tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87443226663482112632024-03-19T11:48:06.591+00:00Read All the ThingsLong-time friends and lovers of all things Harry Potter, join us (Corrie and Lucia) as we embark on a 7 month challenge of re-reading the whole series and blogging about our experience along the way.
We solemnly swear that we're up to no good!Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-78444604572565385522021-05-19T16:53:00.001+01:002021-05-19T16:53:08.826+01:00New Podcast<p> Hi everyone,</p><p></p><p>We just wanted to come on and make it officially known that this blog has been put on hold indefinitely as we simply don't have the time to dedicate to it. We know that people are still finding their way here and would like to thank you all for your continued interest.</p><p>That being said, we do have an announcement:</p><p>We simply can't stop talking (literally) about books that we love (or hate) and have therefore started our very own podcast. It's called Reading Materials and 2 episodes have already been uploaded. The first one is about - you guessed it - <b>Harry Potter </b>and the second is about <b>A Court of Thorns and Roses</b>.</p><p>We'd love it if you gave it a listen, it's hosted on <a href="https://anchor.fm/reading-materials">Anchor </a>and available on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wmo5k19g2NlphYPGLEHnY">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.breaker.audio/reading-materials">Breaker</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80ZmVjNmViNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reading-materials/id1565806591">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://pca.st/ccvvxixv">Pocket Casts</a> and <a href="https://radiopublic.com/reading-materials-6B1vvp">Radio Public</a>.</p><p>We also have a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1159103-reading-materials">Goodreads Group</a> and are very active on Instagram as @readingmaterialspod.</p><p>Again, thank you to everyone who has stumbled upon our little blog and we hope you'll check out our new project.</p><p>All the best,</p><p>Corrie and Lucia<br /></p>Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-55730242767980029802017-02-24T18:19:00.001+00:002017-02-24T18:19:56.572+00:00The Ghosts of Hogwarts<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have finished my PhD, woohoo! As I am currently looking for a job, I don't have much to occupy my days and so I thought it was high time I return to the blog.<br />
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Let's dive straight back in where we left off so long ago!<br />
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I'm quite looking forward to this chapter, because it features one of my favourite scenes from the book - the Deathday Party.<br />
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Chapter 8 - The Deathday Party</h3>
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When we last saw Harry, he had just heard the mysterious, bodyless voice during his detention with Lockhart. This chapter opens up with an update on the passing of time - the first month of the school year is behind us and the month of Halloween has arrived. We all know of the significance of Halloween in the life of young Harry, but here we find out that October 31st is also the anniversary of the death of another character, albeit 500 years ago!<br />
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After a grueling and muddy Quidditch practice, Harry runs into Nearly Headless Nick in one of the corridors of Hogwarts. Nick confides in Harry that he had been hoping to join the Headless Hunt but that due to the fact that his executioner was apparently not very handy with an axe, he is not eligible to take part.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb45Mfa7e2EWH6eEydQtw8VYaTddegXnB4-gmtZD1KkXIFy64xlqLT4jFOhIkXCyEs7mahUdPCh_HGnzHJ4fRz8TutZWMzIcj8hNqMBdrxWIiH7cR2BuOgQ7cZPBgsZFz2kCwNSMShlsKb/s1600/ghost_walk_by_jerome_k_moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb45Mfa7e2EWH6eEydQtw8VYaTddegXnB4-gmtZD1KkXIFy64xlqLT4jFOhIkXCyEs7mahUdPCh_HGnzHJ4fRz8TutZWMzIcj8hNqMBdrxWIiH7cR2BuOgQ7cZPBgsZFz2kCwNSMShlsKb/s320/ghost_walk_by_jerome_k_moore.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly Headless Nick by <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/art/NEARLY-HEADLESS-NICK-42099170" target="_blank">Jerome K. Moore</a></td></tr>
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At this point in the books, we don't know much about the ghosts of Hogwarts. It was mentioned in the <i>Philosopher's Stone</i> that each Hogwarts house has its own ghost - the Bloody Baron in Slytherin, the Fat Friar in Hufflepuff, the Grey Lady in Ravenclaw and Nearly Headless Nick in Gryffindor. It is unclear if each ghost attended Hogwarts and if so, if they were in the same house they now represent. Also, why did they come back to Hogwarts after they died? Why does Hogwarts even need ghosts? It doesn't look like they do much, apart from Professor Binns, who teaches History of Magic.<br />
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We will learn a bit more about some of ghosts in Book 7 and some of the mechanics of becoming a ghost will be explained in Book 5, but at the moment we have more questions than answers. For example:<br />
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Can ghosts exist anywhere, or are they somehow bound to a magical place? As we will see later on in this chapter, there appear to be hundreds of ghosts at Nick's party...And how do ghosts even write letters to each other, if they can't physically touch anything? And once the letter is somehow written, how do they mail it? Is it delivered by a dead owl? And why would an animal become a ghost? Most importantly, can Muggles become ghosts?<br />
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The questions continue when Harry has a confrontation with Filch, the caretaker. Suffering from man-flu and generally hating all students, Filch takes his frustration out on Harry and is about to serve him with a horrible punishment for befouling the castle, when he is distracted by a horrible crash somewhere on the floor above them. While he is off dealing with whatever it is that happened, Harry finds a letter on Filch's desk.<br />
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I just can't get over how curious Harry is about everything. I suppose it comes from growing up not being allowed to ask questions about anything, but honestly he just can't leave well enough alone. Intrigued by the purple envelope and completely disregarding Filch's privacy, he opens the letter and reads all about the Correspondence Course in Beginner's Magic being offered. The letter reads like something you would see on the home shopping channel!<br />
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When Filch comes back, muttering about a vanishing cabinet (I wonder if that bit of information is significant at all?), and sees that Harry has been going through his things, he is - quite rightly so - angry and embarrassed by whatever it is that Harry read. Why exactly would someone working at Hogwarts need lessons on beginner's magic?<br />
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After accepting an invitation to Nick's Deathday Party, Harry enjoys the lack of punishment by watching Fred and George perform potential animal cruelty by feeding a firework to a salamander. By the time Halloween comes around, however, it turns out Harry isn't particularly excited about missing a Hogwarts Feast. Together with Ron and Hermione, they unenthusiastically make their way to the dungeons, following the sound of musical saws.<br />
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The party itself appears to be a great success, as we are told that there are hundreds of ghosts in attendance. Where have they all come from? Did Nick know them when he was alive? The dungeons are apparently very cold, which makes me wonder if ghosts work like air conditioners. There is also a table full of rotting food - why? We are told immediately that ghosts can't actually taste food and they presumably don't need to eat anyway...And finally, the moment has arrived: we meet Moaning Myrtle!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpoBH6IE7DAO3aPV2sXpHHW81NfKwMUkNGQPI3prfd9Vx-rElm7Q86-1gef8ZcyMrNZsUNYx-2HdsTn8BNwbU4wJgp4s9ZBt9_5OqKZz32eGPY_iypXHj9KhG68SHgrZrSPFGbTWq48wy/s1600/tumblr_nro3uevyF01r9nzulo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpoBH6IE7DAO3aPV2sXpHHW81NfKwMUkNGQPI3prfd9Vx-rElm7Q86-1gef8ZcyMrNZsUNYx-2HdsTn8BNwbU4wJgp4s9ZBt9_5OqKZz32eGPY_iypXHj9KhG68SHgrZrSPFGbTWq48wy/s320/tumblr_nro3uevyF01r9nzulo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moaning Myrtle by <a href="http://taryndraws.tumblr.com/post/124384298696/miserable-moping-moaning-myrtle" target="_blank">Taryn Knight</a></td></tr>
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I'm not really sure why I enjoy Myrtle so much, but I really do. The book thus far has been a bit slow and the new characters that have been introduced in the previous chapters - with the exception of Colin - have been pretty irritating (I'm looking at you Lockhart and Dobby!). Myrtle's level of melodrama, however, I find truly entertaining.<br />
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The whole idea of the Deathday Party is fascinating to me. We've already seen J.K. Rowling's mastery at world building and I think the introduction to ghosts is another example of this. I only wish that she had expanded on this a bit more because if taken as a part of the whole book and then the series, this scene is pretty insignificant. We don't really learn enough to fully justify it being in the book at all and if it was taken out, we wouldn't be missing anything crucial. I mean, it works to introduce us to Myrtle, but as the Trio will be spending a lot of time in her bathroom later on anyway, she could have been brought in later.<br />
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As much as I like the idea of it, it seems the only reason she included it at all is because Harry, Ron and Hermione need to appear suspicious when they are found by the creepy sign. Which brings us nicely to the conclusion of the chapter as Harry once again hears the venomous voice and follows it straight to the body of Mrs. Norris, dangling immobile above a pool of water.<br />
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And it is at this point of the story where I truly start to worry about Draco Malfoy. Until now he has appeared as the typical bully, snobbish and spoiled. Sure, he has made some truly rude comments and shown total disregard for Harry's orphan status, but we all know that sometimes children can be cruel and lacking in empathy. But here, when it appears that Mrs. Norris is dead. he seems to be genuinely excited by the idea that Mudbloods will fall victim to the same fate, which I find deeply disturbing coming from someone so young.<br />
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And so, almost half-way through the book, the story can finally properly get started...<br />
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I leave you for now by pointing out that this chapter had zero magic in it, which means that our successful spell tally remains:<br />
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Harry - 0<br />
Hermione - 2<br />
Ron - 0.5</div>
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Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-54341921771883583662016-03-11T16:04:00.001+00:002016-03-11T16:06:41.268+00:00We're still here...promise!<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, it's been a full 3 months since we last posted and a lot has happened in that time. First of all, Happy New Year everyone!</div>
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Corrie and I originally set out to review the <b>Harry Potter</b> series book by book, hoping to dedicate just one month per volume. This turned out to be not so easy - I honestly completely underestimated just how much time and effort goes into not only reading and analyzing a text, but also writing about it! Plus, I underestimated just how much we still had to say about the books we've read and discussed so many times before.</div>
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The seven months came and went and we're not even through Book 2. This is slightly disappointing, I'm not gonna lie, but I don't want it to drag us down. We may have failed in meeting our own deadline, but I think we succeeded in looking at the books critically.</div>
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I, for one, hope to continue writing about <b>Harry Potter</b>. I will hold off of making any promises as to how long it will take. Things in both of our lives are pretty busy and up in the air, so I can't guarantee that we will be updating the blog regularly - but we will be updating.</div>
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I think it's also probable that not all of the posts will be Harry Potter related. We are reading other books, as well, and hope to analyze those also - just not as in depth as with the <b>Harry Potter</b> series! At least, not yet... For example, I have recently re-discovered <i>Outlander</i> (or <i>Cross Stitch</i>, in the UK) by Diana Gabaldon and am also trying to make my way through <i>War and Peace.</i></div>
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Finally, thank you to any readers who are still following this blog. We hope to have new posts for you soon!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-13889927038445004862015-12-11T15:34:00.002+00:002015-12-11T15:34:04.082+00:00Weekly Roundup<div style="text-align: justify;">
I promise we haven't abandoned the blog! I know it may look like it, since we were posting so regularly in November, but we've both been busy the past two weeks.</div>
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November Challenge</h3>
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Well, I didn't manage to blog every day but I am nevertheless happy with how it went. I managed to write 14 posts in 3 weeks, totalling more than 11,000 words! Combined with Corrie's posts also, we had practically a blog post a day. Yay us!</div>
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That being said, I do have drafts of new posts that I had hoped to publish but was unable to because...</div>
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Laptop-Free House</h3>
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...I gave my laptop to my lovely boyfriend, while his is being fixed. This means that I currently have no laptop at home on which to write! I am, in fact, writing this post in my office (shhh!) because I can't focus on work - the lovely boyfriend is coming home for the weekend! I <i>think</i> he caught on to my clue in a previous blog post because there has been a delivery that looks like it <i>might</i> be a new book! Will keep you posted, of course :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this what I hope it is?!</td></tr>
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Audiobooks</h3>
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I have been on an Audible mission. Since my last post reviewing Jane Eyre, I have finished two more books - <i>How To Be a Woman</i> by Caitlin Moran and <i>The Great Gatsby </i>by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Two very different books, but I enjoyed them both and am anxious to review them.</div>
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I have also started on <i>War and Peace</i> by Leo Tolstoy and am close to finishing <i>The Martian</i> by Andy Weir. <i>The Martian</i> hooked me very early on, but I am already confused by <i>War and Peace</i> - there are just so many characters and I am struggling to keep track of who is related to who.</div>
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The Harry Potter Challenge</h3>
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I am still making my way through <i>Order of the Phoenix</i>, I have about 100 pages to go - the Trio have just started their OWLs. I am itching to finish it and move on to the next one, even though I know I won't manage to finish the series by the end of the month. Oh well.</div>
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I'm not sure when the next post will be and I am hesitant to make promises - the next two weeks will be hectic with the run-up to Christmas.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Lucia </div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-22387947693190092482015-11-26T00:56:00.002+00:002015-11-26T12:46:40.896+00:00My Bookshelf, Part 3<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'd like to take a quick detour from <b>Harry Potter </b>and return to <i>My Bookshelf</i> series because, this past weekend we had a slight re-shuffle at home.</div>
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That's right, everyone, our IKEA order finally arrived and we spent Sunday doing some DIY.</div>
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The Great IKEA Adventure</h3>
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After two long weeks of waiting, we were woken up on Saturday morning by the IKEA delivery men. We quickly put on our bathrobes and hoodies and made our way outside, bleary-eyed. It was a good thing that we'd opted for a home delivery in the end, because the boxes were really heavy and there is no way we would have been able to carry them on the Underground.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boxes have arrived!</td></tr>
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In case anyone is interested, we decided to buy two new bookcases from the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/series/28102/" target="_blank">BILLY Series</a>. They are nice and very easy to assemble and we were done in less than an hour. The more grueling part was tidying up and organizing everything. Pretty much all of Sunday was spent working on this project and there are still some bits and pieces that need doing, but I could not be happier with the end result! As well as moving all of the books and paperwork into the bedroom, we have more storage space in the living room also, because we moved our old bookshelf there.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything nicely organized...I see some empty shelf space though!</td></tr>
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Our books are now all in one place and organized by category and then alphabetically by author. I never would have thought it, but I believe most of our books are currently non-fiction about politics, philosophy and science! That is, for sure, mostly due to my lovely boyfriend's taste.</div>
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My Harry Potter collections take up two whole shelves and they make me smile every time I see them!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T-SRDrXq1TA5rFisVyE-IexOw4hk2Qe4nrhtQmpfbxDd0WA14l-07nw2KlfsZqUTSYRLBLxliOHAIUDRQJGmw9szHF5VzIsh-wv2Qr7pNEjrwBB2_gdhlstrZ61svDTkge6YWbtFSWdg/s1600/2015-11-26+00.45.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T-SRDrXq1TA5rFisVyE-IexOw4hk2Qe4nrhtQmpfbxDd0WA14l-07nw2KlfsZqUTSYRLBLxliOHAIUDRQJGmw9szHF5VzIsh-wv2Qr7pNEjrwBB2_gdhlstrZ61svDTkge6YWbtFSWdg/s320/2015-11-26+00.45.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Harry Potter Collections in their new home</td></tr>
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This weekend will probably be spent tidying up some more and then there is only on thing left to do - start reading all the books we now have so proudly on display!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Lucia</div>
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Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-63024152775955836002015-11-20T00:34:00.004+00:002015-11-26T00:11:37.190+00:00Weekly Roundup<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm a bit late with the Weekly Roundup - November has been really gloomy
and I've been trying to cheer myself up by meeting up with old friends and new
(which has been lovely!), but have not found much time for blogging. This means
I'm still behind on my challenge and I'm not sure if I will be able to catch
up! Oh well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's been happening in the last week?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday at Starbucks</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the second week in a row, Corrie
and I met up for coffee at Starbucks - a different one this week, just off of R</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">egent's Street. We
both had a yummy Eggnog Latte (gosh I love those things) and chatted about
Harry Potter, obviously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In particular, we had a look at this list of <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/kalenr/143-facts-about-the-harry-potter-films-you-may-not-431p?utm_content=buffer4ba67&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer"><span style="color: blue;">143 Facts About the Harry Potter Films You May Not Know</span></a>.
