true master dumbledore. But he would of had to of said that charm while or very shortly after he had said the killing curse that he had said aloud. If this did happen then it would make sence he would let everyone know snape did it that way he could get as close as he could to voldermort while voldermort thought that dumbledore was dead.
For the seventh book with the death of voldermort and the bearly survival of harry like those above had stated would happen. I also predict that harry will kill malfoy and/or snape in his triumth to kill voldermort. Second harry will get back together with ginny and become either an Auror or a teacher at hogwarts like his mentore Dumbledore who was the only person harry really had any real bond with besides ron and hermonie. Also I think that the every obvious relationship of ron and hermonie will take off. I think the seventh book is going to involve alot of romance than all the rest combined because there older now and well thats just how its going to happen. I think.
The books JK has made are the only books I have ever enjoyed reading and cannot wait til the next one is out to read the 7th book and find out what does happen.
25 - Flochi
The ending was shitty, in my opinion it was stupid to let Dumbeldore die, and if so he deserves a better death, not pleading for mercy from snape!