Book Review: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Spoilers)

As practically everyone in the world with eyes, ears, and half a brain knows, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, the sixth book in JK Rowling's epic series, was released two days ago. I've finished it, and am going to share a few of my thoughts. Warning: Do not read if you haven't finished book 6.

I thought that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was a lot better than Harry Potter 5, the Order of the Phoenix. It seemed like the plot was a lot more cohesive, and elements from the first parts of the book tied into the ending. I didn't really think that was the case with Order of the Phoenix. Except for the part with the Muggle Minister in the first chapter, which I guess is to show us the relationship between the Muggle and wizarding world, it seemed like the book fit together pretty well.

Warning: If you're still reading and you haven't finished book 6, I'm going to start really giving things away right now.

A few of my complaints, which many people have assured me are due to my nitpicking nature, are that Harry didn't seem quite as sharp as he used to, and that the major part of the book seemed similar to the rest of the books.

Ok, seriously. I'm about to give away half the plot.

My first complaint has to do with the Half-Blood Prince's potions book. It seems like Harry, or at least Hermione or Ron, would have thought that it was Voldemort's. I mean, it was about fifty years old, it was a book that just sort of fell into their possession, and it seemed dangerous. Didn't that happen before? Way to learn from your mistakes, guys.

As for my second complaint, well, sometimes the Harry Potter books seem similar. In fact, this one broke the mold a lot more than the other ones, in my opinion.

1)Harry goes to school.
2) Harry uncovers a plot, no one believes him.
3)Something happens and the entire school gets mad at him.
4)Harry, Hermione and Ron rely on their brains, courage, and luck to scrape through an exciting finale that more or less ties up the subplots.

Plus, there were a few misspelled words in my copy, but I'm not going to be that nitpicky.

I loved Fred and George's shop. The Spell Checker was really clever, along with all of their other "wheezes". I also loved finding out more about Snape, who, I hate to admit, I'm becoming more and more fascinated by. Gah. Why is your history so compelling? You are a bad guy, who I hated for the first four books. Thanks, now I think I'm going slightly crazy.

That brings up Malfoy, who I actually felt pity for. JK Rowling did a great job with the poor little guy.

You do NOT want to read what's below this. It's the biggest surprise of the book. I'm warning you. Really, I'm not kidding. It's going to ruin it for you.

Ah, and Dumbledore. It was incredibly surprising for me when it happened. I mean, it occurred to me once or twice that he might be the one to die, but then I thought, Come on. It's Dumbledore.

Well, that about sums up my feelings for the sixth book. I can't wait until the final one comes out and we can find out what Harry does with his life. (Does he become an Auror? Does he become the new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher? Does he just die?)

If you read this far, congratulations. You will not be surprised at all. Why even read the book? Well, it's still lovely, so you should. Go read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince now!

Violin: Instrument of Elegance or a Cruel Joke of the Renaissance?

I play the violin. I have been playing the violin since I was nine years old. Given that I'm 16, that's almost half of my life. You would think that in seven years, I'd have been able to decide where I stand on this issue. Is the violin an instrument of elegance and a symbol of refined culture? Or, is it something more sinister? Could the violin and all that it stands for be a complete mockery?

If you ever try to play one of these instruments, you'll know what I mean right away. At first, you think to yourself, "Hey, I'm doing this pretty well. Yeah, these open notes are sounding pretty fine." Then, suddenly, the piece will shift into third, fourth, or fifth position. "Whaaa?!" you will scream angrily, as your once fine-sounding piece quickly degenerates into squeakiness.

At first, I thought it was just me. Maybe I'm just not meant to play the violin, I thought to myself, disheartened. After all, I'm only nine years old.

At the age of twelve, I thought I had it all. I'm so good at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!, I would think to myself gloatingly. I almost never forget to rest.

Now, at the age of sixteen, I go back and forth between these two extremes. Whoa, look at me go. WHAT?! *#&$(#@! Where did those little notes come from?! *#&^#!

This is what lead me to stumbling upon the truth. Those Renaissance masters who invented the violin, those crafty Stradivariuses and Grancinos, they weren't trying to change the world of music. They were mocking the world of music.

Stradivari: So, the Renaissance. This is nice.
Paolo Grancino: I do so enjoy the draw bridges and the domes.
Stradivari: You know, I'm bored with perfection. We should create something devious for once.
Paolo Grancino: Hmm, you're right! But what...
Stradivari: We shall create something so sinister, so evil, that millions will be frightened to speak its name!
Paolo Grancino: Let's call it the violin.
Stradivari: K.

They did just that, knowing that millions would try to master their sinister creation but fail, and be reduced to a weeping ball of frustration and hopelessness.

There are possibly only three violins that really "work" in the world, and those are dispensed under great secrecy to the so-called "violin virtuosos." See, the Renaissance men were smart. They knew that unless it seemed like you could eventually master the violin, the populace would with time just give up. What a devious, devious plot.

Now that you know the truth, don't be fooled. Don't think that you need more practice with the violin. You'll never get it. And if you try, you're just playing their game. Tell all of your conductors and spread the truth.

Quote of the Day

"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures." -George W. Bush

Best Movies Ever (or, the ones I can think of)

- The Blues Brothers
- Airplane!
- Shaun of the Dead
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- Arthur
- Napoleon Dynamite, gosh
- Donnie Darko
- I heart huckabees
- Office Space
- Fight Club
- Indiana Jones
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Severe Writer's Block

See the title.

Today I started SIUE Summer Writing Camp...which is good, because I'd forgotten how much I love SIUE visitor parking. :-(