Some of the things are, I think quite common knowledge, but there were a few
that stood out. For example, did you know that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Emma Watson was supposed to wear fake buck teeth to be more similar
to how Hermione was described in the books. She couldn't talk clear enough, so
the idea was scratched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">9. J. K. Rowling was offered the role
of Lily Potter in the Mirror (of Erised).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">12. Rosie O'Donell and Robin Williams
both asked for roles without pay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">24. The PG rating of <i>Philosopher's Stone</i> was due to
scare scenes in the Forbidden Forest, six uses of the word 'bloody', one
'arse', one 'bugger' and two 'blasted'. - I don't remember these!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27. Based on the second shortest book, <i>Chamber of Secrets</i> is
the longest of the 8 films.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28. Fourteen Ford Anglias were were destroyed during the making of the
Whomping Willow scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">32. According to J.K. Rowling, Moaning Myrtle is of Ravenclaw House.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">36. Daniel Radcliffe has stated that <i>Chamber of Secrets</i> is
his favorite book. - Interesting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">47. Daniel Radcliffe was told by Alfonso Cuaron to pretend 'you're
seeing Cameron Diaz in a G-string' to look more awed in a scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">66. Alfonso Cuaron convinced Mike Newell to not split <i>Goblet of
Fire</i> into two films. - Damn you Alfonso!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">97. Daniel Radcliffe's scream when Sirius dies was silenced because it
was too agonizing. - I think it made the scene even more powerful and difficult
to watch :(<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">105. The original script (for <i>Half-Blood Prince</i>) included
all of memories about Voldemort's past that are in the novel. - Their absence
is just one of the reasons why this is my least favorite movie adaptation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">142. The only Potter film not to have Harry deliver the last line. It is
his son, Albus, that speaks it this time. - FORESHADOWING??!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We then popped into the huge Waterstones in Pacadilly Circus, ostensibly
to buy Corrie a new Daily Planner. I, however, had another priority - to hold
in my hands the new illustrated <i>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's
Stone </i>that was released a few months ago.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HP21s_aAcIyyzqIxIRvpSbiv1XEQrugf3boMeU2gmdjk2gbP6_Ypf3ey5liPeHx7vRn_JAV0hgO0z7S1BmdzvcNsCkrDHgt5AXHZG3K_Nw8QhatSSG0lm9CSbUQWAH5aTwaQzku_8Jsb/s1600/IMG-20151112-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HP21s_aAcIyyzqIxIRvpSbiv1XEQrugf3boMeU2gmdjk2gbP6_Ypf3ey5liPeHx7vRn_JAV0hgO0z7S1BmdzvcNsCkrDHgt5AXHZG3K_Nw8QhatSSG0lm9CSbUQWAH5aTwaQzku_8Jsb/s320/IMG-20151112-WA0000.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such happy fans</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">When I first heard that Bloomsbury would be publishing yet another
edition of the books, I was a bit skeptical - by my count they already have at
least 6 or 7 editions under their belt that I know of. I wrote it off as just
being a money-making ploy and that it wasn't really worth it. I mean, I already
have 2 editions in English and one in Greek a home already...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Oh, sweet naive little Lucia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The illustrated book is just <b>beautiful</b>. Honestly, I can't
think of another word for it. The illustrations are fantastic, there are
pictures on every page - some full page images of characters or creatures,
others just little details on the bottom of the page. Absolutely amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">For me this is the ultimate children's edition. When I have children,
this is the version of the book I envision us reading together at night. I am
in love. Lovely boyfriend, if you are reading this, don't forget that Christmas
is just around the corner! :) Bloomsbury even has a <a href="http://www.harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/uk/harry-potter-and-the-philosophers-stone-9781408845646/" target="_blank">special offer</a> right now!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtSQahcZ2wwNY-sJbODxtc6CqUjvFk7qr5YZqodUuu-IAxSrDX45HLSXRY9RYie2K9pqfJIIBH5iQZC07VdytnQeGBxUyXZBQVi-Q-_EjM98Ro1iquQkQls1iNc8VNhl5dBGCU3H5auZr/s1600/2015-11-12+17.31.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtSQahcZ2wwNY-sJbODxtc6CqUjvFk7qr5YZqodUuu-IAxSrDX45HLSXRY9RYie2K9pqfJIIBH5iQZC07VdytnQeGBxUyXZBQVi-Q-_EjM98Ro1iquQkQls1iNc8VNhl5dBGCU3H5auZr/s320/2015-11-12+17.31.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Harry Potter table in Picadilly's Waterstones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Lucia</span></div>
</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-56358675958156061982015-11-19T18:22:00.000+00:002015-11-20T00:06:57.294+00:00Return to Quidditch!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm so excited about "The Rogue Bludger" because it returns us to Quidditch, which I'm super happy about! As a mad 'hobbies' person, I really love hearing about the extra-curricular stuff that goes on at Hogwarts, and Quidditch is absolutely no exception.</div>
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Not to mention that this is one of my favourite chapters because to be quite honest, bad things happen and that's just real life.</div>
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The Rogue Bludger</h2>
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We start the chapter with Lockhart forcing Harry to re-enact his books in front of the class. I really amused myself while reading this, imagining being a drama teacher and forcing my students to act out this scene! (I know it's a bit meta, making people act out a scene in a book that is a scene in a book, but hey...) I think it's the below line that I find so funny.</div>
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"...he let out a piteous moan - go on, Harry - higher than that..."</blockquote>
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If anybody in my drama classes as a 12 year old had had to do this, I would have found it hilarious!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXuHRwdvvvc4hGAoD9PArDBehC6QGKrDFTgSjoKt2DUWbPSS18MJQX5EJkq08VmHRHjNP4sSaofq9X7oMrhlu8lp1Dnrs71PMn2pp34G3ppe_p32Bn593wrjHqFttp5Rma7M-8A_IQZnE/s1600/tumblr_lxm8y4LyDS1qailw6o1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXuHRwdvvvc4hGAoD9PArDBehC6QGKrDFTgSjoKt2DUWbPSS18MJQX5EJkq08VmHRHjNP4sSaofq9X7oMrhlu8lp1Dnrs71PMn2pp34G3ppe_p32Bn593wrjHqFttp5Rma7M-8A_IQZnE/s320/tumblr_lxm8y4LyDS1qailw6o1_500.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lockhart was a top Quidditch player donchaknow...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The chapter continues with Lockhart being a big-headed idiot, and the threesome head to the library to get out <i>Moste Potente Potions</i>. I feel like it should have been harder for them to get it out of the library, particularly from under Madame Pince's nose as she is <b>so</b> eagle-eyed, and Lockhart has such a terrible reputation amongst the teachers...but no, they head off with it and go to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.</div>
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There's something strange about sex allocation with bathrooms. I really embarrassed myself once when I strode purposefully into a bathroom at a cinema, straight into a cubicle, and suddenly realised the voices I was hearing around me were...male. Gasp! My friends have never let me forget it, and there was just something so <i>alien</i> about being in that room. Even though it's pretty much the same room as any other bathroom, with perhaps more urinals! Ron is definitely feeling this, and I feel for him!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In terms of the complexity of the potion, I am a bit baffled. We know that it is something that NEWT level students should be able to brew (we will get to that in a few books time...) but I don't really understand what is <b>so </b>complex about it. I feel like it's not that hard for students to get hold of contraband ingredients, and they basically just have to wait a really long time for the lacewings to stew. Who knows!</div>
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Anyway, on to the Quidditch match. I know it only lasts a few pages, but this little bit genuinely gets my blood pumping a little. It's quite exciting! I have no idea why - apart from perhaps the idea of getting hit by a lump of heavy metal sounds like one of the more terrifying things I've ever heard of, particularly if one has a vendetta against you!</div>
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I can't review it much more than that, really. Read the chapter, it's worth it. It has got me invested in the book again!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeMG5_4RDri_FcejxY8v5vMHRUXpxvXZj80mOX6MB0mFwTCRft3dF8_2nKwAWKc2gEbSHbkU4y8kAaxeUTd3wa3-xYrI_bc5egvr4wRl-iE3m-c9qpb5EAGGO079IGfrvgvZajAvnq5Zf/s1600/potter-harry-quidditch-5000784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeMG5_4RDri_FcejxY8v5vMHRUXpxvXZj80mOX6MB0mFwTCRft3dF8_2nKwAWKc2gEbSHbkU4y8kAaxeUTd3wa3-xYrI_bc5egvr4wRl-iE3m-c9qpb5EAGGO079IGfrvgvZajAvnq5Zf/s320/potter-harry-quidditch-5000784.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry gets hit by the Bludger, and catches the Snitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Colin takes a load of photos of Harry in the mud, which Harry loudly objects to. I would say that this is not normal male behaviour...and I only judge that based on the pride with which my male friends on Facebook like to stick gory photos of their injuries and accidents up! Harry's clearly a hero...</div>
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Lockhart shows his idiocy one again by removing all of the bones in Harry's arm. Hermione tries to stick up for him by saying that anyone can make a mistake. It's a pretty big mistake to make! I really love the description of the arm:</div>
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"It took a while to stuff the rubbery, boneless arm into a sleeve." </blockquote>
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"...sad, limp remainder of what, half an hour before, had been a working arm."</blockquote>
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Apart from the fact that bones give your body strength, they also give it structure and stop all your innards from mushing together. The thought of them being gone is just...sickening!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF5i3dNDRLTywSO2aDy7QOq6XWR342D7zCR094i_7CkgFbzZFwbaH73jQlqMcycZfD8xScaH48BxQMtkGpyLCykYTtk_TCyDI8fQijQMSrKOlxgyrQPFGxAzLWy6B-EsbUdehvjmDdJXQ/s1600/hpscreen_grabs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKF5i3dNDRLTywSO2aDy7QOq6XWR342D7zCR094i_7CkgFbzZFwbaH73jQlqMcycZfD8xScaH48BxQMtkGpyLCykYTtk_TCyDI8fQijQMSrKOlxgyrQPFGxAzLWy6B-EsbUdehvjmDdJXQ/s320/hpscreen_grabs2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry's boneless arm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Madam Pomfrey obviously comes from the school of thought that ill people should act and behave ill, and nothing should distract them from being ill. I firmly believe that this is not true! Having a party would be much better than feeling the pain of the bones regrowing. I am laid out with excruciating pain on a regular basis, and use audiobooks to keep me distracted from it, but I remember being ill once and stopping school to go to bed. I was told off for reading and that I couldn't be that ill if I was able to read. I still feel quite vindicated that I was violently sick less than an hour later, over 20 years later. Small things!</div>
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Poor old Harry. At least he has Dobby to keep him distracted! Apart from finding out that Dobby is the one who stopped the barrier at King's Cross, and who turned the bludger into a Killing Machine, we also learn an incredibly important piece of information: that Dobby must be presented with clothes to be free. Dobby also goes on about how when He Who Must Not Be Named was defeated, life became much better for house-elves.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcRMo6eQBxVY4pdZOeMVG2IJGXLDa5SvMmdRrzGXmPSsx5zNiG_HWr5m8Uh4HBloSWNwyj7_PMnbl8NXYgEvRz4ubcM2AMtD5DcOY7xzQNorA_9IKxG9TuQopbcUGWKoqFRJjY6b9zu9m/s1600/cs10-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcRMo6eQBxVY4pdZOeMVG2IJGXLDa5SvMmdRrzGXmPSsx5zNiG_HWr5m8Uh4HBloSWNwyj7_PMnbl8NXYgEvRz4ubcM2AMtD5DcOY7xzQNorA_9IKxG9TuQopbcUGWKoqFRJjY6b9zu9m/s320/cs10-5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dobby and Harry by James Dunn </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I find this extremely dubious. You behave how you behave in your home, regardless of which Dark Lord you are following, whose political party you are in, and what the general population does. The fact that Voldemort was gone wouldn't prevent people who were cruel to their slaves from carrying on just like that. Something just doesn't sit right with me with this, and I can't figure out quite why it bothers me so much. Maybe because it's such a flimsy explanation for Dobby behaving the way that he does.</div>
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Dobby disappears quickly when they hear people coming up the stairs, and we find out the attacker has struck again, and Colin Creevey has been Petrified. His camera has been fried and all the film is ruined (so he won't get those photos of him in the mud anyway), and the mystery deepens. I have to agree with Lucia on how adorable Colin is. To be honest, I used to find him really annoying, but my mind has been changed by Lucia's post. How's that for a reversal!</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
One thing I find strange here as well is that Colin was looking through his camera when the Basilisk struck. Do you think he was walking around with his eye to the viewfinder, or that he thought he heard something and started looking through the viewfinder 'just in case'? Bizarre.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYBwZjjwDWTWHwGvK_mIYyxjFo-3JCAqUV7IYUVFvBuxsyHx5J1MfppCkEI3Lz9iZ_fzTnUlLgqBANAW5vUZVJyk0nNzPNYyPCXwgg90qUOxCDHItpo4_tSmoPC_9bLLYLhg1dtuDtA4R/s1600/sf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYBwZjjwDWTWHwGvK_mIYyxjFo-3JCAqUV7IYUVFvBuxsyHx5J1MfppCkEI3Lz9iZ_fzTnUlLgqBANAW5vUZVJyk0nNzPNYyPCXwgg90qUOxCDHItpo4_tSmoPC_9bLLYLhg1dtuDtA4R/s1600/sf.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan art of Colin (source unknown)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
The description of Dumbledore's sleeping garments is one of my favourite things of all time! </div>
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"...wearing a long woolly dressing gown and a nightcap."</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It sounds so cosy! I want a big woolly dressing gown to snuggle up in, and a nightcap?! That just sounds like the <b>best</b>. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is pretty obvious that Dumbledore knows it was Tom Riddle who opened the Chamber of Secrets last time it was open, which is why he says that it doesn't matter who opened it, but rather how it was opened this time. I don't think any of us could have predicted the answer...</div>
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Okey dokey, that's it for now. I've had a bit of a painful few days, not feeling so good and blogging has been beyond me. Hopefully I'm on the mend and will be back to normal soon! In the meantime, check out our Twitter and Facebook to keep up to us outside of blogging.</div>
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Much love,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Corrie xx</div>
Corrie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324439648715283460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-49806676399660525992015-11-18T00:36:00.005+00:002015-11-20T01:08:32.477+00:00Quidditch and Detention<div style="text-align: justify;">
I got all excited, thinking this is the chapter when we meet Moaning Myrtle, but then I realized there is another 'meh' chapter before then.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let's just get right down to it, shall we...</div>
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Chapter 7 - Mudbloods and Murmurs</h3>
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It is a few days into the new school year which can mean only one thing: time to start Quidditch practice! Oliver's enthusiasm is really something to marvel at - I can think of very few things I would be willing to wake up at the crack of dawn for.</div>
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<div>
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<br /></div>
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Little Colin Creevey tags along (why were you awake so early Colin?!) and shows Harry the picture of him and Lockhart. I like the description J.K. Rowling gives of Colin's mannerisms:</div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>...Colin Creevey came dashing down the spiral staircase...Said Colin eagerly...Colin scrambled through the hole after him...trotting alongside him...said Colin breathlessly...tripping down a couple of steps because he was gazing open-mouthed at Harry...</i></span></div>
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I kind of picture him behaving like an over-excited puppy. I can totally see why Harry would find him annoying, but I just think he's adorable.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIIXfOf3HIh3jTbcaYYBvkLTQVhTu9mUQk5X6H7B8cYzBydDmaaEPRpglWG0pwz0pK_VBSwv_DBlvZcTPssj4F0JQftEDPvdUHc2pSFJr-_d-hZBoScoMoo6iwg3q0J-ZYEAvVac3xDfq/s1600/CoS+chapter+7+colin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIIXfOf3HIh3jTbcaYYBvkLTQVhTu9mUQk5X6H7B8cYzBydDmaaEPRpglWG0pwz0pK_VBSwv_DBlvZcTPssj4F0JQftEDPvdUHc2pSFJr-_d-hZBoScoMoo6iwg3q0J-ZYEAvVac3xDfq/s320/CoS+chapter+7+colin.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin Creevey by Feyrah (<a href="http://feyrah.deviantart.com/art/Colin-Creevey-68992612" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So, Corrie already covered most of what happens in this chapter. I'm kind of struggling to find things to pick up on...</div>
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Colin excitedly takes pictures of the Gryffindor team's Quidditch practice, which is interrupted by the inevitable arrival of the Slytherins. We are told that the Slytherin team is made up completely of boys, which I find an interesting tidbit of information. We all know, of course, that the Gryffindor team has three girls as their Chasers. Is this another expression of Slytherin's old-fashioned world views, or simply a lack of interest in the sport from the girls in said House?</div>
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Is it ever said explicitly at what age students are allowed to start playing Quidditch? Why are first year students not allowed on the team? I always assumed it was because it is such a dangerous game, so only older students could play it. But here we see that Draco Malfoy is on the team and he is only a second year, after all - or is he on the team simply because his father bought them all new brooms? While we have seen an exception made for Harry (which also grates on me), somehow I don't see Dumbledore being so accommodating towards Draco...</div>
