Prisoner of Azkaban Chapters 12-13

Ron Ruined It!

At one point in Chapter 12, Hermione was about to explain something about Professor Lupin, but Ron, being the thick twit that he is interrupts Hermione so that they never find out what she knew. It turns out that what she knew would have a big impact on the end of the story, but I won't give it away.

Captain Clueless

As Harry and Ron are walking back from Quidditch practice one evening, they notice Crookshanks in the distance. The author notes that Crookshanks disappeared by a certain tree. Come on super sleuths, pay attention to where the cat went! It seems like in this book, more than any other, Harry and Ron don't pay attention to things around them that could give them clues to the mystery surrounding Sirius Black. It seems that Harry really isn't focused on the man who is out to kill him. I sure would be. I would want to know as much about him as possible.

Cho Changers and Cedric Shin-Diggory


Once again, we see the pattern Rowling uses of introducing characters before they become relevant to the overall plot. Cho gets introduced to the series in this chapter, but really doesn't play a larger role until the next two books. It's nice to re-read the books and say, "Wow, I didn't realize this character was talked about in this book." Cho isn't the only character who will become more relevant that is introduced early. Cedric Diggory is also revealed in this book as the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain.


Worthy of note here is the mention that the actor who portrayed Cedric in the movies is none other than the undead celebate vampire, Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen). Thanks to Sam O. and Roger P, we've come up with some great alternate names for Cedric: Undead Cedric, Deadric Diggory, Edward Cufflepuff, Ced-rigor-mortis Diggory, Grave Diggory, "Avada Kedavra" Cullen, and Dead-ward Cullen.

Prisoner of Azkaban Chapters 10-11

For Diane O.... because you so love my blog.

Tests of Loyalty

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I have sure seen a decrease in loyalty in our society. Gone are the days of an entire city being devoted to one sports team. Seldom do you find consumers shopping at a single store out of loyalty (Ahem, Walmart.) And rarely do you see loyalty to a political figure and going even further, loyalty of that political figure to his or her office. People these days even jump ship on religions like they're fads. I can tell by the way she writes, that JK Rowling values loyalty as this is one of the major themes (and my favorite) that comes out throughout the book. Bonds of loyalty and trust and tried, tested, and sometimes even broken. In Chapter 10 of this book, Harry finds himself in the hospital wing because of a fall from his broomstick. Harry, being the moody teen he is, dwells on his overwhelming problems: his broken broomstick, quidditch, the issue with the dementors, the grim, and the fugitive, Sirius Black. We get a firsthand look inside Harry's head because he's the protagonist of the story, but what is not to be overlooked is that while Harry is lying in the hospital wing, Ron and Hermione "left Harry's bedside only at night." I don't think this is a superfluous tidbit added by Rowling; rather, I prefer to believe she did it intentionally to reenforce the theme of loyalty because their loyalty to Harry will be severely tested later in the series.



Keeping with the theme of loyalty, we see in this book that although Dumbledore is an extremely accomplished and powerful wizard, he has earned the respect of others. It has been said that the true test of character is how you treat your subordinates.... or something like that. We've already seen acts of loyalty demonstrated by Hagrid in earlier books and I'll reitterate those as more examples come later on. In this chapter, we see a demonstration of loyalty to Dumbledore by McGonagall. During her conversation with Fudge, Flitwick, and Hagrid in the Three Broomsticks, McGonagall unquestionably backs Dumbledore when Fudge mentions the dementors being angry with Dumbledore.

Christmas Bells are Ringing... blah blah blah blah blah blah.

During the Christmas feast, Professor Trelawny notices the absence of Professor Lupin. Dumbledore gives the excuse that he's ill. However, Professor Lupin has not been seen in the hospital wing... suspicious. Perhaps he knew he was going to be sick, and perhaps this is why he didn't want to start anti-dementor lessons with Harry until after break. I don't think he was really busy... hmmmm.

It's a Freaking Broomstick

It takes true talent to write about a plain object like a broomstick and make the readers yearn for one the same way they'd pine for a new sports car. As I was reading about Harry and Ron's excitement over the Firebolt, I had to stop and remind myself that it's a stupid broomstick she's describing. There is no such thing as a Firebolt, yet I found myself jealous that Harry had one and I didn't... :(

Harry Potter vs. Percy Jackson

Hey sports fans! During my little "Potter Hiatus," I took the chance to read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. If you don't know anything about them, I'll give a brief description. Percy is the son of Poseidon... and saves the day. The End. Told you it would be brief :)

A colleague of mine at the dental school recommended this 5-book series because he claims they're similar to Harry Potter, and he knowing what a rabid HP fan I am, suggested I give them a try. So I'm posting this as a book review for any of yous who are considering giving them a try.













