Harry Potter and the Whatever

I spent the first 150 pages trying to remember who the somewhat minor characters were and what their relationships were to one another and to Harry. I probably should have reread Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire in preparation for reading this, but I didn't know it would be so research-intensive. I remember Mad-Eye Moody, sort of. I remember Lupin, sort of. Aren't those the random folks that taught Defense Against the Dark Arts? Sure, yeah, but do I remember the details of their storylines... no. Not at all. I don't remember which one was in which book and I don't remember who the heck the fourth friend was in the quartet of Sirius, Lupin, James, and... somebody.... and I shouldn't NEED to know. But all of that comes into play at some point in this book, and because I don't remember it like the back of my hand, I felt at a loss at times.

People have talked about how Harry shows his teenage spirit in these books - that he's angrier at the world and more outspoken and somewhat rash. Am I the only one who things that these are sort of the worst qualities of your average teen, and not those that I wish to see in my little wizard-hero? And if you're marketing a book towards kids of that age, do you really want to be showcasing a protagonist who is broody and bitchy?

The argument has been made that JK Rowling is writing for kids who were Harry's age at the first book, but who have now grown to see him as a teenager. I don't know about that. I have a fifteen-year-old nephew who likely considers himself too cool to be reading Harry Potter books anymore, whereas his ten-year-old brother is probably more than happy to.

I think what pisses me off most though is the obvious leak to the media that there was going to be a death of a major character in the book. Throughout the book, there are constant "fake" deaths, designed to make you the reader think, "Ron's dead! No, wait, he's fine... Mr. Weasley's DEAD! No, wait, he's fine. HERMIONE'S DEAD!! No, wait..." By the time someone actually did die, I was well and glad to be over with him. (trying not to spoil it for those who haven't read it...)

As far as it being a major character, well, he WASN'T in this book. He's been much more prominent in previous works, but he's missing for huge chunks of this book, and is not a primary part of the action when he is. I had FAR more connection to the character who died in the fourth book because they built his character throughout, and it was completely unexpected. I was stunned and horrifed when that character died; with this one, I was nonplussed.

Will I still go buy the sixth book when it comes out? Hell yes. I want to see Harry's story through. There were elements of this book that I really liked - the evolving mystery surrounding Snape, the maturity of Ginny Weasley, Neville taking on a much larger role... lots of things. And like I said, maybe I will reread the third and fourth and then this will make more sense, but for right now, I have Harry burnout.

Oh, and by the way, it's so NOT about the Order of the Phoenix. Shoulda come up with a better title.

Sigh.