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I truly admire Hermione sticking up for Ron and the rest of the team. It's a shame how badly it backfires - literally - as Ron tries to hex Draco for calling Hermione a Mudblood, but instead ends up vomiting slugs for the rest of the day. Harry and Hermione take Ron to Hagrid's hut and we find out that Lockhart was the only person willing to take on the role of DADA teacher, on account of the position being supposedly cursed.</div>
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I like that it's Ron who explains the meaning of Mudblood. Because of his general lack of magical skill, I think it's to forget that of the three main characters, he is the only who grew up in a wizarding environment and would therefore have access to all sorts of information about wizarding world. It really annoyed me that in the movie adaptation, Hermione knew what the offensive term meant.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMZkK_hzlEg5uc8Il_3S1pH0Fmj5Jcav5N-26e9O7TX5MGtjPqZzZR4idhOP2rozsN7T7rMHPm8ea5z1GiAKZ_EvyeKgHucUq5ux4yUdvxQWDPjSmbgb73a_tAmFEOIR89UNCbFtyy64S/s1600/CoS+chapter+7+mudblood.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMZkK_hzlEg5uc8Il_3S1pH0Fmj5Jcav5N-26e9O7TX5MGtjPqZzZR4idhOP2rozsN7T7rMHPm8ea5z1GiAKZ_EvyeKgHucUq5ux4yUdvxQWDPjSmbgb73a_tAmFEOIR89UNCbFtyy64S/s320/CoS+chapter+7+mudblood.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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We get a subtle reminder of Hagrid's expulsion from school in his third year and a mention of Ginny visiting Hagrid. Then it's back up to the school for lunch and detention. As Ron is sent off to clean trophies with Filch, Harry has the pleasure of serving his detention with Lockhart, helping him answer his fan mail. And seriously, I am amazed McGonagall managed to say that sentence with a straight face.</div>
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The chapter comes to a close with Harry hearing a 'voice of breath-taking, ice cold venom.' And so, we have a new mystery to solve - whose voice was it and why could Lockhart not hear it?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Before I sign off, let's take a look at the successful magic scoreboard:<br />
<br />
Harry - 0<br />
Hermione - 2<br />
Ron - 0.5 (he managed to execute a hex, just not on the correct target)<br />
<br />
Tomorrow it's time to get reacquainted with the ghosts of Hogwarts.<br />
<br />
Until next time,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-67143698289283885372015-11-16T01:06:00.001+00:002015-11-16T01:06:40.756+00:00The Ineptitude of Gilderoy Lockhart<div style="text-align: justify;">
At times like these, when the world just seems like such an cruel and scary place, I like to escape inside a book. I haven't had a chance to do that today, as I had experiments to run during the day, but I'm happy now to flick through <i>Chamber of Secrets</i> and find comfort in the old and familiar.</div>
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<a name='more'></a><h3>
Chapter 6 - Gilderoy Lockhart</h3>
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I still have a bit of a sour taste in my mouth left over from the previous chapter and while I generally abhor public humiliation, I must admit I derive some pleasure from Ron being berated by Mrs. Weasley's Howler.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hyphenhyphenDoekDecyOeOy_-J0U0Qn70NHsARzsCpVr64Zhz8rRKzDuN7ZrZX-m07DBcsPX7-KUH62eMa7DX0um__IJOrjMW_eupE6Qz-XtF769xXbDs87Pb8we-1kLEk_5cwnKTfSLCyRpD-x6T/s1600/CoS+chapter+6+howler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hyphenhyphenDoekDecyOeOy_-J0U0Qn70NHsARzsCpVr64Zhz8rRKzDuN7ZrZX-m07DBcsPX7-KUH62eMa7DX0um__IJOrjMW_eupE6Qz-XtF769xXbDs87Pb8we-1kLEk_5cwnKTfSLCyRpD-x6T/s320/CoS+chapter+6+howler.JPG" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howler concept art by Adam Brockman for Chamber of Secrets film (<a href="http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/File:Ron_Weasley's_Howler_(Concept_Artwork_for_HP2_movie_01).JPG" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I never really liked the way the Howler was depicted in the movie. There is no description in the book saying anything about the Howler levitating off the table and developing a mouth to speak through. I can see why they chose to make it like this but it annoys me nonetheless. I always imagined it as just a simple, red envelope that is bewitched to start shouting some specific time after being delivered.</div>
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Again I shake my head at the lack of forethought from either of the boys - Molly says they received a letter from Dumbledore the night before. Presumably this was after the boys had arrived at the castle. Can you imagine the worry the Weasleys must have felt, not knowing where their son was for hours? Neither of the boys thought to send them a message to let them know they were alright. I can only assume that Molly and Arthur may have figured out what the boys had done, but that would not have alleviated their worries - what if the boys had had an accident?</div>
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While being extremely embarrassing for both Harry and Ron, the Howler does have the positive effect of cheering up Hermione. They make their way to their first lesson of the year - Herbology with Professor Sprout and the Hufflepuff second years - and meet Professor Lockhart outside of the greenhouses.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Gosh but he is annoying and self-centered. At this point of the story I find Lockhart quite harmless, even amusing. Reading over his conversation with Harry as I type this, I can even appreciate some of what he is saying:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Don't know when I've been more shocked. Flying a car to Hogwarts! Well, of course, I knew at once why you'd done it. Stood out a mile...Gave you a taste for publicity, didn't I? Gave you the bug...</i></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Considering this is only the second time Lockhart and Harry have interacted, I can kind of see why he would come to this conclusion - and there is something I never thought I would say! I mean, while it was certainly not the motivation, there is no denying that Harry didn't imagine gaining recognition and popularity for flying a car to Hogwarts. Of course, everything else Lockhart says is completely ridiculous, up to and including the fact that he is harboring under the delusion that he is more famous than Harry Potter. Oh well, he can dream.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Mandrakes sound quite interesting - did you know that they are real plants? I didn't until now, but it turns out that they are the roots of the plants from the genus Mandragora and their shape does, in fact, often resemble human figures. This, combined with the fact that they contain hallucinogenic alkaloids, means that they have historically been associated with witchcraft (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandrake" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)! Apparently, it can induce a state of unconsciousness and, get this, according to one superstition 'people who pull up this root will be condemned to hell, and the mandrake root would scream as it was pulled from the ground, killing anyone who heard it!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaIGZyfRSSrQW_5LQZ_GZxH5Gc-8nFtixyiWadI_YWWg1WGemXFpnOzzqhm11NT0tsGELod4gztc5dw9jlJOKc9gkmo1OHBgfiQR5PIwqtBco8hSX7WlPzhZzqTsGMSXUiCeb8g5jcNnS/s1600/CoS+chapter+6+mandrake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaIGZyfRSSrQW_5LQZ_GZxH5Gc-8nFtixyiWadI_YWWg1WGemXFpnOzzqhm11NT0tsGELod4gztc5dw9jlJOKc9gkmo1OHBgfiQR5PIwqtBco8hSX7WlPzhZzqTsGMSXUiCeb8g5jcNnS/s320/CoS+chapter+6+mandrake.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-potting Mandrakes by Eachee (<a href="http://eachee.deviantart.com/art/Mandrakes-453057757" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first time our heroes actually interact with students from Hufflepuff House (except for a Qudditch match in <i>Philosopher's Stone</i>, which had no dialogue). We are properly introduced to Justin Finch-Fletchley, an extremely chatty curly haired boy who we find out is a big fan of Lockhart and is also Muggle-born, which will be important later on in the story. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is also the chapter in which we meet Colin Creevey, a Harry Potter fanboy if ever I knew one, who asks Harry for a signed photograph. I think Colin is quite sweet the way he is fascinated by everything at Hogwarts. As much as he makes Harry uncomfortable, we shouldn't forget that Harry was also once that wide-eyed eleven year old arriving at Hogwarts for the first time!</div>
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Draco Malfoy arrives - does he, like, stalk Harry? He's always around it seems. He makes some rude remarks about both Harry and Ron which, honestly, really aren't as funny as the older Slytherins seem to think they are. Why would a bunch of fifth years be hanging out with Draco anyway? Is it just to be in his good graces?</div>
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And then, it's on to the main event - the first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year in which we see just how useless Lockhart actually is. Not only does he set his students a remarkably stupid test about his life and accomplishments, he is unable to gain control over a bunch of Cornish pixies. The best he can do is brandish his wand and yell "<i>Peskipiksi Pesternomi</i>."</div>
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I never really looked too closely at the words he says, they sounds like gibberish. However, upon closer inspection, I think I've figured out what the phrase is supposed to mean: "Pesky pixie, pester no me!" If this is indeed the case, I just think it's absolutely hilarious.</div>
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I had always assumed that 'Cornish pixie' is the technical nomenclature for these creatures, when in fact they are simply pixies that are most common to Cornwall. I dug through my copy of <i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</i> by Newt Scamander and also found out that they do not, in fact, have wings. Which means the movie - which was released a year after Newt's book - got their depiction of the pixies completely wrong. They are described as delighting in playing tricks and jokes on other, which makes them sound like ideal friends for Fred and George. It is not exactly clear to me why they would be required learning in DADA - would they not be better suited for Care of Magical Creatures lessons?</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJknqP-di1RRurtQvDCb0f3uPvJZiimpYBa-mX6neXouyIe8ooJhctApSAxEJ575Rh3o6T6OmJERxkKJgUNkOCHakRMt_t7hN2Gx3WbpKnB3zGHOoyWcl6pRXkhF44oLEsQhwE5Eux_f34/s1600/CoS+chapter+6+pixies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJknqP-di1RRurtQvDCb0f3uPvJZiimpYBa-mX6neXouyIe8ooJhctApSAxEJ575Rh3o6T6OmJERxkKJgUNkOCHakRMt_t7hN2Gx3WbpKnB3zGHOoyWcl6pRXkhF44oLEsQhwE5Eux_f34/s320/CoS+chapter+6+pixies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornish Pixies are devilish tricky little blighters (<a href="http://www.animationconnection.com/view/cp1333-pixie-mayhem" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The class descends into chaos as the spell obviously doesn't work and it is up to Ron, Harry and Hermione to clean up after Lockhart's mess. Hermione once again shows us how adept she is with magic, by successfully performing a Freezing Charm. I wish we had a list of spells that the students are required to learn each year, because I don't remember if this spell has ever been mentioned before. Were it any other student doing the spell, I would be happy to think it is just a minor detail that has been glossed over as it is not particularly important for the story. However, it being Hermione, I would be curious to know if it's a spell that she learned in her spare time, to be ahead of the other students.</div>
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*wanders off to find out*</div>
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Well, as it turns out, it is a spell found in <i>The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 </i>(<a href="http://pottermore.wikia.com/wiki/Freezing_Charm" target="_blank">source</a>). You may be interested to know that other spells taught to the second years from this book are:</div>
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Dancing Feet Spell - <i>Tarantellegra</i></div>
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Disarming Charm - <i>Expelliarmus</i></div>
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Engorgement Charm - <i>Engorgio</i></div>
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Freezing Charm - <i>Immobulus</i></div>
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General Counter-Spell - <i>Finite Incantatem</i></div>
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Memory Charm - <i>Obliviate</i></div>
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Tickling Charm - <i>Rictusempra</i></div>
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I find it worrying that a spell as powerful and harmful as the Memory Charm is standard learning for twelve year old children.</div>
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Seeing Hermione perform magic so easily and readily, I have decided to keep tabs of the successful magic the three main characters actually do throughout this book. So far, the score is thus:</div>
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Harry - 0? (He yelled 'reverse' on the car in the previous chapter and it did, but I wonder if that wasn't more self-preservation on the car's part)</div>
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Hermione - 2 (transfigured beetles into buttons, froze pixies - both in this chapter)</div>
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Ron - 0</div>
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Until next time,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-26044497687973750502015-11-14T23:51:00.000+00:002015-11-15T01:48:01.221+00:00The Writing on the Wall<div style="text-align: justify;">
Just to follow on slightly from my post yesterday, the events in Paris have been absolutely shocking over the past 24 hours, and my thoughts are with those affected. I was using the hashtag "pray for Paris" on Twitter, and getting some criticism for it, because people have been saying that religion is what has got us into this mess in the first place. I'm not particularly religious myself, and I simply want to say that we could all do with practising a little kindness, tolerance and compassion to everyone - not just Parisians.</div>
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On that note, let's move on to something a little more light-hearted - Hogwarts, Harry Potter and the tricks our heroes get up to in this chapter!<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Writing on the Wall</h2>
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This chapter jumps straight in where the previous chapter left off, with Dumbledore sweeping in to take control of the situation. The other teachers join him, as well as a shell-shocked Filch, and they head to Lockhart's office to figure out what has happened. Lockhart must feel like his day has been made - a chance to make himself act the hero in front of the whole school!</div>
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With McGonagall and Snape also with them, we have a pretty party, with the two most senior teachers in the school, the most inept, the most vindictive, and...well, Filch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUZQYs011e_Kr0fG8oISZegwzeg9RR35gOuDmBarouF081PIj6l1vSxKLN5KGrR1pR21DygjrNN3ova1T4zadAfI_o7nOy2Hs6AJ_tHc9AOg3UKtkcX5W78Lg00Ut3VWDKAzsmgzPxuHl/s1600/the_writing_on_the_wall-_cos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUZQYs011e_Kr0fG8oISZegwzeg9RR35gOuDmBarouF081PIj6l1vSxKLN5KGrR1pR21DygjrNN3ova1T4zadAfI_o7nOy2Hs6AJ_tHc9AOg3UKtkcX5W78Lg00Ut3VWDKAzsmgzPxuHl/s320/the_writing_on_the_wall-_cos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan art by ratgirl84 (<a href="http://ratgirl84.deviantart.com/art/The-Writing-On-The-Wall-CoS-2436732">source</a>)</td></tr>
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We see evidence of just how amazing a wizard Dumbledore actually is, with an examination of Mrs Norris using nothing but his sense. Meanwhile, Lockhart is throwing around fantastic words like "Transmogrifian Torture" and "Ouagadougou", oblivious to Filch quietly falling to pieces in the background. We see another instance of Harry's goodness with the following:</div>
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Harry couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for [Filch]...</blockquote>
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I would agree with him, I'm an awful coward when it comes to seeing other people in pain. Not that I would necessarily want to be in pain myself, you see, but when someone you know loses someone they love, it's impossible not to feel sorry for them. I read an interesting theory on Mrs Filch today, with someone putting forward the suggestion that Mrs Filch is actually an Animagus! You can read it <a href="http://moviepilot.com/posts/3636734?lt_source=external,manual,manual">here</a>...I have to say, it kind of makes sense!</div>
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Luckily, as I have mentioned before, the Petrification of Mrs Norris will be able to be reversed when the Mandrakes can be 'whipped up into a Mandrake Restorative Draught', and that is the end of it as far as we are all concerned.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoYcjw7P-3T32GXUPJz2LsVi_P0nJoc3S33OyfIT_ewX-6xQPBJrdk7Wq10YaqibWKQPbPUvp6aka6S4Vtu8ucPfJw0uKtL8xhR0iFVTEDcIYXcBTR8SKvjKqhiwPyZi9e2DE8-0VUJiI/s1600/mandrake_restorative_draught__harry_potter_potions_by_secretvixen-d5spf3m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoYcjw7P-3T32GXUPJz2LsVi_P0nJoc3S33OyfIT_ewX-6xQPBJrdk7Wq10YaqibWKQPbPUvp6aka6S4Vtu8ucPfJw0uKtL8xhR0iFVTEDcIYXcBTR8SKvjKqhiwPyZi9e2DE8-0VUJiI/s320/mandrake_restorative_draught__harry_potter_potions_by_secretvixen-d5spf3m.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://secretvixen.deviantart.com/art/Mandrake-Restorative-Draught-Harry-Potter-Potions-350546098">source</a>)</td></tr>
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There's just that little mystery of the voice that Harry can hear in the walls to sort out...</div>
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What I don't understand is why Harry won't tell Dumbledore about the voice - even if he didn't want to say in front of the other teachers (particularly Snape), why doesn't he tell Dumbledore or McGonagall in private? You would have thought that by now he would trust the Headmaster slightly more...but no. I also don't really understand why, when Dumbledore clearly knows that Harry is lying, he doesn't press further. You would have thought that <b>he</b> would have learned after the whole 'Tom Riddle/Hagrid/Aragog' debacle.</div>
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The other big thing in this chapter is it becoming public knowledge that Filch is a Squib, and we find out what a Squib actually is. Speaking of tolerance...Ron isn't particularly kind about it, which is unfortunate, as Ron is my favourite character.</div>