VS






As a stand-alone series, it's a pretty fun and easy read, but comparing it to Harry Potter is like comparing the contents of my daughter's diaper to the Mona Lisa. My biggest beef with the series is that it doesn't grow and mature like the Harry Potter series does. What I mean by that is the first Percy Jackson book reads very similar to the first Harry Potter book. Both main characters are just learning about the special worlds they are a part of. In the second Harry Potter book, Harry and his friends mature and the overall plot grows in depth and complexity. In the second Percy Jackson book, however, new characters are added, but we don't get a maturing of the characters even though they age along a similar timeline as the HP characters do. Both of these series are aimed at young adult readers, but the difference between the two is that the last book in the HP series is aimed at an older, more mature audience while the Percy Jackson series stays at that 11-13 year old range.

Another problem I have with the Percy Jackson series is that the characters don't react to dangerous situations like the average person would. When faced with impending doom, Percy still manages to pop off a few wisecracks or puns. Facing the same situation, Harry deals with his emotions in a much more real and understandable way. I think the way the characters are treated in the Percy Jackson series does a disservice to the readers. Yes, the pre-teens will still love the books, but in my opinion, they won't be able to relate to the characters on any kind of personal level. In contrast, in HP, a lot of people can relate to someone like Ron whose accomplishments are overshadowed by those of his older siblings. He feels that he has to take the backseat to Harry and sometimes Hermione. Some people can also relate to being brainy like Hermione, but also being aware of lacking some social grace and being the target of scrutiny. Some may even be able to relate to being thrust in the spotlight like Harry despite a multitude of insecurities.

The Percy Jackson series does have some redeeming qualities. The books are very action packed and I never felt that they dragged in any regard. The author does a good job of keeping the plot moving forward. Another good thing is that I actually learned quite a bit about Greek Mythology. The author also does a good job of not "Disney-fying" the Greek Gods. For example, he doesn't shy away from the fact that the gods had extra-marital affairs and that even the gods are flawed and don't always do "good."

Overall, the series was a quick and enjoyable read and I would recommend them for a light-hearted adventure. I would not, however, recommend starting a blog discovering the depths and complexities of Percy Jackson.

Prisoner of Azkaban Chapters 8 - 9

Looks Like a Truck Ran into its Face

Ok, so what's the deal with Crookshanks? First of all, why's he out for scabbers. Second of all, how is that cat so smart? Third of all, why would Hermione buy such an ugly insult to nature in the first place?

First, I can't answer why he appears to be after Scabbers without giving too much away. We just have to take things at face value for now, but I will say that Ron's assumptions about the cat will prove to be well founded.

Second, I really have no idea how the cat is so smart. That's one thing about Crookshanks that has always bothered me. I get that he's a magical pet, but most pets that have abilities beyond their counterparts in the muggle world are given some kind of personality: Hedwig, Buckbeak, and even Scabbers. Referencing Newton Artemis Fido Scamander, Crookshanks is not actually a cat, but a magical creature called a "kneazle." They resemble cats, but are more intellegent, loyal, and aggressive. Mr. Scamander also points out that they are excellent at detecting unsavory or suspecious characters (an importand point to keep in mind throughout this book.) He also points out that a liscense is require for ownership of a kneazle. I'm not sure Hermione has one of thems.

Thirdly, no one can answer why Hermione would buy a trainwreck of a cat, but if you think about Hermione's personality, it kinda fits. She values intellegence and loyalty above looks and popularity. But as smart as Hermione is, I'm surprized she didn't know more about kneazles. That could have changed the whole landscape of the third book.

Turn to Page Three-Hundred Ninety-Four

So we see in Chapter 9 that Snape definetly does not like Professor Lupin. We don't yet understand why, but it becomes more clear later in this book and in Book 5.




Extra Credit:

If you want something fun to test your HP knowledge, go here:

http://www.sporcle.com/games/GeoGod/allharrypotter

Welcome back!

It's about time you guys came back. Sheesh. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever have readers again. I pretty much blame all you guys for my absence.

Now that you've learned your lesson, let's move on.

Have you seen this? If you haven't, shame, shame, shame on you all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EC2tmFVNNE

This is the newest trailer for BOTH Deathly Hallows movies. I had to watch it multiple times to take it all in. I looks to be the best thing the happen to mankind, so show it to all your friends, family, and cow-orkers.

(More on Prisoner of Azkaban to come shortly)

Prisoner of Azkaban Chapters 5 - 7

Where have you been?

Busy, I guess. But that's no excuse! I'm recommitting myself to everything Potter. Am I done with this blog? Not by a long shot. So Gryffindorks, let's get rollin'

Chocolate? Seriously?

Can you tell a woman is writing this story? Of course, the cure to the very thing that sucks all the happiness out of you is chocolate. I think Rowling wrote this with a little tongue in cheek. Everyone knows that chocolate makes everything better... at least it does for me.
A couple of questions for you

After the dementors searched the train, why do you think Ginny was shaking so badly? The answer is never explicitly given, but given what we'll learn later about dementors, it makes sense that they would affect Ginny a little differently than the others.

