Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

I should warn you now. If you are planning on reading the book and don't want it spoiled for you I wouldn't read on.


This one picks up not long after the last one. Harry is being moved to safety as the protections on him disappear when he turns seventeen. The action starts pretty quickly unlike the previous books. Straight away he is being chased by death eaters and narrowly escapes. We already have one death at the start of the book. There is one quite pause as there is wedding preparation and Mrs Weasley tries to prevent Harry, Ron and Hermione plotting on how to get away and begin Dumbledores quest. The pause doesn't last long as Death Eaters invade the wedding after taking over the ministry of magic. Harry and co have no choice now but to go on the run and this is where it gets boring. The bulk of this part of the book is spent with location changes and lots of arguments between the three. It picks up again two thirds of the way through with their capture and a final battle back at Hogwarts.

I found the book to be a little disappointing. The middle section could have been a lot shorter. Much of it wasn't needed to tell the story. You could get a sense of their isolation from everyone else in a couple of sentences. Plus the treatment of muggle born witches and wizards was described in their attempt to enter the ministry. All the arguments and the constant moving around with nothing much happening just bored me. I would have finished the book on Saturday night. Instead I got frustrated and decided to pick it up again the next day. Wanting to know what happened in the end was the only thing that made me pick up the book again. It picks up again with the capture of the three by Death Eaters. From that moment on I had difficulty putting it down as the story seemed to move quickly from there. The final battle took place in Hogwarts which is the first time Harry and co step foot in the school during the whole book. I did like the ending although I honestly did think that Harry was going to die. Was all prepared for it. I was disappointed about Lupin. I had hoped that at least one of James' friends would have survived. It will be interesting to see how the final movie will compare.

The Harry Potter party was lots of fun although a little stressful. Most people seemed to enjoy it and it seemed to fly by. More importantly the kids seemed to have a good time and the majority of them were so cute in their costumes. There was actually one little boy who had dressed up as Draco and looked the part. There were also a lot of teenagers who came in dressed up too and seemed to have just as much fun as the little ones. Thankfully there were only a few tears and only a few people unhappy over the fact that they were going to have to queue for the book. The staff also had loads of fun. Most of them had put a lot of effort into their costumes. Yes, I dressed up too, as Tonks. We also had a Dumbledore, Prof McGonagall, Snape and a moaning myrtle.

This probably won't be my last Harry Potter post as I am planning on going to see the film later in the week.

Booking Through Thursday

This weeks booking through Thursday is Harry Potter related. I suppose it makes sense but had I thought about it I would have left the last post until now. Not to worry, I'll answer them anyway;

Booking Through Thursday
Okay, love him or loathe him, you’d have to live under a rock not to know that J.K. Rowling’s final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comes out on Saturday… Are you going to read it?
If so, right away? Or just, you know, eventually, when you get around to it? Are you attending any of the midnight parties?
If you’re not going to read it, why not?
And, for the record… what do you think? Will Harry survive the series? What are you most looking forward to?

The first few questions you already know the answer to. Yes, I will be reading the book. I am too nosey not to read it. I want to know how it all ends and reading about it on the net isn't good enough for me. That and I have enjoyed them for the most part anyway. I will be attending one of the midnight parties although it will be for work. I probably wouldn't if it wasn't for that. Before I worked where I do now I didn't attend any although I did buy the books. Lastly no I don't think Harry will survive. JK Rowling has dropped so many hints that she has ended the books in such away that she won't be able to continue the story after book seven. If any of the other characters were to be killed off the story could possibly go on. Even if Voldermort were to die Harry could still have other adventures and face more foes. Mind you another way to kill off the story would be if Harry lost his abilities. There are a few people I know who are so sick of Harry Potter that they are hoping he will be killed off.

Basically I am most looking forward to seeing how it ends. I am looking forward to seeing if some of the things I thought might happen after reading book 6 will happen. I am also hoping that once the Harry Potter mania has settled down that other new children's authors can get some of the lime light. It would be nice to see authors who deserve it getting some attention too. I don't that there will be anything like that again though in terms of media coverage and parties on release night. Still it would be nice to see other authors getting almost as much attention.