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The story is given some double meanings here, with Ginny being upset about what happened to Mrs Norris, apparently because she is a cat lover. Ron says "They'll catch the nutter who did it and have him out here in no time. I just hope he's got time to Petrify Filch before he's expelled." At this point, Ginny 'blanches' and Ron thinks this is because of the terrible thought of someone else being Petrified - however, as we find out once have finished the book, it's actually because Ginny is the 'nutter'.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YO_rUcU4C42ZjeUbQHoreAJrwe8QnR5Qgu5fQKZyD7EmsHCr_2-lcLcB8riQfbfFBcwFNV0-Bl1p__MiwIesT2mZgVqhHzYptBZdurGMmWpiZZeYMgFsMu3M6JCpIHSmwNPXT_EVE9Qi/s1600/oo70mzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YO_rUcU4C42ZjeUbQHoreAJrwe8QnR5Qgu5fQKZyD7EmsHCr_2-lcLcB8riQfbfFBcwFNV0-Bl1p__MiwIesT2mZgVqhHzYptBZdurGMmWpiZZeYMgFsMu3M6JCpIHSmwNPXT_EVE9Qi/s320/oo70mzy.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs Norris is played by a Maine Coon - a <br />
gigantic breed of cat! (<a href="http://lovemeow.com/2014/09/lupo-giant-maine-coon-cat/">source</a>)</td></tr>
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We get the first glimpses of Muggleborns being scared of Harry, with Justin Finch-Fletchley being scared of him. We know that Justin is a Muggleborn because he tells Harry that he was down to go to Eton in the Herbology lesson in which we meet the Mandrakes. </div>
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For those who do not know what <a href="http://www.eton.co.uk/">Eton</a> is, it's an extremely elite private boys school where the rich and influential send their boys to receive a private education in the UK. A boarding school, many of the UK's top government officials went to school there, as well as our male Royals. It's in a beautiful setting, which is about all that us 'normal people' are allowed to know about the place...but I have spent some time looking at it, and I have to say that it's as close as us Muggles can get to Hogwarts! Grand old buildings, big lawns, boarding...if you are an avid Harry Potter fan and can't get to Cambridge or Oxford Universities, which are also two places in which some of the films were actually filmed, Eton is another place to look at if you get a chance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa9pWJrAjlgRIuE1DZSimNXm_x5kBYrYNB0KvkBqzzlouLBlRqsip1NsB0N6sOnWn2WzwsbgU6zo3ZpLhkPI5HaprWP3N-GudFStlAFAO7QCKDR-GLtb-PKdbv_VOgiUT3ms_iUGOC1hh/s1600/index_main5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa9pWJrAjlgRIuE1DZSimNXm_x5kBYrYNB0KvkBqzzlouLBlRqsip1NsB0N6sOnWn2WzwsbgU6zo3ZpLhkPI5HaprWP3N-GudFStlAFAO7QCKDR-GLtb-PKdbv_VOgiUT3ms_iUGOC1hh/s320/index_main5.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eton Boys...those are wizard's robes if ever I saw any!</td></tr>
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Anyway, I digress.</div>
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For the first time <b>ever</b>, Professor Binns is interrupted in History of Magic when Hermione asks about the Chamber of Secrets. Binns reluctance to tell the story is brilliantly countered by Hermione showing her brains with "Please sir, don't legends always have a basis in fact?"</div>
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As well as telling us what the Chamber is actually all about, we get some of the back story of Hogwarts, which is incredibly important for the rest of the series and the context we need for the history of Voldemort, the Gaunts, the Deathly Hallows...it's a pivotal moment of history, and as far as I can tell one of the only important things that ever actually happens in a HoM lesson!</div>
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I've always wanted to know more about Professor Binns' history, and Pottermore is the place to go if you're interested. I won't tell you too much, other than his first name is <b>Cuthburt</b>. This is the best!!! I love that name and am so thrilled to hear it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0qrZvivzDZG8-I_UUfwShQFtfMt8XDKgOQ3JIWtlpd4Ow1SyBoYx-UlmRZ09w_nafBW0fqAmcN0wnK-OQToCOTvY8W3LKT33NGIzpyx_WjbfrwPPWYhWEWbbFdAF8W4RLkze3xWBW_nt/s1600/professor_binns_by_elen89.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0qrZvivzDZG8-I_UUfwShQFtfMt8XDKgOQ3JIWtlpd4Ow1SyBoYx-UlmRZ09w_nafBW0fqAmcN0wnK-OQToCOTvY8W3LKT33NGIzpyx_WjbfrwPPWYhWEWbbFdAF8W4RLkze3xWBW_nt/s320/professor_binns_by_elen89.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professor Binns by elen89 (<a href="http://www.deviantart.com/art/Professor-Binns-67129849">source</a>)</td></tr>
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Gosh, a lot happens in this chapter! I'm looking through it again as I'm reviewing it and phew! Ron, Harry and Hermione find themselves back at the scene of the crime, and we learn about Ron's phobia of spiders. This is all thanks to Fred playing a prank on him as a three year old, and I urge you to remember this...I've definitely got a few quirks to my personality that are a result of pranks played on me by family, and they can be debilitating! Poor old Ron.</div>
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I don't understand why Moaning Myrtle's bathroom is so disgusting - perhaps because of Myrtle, the house-elves are afraid to go in there and clean? It was clearly a working bathroom before she died because that is where she was <i>when</i> she died. Call it atmosphere?! It definitely sounds like somewhere haunted.</div>
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"Under a large, cracked and spotted mirror were a row of chipped, stone sinks. The floor was damp and reflected the dull light given off by the stubs of a few candles, burning low in their holders; the wooden doors to the cubicles were flaking and scratched, and one of them was dangling off its hinges."</blockquote>
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Another question occurs to me suddenly. We know that ghosts have some substance, because people can walk through them (sounds good if you're ever in need of a cold shower!) and Peeves was throwing peanuts at Myrtle at the Deathday Party. Clearly she can affect water, because she regularly floods the bathroom, and presumably Professor Binns can mark the long essays that the students always have to hand in to him! Where is the boundary?! I think I could handle being a ghost if I could knit...otherwise it sounds boring.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQTOXqYxBE2jekr3ueQ7BzxXEPojHNMZgw08S6Md_IXRT-XwMUf8848OG5kqB7o6ckzDJ50HponTJjZu1Kz1dkqPxibbDjSVKBxZbgqHqEiiD0dVxrE4K6B4Q1usqvEGxENjKce1toekm/s1600/tumblr_inline_ni9gioAn9l1sye4z0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQTOXqYxBE2jekr3ueQ7BzxXEPojHNMZgw08S6Md_IXRT-XwMUf8848OG5kqB7o6ckzDJ50HponTJjZu1Kz1dkqPxibbDjSVKBxZbgqHqEiiD0dVxrE4K6B4Q1usqvEGxENjKce1toekm/s320/tumblr_inline_ni9gioAn9l1sye4z0.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moaning Myrtle by Roby (<a href="http://robyboh.tumblr.com/">source</a>)</td></tr>
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Ron brings forth the suggestion that Malfoy could be the Heir of Slytherin because he hates "Mudbloods" (we were all thinking it). Hermione mocks the boys for not having listened in Potions, and tells them about Polyjuice Potion...at which point we realise they are going to have to raid the Restricted Section again. If Harry hadn't had an incident with a screaming book in Philosopher's Stone, maybe he would have tried the Invisibility Cloak again. However, they decide they need a teachers signature and comment that they would need a really stupid teacher to sign a book like "Moste Potente Potions" out.</div>
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I wonder where we could find one of those...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnpzqrgA9WdB3f9cGh4gQbbUSyqtlH6fRt9OqOu_hZOlOFXX-W1BXDKJwDELdYbkq1u_g4PUiyT6B5gVi91jB8z0Tullzf_K0B57j5erLB6kFEF5S5jH0nla3ujcR7ZtQvV2GvDa5K1fm/s1600/gilderoy_lockhart_by_edgar1975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnpzqrgA9WdB3f9cGh4gQbbUSyqtlH6fRt9OqOu_hZOlOFXX-W1BXDKJwDELdYbkq1u_g4PUiyT6B5gVi91jB8z0Tullzf_K0B57j5erLB6kFEF5S5jH0nla3ujcR7ZtQvV2GvDa5K1fm/s320/gilderoy_lockhart_by_edgar1975.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lockhart by Edgar1975 (<a href="http://whiteelzora.deviantart.com/art/Gilderoy-Lockhart-28983921">source</a>)</td></tr>
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That's all from me for now, I'd better go read the next chapter!</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
Corrie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324439648715283460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-91278655819408137402015-11-13T23:52:00.004+00:002015-11-13T23:52:42.777+00:00Pray for ParisMy post tonight was light-hearted and silly, and I don't feel I can post it in light of what is going on in Paris, my favourite city. I will post it tomorrow - in the meantime, I will be praying for Paris, and hope that tomorrow brings a lighter day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/thereaIbanksy/status/665306465670860805">Click for source</a></td></tr>
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CorrieCorrie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324439648715283460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-83944589057191136592015-11-13T00:38:00.002+00:002015-11-13T00:38:46.228+00:00The Recklessness of Harry and Ron<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Chapter 5</b> is tricky - reading it as a child I remember really liking it and thinking it was very brave of Harry and Ron to fly all the way to Hogwarts, but as an adult I just think it's super reckless and I disapprove of their behaviour.</div>
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As Corrie said when she reviewed this chapter a few days ago, this post will be full of criticisms.</div>
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Chapter 5 - The Whomping Willow</h3>
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But let's start on a positive note - Harry is still at the Weasleys' house and having the happiest month of his life. On his last night at the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley makes a sumptuous dinner that includes treacle pudding for dessert. I wasn't sure what kind of dessert this is, so I had a look online and found a recipe on the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/treacle_pudding_80920" target="_blank">BBC website</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5wgwxaOp4zCRIWbiXG1fhmTrSFZvLfuPI4_ITbvsqj7oiempCwLdX5WLNd1Yw0dD8VzYPPi4ntdaoGSZULEg8BHYBIYy73NHP79_jpx6TOW_HYs77KRTyyfVnCRWMY044rgITjkSSsgs/s1600/treacle+pudding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5wgwxaOp4zCRIWbiXG1fhmTrSFZvLfuPI4_ITbvsqj7oiempCwLdX5WLNd1Yw0dD8VzYPPi4ntdaoGSZULEg8BHYBIYy73NHP79_jpx6TOW_HYs77KRTyyfVnCRWMY044rgITjkSSsgs/s1600/treacle+pudding.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm....looks yummy</td></tr>
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I like how hectic the journey to King's Cross is - they have to turn back three times to pick up forgotten items, such as Fred's broomstick and Ginny's diary. Wonder if that thing will be relevant in future chapters...</div>
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At King's Cross Harry and Ron are stopped from getting onto the platform as the gateway is magically sealed after the rest of the Weasley family manage to get through. Eleven o'clock comes and goes and the boys have missed their train to Hogwarts.</div>
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I don't want to repeat everything that Corrie said because my thoughts are very similar to hers - why didn't they just wait for Ron's parents and explain the situation to them? Surely this can't be the first time in the history of the existence of Hogwarts that a student has missed the train, there must be some back up option of getting to the school!</div>
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I can sympathize with the boys to some degree - it does happen that in a moment of panic people make irrational decisions. I remember once when I was about 5 years old, I was waiting for my mom in the car while she popped into the grocery store. She was taking a while and I really needed to use the bathroom, so I decided to leave the car and try to look for her, not realizing that the car door locks automatically, leaving me stranded outside in the cold. I don't really remember how I managed to find my mom, but obviously that story had a happy ending.</div>
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In any case, Harry and Ron manage to get the car up in the air and make it invisible. They follow the Hogwarts Express due north and fly above the clouds. I make a double-take at Ron's throw-away comment about being worried about aeroplanes. Mr. Weasley doesn't even know the proper terminology for an escalator and none of the Weasleys seem to know how a telephone works, but Ron understands the concept of aeroplanes?<br />
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Their flight is pretty uneventful until the car decides enough is enough (or perhaps it runs out of petrol? Does it even run on petrol?), they lose control of the car and crash into a tree. Unluckily for them, the Whomping Willow hits them right back and honestly, at this point, it serves them right. Considering the astounding lack of punishment they get from Dumbledore for this crazy and dangerous scheme, it seems appropriate that at least the tree reprimands them. Of course, I understand that the Willow could have seriously injured them, but still...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqcLzQZ9wmNhfSd3WK9nteJ0GRon-7hvGS0-sZrsNsNaLe9niNBXp24G6Cxi0Y1-uWwKE1xF6-G89oUCusrpx_SlPeFySrFwoHNaRRvHJYhP4SyhMFdN8kZfxXKNkXX-COK1pdpIMHV6N/s1600/CoS+chapter+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqcLzQZ9wmNhfSd3WK9nteJ0GRon-7hvGS0-sZrsNsNaLe9niNBXp24G6Cxi0Y1-uWwKE1xF6-G89oUCusrpx_SlPeFySrFwoHNaRRvHJYhP4SyhMFdN8kZfxXKNkXX-COK1pdpIMHV6N/s320/CoS+chapter+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry and Ron get chucked on their bums (<a href="http://nicopony.deviantart.com/art/Chapter-5-The-Whomping-Willow-34103434" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
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Bruised and demoralized because they weren't able to glide smoothly onto the grounds in a car that neither of them was equipped to drive, or fly, in the first place, they trudge up to the school and watch the Sorting ceremony through the window. Fantasizing about the potential fate that may have befallen their least favorite teacher, Professor Snape, it is not long before they are found and escorted to said teacher's office.<br />
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I do wonder how Snape knew where they were - did Ron's parents get in touch with Dumbledore about what had happened? Or had it been Hermione who had alerted a member of staff of their absence? Or had Dumbledore simply pieced two and two together upon seeing that day's issue of the Evening Prophet?<br />
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However they had found out, Harry and Ron are undoubtedly in a lot of trouble. I mean, Harry was almost expelled from Hogwarts because a house-elf had levitated a cake in his house in front of Muggles. Surely flying an illegally bewitched car across the country and being seen by no less than six Muggles would constitute a breach of the International Statute of Secrecy? I am sure whatever punishment they receive will be fitting of the crime.<br />
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Alas, it is not so. While it satisfies me greatly that Harry and Ron are knocked down a peg or two and begin to realize the stupidity of their actions, as well as the potential ramifications to Mr. Weasley, it really annoys me that all they get is a reprimand and a detention each.<br />
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I assume Dumbledore, and perhaps also Snape, use Legilimency on the boys to verify their story, but this is blatant favoritism on Dumbledore's part. I side with Snape on this - they broke the law and had it been any other student, I am sure the punishment would have been much more severe. I realize the story would have been cut very short if they had been expelled and so for the sake of the narrative they must remain at Hogwarts, but as with allowing Gryffindor to win the House Cup at the last minute at the end of <i>Philosopher's Stone</i>, this is highly unfair.<br />
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What the hell is the point of even having school rules at this point? Also, I would just like to remind everyone that in the previous book, being found out of bed after hours warranted the deduction of 50 points from each student and one detention. Apparently stealing and crashing a flying car is worth just the detention...<br />
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And the ending of the chapter just grates on me, because they haven't learned anything from this. Like, nothing. They get what they wanted - the whole of Gryffindor House (apart from Hermione and Percy) welcome them as if they're heroes or something.<br />
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Sigh, really not a happy reader at the moment. Let's hope the next chapter leaves me happier.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-22318138925383286552015-11-12T23:55:00.000+00:002015-11-13T10:58:22.845+00:00The First Attack<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first attack of <i>Chamber of Secrets</i> is about to happen, and we are catapulted into the intrigue of life with a malicious beastie roaming the castle. Read on, fair Harry Potter fans!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing fan art of Filch and Mrs Norris by Levon Hackensaw (<a href="http://levonhackensaw.deviantart.com/art/Argus-Filch-and-Mrs-Norris-from-Harry-Potter-382487940">source</a>)</td></tr>
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The Deathday Party</h2>
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We suddenly get to October in the castle, and all is damp and chilly. It’s interesting that even in something as short at the length of time a Harry Potter series takes to write, we can see an effect on climate change. I can’t remember a damp and chilly October, really, and I’ve lived in England for 16 years. We are in mid-November (nearly) and the weather still isn’t chilly, even though it’s damp.</div>
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That said, I am based in London and the case may be very different in Scotland…</div>
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I absolutely love the concept of Pepper-Up Potion – especially the image of Ginny Weasley with her head on fire because her ears are steaming! This seems like such an amazing potion, what better way to get rid of a cold than to literally burn it away?! I wonder how quickly it works, too – wouldn’t it be a great thing to sense a cold coming on and just get rid of it like that.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Percy forces Ginny to take Pepper-Up Potion (<a href="http://adriennejw.homestead.com/Potter1/hpfanart10.html">source</a>)</td></tr>
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This description of autumn is fairly enchanting. As much as the storyline is important, I also love JKRs use of language in this chapter. Raindrops are the size of bullets, flowerbeds become muddy streams and Hagrid’s pumpkins swell to the size of a small shed! (If I were there, I would totally carve myself a studio out of a pumpkin and put some magic on it to preserve it forever more. What could be more bewitching than a PUMPKIN OFFICE?? I love autumn.)</div>
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My passion for Oliver Wood continues as his zeal for practice sees the Gryffindor Quidditch Team out in all the weather, which leads to Harry meeting Nearly Headless Nick in the castle, getting on the wrong side of Filch, and the destruction of a certain Vanishing Cabinet above Filches office. Thus, the Deathday Party comes about.</div>