Why would Rowling mention that the Hogwarts stagecoaches smell like straw? I think it is to give the reader a clue that the stagecoaches are being pulled by something. If the stagecoaches simply moved on their own, why would they smell like straw unless the smell came from the things actually pulling the stagecoaches. We'll learn more about them later.

Magical Medicine


As a student of medicine, I find it interesting that Madam Pompfrey would examine a patient in much the same way a muggle would. Although treatments may differ radically in the magical world, it seems that many basic diagnostic skills remain the same.

Oh Minerva

I have to give McGonagall some credit in this story. It seems that almost everyone treats Harry special in one way or another. McGonagall actually sees the importance of giving Harry what he really wants most -- a normal life. She doesn't give him preferential treatment or treat him any different than the other students. Although, it is obvious that through her stern fascade, she has a real soft spot for Harry.

Professor R.J. Lupin



Finally, a competant Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher. I really like this character. He's unpretentious and unassuming. Not a lot of information is given about Lupin early in the book other than that he quickly gains the favor of most students. Pay attention for clues about this character because there's a lot more about him that we are yet to learn. One major clue that is given already is that when Lupin is faced with a Boggart, it assumes the form of an orb. Why would Lupin be afraid of an orb?

Speaking of Boggarts, did you notice that among dark, quiet places they prefer to dwell, closets and beds are among them? This fits right in with kids screaming because there's a monster under their bed because obviously, the boggart would assume the shape of whatever would frighten a child most. It all makes sense!


A Quiz!!!!!!


Okay, Gryffindorks, this quiz doesn't come out of Prisoner of Azkaban, but let's see how good your Harry Potter knowledge is. I admit, even I got stumped on a couple of these. Here it is:


Without referencing the books, google, or anything else besides your own minds, name the seven Horcruxes AND who destroyed each one. (Hint: No one person destroyed more than one horcrux)

Prisoner of Azkaban Chapters 3 - 4

She Knows, She Always Knows!

In Chapter 3, in the article in the Daily Prophet about Sirius Black, Harry reads that Fudge informed the muggle prime minister of Black's breakout from Azkaban. In the 6th book, we can actually get a first hand account of Fudge meeting with the prime minister. It amazes me how well Rowling integrates the books. In an interview with Rowling, she revealed that she wrote the chapter about Fudge's interaction with the muggle prime minister long before the 6th book was written. She had a hard time deciding where she would place it in the series. At one time, she considered placing it in Chamber of Secrets. One more example of excellent integrating that we see in these chapters is that it's mentioned that the Irish quidditch team put in an order for seven new Firebolt racing brooms and that they were favorites in the world cup that year. We find out in the 4th book, that they indeed made it to the quidditch world cup finals against Bulgaria.

The One Good Thing...

about living with the Dursleys is that Harry has remained humble and grounded. Dumbledore points this out to the Dursleys in the 6th book, but we can see evidence of that right now. One thing that is so endearing about Harry is that he constantly underestimates how special he is. It's not that he has any special magical abilities or powers others don't, but it's that he posesses the character and moral fiber that allows him to use his magical abilities to better others; and yet, he remains innocently oblivious of the impact he has on others. He's the very opposite of Gilderoy Lockhart.

Because we get the story from Harry's point of view, we rarely get to see what others think of Harry, but we can get an idea from how they treat him. Although Harry would never admit it, he must be endearing to others. He's won many people over just like Voldemort did, but unlike Voldemort, who manipulated people into liking him, Harry is naturally endearing. Here are a few examples: Fortescue must have taken a liking to Harry because he gave him free sundaes at his ice cream shop every half hour while Harry was doing homework; Hagrid, Dobby, and Colin Creevey are probably Harry's biggest fans; and we even see that McGonagall has taken a liking to Harry, though she rarely openly shows it.

A Little Rusty on the Detective Work


Over the summer, Harry must of gotten a little rusty on this detective abilities. I'm speaking here of his interaction with Fudge. Harry thought it was a little suspicious that he got off so easily after blowing up his aunt. Harry did figure out that Fudge let him off easy because Black is after Harry, but what Harry failed to do was think about Fudge's motivations. We know from the last book what kind of man Fudge is. He's mainly concerned about saving face. This case is no different. Fudge's intentions in meeting Harry at the Leaky Cauldron were less than noble. He knew that if anything happened to the "Boy who lived," then that would be a political disaster. The public would think that if Black killed Harry, he could kill any one of them. Fudge would be ruined. Harry should have picked up on this.

Priorities

Harry behaves in Diagon Alley like I imagine a lot of 13-year-olds would. He finds it mildly tempting to blow a bunch of money on something he would use for school, but finds it almost impossible not to blow his whole fortune on the best racing broom in the world despite already owning the 3rd best racing broom in the world. I know some people who would have bought the broom anyway... and they're not even 13.