Cheeser, I think it's the details that children love most about these books. All the little things like the moving pictures, the jumping chocolate frogs and the wizarding sport of quiditch.

Timewarden, I can see Asda's point about the price of the book being expensive for children. However, most places won't sell it at that price. They will have it on some kind of promotion. I don't believe that the supermarket is really concerned about that though. They are planning on selling the book at almost half price. Their discount from the publisher will not be as high as that. Therefore they are going to take a loss by selling the book. They can probably afford to do this but I am sure they would rather make a profit from it. I think that's where the criticism came from. Still it's almost like biting the hand that feeds you. Bloomsbury can afford to refuse to distribute to a retailer. People aren't going to stop buying the book just because Asda doesn't have it. They'll go else where.

My favourite children's authors growing up were Judith Kerr, Shirley Hughes, Dorothy Edwards, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl. I've read a larger selection of kids books now than I did then.

Harry Potter Mania

With the end of Doctor Who and not much going on where my crafts are concerned I don't really have much to say on my blog just now. Or so I thought. I've decided to talk about one of the many things that is gripping the world right now. Harry Potter! Yes, I am excitedly looking forward to the release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book at midnight at the end of this week. I will even be dressing up (my excuse for that is it's for work).

Had anyone mentioned it to me a few weeks ago my response would have been very different. It was more of a nuisance than anything else. Harry Potter means even more work and lots of planning. Being surrounded by people who are excited about this it is hard not to get caught up (unless of course you generally dislike the books which I don't). So in the run up I have been reading the books again. The first three are a joy to read. Not because they are the best written children's books. Far from it since I did spot possibly the longest sentence in the world in the first one. Reading them takes me straight back to being a child again. Had I read them then I know I would have loved them more so. What child wouldn't love the idea of going to a school to learn the use of magic? The first three are also the best of the lot (so far anyway). The later ones seem to get bogged down in too much detail. School hadn't even started yet by page 100 of the fourth book and if I remember correctly book five was the same. Not to say I didn't still enjoy them though.

The films I have also enjoyed although I have been disappointed by the things they have missed out. The third book is my favourite and I was very much looking forward to the film release. It was a bit of a let down going to see it although I have since gotten over it. It's funny how much I dislike Harry in the films since he is the main character. I think that has more to do with the actor than the character though. I just never warmed to him. Unlike Emma Watson's Hermione and Rupert Grint's Ron. Of course I am planning on going to see "The Order of The Phoenix" and is supposed to be the best one yet. Reviews have been fairly positive so far.

Do these books deserve all the hype they have been getting? No not really. As I already said they aren't the best written children's books on the market. However, what they have done is gotten so many children out there to read. Surely it's worth it for that?

Diva

Meet Scarlett. Scarlett is an Opera singing diva. Here she is posing for a photo next to her CD collection. Scarlett is famous for her singing and more famous for her tantrums. She is sought after to be in the most prestigious productions but dreaded by all who work with her. Just try saying no to her once and you'll find out why. Scarlett belongs to my mum. After seeing me make all these sock monkeys for other people (including one for my sister) my mum finally asked for one. When we were out one day I dragged her into a store to pick out her socks. My mum's favourite colour is red so I wasn't really surprised by her choice.

I doubt there is a single person in the UK who doesn't know what happens a week on Friday. The last Harry Potter book will be released at midnight. I am one of those sad folk who is looking forward to it. In preparation I have begun reading the series over again. I am still only on book one (a bad cold has slowed me down with everything). I have went to the cinema to see each of the films (the next one is also out this week) and each time I have always been disappointed in the things that they leave out. It's amazing though how much you forget exactly what was left out. Half way through the first one and I was surprised by just how different key scenes in the book and movie are. Certain characters missing from scenes and whole sections missing. It's still relatively true to the book but it's still funny how I became so used to the film version that it became the truer one.