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I wanted to know what a musical saw sounded like (something that seems to have been missing from my education until now). Turn the music up and enjoy this. I think I have found my favourite new sound.</div>
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Not only does the character of Nearly Headless Nick develop further in this chapter, but we meet Moaning Myrtle – a pivotal moment. If Peeves didn’t make Myrtle go off in tears, she may not have flooded the bathroom. There wouldn’t have been water in the corridor, and Mrs Norris might have been killed rather than just Petrified.</div>
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The mystery of the creature in the walls deepens with this little episode. I can remember feeling a sense of intrigue about the bodiless voice that was going around threatening to murder someone, and I think it was an ingenious way to tie the whole thing together. Do you think when Voldemort was at school, he discovered he was the heir and where the Chamber of Secrets was because the Basilisk was going around calling for him in the pipes? I can’t figure out how he figured it out otherwise!</div>
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We are introduced to Squibs, a fairly abstract concept at the moment, but something that will become important in Harry’s emotional turmoil when he starts finding out more about Dumbledore later on in life. </div>
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Overall, this is the chapter that really gets things going in the book. A few important pieces of overall background for the whole series are set, the action really starts, and the descriptions of life in and around Hogwarts the picture we have painted in our minds gets richer and more detailed. Even though every time I read it I start craving pumpkin pie, I mostly enjoy Chapter Eight.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Mrs Norris (<a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/cs/rg-cs08.html">source</a>)</td></tr>
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Things I don’t like about it includes the whole scene with Nick and the muddy robes, the Kwikspell Course and specifically the disgusting description of Filch's cold (which let’s face it, is down to good writing). I feel like it drags on a bit in this respect, and then everything suddenly happens all at once. I guess that’s the way of storytelling…build up the tension and then break it, right?</div>
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Here are a few of my favourite lines:</div>
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“…the spectacular display of tangerine stars showering from the Salamander’s mouth…” </div>
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“‘Careful not to walk through anyone,’ said Ron nervously…”</div>
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My boyfriend and I decided we needed to try pumpkin pie one year. The recipe we chose was not a savoury dish, at all. If you fancy giving it a go, <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1742633/pumpkin-pie">here</a>’s what we did! This was delicious, and the only reason we haven't made it again is because I would be as fat as Aunt Marge if we did. SO. TASTY.</div>
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That's all from me for tonight!</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
Corrie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324439648715283460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-32892525923442992662015-11-11T11:27:00.000+00:002015-11-20T11:27:33.839+00:00A day of spewing slugs<div style="text-align: justify;">
This chapter has always absolutely horrified and enthralled me. The slugs and stuff...ew.</div>
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I saw one of our participants last night and she said she was terrified because she thought we were both waaaay ahead in the series (we all know Lucia is on Order of the Phoenix)! I just wanted to say that I am reviewing the chapters literally as I read them - I have just completed Chapter Eight, and this is Chapter Seven, so don't be intimidated by that!</div>
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The Problem with Slugs</h2>
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With Lockhart properly established as useless, annoying and arrogant, the next chapter opens with Harry dodging him wherever possible, until we get to the weekend. Harry is woken at the crack of dawn by Oliver Wood, for a ‘first of the year’ Quidditch practice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver Wood by Sean Biggerstaff (<a href="http://40.media.tumblr.com/48e0554abb3a5dd7a1a5a5678cda5fed/tumblr_n2ypt6a2G01rnvzmbo1_250.png">source</a>)</td></tr>
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I really love Oliver Wood. He is the stereotypically attractive person to me – clearly not because of his looks (although I won’t share my mental image with you, ahaha) but because of the amount of passion he shows for the game that he is obsessed with. I think he is such a wonderful character. He doesn’t care one jot for sleep, irritating his team members, evil plots to get Harry murdered or the school destroyed – all he wants is to win the House Cup.</div>
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I also love that in this chapter, Harry leaves a note for Ron to tell him where he is going, so that Ron doesn’t worry when he wakes up and finds Harry’s bed empty. This is so sweet! I went to boarding school as a very small girl, and we lived in big dorms in a very regimented way, and not at weekends, so I never got that ‘hanging out with your mates’ time that is so present at Hogwarts. (And, for that matter, Enid Blyton books and so forth.) This makes me just love Harry a little bit, which is a good thing because I find Harry quite irritating, if you haven’t worked that out yet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver Wood by carriebreathsbooks (<a href="http://flint-x-wood.deviantart.com/art/Oliverr-198127605">source</a>)</td></tr>
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An unsuccessful Quidditch practice is interrupted by snakes brandishing new broomsticks, and slugs putting an end to Ron’s productivity for the day. There’s a wonderful description of how the Slytherin’s react to Ron’s backfiring curse here:</div>
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"The Slytherin team were paralysed with laughter. Flint was doubled up, hanging on to his new broomstick for support. Malfoy was on all fours, banging the ground with his fist."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIBkC-vaHrwPoUq24br0_k6NnvwJKiv5BxmQLJlOEsRgRuAhNGrd_JoP3Ffi8atUMqcWVT5XQP2AQTC3Qb3i14AljCe5xQ4y6oyfyRwpGRBc_5dWqmGGM41lqWpdRxgA_-T3G7_lqb-Pt/s1600/Ron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIBkC-vaHrwPoUq24br0_k6NnvwJKiv5BxmQLJlOEsRgRuAhNGrd_JoP3Ffi8atUMqcWVT5XQP2AQTC3Qb3i14AljCe5xQ4y6oyfyRwpGRBc_5dWqmGGM41lqWpdRxgA_-T3G7_lqb-Pt/s320/Ron.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron has a sluggy problem...by Silly Nate (<a href="http://sillynate.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/chamber-of-secrets-ron-weasley.html">source</a>)</td></tr>
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I’ve rarely experienced something so funny that something similar has happened to me, but when it does happen, it’s the best feeling in the world. At least something good comes out of Ron’s misfortune!</div>
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I’ve completely skipped over Colin Creevey, who is present here and trying to take photographs of the whole incident. This is hugely important, but I’ll talk about him in more detail another time. I just want to point out, before I forget, that I find it amazing that it’s the potion that photos are developed in that makes them move! So, theoretically, we could take film from our cameras and develop them so they move, if we only found the right potion! The blog ends here guys, I’m off to the lab…</div>
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Joking aside, I totally get what Colin is trying to do, and I say all power to him! Except, maybe not when someone is throwing up slugs in front of you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnIOVWDXHL1Wnu04USHhgiIMcMDwbagqUKfx2FggjW9BIb4AAm0R77-jo50paMfE831PdkL08aVXDVvgODT90cYRmP5kJgIpBTL6IVN_tgQAGqc0FLWLLKVRKf6_ANxozX2GXkgrpy2c_/s1600/tumblr_np1go67ns21ur75lno1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnIOVWDXHL1Wnu04USHhgiIMcMDwbagqUKfx2FggjW9BIb4AAm0R77-jo50paMfE831PdkL08aVXDVvgODT90cYRmP5kJgIpBTL6IVN_tgQAGqc0FLWLLKVRKf6_ANxozX2GXkgrpy2c_/s320/tumblr_np1go67ns21ur75lno1_1280.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a particularly vivid Ron... (<a href="http://seekellydraw.tumblr.com/post/120072068025/eat-slugs-ron-weasleys-slug-barfing-scene-from">source</a>)</td></tr>
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A brief visit to Hagrid in which I immediately fear for Harry’s teeth as they tuck into some fudge, and the boys find out about their detentions. Ron is off to the trophy room to polish cups, and Harry is signing fan mail with Lockhart. Each detention is as significant as the other – for the first time, Harry hears the mysterious voice in the walls, which at the moment seems to be doing nothing but slithering around talking to itself menacingly. I find it a little odd that he only hears the voice and there is no attack this time – every other time the voice appears, someone gets Petrified…I guess there could be a castle rat that gets got, or something similar! For that matter, what does a basilisk eat??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nQkg8xwj2w5uvCpt4ut5lbA-eInQ8qqmDor-WWlei32CpIbZi4CTm7ma03yor__f5vrydr-5UjT0TVbOU1DUZ2Wq0WleRT6VlZGCWd6DnM9LeeR7Tnt49mS72Odlr8equNaRmNjKWlOK/s1600/eat_slugs__malfoy_by_blindbandit5-d3rcd21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nQkg8xwj2w5uvCpt4ut5lbA-eInQ8qqmDor-WWlei32CpIbZi4CTm7ma03yor__f5vrydr-5UjT0TVbOU1DUZ2Wq0WleRT6VlZGCWd6DnM9LeeR7Tnt49mS72Odlr8equNaRmNjKWlOK/s400/eat_slugs__malfoy_by_blindbandit5-d3rcd21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our three heroes in Hagrid's hut by blindbandit5 (<a href="http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/artists/223642119?view_mode=2">source</a>)</td></tr>
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Meanwhile in the Trophy Room, Ron has a slug attack over an Award for Special Services to the School, and has to spend hours buffering Tom Riddle’s name. The trophy aside, I always wondered why such a specific trophy would have stayed with the school, and not gone to the student? I mean, sure, if the inter-school Quidditch tournament was won by Hogwarts, the school would get the cup…but why the trophy given to a student? This is a loose end that I’ve never managed to get to grips with.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizX4N_nxybWFwcFgzUbQGqIvaEe-N16dNokuK-M3vPo8wHpXc3M0Azos52xjau1hz5r3Pl7aMAP0qlEZD6PcktXZfEvRUHIeZLGsRQrSLWblRwJLta2_ASqqGDxzYk4f8ajWbBTbXEvom/s1600/Special+Services.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizX4N_nxybWFwcFgzUbQGqIvaEe-N16dNokuK-M3vPo8wHpXc3M0Azos52xjau1hz5r3Pl7aMAP0qlEZD6PcktXZfEvRUHIeZLGsRQrSLWblRwJLta2_ASqqGDxzYk4f8ajWbBTbXEvom/s400/Special+Services.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Riddle's Award for Special Services to Hogwarts is in the background.</td></tr>
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The story is starting to move on now, and for that I am grateful. Things are happening, mysteries are occurring, and it starts to become a more adventurous book.</div>
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That’s all from me for today!</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
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Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-86975242537781946562015-11-11T00:45:00.001+00:002015-11-11T00:45:51.730+00:00Weekly Roundup<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has been a busy week on the blog, as you can probably tell with all the activity on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/698300220279838/" target="_blank">Facebook Group</a> and our <a href="https://twitter.com/CorrieandLucia" target="_blank">Twitter</a> feed. If you would like regular updates on our posts, please do join either of these groups!</div>
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Meeting of the Minds</h3>
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Corrie has been travelling between her current home-base in Devon and London a lot recently and we had a chance to catch up on Thursday over some Christmas-y drinks at Starbucks. I arrived prepared with my copy of <i>Order of the Phoenix</i> and for once was glad for the traffic, as I managed to read a chapter while on the bus.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM2oeSmUBGLyRJLKwNnT1klvxOShj_sQsXsxYb0lUtULI6ymoqOczmrehzGjTTH7gj16jAabRW9B0GFHq_-4xY5gyj3r0m_7T-_69tHtkgCnPb51EJU2UIqdEEn8CQ_lfBQ3uBvoU9ES8/s1600/CorrieLucia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM2oeSmUBGLyRJLKwNnT1klvxOShj_sQsXsxYb0lUtULI6ymoqOczmrehzGjTTH7gj16jAabRW9B0GFHq_-4xY5gyj3r0m_7T-_69tHtkgCnPb51EJU2UIqdEEn8CQ_lfBQ3uBvoU9ES8/s320/CorrieLucia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such fangirls!</td></tr>
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It was a very happy reunion, as we had not seen each other for a fair few weeks. We chatted happily about life, the blog and Harry Potter before heading over to John Lewis to peruse their crafts section. It was at this meeting that Corrie decided to also try her hand at blogging each day and she has been doing a great job! She's ahead of me now in her reviews and I am trying furiously to catch up.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Frv8TlwcXtRYuq8uOw1HjhL-JsNUfrvgMfNn6ZhEulVzMDn9yDquJqkE-0_5v0XbvEupbdJCMeTOxWEVfstOGrZuzmBQvvlUfjeppZZ_WotK5rsx37NHWdNxtiiXIMTOrFTVhPVH95nj/s1600/2015-11-05+17.26.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Frv8TlwcXtRYuq8uOw1HjhL-JsNUfrvgMfNn6ZhEulVzMDn9yDquJqkE-0_5v0XbvEupbdJCMeTOxWEVfstOGrZuzmBQvvlUfjeppZZ_WotK5rsx37NHWdNxtiiXIMTOrFTVhPVH95nj/s320/2015-11-05+17.26.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It'll be a few months before we actually tackle this book...sigh</td></tr>
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One of the main topics of conversation was trying to understand why we both dislike <b>Book 2</b> of the series so much, and we managed to come up with an explanation.</div>
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We reckon it's because of the pacing of the book. Each chapter has an 'action scene' and there isn't much fleshing out of the story around it. It feels like we are just jumping from one exciting thing to another and it feels a bit jarring. This way of telling the story is also why I dislike the <i>Goblet of Fire</i> movie so much - we jump from task to task without giving much attention to the background story and it all feels unsatisfying and empty. The majority of the fans like the <b>Harry Potter Series</b> because J.K. Rowling is so amazing at world building and indeed, my two favourite books are <i>Goblet of Fire</i> and <i>Order of the Phoenix</i> precisely because she spends so much time introducing new characters and describing the day-to-day habits of school children. I will no doubt write more about this when we actually tackle said books, which at this rate looks like it will be in the new year.</div>
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Corrie and I are meeting up again this week, so stay tuned for more of our insights in the next Weekly Roundup post.</div>
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Blog Post a Day Challenge</h3>
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Generally I am very pleased with how this challenge is going. It's been a week since we started and I have managed to write over 7000 words, which is much more than I had anticipated. I honestly didn't think I would revert back to my original chapter-by-chapter analysis of the books, but it appears that I have a lot to say!</div>
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I am a little behind - as I write this it is the 11th of November, which means I am two posts behind. This is mostly due to the hectic weekend - the lovely boyfriend came over from Belgium together with another friend, so I didn't have as much time to blog as I would have hoped. Yesterday I was just too tired and uninspired. Hopefully I will be back on track by the end of the week!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-5165855729974624232015-11-10T23:41:00.001+00:002015-11-10T23:52:14.559+00:00The Arrogance of Lucius Malfoy<span style="text-align: justify;">It is full steam ahead here on </span><b style="text-align: justify;">Read All the Things</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> these days, as both Corrie and I endeavor to blog every day. I am glad to see we are doing so well - it's only been a week and already we've managed 13 posts!</span><br />
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With that in mind, here are my thoughts on Harry's misadventures in Knockturn and Diagon Alley.</div>
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Chapter 4 - At Flourish and Blotts</h3>
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Life at the Burrow sounds like a lot of fun. I like the talking mirror and the general hustle and bustle of the place. As Corrie pointed out, there is no way you could be lonely in such a full house. I also like how tactful Harry is about Ginny's mishaps in his presence. Having grown up in the sort of environment that he did, it is surprising how well mannered he is.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxNMM7mE2Yyyam5DQ4nDokWQ7QTiRwNL61AcJm6D9nc5XDHPUaJHmvFd2gO8pQT8XmgWySlahPmPa-4x4QeK9vRaV3pUBC-Ba14j4CFVjSfj6UYPqZErNKY87EQJiDHYweX2m8w7NI5Sa/s1600/CoS+chapter+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxNMM7mE2Yyyam5DQ4nDokWQ7QTiRwNL61AcJm6D9nc5XDHPUaJHmvFd2gO8pQT8XmgWySlahPmPa-4x4QeK9vRaV3pUBC-Ba14j4CFVjSfj6UYPqZErNKY87EQJiDHYweX2m8w7NI5Sa/s320/CoS+chapter+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"She nodded, blushing to the roots of her flaming hair, and put her elbow in the butter dish." (<a href="http://mudblood428.livejournal.com/47667.html?page=1" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
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Ron and Harry receive a letter from Hermione, who informs them that she is, of course, busy with school work. I wonder what this school work is? Neither Harry nor Ron seem to have any homework and she doesn't have hew new school books yet...perhaps she is re-reading her textbooks from the first year.</div>
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Harry and the boys (minus Percy) spend the day playing Quidditch in the garden and we get the first mention of Ordinary Wizarding Levels (OWLs), as well as a reminder of the existence of Bill and Charlie. I wish we got to spend more time with them, but we won't meet either of them until <i>Goblet of Fire</i> and even then it's not for very long.</div>
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The next day it's off to Diagon Alley to get all of their supplies for the new school year and we get introduced to the concept of travelling through fireplaces. I wonder where J.K. Rowling got the idea for this. The only other such uses I can think of off the top of my head would be by Santa Claus, or Mary Poppins.</div>
