Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [amazon]
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.; 1st American ed. edition (July 16, 2005)
Pages: 672
Book Number: 28
Last night, I was up until 2AM finishing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The ending was awful. 
Before I go any further with this post, please be aware that there will be some major spoilers in it. If you’ve not read this one yet, steer clear. With that out of the way…
I can’t believe that Dumbledore is dead! Certainly, I knew major characters were due to start dying at this point in the series, but Dumbledore? He was certainly not one of the main characters who I imagined dying! He was always the strongest, the wisest of the cast – he was supposed to make it to the very end! His death was all the more worse because of who caused it, that sneaking, slimey bastard, Snape. Despite the hints dropped throughout this book that Snape was actually lying to Dumbledore, I thought, just maybe, that Snape really was on the good side. Indeed, when he burst onto the top of the astronomy tower, I rather expected him to show his true colors and attack the Death Eaters. No such luck, however… I turned the page to read of him screaming “Avada Kredavra” and killing Dumbledore.
I suppose, however, that Rowling could always pull a Tolkien, and have Dumbledore come back, right? Right… ? (Yeah, I’m not going to bet on it.) While on that topic, Dumbledore has always reminded me a great deal of Gandalf, but the similarities really poured out in Half-Blood Prince. When he and Harry were in the cave, searching for the Horcrux, and Dumbledore was searching the walls for a hidden doorway – wow! Trying to enter Moria, anyone? The giant lake inside a cave with the little island in the middle reminded me a lot of Gollum’s abode, too. Finally, all of Harry’s private lessons with Dumbledore reminded me of the chapter in Lord of the Rings where Gandalf sat up late into the night, explaining the history of the Ring to Frodo. Anyway… onward:
That Draco is now in the employ of Voldemort pleases me, in a way. Previously, he was just a nasty little jerk, but he wasn’t completely on the “bad side”, despite his father’s Death Eater status. Now he’s most definitely on the bad side, and I hope to see him get his comeuppances in book 7.
In regards to Voldemort’s Horcruxes, I’m wondering something (and this is a rhetorical question, don’t bloody answer in the comments! 
): Is Harry one of the Horcruxes? If he is, I suppose that would explain why he has to die in Deathly Hallows. He would also fit (sort of) the description of being “of the Gryffindor House.” Wouldn’t that be a bummer for him? All of this fighting Voldemort, figuring out how to take him down, only to discover that he himself (Harry) has to die before Voldemort will kick the bucket.
Of course, I now stand at that awful point that everyone who reads series must face: only having one book left in the series to read. I’m torn – obviously, I want to rush and get the next one from the library and find out how it all ends. On the other hand, I really don’t want it to end. However – my desire to know what happens outweights my feelings of “no, it’s almost over!” I’ll be checking out book 7 from the university library tomorrow.
Comments 11
Some good guesses and if you think the the half blood prince has a lot of surprises (ie. dumbledore dies), you won’t believe what is going to happen in the deathly hallow.
Posted 30 Sep 2007 at 8:00 pm ¶I’m surprised you got this far without learning the ending of Half-Blood Prince. The quick-to-transmit three word spoiler of “Snape kills Dumbledore” was (is) all over the Internet. It’s actually part of what made me start reading the books; I figured if I was ever going to read them, it would be a Good Thing to do so while there was still _something_ yet to be spoiled.
Speaking of having one book left in a series, I started on the seventh Dark Tower book last night.
From your minor impressions you shared with me I didn’t dislike the sixth as much as you did, though it was mostly one of the three separate story threads (Roland/Eddie’s) that really hit the spot.
Posted 30 Sep 2007 at 8:19 pm ¶Stavanger: Wow, more surprises than Half-Blood Prince? Cool. Can’t wait to get started on it.
Joshua: Yep, pretty amazing isn’t it? I had no idea that Dumbledore died, let alone who did it. I always assumed that Draco was supposed to be trying to kill HARRY, but Dumbledore? No.
Regarding book #6 of the Dark Tower series – yeck. I thought it was pretty crappy. I don’t even recall what the story thread about Roland/Eddie was. Refresh my memory?
Posted 30 Sep 2007 at 9:33 pm ¶If you are able to simply walk into your library and check out Deathly Hallows, I hate you!
Posted 01 Oct 2007 at 5:52 am ¶I’m am currently on the waiting list at my local library for one of twenty-some-odd copies, and I’m sixty-third on the list!
Perhaps Harry is just not as popular with the University crowd. Or perhaps he’s just not as possible in the middle of nowhere!
Given your penchant for spoilers, I simply must finish that last book before you.
As I have a PA trip coming up this weekend, it looks like now is a perfect time to buy a copy.
It’s going to look so out of place with all of my paperbacks….
Fig: Yeah, I can just walk into the uni library and grab it off the shelf. I just checked our catalog, and it’s still available. What’s more is, we have ONE copy. The explanation, I think, lies with the fact that the majority of people don’t realize that the university library carries fiction beyond classic literature. I’ve had a few people ask me about this at the reference counter. “Do you carry – uh – normal books? Not textbooks, or scholarly texts?”
And so, I’m left with a single copy of Deathly Hallows to please me, while you’re left at the 63rd spot on the waiting list for one of twenty-some copies. Funny how such things work out, isn’t it?
And – hah! Finally caving to the purchasing demon. Can’t stand it that I’ll have read it before you, can you?
And yes, a large hardback in the midst of 6 paperbacks is going to look a bit odd. Oh well; you can always fix that when the paperback version comes out.
Posted 01 Oct 2007 at 8:34 am ¶The Half Blood Price is my favorite Harry Potter book. One of my favorite parts of the book is where Dubledore explains to Harry why, he can defeat Voldemort. It may sound cheesy but there is so much truth to what he says.
Posted 01 Oct 2007 at 11:59 am ¶Michael: Yeah, I liked that part as well. I can’t remember the verse numbers at the moment, but in the Dhammapada, there’s a section talking about how you can only defeat hate with kindness, etc.
Posted 01 Oct 2007 at 12:12 pm ¶Just forget all your speculations and spoilers and keep reading..
I have to admit I was rather shocked when Dumbledore was killed too, even if I had a really bad feeling through out the whole book and still in shock over Sirius death. And as a mother I found it rather painful to read this about this boy who lost everyone who could serve as a parent for him.
Posted 02 Oct 2007 at 2:49 am ¶zhayena: Okay, speculations (mostly) forgotten; proceeding with reading.
Sirius’ death didn’t bother me much. Despite him caring for Harry, I never did like him much. Too pushy, maybe. Dumbledore, though? I loved the guy.
Posted 02 Oct 2007 at 7:57 am ¶Maybe I’m just coloured by the fact that Sirius is played by Gary Oldman in the movies…
Posted 02 Oct 2007 at 9:01 am ¶Sirius might not be the best of men, but he somehow symbolized some kind of better future for Harry.
It’s a year and a bit later now, and just like you, i just finished the Half Blood Prince at 2 am ! and I’m devastated! I steered clear of internet spoilers and was not expecting Dumbledore to die. I have to sheepishly admit that i cried. i couldn’t believe it. I felt like Harry was abandoned again. how could they break his bond with Dumbledore?
Posted 17 Jan 2009 at 11:21 pm ¶Post a Comment