I have liked reading everyones answers to the booking through thursday question. Timewarden, Charles Dickens would have been my choice next to Shakespeare too. Like you David Copperfield would have been my choice when I was younger. Now it's probably a tie between Great Expectations and Bleak House. I have a friend who would have chosen Pride and Prejudice partly due to the TV adaptation. She collects different editions of this book she loves it that much. I would probably choose "To Kill A Mockingbird" from the States too.

crazee4books, I loved Anne of Green Gables. I have always meant to go back and read them all again. I also like the Emily series by the same author. I do like Margaret Atwood too though. "The Blind Assassin" is probably my favourite out of the few that I have read. I haven't read many Canadian authors to suggest a possible greatest book but I do love Douglas Coupland. An author I have blogged about before.

Thanks again for all your comments on the sock monkeys. I never thought of giving the pirate monkey some dreadlocks. It's a good idea. Lili, I am glad that Daphne likes them too. It's sweet that she wants to see them.

A Pirate and His Wench (and booking through thursday)

This sock monkey is going to my best friend although she doesn't know it yet. She doesn't actually know I have been making them as I haven't seen her in a while. We have both been busy with work and attempts to meet up have had to be cancelled for various reasons. I thought I would make her one of these as a surprise. Since I don't know when I will get to see her next I am thinking of sending it out to her. It's always nice to get a parcel you aren't expecting and I hope she will like her/him. For some strange reason the socks were a little wider than all the other pairs I have used. So when I had finished it looked a little on the plump side compared to all the others which is why I pictured it in the cake tin.

This one was specially requested although he doesn't have a name yet (I have already named him Pete but his new owner may call him something different). I decided to picture him here with his wench. The reason only one eye is showing is that he is wearing an eye patch. Under that pitch I stitched a grey cross where his eye should be. You can't see too well but he also has a knitted sword (I used a straw to stuff it), a little green parrot (was taken from a pattern in a book belonging to my mum and was originally designed as a sparrow) and a gold hoop earring (I bought those rather than made). I also knitted a little red sash to hold his sword and a red bandanna. When he isn't with Barbie here is can be found looking for treasure or drinking rum.

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments. I really do appreciate them. Lili, I am glad that you liked Madleen Ross. I liked your post on her. Crazeeforbooks, thanks for the link. I love the look of that book. I will have to look it up. The escaped prisoner monkey was for someone I worked with who left to join the police. I am afraid all other projects have been left to the side. I keep getting more requests for sock monkeys. I am making one for my mum at the moment (she already has a name and a story). I have another to make and send away to a friend and two others have requested them.

Booking Through Thursday

What with yesterday being the Fourth of July and all, I’m feeling a little patriotic, and so have a simple question:What, in your opinion, is the (mythical) Great American Novel? At least to date. A “classic,” or a current one–either would be fine. Mark Twain? J.D. Salinger? F. Scott Fitzgerald? Stephen King? Laura Ingalls Wilder?
It doesn’t have to be your favorite book, mind you. “Citizen Kane” may be the “best” film, and I concede its merits, but it’s not my favorite. You don’t have to love something to know that it’s good.
Now, I know that not all of you are American–but you can play, too! What I want from you is to know what you consider to the best novel of YOUR country. It might be someone the rest of us haven’t heard of and, frankly, I think we’d all like to get some new authors to read.

This is a hard one. What do I consider to be the greatest book of my country? The obvious answer to that would be Shakespeare. His works are probably the most well known and the most influential. There have been so many takes on all of his books. Authors, playwrights, film and television writers are still influenced by him. I think most people would chose Macbeth out of all of his plays. For me though it has to be Romeo and Juliet. It was the first one of his plays that I actually enjoyed studying at school (Merchant of Venice was the first one I studied and I didn't like it at all). I think part of my enjoyment of it was that growing up I had always loved the musical "West Side Story" which was an interpretation of the play. Later I also enjoyed the 1996 film "Romeo and Juliet". Sad to say I have yet to see it in a theatre or even the ballet, both of which I would love to see. Is it the best loved? If you were to follow the Big Read then sadly no that would be Lord Of the Rings (I still believe that had more to do with the films released at the time). However, I would bet that there are very few people who have not at least heard of Shakespeare of Romeo and Juliet (excluding Brain from BB8 of course).

