Book Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (HP#6)
Author: J.K. Rowling(http://www.mugglenet.com/)
Pages: 653
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: YA/Science Fiction/Fantasy
(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)
PLOT - 9
CHARACTERS - 8
BEGINNING - 9
ENDING - 7
FLOW - 8
OVERALL - 8
What I liked about this book:
I liked that it was a Harry Potter book and the same characters were involved. Being able to see into Lord Voldemort’s past was pretty darn interesting as well. The love that sparks between the teens is slightly believable, but not Rowling’s strong point. The comedy is still there, in the dialogue which was pleasant. The danger is there as well, but it’s sneaky and kept under wraps until the ending.
What I disliked about this book:
Pretty much the majority of the book seemed like it was written by someone other than J.K. Rowling. I was expecting something reminiscent to Order of the Phoenix, but I was unhappy that the entire story was different. It wasn’t that entertaining and though as I said above, looking into Voldy’s past was interesting, I think it took up too much of the story and just made it lengthier than it should have been. The budding romances between the teens are slightly believable, yet incredibly awkward, as teens can be, it still just didn’t settle well in my mind. The whining of Hermione over Ron is annoying, just tell him already you silly girl! And Ron dancing around the bush about how he might like Hermione, but he doesn’t want to say anything. I was thoroughly surprised that Harry was much more brazen and even more shocked when Ginny was the aggressor for their love story. I was very angry that Snape ended up being a bad guy or more on the bad guys side. Even though there are some other ideas that I have about that whole situation. Snape made the unforgiveable vow, and so therefore, I think that since Malfoy coulnd’t do it, Dumbledore knew the situation and sacrificed himself for Malfoy and Snape, but I won’t know until the last book. An interesting tidbit that was added to the movie that has nothing to do with things that happened in the story that solidified my idea that something may be coming in the last book pertaining to Snape being on the good guys side was when Harry was hiding under the stairs instead of under his invisibility cloak on the Astronomy tower, Harry has his wand pointed at Malfoy, but isn’t acting, but Snape comes up behind Harry and points his wand at him and motions for him to stay quiet. I found this odd and the people making the movie were perhaps trying to show us that Snape isn’t entirely on the bad guy side. Reading the last book in the series will tell if this is true.
Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone that is a fan of the Harry Potter series, even though this is the worst book by far in the series. Anyone that is a fan of YA fantasy with science fiction strewn in.
What I felt the book was about:
Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts with the most danger yet. Lord Voldemort is back and he’s made life harder for the wizarding community as well as the muggles. Harry has become the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team and he has to hold try-outs. Harry gets to continue in potions even though his O.W.L. grades weren’t up to par with Snape, because Snape has become the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and Slughorn is the new Potions teacher. Harry didn’t know that he could continue potions, so he didn’t buy any of the supplies. Slughorn lets him borrow a book from the supply cabinet of the potions room and he stumbled upon a book that was owned by the Half-Blood Prince. The directions for the potions are altered and there are even a few charms and spells in the book that Harry gets to use. Malfoy has joined the Death Eaters and Snape has made the Unforgivable Vow to protect him. Strange things start happening, a cursed necklace turns up and almost kills Katie Bell. A bottle of wine that was supposed to be given to Dumbledore as a Christmas present turns up in Slughorns study and Ron almost dies drinking this as well. Harry concedes that they are attempts on Dumbledore’s life and says that Malfoy is behind it. Dumbledore assures Harry that he knows what’s going on and to not worry about it. Ron starts dating Lavender Brown and Hermione rushes off crying just about every time the couple is mentioned. Ginny starts making advances on Harry and he is ecstatic. They start dating and Ron okays it. In the end, Harry has to tell her that he can’t continue to date her anymore because he is leaving Hogwarts the next year and going to find the mysterious Horcrux’s in which he has uncovered Voldemort has stored parts of his soul in them. Dumbledore told Harry that Voldy cannot be killed unless all Horcrux’s are destroyed. There is a horrible ending to the book that is bound to make any HP avid reader cry. And a betrayal by Snape is outrageous, though still shrouded in mystery as to the reasoning behind it and why it happens.
Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
““What’s that?” asked Harry.
“It’s from Lavender,” said Ron, sounding revolted. “She can’t honestly think I’d wear…”
Harry looked more closely and let out a shout of laughter. Dangling from the chain in large gold letters were the words: My Sweetheart.” – Page 338