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Inevitably, Harry's first experience with Floo Powder doesn't quite go to plan. Also - where in Diagon Alley were they supposed to get to? I don't think this is ever specified. Is there just a grate in the middle of the street that people use to come and go? Or is it the Leaky Cauldron? If it is the Leaky Cauldron, surely that would have been less confusing to say? And honestly, Diagon Alley - even stuttered the way Harry says it - doesn't sound anything like Knockturn Alley.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9ndnovhomArFKWqFCCdutAdR9UnQK5tK14XV8Z5gcPmRbMpFzbYnn5BHQATHzH3REdGyBcZbRELrTN-bNqVq0quhxhuwz7-4QLi4H1CJ3aCIXFMmjX22nU7bzxoI5_ZxU-F8WGq9yWZe/s1600/draco_and_lucius_malfoy_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9ndnovhomArFKWqFCCdutAdR9UnQK5tK14XV8Z5gcPmRbMpFzbYnn5BHQATHzH3REdGyBcZbRELrTN-bNqVq0quhxhuwz7-4QLi4H1CJ3aCIXFMmjX22nU7bzxoI5_ZxU-F8WGq9yWZe/s320/draco_and_lucius_malfoy_.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://spacefille.deviantart.com/art/Draco-and-Lucius-Malfoy-5654293" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
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Harry manages to somehow arrive in Borgin and Burke's, covered in dust and bruises. His arrival goes unnoticed by the owner of the shop and is followed closely by the appearance of Draco and Lucius Malfoy. Draco spends the majority of the time complaining about Harry and being generally annoying and spoiled, while Lucius Malfoy harshly tells him to keep quiet and not touch anything.<br />
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Lucius Malfoy was already described by the Weasley boys as being a bit of a shady character, and his behaviour in this chapter does nothing to alter our image of him. He has come to Borgin to sell some of his more 'exotic' items, expresses displeasure about his son not doing as well as 'a girl with no wizard family' and assures Borgin that wizard blood counts for a lot for the Malfoy family.<br />
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That's not the last we see of the Malfoys in this chapter, as the head of the family plays a vital role in the progression of the story. We meet the two characters again in Flourish and Blotts, where all of the children go to buy their new school books. We know by now that the students of Hogwarts have all been instructed to purchase the books by Gilderoy Lockhart and it is in this scene that we find out why - he is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher at Hogwarts.<br />
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As the crowd cheers this news, Harry and Lockhart pose for a picture that is worthy of the front page of the Daily Prophet and a sneering Draco Malfoy taunts the Weasley children. I absolutely love this scene - we are setting up the Malfoys as the clear baddies and my respect for Arthur Weasley multiplies. Having seen what a mild-mannered man he is, so childlike with in his fascination with all things Muggle, it is gratifying to see him stand up for his name and family. Good on you Arthur!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvlfbjv4OoyjezQaxney2UGofG0e1uq8G76x9RsFVISIb2HaN2bTo8oMslUlLVtH5rhcaF-FVBTEmCr9WwYNWAdThB5ZCrVagmJGquqyCaQd5v3EVOjw80LopfwDN12Y403WSraE_vDxG/s1600/Flourish+and+Blotts+fight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvlfbjv4OoyjezQaxney2UGofG0e1uq8G76x9RsFVISIb2HaN2bTo8oMslUlLVtH5rhcaF-FVBTEmCr9WwYNWAdThB5ZCrVagmJGquqyCaQd5v3EVOjw80LopfwDN12Y403WSraE_vDxG/s320/Flourish+and+Blotts+fight.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mr Weasley had thrown himself at Mr Malfy, knocking him backwards into a bookshelf." (<a href="https://www.tumblr.com/search/Flourish-and-blotts" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
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Malfoy gives Ginny back her tattered copy of <i>A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration</i> and so, the seed of the plot has been planted. It's a blink and you'll miss it moment, indeed it took me many re-reads to properly notice it and still makes me wonder how Lucius was able to slip Ginny another book without anyone noticing. Sneaky snake!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-55099325386464093452015-11-10T11:28:00.000+00:002015-11-20T11:28:46.656+00:00Cornish Pixies? Snort!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I always feel enchanted when I read about the first few weeks of a new year at Hogwarts. I used to love September, and everything it brought with it. New school uniform, a new pencil case and stationery, a new lunchbox (and one year the graduation to buying my lunch every day!), and always a brand new planner to record my homework in. I believe there is something truly magical about an empty planner, notebook or diary. There is so much potential!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzdzWOx8pJ3twRVRLjOLYfN9QWrhA6NmgNhnp7cFnn-ArZQHvBz7oHvtocLMOoTBmb-NmATd_Sdi1BFiqrQkuBe6_m2YnFJnRASQOQ7ny2TvmlXrqKzjiQEok9Xm8CVhSgg3m3o95e8un/s1600/hogwarts_crest_grunge_wallpape_by_carvedincandy-d48rhf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzdzWOx8pJ3twRVRLjOLYfN9QWrhA6NmgNhnp7cFnn-ArZQHvBz7oHvtocLMOoTBmb-NmATd_Sdi1BFiqrQkuBe6_m2YnFJnRASQOQ7ny2TvmlXrqKzjiQEok9Xm8CVhSgg3m3o95e8un/s320/hogwarts_crest_grunge_wallpape_by_carvedincandy-d48rhf3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogwarts! (<a href="http://thepaperwolf.com/2013/09/10/dumbledores-army-prepares-to-take-flight-into-new-school-year/">source</a>)</td></tr>
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Gilderoy Lockhart</h2>
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So it is for Hogwarts, the start of lessons and all it entails. The summer holidays are a ‘passing fancy’ in the books, until we get to the Goblet of Fire and the World Cup, and I felt the books didn’t truly begin until Harry and the gang were back at school. [I’m not sure how I felt when I first read Philosopher’s Stone, because it was all new and the book started when it started, but certainly every other time I found the introduction tedious and lengthy.]</div>
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Term starts with a bang – literally – for second year, with the arrival of the Howler. I’m trying to think if I ever did anything at boarding school that warranted a Howler, if we had had them. I did get caught one night in the girls toilets, watching all the other girls play ‘Clocks’ with a pack of cards, which resulted in a furious deputy headmistress and a lifetime of teasing from my brother, who still insists we were gambling and playing Poker*. I would probably have got a Howler for that, but I don’t think it’s quite in the same league as crashing the family car into a valuable tree…</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeuserfFx56xXTLAhjjvySDLP4Qv7TCEmk8v3ue1507dEQ-rFKYDjrs6Om4PFTIRPUD7VPYUKSZYIS911Z3-slCY6uSv-BqXMt_hT7c9SpjZa_AP_QgWhv7YKtRhwwYp_Qp1qR0G6AgYi/s1600/howler-aw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeuserfFx56xXTLAhjjvySDLP4Qv7TCEmk8v3ue1507dEQ-rFKYDjrs6Om4PFTIRPUD7VPYUKSZYIS911Z3-slCY6uSv-BqXMt_hT7c9SpjZa_AP_QgWhv7YKtRhwwYp_Qp1qR0G6AgYi/s320/howler-aw.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neville and Ron (<a href="http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/devices/devices-h.html">source</a>)</td></tr>
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If I just divert your attention to the fact that I’m reading this on iBooks for one moment (intro to that <a href="http://corrieandluciaread.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-chamber-of-secrets-ibooks.html">here</a>), I have to say that the illustration of the Howler in this version of the book is great, and one of my favourite things ever. It shows a Howler much more like the one I imagined, rather than the film version, which has a mouth, teeth and a very irritating tongue!</div>
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Anyway, I’m rambling. The point in this chapter is to properly introduce us to Gilderoy Lockhart. He is seen giving Professor Sprout advice on binding up the broken limbs of the Whomping Willow, before insufferably going on at Harry about attention seeking behaviour. When they get to lunch, Ron realises Hermione has outlined all of his lessons in hearts (which is totally something I used to do when the boy I fancied was in that particular lesson…), and his first lesson turns out to be a complete farce, with a pop-quiz on Gilderoy Lockhart and his supposed achievements.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3TgZ6N-86Hd44KRtDx2Fvvu4lHKeq9G1i8eqAU_tweu9beJDgibiGyDuEPb7S6xo6ip23NiSIBQmlS7QnHpdiVjrbGXog1X9XrroyRM3Gk6VvTJSOlNaaGNajSBrsvMJPwpubuQwdigA/s1600/gilderoy_lockhart_sketch_by_feliciacano-d4lxeo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3TgZ6N-86Hd44KRtDx2Fvvu4lHKeq9G1i8eqAU_tweu9beJDgibiGyDuEPb7S6xo6ip23NiSIBQmlS7QnHpdiVjrbGXog1X9XrroyRM3Gk6VvTJSOlNaaGNajSBrsvMJPwpubuQwdigA/s320/gilderoy_lockhart_sketch_by_feliciacano-d4lxeo2.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite fan arts of Lockhart (<a href="http://quality-hp-fanart.deviantart.com/art/Gilderoy-Lockhart-Sketch-278695298">source</a>)</td></tr>
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One of my favourite scenes of the book is here, where Lockhart releases the cage full of Cornish pixies. This is my favourite line of the book (I’m sure I’ve said that before…I lose track):</div>
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Seamus Finnigan couldn’t control himself. He let out a snort of laughter which even Lockhart couldn’t mistake for a scream of terror.</div>
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This is a moment that the film adaptation got spot on. The actor who plays Seamus says in a perfect Irish brogue:</div>
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“Cornish pixies?” aha *snort* aha</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wdO-o7DdzIk" width="560"></iframe></div>
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I laugh every time I watch it. Every time!</div>
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Lockhart’s fantastic spell-casting is seen when he tries to control the pixies with the wonderful spell <i>Peskipiksi Pesternomi</i>! You can see how JKR has formed the spell (Pesky Pixie?) but that last bit baffles me. I always read that sentence, then start craving pasta. Why hasn’t anybody made Cornish Pixie Pasta yet?! Ron then hits the nail on the head with the observation that Lockhart only says he’s done all of these clever things. Good insight, Ron!</div>
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Now I know I’ve skipped around this chapter a bit, but I wanted to finish with Lockhart before going on to the other things that I always enjoy. The first is the Mandrakes. I love, love, love this Herbology class, from the pink fluffy earmuffs to the teething Venomous Tentacula – not to mention the fact that the Mandrakes really don’t like coming out, but they don’t want to go back in even more! One of those magical ‘coincidences’ happens where the Mandrakes just happen to be incredibly important later on in the story. I know, I know, it’s not a coincidence – and I am glad that we get properly introduced to them, despite my whining!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQP8JM9xQzXmfp8x6MKWuKPSDJiVmxCt6etoI6Kz4kBhC3QySmA-jdgYfZjcsLwP9pX-frzvADhZGV-_Qa8eMnUu1fi4TderWYHN93bOQLUOxdQx4rbye34nupGYExJfl_NKGdYYQA5s0i/s1600/HP-Mandrake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQP8JM9xQzXmfp8x6MKWuKPSDJiVmxCt6etoI6Kz4kBhC3QySmA-jdgYfZjcsLwP9pX-frzvADhZGV-_Qa8eMnUu1fi4TderWYHN93bOQLUOxdQx4rbye34nupGYExJfl_NKGdYYQA5s0i/s320/HP-Mandrake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concept art for Mandrakes from Stack Overflow (<a href="http://geekdad.com/2014/10/stack-overflow-concept-art/">source</a>)</td></tr>
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In Transfiguration, Ron’s wand is playing up because it has snapped and been bound together with Spellotape. I always wonder at how his wand is so useless after it’s been broken, whereas Hagrid, whose wand was snapped in two when he was expelled, can use his pink umbrella apparently with ease. I do enjoy the clouds of green smoke, which brings wonderful images to mind that have everything to do with a ‘traditional’ vision of witches crouching around a cauldron in the middle of a swamp, surrounded by evil vapours and chanting ‘double, double, toil and trouble’. Fantastic.</div>
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And there, the chapter ends.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt1FpZ4UX6RvPK4Tdfvjp7JLYCJ76q8uSfwCGs1xyUG2qElaZ-mhiW2kp063OlU8yPuIaj0r5hyphenhyphen9KWTbPoF3NhhyNFDiydjX8cicARcu-n-4vpUP9F34CIlFNCu44PeI0pi_yGxTBRwWY/s1600/images+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt1FpZ4UX6RvPK4Tdfvjp7JLYCJ76q8uSfwCGs1xyUG2qElaZ-mhiW2kp063OlU8yPuIaj0r5hyphenhyphen9KWTbPoF3NhhyNFDiydjX8cicARcu-n-4vpUP9F34CIlFNCu44PeI0pi_yGxTBRwWY/s1600/images+%25282%2529.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this Gilderoy Lockhart with smitten<br />
Hermione in the background (<a href="http://nrrork.deviantart.com/art/Gilderoy-Lockhart-28513016">source</a>)</td></tr>
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The next series or book will start in roughly May 2016, and we want your help deciding what to read through next. It looks like we are currently leaning towards the one that I want to do – place your vote in the poll in the sidebar!</div>
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That’s all from me for now.</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
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* In fact, the first time I played Poker I was 18, and I was and still am rubbish at it. It requires patience and cunning, neither of which I really possess, and I always get to a point where I say ‘all in’ and groan if I actually win and therefore have to continue. This little ‘Poker’ incident still smarts, because I remember being an observer only. Exactly what happened nearly two decades ago isn’t important…let it go, Corrie.</div>
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Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-46041212731627969882015-11-09T09:37:00.000+00:002015-11-20T09:55:28.779+00:00Harry Potter and the Incredibly Poor Decision<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now that I've got my little exploration of <a href="http://corrieandluciaread.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/ottery-st-catchpole.html">Ottery St Catchpole</a> out of the way, it's time to tackle the meat of "The Whomping Willow" - and the incredibly poor decision that Harry and Ron make. I have a lot to say about this, and not all of it pleasant - you may want to grab yourself a sweet beverage to neutralise the sourness of my thoughts!</div>
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The Flying Ford Anglia</h2>
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We are first introduced to the car when Harry is rescued from Privet Drive by Fred, George and Ron in the dead of night. Fair enough, although it does take them a very long time to get from Surrey, where Little Whinging is, back to Devon, considering how quickly the car can fly between London and Devon (see my <a href="http://www.plutoniummuffins.com/giveaway-east-london-knit-the-klee-collection/">previous post</a> for more details). I am ambivalent about this, although I did point out that it's not the last time Harry escapes Privet Drive by air.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_A3f2B8oefPzHIZ4AM2moXxmczY-KMfjnfGsTvEYZwQYDnOLvxwfVQw5EbjJROOLBiZltpb5WMMc9WvosHqBecroYecIoNPNxbxB1IBjD1U8aR_gUGv_-o1oynEXKSQT31s_kUP-5MUB/s1600/Anglia_2_032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_A3f2B8oefPzHIZ4AM2moXxmczY-KMfjnfGsTvEYZwQYDnOLvxwfVQw5EbjJROOLBiZltpb5WMMc9WvosHqBecroYecIoNPNxbxB1IBjD1U8aR_gUGv_-o1oynEXKSQT31s_kUP-5MUB/s320/Anglia_2_032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ford Anglia didn't <b>need</b> to be red.</td></tr>
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We now proceed directly from where I left off halfway through "The Whomping Willow" yesterday, as I went off on one about Ottery St Catchpole, where it is and what it is. Harry and Ron are the last to go through the barrier at King's Cross, where as we should all know (spoiler alert) that Dobby is concealed, waiting to seal the barrier so they can't get through to Platform 9 and three quarters. (There is just no good way to write Platform 9 and three quarters on this blogging platform, is there?)</div>
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Ron is the one who comes up with the idea of flying the car to Hogwarts. Harry reacts in a thoughtless way as his sense of adventure tingles, not asking anything other than "Can you fly it?". Yes, yes, of course, Ron assures him, and off they fly into the sky...with a faulty Invisibility Booster and nothing to drink in the car.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7gnE3yo8KlrvApbepqX_dt5Lz7te0SHBnylVQT_6kIszHS2QZ5tvzAImJPP2r6q3lJlW2MrPhATS4uBT4YgZCuC-wHn4ov4E3WxDt2i9bh4HFELYEer6D66ky9GZVlOXOgXnmDWEXu6b/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7gnE3yo8KlrvApbepqX_dt5Lz7te0SHBnylVQT_6kIszHS2QZ5tvzAImJPP2r6q3lJlW2MrPhATS4uBT4YgZCuC-wHn4ov4E3WxDt2i9bh4HFELYEer6D66ky9GZVlOXOgXnmDWEXu6b/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It could have been white...</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are at least two other courses of action that the boys could have taken. They could have waited for one/two minutes for Mr and Mrs Weasley to come back through the barrier. Failing that, because Dobby had sealed it, surely they would have realised Ron and Harry had missed the train, Apparated out, then Apparated back to somewhere near the boys so they could find them?</div>
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They could send someone from Hogwarts an owl, as Professor McGonagall points out. The school would have figured out what was wrong with the barrier, Floo'd the boys to the castle, and fed them a hearty lunch while they were waiting for the rest of the school to turn up.</div>
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I can't think of any other solutions at the moment, but I'm sure there are some that are failing to come to me. Muggle trains? Find Diagon Alley, which they know is on Charing Cross Road as Hagrid told Harry when they met for the very first time, and seek magical help from there? Do some illegal magic (because let's face it, what is more illegal than flying a car across the country? Don't they know there are laws against that) and tell whoever comes to investigate that they are stranded? So many options.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYFbXuU22xPbUdLQuwDZfoW1AWu2E72AH9PFy91rZPYd3ukH9pFW7rmCEmYH8QUBjv4vbGhnG9VmA4scZuQJy7LTwSGomR5Eu2hyphenhyphennHRpUkWMY4OJJENAMcaYpthUry0F57edHZ6gmsQYV/s1600/Flying-Ford-Anglia-harry-potter-27865336-500-261.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYFbXuU22xPbUdLQuwDZfoW1AWu2E72AH9PFy91rZPYd3ukH9pFW7rmCEmYH8QUBjv4vbGhnG9VmA4scZuQJy7LTwSGomR5Eu2hyphenhyphennHRpUkWMY4OJJENAMcaYpthUry0F57edHZ6gmsQYV/s320/Flying-Ford-Anglia-harry-potter-27865336-500-261.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most annoying line of the film, delivered in a squeaky voice!</td></tr>
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However, the boys hop in the car and fly into the sky. The Invisibility <b>Booster</b> (which, by the way, shouldn't be a booster because there's no pre-existing Invisibility for it to boost) fails, they are seen, and the rest is history, as we all know. They crash into the Whomping Willow, the car goes off into the Forbidden Forest, the boys are given detention, and they get the kudos they wanted for 'landing smoothly on the front lawn' in spades once they crash the car into the tree. This much is obvious, from Lee's exclamation when they enter the Common Room:</div>
