Posted on 03/08/2005 8:35:28 AM PST by Grendel9
Harry Potter uncovered By Simon Freeman, Times Online
Four months before its release, the latest instalment in the adventures of Harry Potter is already the fastest-selling book in British history.
Today, the frenzy of anticipation among young old fans alike was cranked up a notch with the publication of the front covers of J K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
The cover illustration, by Jason Cockcroft, for the childrens edition, which is due to be published on July 16, shows Harry and Professor Dumbedore, the headteacher of Hogwart's wizarding college, surrounded by a circle of flames
Dumbledore has already been tipped as one of the favourites to die in the sixth book after Rowling said one of the lead characters would be killed off.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
LMAO!! That is hysterical!
I agree. Neville's family is really intriguing. Didn't they find out Neville really was a wizard because his uncle threw him out a window and he bounced back up? That's messed up. His gran seems like a royal PIA, too. Remember how after he heard Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped prison how he rapidly improved at the DA meetings. Once he gains his confidence he is going to be a force to reckon with. He's one of my favorite characters.
I think his "gran" is sympathetic to Valdemort.
Think about it. Who was in a perfect position to leave the Devil's Snare plant in that room in the hospital?
And those frequent visits to Neville's parents. Could the visits be to make sure that the parents never recover?
And what's up with Neville's mother passing him a note that his "gran" doesn't want him to read?
I forgot to mention that Kirby(african grey) and Cuddles(quaker parrot) also sing the theme.They go LA LA LA to the tune.
But I'm not crazy! ;-)
Your problem is you are confusing two different "fictionverses" (fictional worlds), that of JK Rowling; where the above is not the case, but witchcraft or magic is a natural ability that can be developed, with that of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger.
While neither of these two "realities" is actually real, one can consider them for how they view human nature and aspiration. "Harry Potter" celebrates honour, sacrifice, loyalty. "Witchhammer" celebrates suspicion, distrust, betrayal.
Very good analysis. I never even thought of that, but you make some great points. Certainly would explain that vulture on her hat.
You know what is so funny is that a few years ago we went out of town and had to have someone watch our cats. We found a local pet sitting service and the woman who runs it has show parrots. She told us she had recently got a new kitten and she named her Hermione! You two could chat for hours!
wow, I never considered that.Interesting theory
also, the only 2 people Neville is terrified of are Snape, & Gran.
Are you willing to name names?
Unless he gets Falcor
Well, there's your problem. It's a thoroughly false definition, with regard to HP.
If you are really concerned with anti-christian childrens lit, forget about Harry Potter. The series you should be concerned about is Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Soon to be a movie as well.
His understory theme is that God is intentionally stifling Man's potential. Angels are evil and pagan withches are our only hope of freedom from God's tyranny.
This is an "award winning" series, and is being taught in some middle school and high school lit classes.
I disagree, I think Neville's grandmother is just a tired old woman who has seen (probably) her only child reduced to a state of vegetablism, and had to raise a small child at an age when she should be retired. She's strict because Neville's all she's got left and she's afraid he'll be hurt.
Anyway, wasn't the plant brought in by one of the nurses? And Neville's a botany whiz, he'd have noticed if his gran was carrying around a Devil's Snare!
You know, it's funny, but I had the same notion about the Harry Potter books for quite a while.
I was completely enamoured with LotR (and The Hobbit, as well as The Simarillian), and Peter Jackson's vision just stunned me (although I feel that he got the ending completely wrong, with his treatment of the scouring of the shire).
But one night, I was bored, and Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone was on one of the movie channels on cable, so I figured, what the heck, I'll watch it. Robbie Coltrane's portrayal of Hagrid won me over, and I decided that if I liked the movie that much, I wanted to read the book.
I really loved the book, and as much as I've enjoyed the movies, the books are even better. And each book (and movie) is getting better and better.
Mark
Psst! You haven't read the books until you've read them in the original English. Protest the dumbing down of America - get a copy of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".
This is mostly sarcastic but there were some really dumb changes to the first three volumes to "Americanize" them. The title change on the first book was IMO unforgivable.
Neville's botany whiz, but he was in the room, and he didn't recognize the plant. Neither did any of the others, and three of them had been caught in one once.
A nurse may have brought it in, though. It's been a while since I read it, and I loaned out my copy of the book.
But Neville was a little preoccupied in the room - not strange that he didn't notice the plant - but if his gran had been walking around London with such a thing, I think he'd have noticed.
You could be right, but that's just not the sort of person I think she is.
I'm probably wrong (I usually am when it comes to puzzling out mysteries). But when they refer to "gran's" visits as being regular as clockwork, it makes me suspicious that she may be renewing a charm or enchantment. (Maybe she's keeping the parents in the hospital to keep them alive?) And I'd love to know why "gran" doesn't want Neville reading his mother's notes.
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