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Final day BDH
Jul. 20th, 2007 07:02 pmSo here we are, on the eve of a brave new era. A new world lies in wait beyond midnight and none of us (except those in countries where it already is 21st July) knows what will happen (oh and those who got copies early or read that thing on the Internet).
If you had asked me two months ago... well, maybe three, I probably would have told you that I was pretty much over Harry Potter. The fifth book was awful (in my mind at least) the sixth one was good but could have done with a rigourous pruning and the films were mostly poor with the odd highlight of 'ooh Cuaron's a puppyshipper'. Then people realised that I knew about it, that I was a member of the fandom and they started discussing it with me and I once again got caught up in the crazy nonsense that is HP-theorising. I had a friend inform me that Harry and Hermione were siblings, socks were vitally important and Arthur Weasley was going to be Minister of Magic. I explained in depth my reasoning behind Snape's (obvious) goodness. I pondered the question of who was present in Godric's Hollow on Halloween 1981 and even had an argument concerning the possible death of Tonks and one (not both) of the Weasley twins.
I'd love to spend this post making vividly and amazingly accurate prophecies concerning the outcome of the book. I'd really like to tell you all firmly that Tonks will die pretending to be Harry in order to lure the Death Eaters away from him as he goes after the final horcrux, Charlie Weasley is going to be the next Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts and Luna Lovegood will save the day with an army of Nargles (all of which I so hope happen). But the truthful thing is - I have no idea, and I like having no idea. I enjoy the feeling of open ended possibility we currently have. So I'll leave the prophecies to Professor Trelawny. The Harry Potter fandom is unique and incredible in the way that it encourages so much postulating and imagining, and tomorrow all of that will be over.
Over... how insane is that. 10 years of reading and waiting and thinking carefully and saying to your friends the next day 'I knew it was Mrs Figg... I knew it!' or 'Don't tell me anything I haven't managed to get my copy yet.' I am still bitter about the girl who sat next to me in geography telling me that Cedric died. grrrr.
Tomorrow, tonight, two hours ago if you live in Hong Kong (the world clock is a wonderful site), we come to what is probably the biggest event in fandom ever. seven books, five films and many many pieces of merchandise ago none of us knew who Harry Potter was. I remember reading the blurb of the first book and thinking that Harry rode to one on one apprenticeship with Dumbledore on a giant owl. Now we don't know what life would be like without it.
I really want to read the Deathly Hallows, don't get me wrong. It's going to explain everything (well, lots of stuff), but while it feels a lot like Christmas Eve, it also feels a lot like the day before exam results: anticipation, trepidation and a whole lot of 'what comes next?'.
Only the answer to the final question is nothing. The canon will then be considered closed. I'm hoping she leaves enough open ends that we still have a few things to theorise about, but at the same time ties everything up neatly. I want Harry to live, I want him to die and I want Voldemort to take over the world, subjugate them to his will and make everyone who ever opposed him dance disco into the night. I want Sirius back, I want Regulus to feature. I want Remus to die and stay alive... I want Peter to redeem himself, but not too much. I want Bill and Fleur's wedding to be beautiful - but interrupted by Death-Eaters.
Soon it will all have happened or not happened and that will be it. I will close the cover (and probably go out for the family barbecue which is scheduled for tomorrow come rain, sleet or thunder) No doubt I will reread them all again and again and again (and again and again and again...) but it will never be the same really.
I feel a little stupid acting like this over books that I know are derivative and not exactly the best pieces of prose ever written, but *shrug* I have a tendency to be obsessed with things, and I don't like change, I don't like endings and I don't want things to end.
I am, however, spoiler free, and intend to remain so. I am studiously avoiding my friends page just incase some of them have already read it (you never know) and have been such utter pillocks as to post spoilers unlj-cutted.
My dinner is on the table now, so I guess I should go. The next time I post will be post-DH. I shall love it or I shall hate it (or maybe it will grow on me). I'm going to quickly check Amazon to make sure my copy's been dispatched.
See you all on the other side.
If you had asked me two months ago... well, maybe three, I probably would have told you that I was pretty much over Harry Potter. The fifth book was awful (in my mind at least) the sixth one was good but could have done with a rigourous pruning and the films were mostly poor with the odd highlight of 'ooh Cuaron's a puppyshipper'. Then people realised that I knew about it, that I was a member of the fandom and they started discussing it with me and I once again got caught up in the crazy nonsense that is HP-theorising. I had a friend inform me that Harry and Hermione were siblings, socks were vitally important and Arthur Weasley was going to be Minister of Magic. I explained in depth my reasoning behind Snape's (obvious) goodness. I pondered the question of who was present in Godric's Hollow on Halloween 1981 and even had an argument concerning the possible death of Tonks and one (not both) of the Weasley twins.
I'd love to spend this post making vividly and amazingly accurate prophecies concerning the outcome of the book. I'd really like to tell you all firmly that Tonks will die pretending to be Harry in order to lure the Death Eaters away from him as he goes after the final horcrux, Charlie Weasley is going to be the next Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts and Luna Lovegood will save the day with an army of Nargles (all of which I so hope happen). But the truthful thing is - I have no idea, and I like having no idea. I enjoy the feeling of open ended possibility we currently have. So I'll leave the prophecies to Professor Trelawny. The Harry Potter fandom is unique and incredible in the way that it encourages so much postulating and imagining, and tomorrow all of that will be over.
Over... how insane is that. 10 years of reading and waiting and thinking carefully and saying to your friends the next day 'I knew it was Mrs Figg... I knew it!' or 'Don't tell me anything I haven't managed to get my copy yet.' I am still bitter about the girl who sat next to me in geography telling me that Cedric died. grrrr.
Tomorrow, tonight, two hours ago if you live in Hong Kong (the world clock is a wonderful site), we come to what is probably the biggest event in fandom ever. seven books, five films and many many pieces of merchandise ago none of us knew who Harry Potter was. I remember reading the blurb of the first book and thinking that Harry rode to one on one apprenticeship with Dumbledore on a giant owl. Now we don't know what life would be like without it.
I really want to read the Deathly Hallows, don't get me wrong. It's going to explain everything (well, lots of stuff), but while it feels a lot like Christmas Eve, it also feels a lot like the day before exam results: anticipation, trepidation and a whole lot of 'what comes next?'.
Only the answer to the final question is nothing. The canon will then be considered closed. I'm hoping she leaves enough open ends that we still have a few things to theorise about, but at the same time ties everything up neatly. I want Harry to live, I want him to die and I want Voldemort to take over the world, subjugate them to his will and make everyone who ever opposed him dance disco into the night. I want Sirius back, I want Regulus to feature. I want Remus to die and stay alive... I want Peter to redeem himself, but not too much. I want Bill and Fleur's wedding to be beautiful - but interrupted by Death-Eaters.
Soon it will all have happened or not happened and that will be it. I will close the cover (and probably go out for the family barbecue which is scheduled for tomorrow come rain, sleet or thunder) No doubt I will reread them all again and again and again (and again and again and again...) but it will never be the same really.
I feel a little stupid acting like this over books that I know are derivative and not exactly the best pieces of prose ever written, but *shrug* I have a tendency to be obsessed with things, and I don't like change, I don't like endings and I don't want things to end.
I am, however, spoiler free, and intend to remain so. I am studiously avoiding my friends page just incase some of them have already read it (you never know) and have been such utter pillocks as to post spoilers unlj-cutted.
My dinner is on the table now, so I guess I should go. The next time I post will be post-DH. I shall love it or I shall hate it (or maybe it will grow on me). I'm going to quickly check Amazon to make sure my copy's been dispatched.
See you all on the other side.