Of course I am from Scotland and there are many famous Scottish writers too. Sadly my knowledge on Scottish literature isn't that great (something I have always meant to rectify). However one author I very much enjoyed studying at school was the poet Robert Burns. My favourite poem was Tam O'Shanter. I loved the humour in it. Again there are few people who wouldn't have heard of Robert Burns (few in Scotland anyway, I would hope). We even celebrate his birthday on 25th January. It's traditional to have a Burns Supper of Haggis, Neeps and tatties (something I can live without eating) during this you recite poems and then follow it up with a Kailey. You are even encouraged to recite something of your own on these occasions. The seniors at my school took part in these events and it was always fun. The students were left to do most of the reciting and a boy had to write an ode to the lassies whilst a girl would give a reply from the lassies. Could be very funny if done right.

Lili, a graphic novel is a novel written in the form of a comic book. There are a lot of very popular ones out there and there have been films based on them. Sin City is probably the most well known and there are plans to write a film based on the Preacher graphic novels. I plan on writing a post on these at some point as I have only got into them.

The Last Of The Timelords

A year on from when the previous episode was set and Martha is back in England. She has made a name for herself. As the human population has been enslaved Martha is their hope. They have all heard of her and her ability to escape unscathed and to walk the Earth unseen. They say that only she can kill the Master. Martha has done what the Doctor has asked of her. She has went round the world building hope so that the Archangel project can then be turned around against the master. Allowing the Doctor to be brought back to his normal self and the Earth to be returned to normal.

I have never been so disappointed with the new series of Doctor who as I was with the end of series three. I thought Martha did finally get the chance to shine in this episode but it was really the only good thing about it. The biggest disappointment was with the Master. Once again he was portrayed as a bit of a joker but that wasn't the worst. At the start he torments and punches the Doctor while he is in the form of an old man. Then it is hinted that he has been beating his wife. Although you don't see this the marks around her eye and her jumpiness around him were a dead giveaway. The Master was always a sinister and evil character but never would he have given way to needless violence such as that. He got his kicks out of doing bigger things. It just made him seem more cowardly than evil. A bully who picks on those weaker than him. There was then that hint at the end that Captain Jack is in fact the Face of Boe. It felt like a kind of let down to me.

Martha also then refused to go away with the Doctor again. Just as I was getting to like her character. However, she is not disappearing from the screens forever. She will be appearing in Torchwood for the first half of the new series. Then she will appear in Doctor Who half way through that (from that I am guessing that Captain Jack will be a recurring character in Doctor Who). The Doctor will not be alone. In the Christmas special Kylie Minogue will be guest starring. Then in series 4 Catherine Tate will be returning as Donna Noble for all 13 episodes. I can see most people getting excited about Kylie being in the show. I like Kylie but I just don't see her in Doctor Who at all. It's just using a big name to guarantee that the Christmas special will get as many viewers as possible. Same as with Catherine Tate last year. They are both popular amongst similar age groups. Why can't the Christmas special just be about Doctor Who rather than the names?

In the end I did like Catherine Tate as Donna Noble but for 13 whole episodes? I'm not sure about that one. With the return of Martha half way through will that mean bickering and petty jealousy between the two characters? The cynic in me believes that's what will happen. Timewarden your right I'm not usually so critical of Doctor Who. I try not to be. I see the new Who and classic Who as two entirely different shows. My enjoyment of one usually doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of the other. Plus I very much like David Tennant as the Doctor. Don't get me wrong there have been one or two episodes that I haven't enjoyed, "Love and Monsters" being at the top of the list and I still believe that the Daleks are being over used. Over all though I have liked it. However, the portrayal of the Master was too much for me as is the return of Donna. When I first heard about Billie Piper was down to play companion to the Doctor my first reaction was that I wouldn't watch it. Curiosity won out and she surprised me as Rose. I was cynical about David Tennant as the Doctor but then at that point I hadn't seen him in much. As you know my opinion on that changed quickly. I have been tempted once again not to watch series 4 and this time due to the return of a character I could tolerate in one episode. I know curiosity will win out again though and I can't help but hope that I will be pleasantly surprised.