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'Brilliant!' yelled Lee Jordan. 'Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people'll be talking about that one for years!'</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjgTAoqaNyRztLGIwcaT2ISgo5bTAPRz-d1IQqICZCfc5AzkSCKsJWuYFWXIcWJEEs-xgRIdTUYLKcC42DJvGk1PmNh-uNXgXChTBVpOW-g824TBjsXsK45wqI-Y_840JSV5Cwr5twAHK/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjgTAoqaNyRztLGIwcaT2ISgo5bTAPRz-d1IQqICZCfc5AzkSCKsJWuYFWXIcWJEEs-xgRIdTUYLKcC42DJvGk1PmNh-uNXgXChTBVpOW-g824TBjsXsK45wqI-Y_840JSV5Cwr5twAHK/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fanart of the Ford Anglia in the Whomping Willow<br />
(<a href="http://ink361.com/app/tag/whompingwillow">source</a>)</td></tr>
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As much as I don't like the chapter, it does set up some really important plot points, both to this book and to the series as a whole. In the accident, Ron snaps his wand (and the most annoying line of the whole <b>movie</b> is born). This turns out to be important because his wand backfires when he tries to curse Malfoy, making him have to spend hours scrubbing an award for Special Services to the school. The car trundles off into the forest, which is extremely important, because without it running wild in there, Harry and Ron would become Aragog bait and the whole series would be a heck of a lot shorter. We meet the Whomping Willow, which becomes important in Prisoner of Azkaban, not to mention a few other plot points.</div>
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I'll close the blog post with my favourite quote from the chapter.</div>
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"[Harry] tried not to look at a large, slimy something suspended in green liquid on a shelf behind Snape..."</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-cuy34dz-sirokGynPz5UjAeOiz-s3TWNF1PoFvHzf0njA6xe0ULCp3KUDCdbLrDHIuTyqrpOCS2CPc9IqirBo69QMNCpSz229XaRZzzbt8mbQ83H8gPU0k527p4CrgWwDX3MBK-ab92/s1600/536e74f080c7f7336edab0044d9ce4e7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-cuy34dz-sirokGynPz5UjAeOiz-s3TWNF1PoFvHzf0njA6xe0ULCp3KUDCdbLrDHIuTyqrpOCS2CPc9IqirBo69QMNCpSz229XaRZzzbt8mbQ83H8gPU0k527p4CrgWwDX3MBK-ab92/s320/536e74f080c7f7336edab0044d9ce4e7.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan art by Wilson Swain. I adore this! (<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/150378075031226712/">source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Come back tomorrow for more Harry Potter lovin'! Don't forget to vote on which the next series of books we read will be - look over to the right! ---></div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-20535728624077367832015-11-08T16:50:00.001+00:002015-11-08T16:50:16.354+00:00My Bookshelf, Part 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
The original plan for this weekend was for the lovely boyfriend and I to go on an IKEA adventure to buy new bookcases. However, the weather yesterday was truly crap and the general logistics of carrying two bookcases across London escaped us, so we decided to make use of modern technology and simply order the furniture online and have it delivered to us. No pain, but much gain.</div>
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Alas, delivery takes a few days so you will have to wait a while before I regale you with the assembly process. All I will say is that my excitement about all of this is two-fold because (1) I love assembling IKEA furniture and have done since I was a child, and (2) I cannot wait to go through all of our books and start arranging them.</div>
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Just because I don't have my shiny new bookcases, however, does not mean that I cannot start writing about the individual books that will fill them. In my previous post from this series (<a href="http://corrieandluciaread.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-bookshelf-part-1.html" target="_blank">My Bookshelf, Part 1</a>), I included a list of categories that at first glance through our collection I thought would be appropriate.</div>
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In this post, I would like to focus on <b>Category 3, </b>as it is probably the one which we have the least of.</div>
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Classics</h3>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_book" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> tells me that a classic is a book accepted as being exemplary or noteworthy. This much I gathered already and was also gratified to see that I am not the only person to have asked why we should read classics, or what, indeed, constitutes a classic.</div>
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There is, apparently, such a thing as a 'canon' that refers to a list of books considered 'essential' reading. The best known is, perhaps, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_Classics" target="_blank">Penguin Classics Collection</a> which is a collection of over 1300 books...that is a lot of books. Then there are features online such as the Guardian's list of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/12/features.fiction" target="_blank">The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time</a> (from 2003) or the Telegraph's more recent <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/100-novels-everyone-should-read/" target="_blank">100 Novels Everyone Should Read</a> (from 2014).</div>
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To keep things consistent, I will let the Penguin Classics Collection be my guide, but will set a personal limitation and say that anything originally published after 1900 falls under the category of a Modern Classic.</div>
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So, with that in mind, let's see what we have on our bookshelf.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk55XqAeBX-qa9s5A7LcDVvaLy8RoAgcHCPENr2LDD3kN3UL_-Eo2eu305Dj_BIGfyh20q7XpRnKhyphenhyphenbLzdWLYus_T3EIzaYT58J8DkPOaK77Umyynn-Kr1hSSFiOw9R6bL3JEu6M2w_eo/s1600/2015-11-08+15.43.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk55XqAeBX-qa9s5A7LcDVvaLy8RoAgcHCPENr2LDD3kN3UL_-Eo2eu305Dj_BIGfyh20q7XpRnKhyphenhyphenbLzdWLYus_T3EIzaYT58J8DkPOaK77Umyynn-Kr1hSSFiOw9R6bL3JEu6M2w_eo/s320/2015-11-08+15.43.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our small collection of Classic books</td></tr>
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Hehe, it's really not much:<br />
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<i>Crime and Punishment</i> by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1866)<br />
<i>Frankenstein</i> by Mary Shelley (1818)<br />
<i><u>Great Expectations</u> </i>by Charles Dickens (1861)<br />
<i>Pride and Prejudice</i> by Jane Austen (1813).</div>
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Of these four books I have only read <i>Great Expectations</i> (hence it is underlined) when I was, I think, 14 or 15 years old as it was assigned reading for my English class.<br />
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It bears mentioning that apart from the books listed above - which are the ones we have in London - I also have dozens of books back home, in Slovakia. Amongst those is:<br />
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<i><u>A Midsummer Night's Dream</u> </i>by William Shakespeare (~1600)<br />
<i>Dracula </i>by Bram Stoker (1897)<br />
<i><u>Gulliver's Travels</u> </i>by Jonathan Swift (1726)<br />
<i><u>The Importance of Being Earnest</u></i> by Oscar Wilde (1895)<br />
<i>Kidnapped </i>by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)<br />
<i>Little Women </i>by Louisa May Alcott (1868)<br />
<i><u>Oliver Twist</u> </i>by Charles Dickens (1838)<br />
<i><u>Silas Marner</u> </i>by George Eliot (1861)<br />
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I also have, but was surprised to discover they do not feature on the list of Penguin Classics, <i><u>Othello</u> </i>and <i><u>Romeo and Juliet</u></i> by William Shakespeare (~1622 and 1597, respectively). The majority of the above books were purchased because they were compulsory reading at school. Only <i>Kidnapped </i>and <i>Little Women</i> were bought for leisure reading.<br />
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My Kindle features:<br />
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<i>Anna Karenina</i> by Leo Tolstoy (1877)<br />
<i>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</i> by Arthur Conan Doyle (1892)<br />
<i>The Count of Monte Cristo </i>by Alexandre Dumas (1845)<br />
<i>The Picture of Dorian Gray</i> by Oscar Wilde (1890)<br />
<i><u>Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde</u></i> by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)<br />
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While my new Audible Wishlist has:<br />
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<i>Frankenstein</i><br />
<i><u>Jane Eyre</u></i> by Charlotte Bronte (1847)<br />
<i>War and Peace </i>by Leo Tolstoy (1869)<br />
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Taking into account the books back home, it is actually not a bad collection of books. It remains to be seen if the collection will expand - I don't see myself buying any new classics until I have read the ones we already have.<br />
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I enjoyed some of these more than others. <i>Othello </i>stands out as a clear favourite from Shakespeare; I quite enjoyed <i>Silas Marner </i>at the time of reading, but don't remember it much now. <i>Dracula </i>was one I was really looking forward to but was unable to finish and <i>Frankenstein</i> was a present from a friend - the reason I want to listen to it, is because I found a version narrated by Dan Stevens of <i>Downton Abbey</i> fame.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-23463889733749943462015-11-08T14:25:00.002+00:002015-11-09T17:44:46.397+00:00The Kindness of the Weasleys<div style="text-align: justify;">
Looks like Corrie and I are neck-and-neck in our review of <i>Chamber of Secrets</i>, but I am sure that we will pick up on different things and discuss different topics - which is what makes this whole challenge so great!</div>
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Chapter 3 - The Burrow</h3>
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As Corrie already mentioned, Harry is rescued from the Dursleys by the three youngest Weasley boys - Fred, George and Ron - who arrive in their dad's enchanted blue Ford Anglia. They proceed to rip the bars off Harry's window and really, just how feasible is it that the noise doesn't wake up the Dursleys when Hedwig appears to have been disturbing them all summer? Luck being ever on their side, however, they grab all of Harry's things and fly away into the night as Harry taunts the Dursleys with a yell of "See you next summer!"</div>
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Considering the trouble Harry seems to cause in the lives of the Dursleys during the summer holidays (Dudley's pig tail last year and the smashed cake this year, not to mention what will happen in future books) I am amazed that they keep taking him back. Does Aunt Petunia keep receiving letters from Dumbledore reminding her of her promise to keep Harry until his 17th birthday?<br />
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We learn a bit more about Draco Malfoy and his family, namely that Lucius Malfoy is suspected of being a supporter of Lord Voldemort and that perhaps Dobby was sent to Harry as a joke. We are told that house elves usually serve old, rich wizarding families and that Mrs. Weasley had always wished that they had a house elf to help with the ironing.<br />
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Why can't the Weasleys acquire a house-elf? You don't need to pay them!<br />
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We find out that Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic, in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, which is a part of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Arthur Weasley is apparently only helped by one warlock, which seems ludicrous - surely there are hundreds of magical objects that somehow end up in the hands on unknowing Muggles? Is the fact that the Ministry is only willing to dedicate two members of its workforce to monitoring this misuse of magic a latent expression of anti-Muggle sentiments?<br />
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As dawn begins to break, Fred brings the car lower and we slowly reach our destination, which is located outside the village of Ottery St Catchpole. Like Corrie, I love the idea of the Burrow and you can see some amazing fanart depicting the house in Corrie's post about <a href="http://corrieandluciaread.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-dream-home-burrow.html" target="_blank">Chapter 3</a>.<br />
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Even greater than my love of the Burrow, is my love of Molly Weasley. She is just amazing. Raising seven children, two of whom are Fred and George, must have been no easy job but from the minute we meet her we know she is a great mother, who is full of love for her children. I love this line:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Mrs Weasley was marching across the yard, scattering chickens, and for a short, plump, kind-faced woman, it was remarkable how much she looked like a sabre-toothed tiger.</i></span></blockquote>
I tried to find some fan art depicting this scene, but was unsuccessful. Instead, I give you another rendition of the Burrow, which at least features Mrs. Weasley in the background. The Weasley family is, hands down, the best family EVER. It is one we should aspire to!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6CZ0tF39siuGtSTQALUnbIoy6SVWrdLLah_rsbuRd3smW-fM2jBG3AF8sYfXpRYE-Xa-vDstcS_htPGpRTvFTP5Ze5KVi0Zqos9pADx8u2H1fhSN_-9UfB-PD3X9NSWoWQ0jYJfBe3zp/s1600/cs3-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6CZ0tF39siuGtSTQALUnbIoy6SVWrdLLah_rsbuRd3smW-fM2jBG3AF8sYfXpRYE-Xa-vDstcS_htPGpRTvFTP5Ze5KVi0Zqos9pADx8u2H1fhSN_-9UfB-PD3X9NSWoWQ0jYJfBe3zp/s320/cs3-32.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burrow by Keith James (<a href="http://www.thegeekcanpaint.com/chaberofsecrets.html" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
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Mrs. Weasley rightfully gives her sons hell for the highly dangerous stunt that they pulled, before leading them all inside for breakfast. The inside of the house is even better than the outside. While I personally prefer modern architecture and furniture, I do love the idea of a cluttered house that is full to bursting with items and family heirlooms. I especially love the item that I refer to as The Clock of Chores, and the fact that we get our first mention of Celestina Warbeck.<br />
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We get some slight, fun fore-shadowing in the form of <i>Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests </i>and then we are out in the garden. Corrie already wrote about the gnomes, so I will skip over that section as I don't particularly enjoy it anyway and go straight to the arrival of Arthur Weasley.<br />
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Arthur talks about having had nine raids that night - one of which included Mundungus Fletcher trying to hex him - before we get to the main event, namely the confrontation between Molly and Arthur about his flying car.<br />
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I love that Arthur made a loophole in the law allowing him to tinker with Muggle artifacts, as well as the glee with which he asks his children if the flight went well, quickly backtracking and affecting a slightly more disapproving tone "as sparks flew from Mrs. Weasley's eyes." As the parents argue we go upstairs, passing an extremely shy Ginny peeking through her door, who we are told is acting very unlike herself, as she doesn't shut up usually. As much as I enjoy and relate to the Ginny in this book, I can't wait until she grows up a bit and becomes more self-assured and Bat-Bogey Hexing.<br />
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Ron's room, we are told, is full of Chudley Cannon posters and also features comic books about <i>The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle </i>and I find myself wishing we were told more about these stories. I love the Self-Shuffling playing cards and the reminder of the existence of Scabbers, as we close the chapter with Harry pronouncing the Burrow the best house he's ever been in.<br />
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I had intended to review <b>Chapter 4</b> in this post as well, but as this is already quite long, will leave that for later.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-63509447183741161822015-11-08T09:45:00.000+00:002015-11-20T09:56:14.727+00:00Ottery St Catchpole<div style="text-align: justify;">
This whole chapter, "The Whomping Willow" is one of the main reasons I really don't like this book - the Ford Anglia is something that just really gets my goat, for some reason. I can't explain it, nor am I going to try to! We forge onwards, and that post will come tomorrow now as I got rather carried away on my exploration of the Burrow and the charming little village it is located in.</div>
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Last Weeks of the Summer Holiday</h2>
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There's something that rings so true of my own school days in the first section of "The Whomping Willow". Maybe it's the fact that Harry's days at the Burrow are noted as 'the happiest of his life', the fact that they have hot chocolate before bed(!) and the mad rush that happens as you pack up to go back to school for a term. Or three!</div>
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We generally only have hot chocolate when we are on holiday, and some of my happiest holiday memories are of sitting around a fire in a cottage in Wales having a drink and roasting marshmallows in the fireplace. Ahh, nostalgia...I'm off to make myself a hot chocolate!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b5VYa4I4JZDzxRwlg2s-NSWjhLcOSWTgWpOGjfMaxCkfjbGFSKj1oQXjhbGzW-Aygn0gIMleXflvBEFsTopCJlrfIwc4Q4Ii7qTj9H9i_DmF5pHp5vIq7csPXfxMxCXkTOflbYwwQCFB/s1600/Hot-chocolate.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b5VYa4I4JZDzxRwlg2s-NSWjhLcOSWTgWpOGjfMaxCkfjbGFSKj1oQXjhbGzW-Aygn0gIMleXflvBEFsTopCJlrfIwc4Q4Ii7qTj9H9i_DmF5pHp5vIq7csPXfxMxCXkTOflbYwwQCFB/s320/Hot-chocolate.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other side of this mug can be seen <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b5/d4/64/b5d4648ecf802015c0b85db638e9b1eb.jpg">here</a>.</td></tr>
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Anyway, back to the story. There's a scary moment that almost makes them late for the Hogwarts Express, when Ginny leaves her diary behind at the Burrow. It would have been so much simpler if Mr Weasley had just said 'no, we are running quite late enough, you will have to leave it'! Although, we wouldn't have known how to destroy a Horcrux, I suppose. You win some, you lose some!</div>
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After running so late, our Ford Anglia full of people makes it to Kings Cross at quarter to eleven. This always made me wonder where the heck Ottery St Catchpole actually is. I always assumed it was in Devon (my Gran lived in Ottery St Mary when I was a teenager), but for some reason the fact that they drove to Kings Cross made me doubt this, but not enough to have ever bothered looking it up.</div>