Timewarden, I would hope that the episodes would improve after RTD leaves but we have a whole series to get through first and I worry that the show will be killed off by then. If David Tennant also leaves they would need to find someone just as engaging if not more so to take his place. As for the writers, if RTD is as controlling as you have mentioned in your posts then I think that they would have the freedom to go in other directions. Maybe they would be able to really push the show out there. It's just one of those things though, we'll have to wait and see.

Crazeeforbooks, Tom Baker is one of my favourites too although I do have a soft spot for Patrick Troughton too. Ian Marter was placed in the role of companion as originally they were looking for someone older to play the Doctor. They though Ian Marter would do a lot of the physical stuff that the Doctor wouldn't be able to do. A little like the first Doctor and companion Ian. When Tom Baker got the role of the Doctor it was decided that a younger male companion wasn't necessary and so they only kept him on for a few story lines. Ian Marter has written a few books (I can thank Timewarden for telling me about this a while back). He wrote many of the Doctor Who stories into novel format. He also wrote "Harry Sullivan's War" which is a story about Harry after his adventures with the Doctor. I do have a copy of it somewhere but have only read a few pages of it. He wrote about Harry as a James Bond character which put me off a little but I will eventually go back to it. After watching "Robot" again that actually made me laugh. Harry goes undercover in the story and Sara makes a sarcastic comment about him playing at James Bond.

The Sound Of Drums

The Doctor, Martha and Captain Jack all made it back to Earth using a method we could all see coming a mile off. They get there to discover that the Master is now Prime Minister. The Doctor is possibly partly responsible after weakening the position of Harriot Jones in Tennant's first Christmas special. The Master has promised to introduce an alien race to humans that promise to bring them friendship and gifts. Instead they bring destruction and help enslave the human race. The Doctor meanwhile has been aged 100 years and Martha disappears with a promise to come back. Now it is down to Martha to save everyone.

I'm not sure about this one. I am mostly reserving my judgement until I see the last episode tomorrow. I still feel the Master is far too similar to David Tennant's Doctor but then apparently it was deliberate. It was meant to make him more of an equal to the Doctor. Personally I still feel that Jacobi's Master would have been a far better and scarier choice. While Simms version seems to be larking about I think Jacobi's serious nature would make for a far more sinister character. Since it was clearly not meant to be I guess I just have to get over it. I am looking forward to seeing how Martha can save the Earth. I am hoping that this will be her opportunity to shine.

I know a lot of people find knitting to be dull but I find it to be therapeutic. Also it's supposed to be the hip craft of the moment. Either way I like it although I have yet to advance to anything beyond the scarf. In all the scarfs I have knitted so far I have used very basic stitches. I have wanted to learn to do lace knitting for a while as I love the beautiful shawls and scarfs you can create with it. I bought the Knitting Stitch Bible and chose the design lace wheels from it to knit this scarf. This is my first attempt at lace knitting and while it is yet another scarf I'm actually a little proud of it. I have put it away as part of my mum's Christmas. I am now taking part in a knitting supplies swap and am knitting a bag for it. This will be the first time in years I have sat and followed a pattern so I am hoping it will turn out and will encourage me to do something other than scarves from now on.

Here is the sock monkey I made for Lili which she has now received. Her name is Madleen and she is a monkey of cheery disposition. She also loves nature. You can see here that while she was with me she did some chores for her keep.

Lili, I liked your question. Yes, I do sometimes read more than one book at a time. If I am reading a non fiction book I always have a fiction title on the go too. If I am reading a large book I will also read a smaller one at work. If I am not really enjoying a book but still want to finish it I also read another book along side it. At the moment I am getting into graphic novels which I have been reading alongside the book I am reading at the moment. I find they are good to read when I am tired but not tired enough to go to sleep. At the moment I have three books on the go. One by Stephen King, a graphic novel and The Island of Dr Moreau.