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A quick Google search later and I found out that Ottery St Catchpole is, in fact, in Devon. JKR went to University in Exeter and presumably knew about Ottery St Mary - the "Ottery" bit means that the village is probably located on or near the River Otter. The "Catchpole" could refer to a Quidditch post or similar, or could also be a reference to the Middle English meaning of the word, <i>sheriff's deputy</i>. In other words, somebody who collects debt...some sort of crazy reference to the poverty of the Weasley's, or are we just looking too far into it?</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIq2ehoRU99vRw1TGiV4OKSYPUyqZsZBppRQ3SL4g6tyQt82hdNCSbvGJP1xKuxkbYajSo8ajF6JUsy9SKX3JGJh0kq8XSHXU2ni807ql8DUYqUl6DjWoaYjr2EeipkHfd-Z7xl6FvEw_/s1600/Where+is+OTSTM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIq2ehoRU99vRw1TGiV4OKSYPUyqZsZBppRQ3SL4g6tyQt82hdNCSbvGJP1xKuxkbYajSo8ajF6JUsy9SKX3JGJh0kq8XSHXU2ni807ql8DUYqUl6DjWoaYjr2EeipkHfd-Z7xl6FvEw_/s320/Where+is+OTSTM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devon's location in the UK.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L4D086aodEi2jOUhdAdhastIFVCAuzDawjJZtds7kvu7ewoCVjg8mgXDJuc1yl8Wh866s7DpoK6RK7EpK1isPEfqZoRDgYacnLQFLkHj2Z7nbQ_BDy5UZG4Yxi29XFE41TCh_OmUcHrT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-11-08+at+20.26.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L4D086aodEi2jOUhdAdhastIFVCAuzDawjJZtds7kvu7ewoCVjg8mgXDJuc1yl8Wh866s7DpoK6RK7EpK1isPEfqZoRDgYacnLQFLkHj2Z7nbQ_BDy5UZG4Yxi29XFE41TCh_OmUcHrT/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-11-08+at+20.26.38.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rough area of Devon where the Burrow may be located.</td></tr>
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If you ever find yourself in this area, I do recommend a look around. Knowing the rough location has made me read these pages in a new light, being able to picture the area much more accurately. Ottery St Mary is a really old town with higgledy piggledy houses along the main street, developing into more modern housing developments as you leave the town. The Burrow would have to be on the outskirts of the town, which I imagine to be slightly further south of the actual location of Ottery St Mary because of the description of hills and what not in the area. It's one of the greenest places in England, with traditional hedgerows guiding tiny lanes to wherever they are off to - a lot of cows, sheep and produce, the coast, a moor and plenty of trees. A wonderful place to spend some time if you've grown up, abused, in a suburb of London, that's for sure!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oSp_FGoSnmiDIvO-s4-HfjZm8dXTiCirSe4kNl3lpp8kCxFi4MH9rn0S2GZ7ccU1FdI3PDmHJsTRC1S5lo8ZyVoYPIpqvuPjTPMP20jrg39fChP2AlK0wyWUvIj5ZBTBE245WJV95Sb8/s1600/Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oSp_FGoSnmiDIvO-s4-HfjZm8dXTiCirSe4kNl3lpp8kCxFi4MH9rn0S2GZ7ccU1FdI3PDmHJsTRC1S5lo8ZyVoYPIpqvuPjTPMP20jrg39fChP2AlK0wyWUvIj5ZBTBE245WJV95Sb8/s320/Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cottage in Ottery St Mary</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Countryside in this area of England</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hills near Ottery St Mary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGUr_oDruCAyCtDe4AdPltUZicBdLdNcPURBtL1Q2L5_eRfX4tcKmiMDl5BL8JzV7opYktaeLSwDk3Hk7h7bMQ4e-ak087gH3Dv_72N80NshoWpxxmqLhzr1HkXiEMvZLaenhrLfGdiOn/s1600/Weir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGUr_oDruCAyCtDe4AdPltUZicBdLdNcPURBtL1Q2L5_eRfX4tcKmiMDl5BL8JzV7opYktaeLSwDk3Hk7h7bMQ4e-ak087gH3Dv_72N80NshoWpxxmqLhzr1HkXiEMvZLaenhrLfGdiOn/s320/Weir.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tumbling weir in the Otter River.</td></tr>
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The journey to Kings Cross would take around four hours, meaning that as long as Mr Weasley did not have any magical speed enhancements on the Ford Anglia, they would have had to leave the Burrow at 6:45am <i>at the earliest</i> to make it on time. That doesn't account for traffic at Bristol, in London or finding a parking at the station. Not so easy!</div>
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Arthur claims that if they flew to London from Ottery St Catchpole, they would arrive in ten minutes. I think this is the bit that really gets to me. TEN MINUTES?! Passenger planes take at least half an hour, that thing has some serious speed!</div>
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Anyway, that's all for today - I'd better get to bed if I have any hope of using my brain tomorrow!</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-31790081229792824812015-11-07T09:45:00.000+00:002015-11-20T09:55:44.026+00:00Gilderoy Lockhart and some handy foreshadowing<div style="text-align: justify;">
Does anybody else find Gilderoy Lockhart <b>incredibly annoying</b>? I know he is meant to be, but oh my goodness gracious me, what a pain in the ass that man is. Anyway, let's take a trip to Knockturn Alley.</div>
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In Flourish and Blotts</h2>
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We learn about Floo Powder in this chapter, which sounds like the most useful thing in the world. I am spending about 14 hours a week travelling between London and Devon, and however awful whizzing through fireplaces sounds, it would certainly come in handy! This was where I first figured out how the names for Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley came about. If you haven't worked this out before, your mind is about to be blown.</div>
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<i>Diagon Alley = diagonally</i></div>
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<i>Knockturn Alley = nocturnally</i></div>
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I can remember walking down a street in London crying with laughter about this when my friend first realised. It was one of the best moments of my teenage life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDcnMPopYCN7ShnU-UkkFyPrxz44I7U1iwTgefwNDMKZfHKbPD1dLUUHwQmj6b1OkPxppSEhKhqEAcjYLf_It7v4I4VcGP-pmTjN4CQg7xV2wWzCix91ANMmMVXR0ZJbx6QC0AtbEYoGS/s1600/Funniest_Memes_diagonally-did-you-mean-diagon-alley_4503.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDcnMPopYCN7ShnU-UkkFyPrxz44I7U1iwTgefwNDMKZfHKbPD1dLUUHwQmj6b1OkPxppSEhKhqEAcjYLf_It7v4I4VcGP-pmTjN4CQg7xV2wWzCix91ANMmMVXR0ZJbx6QC0AtbEYoGS/s320/Funniest_Memes_diagonally-did-you-mean-diagon-alley_4503.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div>
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When Harry lands in Borgin and Burke in Knockturn Alley, we meet with a lot of objects that will be important later on. With Draco in the shop, Harry hides in the Vanishing Cabinet. Isn't it lucky he leaves a crack of the door open to peer through? Who knows where he would have ended up - if he'd got to Hogwarts, the mystery would have been solved much sooner and a lot of deaths could have been saved... </div>
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Draco and Harry see the opal necklace that is cursed and has claimed the lives of 19 Muggle owners, which Draco later tries to kill Dumbledore with. Draco sees the Hand of Glory, which gives light only to the beholder, and Lucius refuses to buy it for him. However, Draco does end up with it later on - isn't it strange how all of these objects come into their true importance in Book Six?</div>
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After leaving the shop, Harry bumps into a woman with 'mossy teeth'. I really wanted to know what having mossy teeth meant, so I Googled it and found this fantastic image! I love it. But it would appear that mossy teeth are what you get when you haven't brushed your teeth for a bit and they feel like they have things growing on them. I've never considered what this meant, and I don't feel any better for the knowing now. At least I'm sharing, right?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jobs I've never wanted till now: Hippo Dentist!</td></tr>
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Heading back to Diagon Alley with Hagrid, one of my favourite relationships of the books is demonstrated: Harry's love of ice cream.</div>
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"The bag of gold, silver and bronze jangling cheerful in Harry's pocket was clamouring to be spent, so he bought three large strawberry and peanut-butter ice-creams which they slurped happily as they wandered the up alley..."</div>
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My best friend when I was about 3 or 4 was a boy called Andrew. I don't remember a lot about him, but three things stick in my mind. First, he was Greek, although I don't even know what his surname was. Second, he had a party at his house and I saw him going to the loo in a bush - it was the first time I really recognised the difference between boys and girls. Third, his dad owned an ice cream factory.</div>
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I have been obsessed with ice cream ever since.</div>
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Meeting Lockhart in Flourish and Blotts is a bit of a revelatory moment. We discover how arrogant he is, and learn all about the toothy grin. I wish we had see that article - I can well imagine Lockhart in all of his finery with an awkward Harry cringing next to him.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIkDbCEEJ_c8lMN3TIU0X2wOZktSYRMUnJrUpdnL691FzQC-JiUZDrP9uHgeUYFgo6Vz7M0zdTtdwUQwi3i8T711olgkHGmid9UMZCNUW-o_gibQHGzx9MzBweQCne-L3up_UrDFsTVKW/s1600/gilderoy-lockhart-and-harry-potter-hogwarts-professors-30368896-500-300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIkDbCEEJ_c8lMN3TIU0X2wOZktSYRMUnJrUpdnL691FzQC-JiUZDrP9uHgeUYFgo6Vz7M0zdTtdwUQwi3i8T711olgkHGmid9UMZCNUW-o_gibQHGzx9MzBweQCne-L3up_UrDFsTVKW/s320/gilderoy-lockhart-and-harry-potter-hogwarts-professors-30368896-500-300.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lockhart and an awkward Harry...</td></tr>
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<br />
The much more interesting part of this chapter is the brawl between Malfoy and Mr Weasley. We know that at this point, Riddle's Diary is slipped into Ginny's <i>Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration</i> - this actual moment is so short that it is really easy to miss even when you are looking for it! </div>
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I think the thing I really love about this chapter is how much is in it, and we don't even realise. I am always talking about how much it irritates me that people assume that JKR is a terrible writer, because the amount of detail that is interlaced throughout the entire series is incredible. Reading back on the books is really helping me to fully appreciate the amount of detail in the whole series.<br />
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That's it for today, I've got a lot of reading to get on with!</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
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Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-38697561169188150032015-11-06T09:41:00.000+00:002015-11-20T09:54:26.593+00:00My dream home - The Burrow<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm travelling between London and my parents home in Devon a lot and oh my gosh this nomadic lifestyle is exhausting! I have had draft posts on here for a month, but Lucia has made me feel ashamed that she's putting so much effort and I've been rubbish, so here I am again! Let's see how long my resolution lasts this time.</div>
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I'd just like to agree with Lucia in saying that CoS is not my favourite book. We met up for a coffee last night to chat about it, and I think we agreed that we both found Dobby very annoying, and it was irritating that there's SO MUCH recap in the book, which makes reading them back-to-back a bit tough.</div>
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The Burrow</h3>
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Harry is picked up in the ludicrous flying Ford Anglia, as we should all know by now, and taken to the Burrow. There is one thing that I want to pick up on here, and it is how fantastic Fred and George's lock-picking skills are. Seriously, that stuff is hard - I have locked myself out, separately, of my flat and car more than once (at least) and been like 'well I have the Internet and hundreds of hair clips it can't be that hard...'. Well, I'm very, very wrong.</div>
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This is not the last time that Harry escapes Privet Drive by air. Somehow, I always forget that Fred and George are there too...what heroes they are. I found it hilarious that Harry didn't know what Mr Weasley did yet - I'm well known among all of my friends for interrogating new acquaintances (I don't like awkward silences...) I met a friend's girlfriend last night and before five minutes were over, I knew her whole housing history, what her parents did and what accents she is more likely to pick up when spending a lot of time with people...Oh Harry, I don't understand how you survive.</div>
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Then we get to the Burrow, which is literally my dream house. Even the description of Harry's first sight of the place is enchanting.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXuE8Czwx5bvCCYDy0lfTs9My-t7CKPMXa3x4oVrr8wVrFcW0IRcbx17ZmGo-JOYTKEZltqt5e8s3YET9LHVCYWV1GtPviNzYf_VzAAwN0z1jHG5EvF-EQ3S_k764xXE1ps62faAakK_G/s1600/The+Burrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXuE8Czwx5bvCCYDy0lfTs9My-t7CKPMXa3x4oVrr8wVrFcW0IRcbx17ZmGo-JOYTKEZltqt5e8s3YET9LHVCYWV1GtPviNzYf_VzAAwN0z1jHG5EvF-EQ3S_k764xXE1ps62faAakK_G/s320/The+Burrow.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burrow by Paulika92 (<a href="http://paulika92.deviantart.com/art/The-Burrow-279158801">source</a>)</td></tr>
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"...it looked as though it had once been a large stone pigsty, but extra rooms had been added here and there until it was several storeys high..."</div>
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I grew up in a 900 year old house which was exactly like this, although horizontally rather than vertically - every room in the house was on a different level, there were no right angles in the rooms and it was a little like a fairy tale. However, my mum is extremely tidy and the house was always absolutely clutter-free, which couldn't be further from the Burrow.</div>
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I love the thought of how much food Mrs Weasley crams into Harry, and the garden gnomes! We did have a very wildlife friendly garden and I used to spend hours watching ground thrushes with their babies - imagine what baby garden gnomes look like! Tiny, tiny walking potatoes! Oh I think that would be so adorable.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb9eK8OTluaEm1Rubyis0o1M760pLrblzS_uwgcU8F8S-6xYyY06U-hd7JwAokfOxtv-hH-GJnnk6PZTMzjJ4Gz0JVBUF48f_AQRx7sU1cDVOQayC8jFTekzSAwTkPyCDqYSyKyj2e07R/s1600/the_burrow_by_lhox-d5kzm0b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb9eK8OTluaEm1Rubyis0o1M760pLrblzS_uwgcU8F8S-6xYyY06U-hd7JwAokfOxtv-hH-GJnnk6PZTMzjJ4Gz0JVBUF48f_AQRx7sU1cDVOQayC8jFTekzSAwTkPyCDqYSyKyj2e07R/s320/the_burrow_by_lhox-d5kzm0b.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burrow by Lhox (<a href="http://lhox.deviantart.com/art/The-Burrow-337584683">source</a>)</td></tr>
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The description continues into the next Chapter, <b>At Flourish and Blotts</b>, with gems such as "...the Weasleys' house burst with the strange and unexpected", the description of playing Quidditch in the orchard, and the fact that there are so many people live in there. I'm fairly certain this cemented the Weasley's into my list of Favourite Families Ever - they sound so much fun. As a teenager I spent a lot of time on my own as we were a very busy family - I guess with so many siblings you'd never be on your own much, which always sounded fun.</div>
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Then, we go back to Diagon Alley, and this is a blog for another day as this post is already far too long.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5jQm2tKfh5i0OaKZyH_jEjgkDYBnlF2I2OqnSi2DDkbKJNhFKRrzm6Rb35mPZw1zRh_nvx4zy3_GoeQ8CVublZfFqoNskyfmLkvVtdXsE2fdLvy2XpaXvWTgn9v9iX44cMmLaCk_mJyy/s1600/the_burrow_by_vivalavida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5jQm2tKfh5i0OaKZyH_jEjgkDYBnlF2I2OqnSi2DDkbKJNhFKRrzm6Rb35mPZw1zRh_nvx4zy3_GoeQ8CVublZfFqoNskyfmLkvVtdXsE2fdLvy2XpaXvWTgn9v9iX44cMmLaCk_mJyy/s320/the_burrow_by_vivalavida.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burrow by Viva la Vida (<a href="http://vivalavida.deviantart.com/art/The-Burrow-32224115">source</a>)</td></tr>
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We've had a few more people joining our Facebook group, and it's lovely to see you! If you fancy joining in, the link is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/698300220279838/">here</a>. We don't only talk about Harry Potter, as you can see by Lucia's posts!</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Corrie xx</div>
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Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-49388827990532596832015-11-06T01:33:00.004+00:002015-11-06T01:33:49.592+00:00My Bookshelf, Part 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
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It is a testament, I think, to how little I care for <i>Chamber of Secrets</i> that I can't go two consecutive days writing about it. Reading back over my previous blog post, I think my frustration with the book is pretty clear.</div>
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For that reason, and in keeping with my promise of writing about books, I have opted to start a multi-part segment about the contents of my bookshelf.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Reading a physical book is such a great experience. Having a Kindle is certainly useful when going on holiday as it saves space, and listening to an audiobook is also fun but my preferred mode of enjoying literature is by actually holding the book in my hands.</span></div>
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I don't know about any of you, but I am also a very picky reader. I want to keep my books in pristine condition, which is why I rarely lend them to people and when I do, it is with strict instructions. There can be no writing inside my books, food and drink should be kept at a distance and most importantly, DO NOT BEND THE SPINE! Creased spines of books are a pet peeve of mine and if you asked me why, I honestly couldn't tell you.</div>
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It is also crucial that, when reading a series, all of the books be from the same publisher and the same edition. The books should also, preferably, be in paperback. These restrictions did not ring true when I was buying my <b>Harry Potter</b> books, which is why from <i>Prisoner of Azkaban </i>onwards I have hardback copies. With those books I was not willing to wait an additional six months after release to buy the paperbacks. Now, I am older and wiser and more patient, so I am waiting until next year to get the new <b>Cormoran Strike</b> novel.</div>
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The lovely boyfriend and I recently went to visit his brother, who lives with his girlfriend in Southampton. While there I noticed that they only have one bookcase and that it is filled entirely with folders and textbooks (his girlfriend is studying medicine). I'm always a bit jealous when we stay with them, because they lie in a very nice flat and I always leave feeling like I need to somehow upgrade the flat that we live in. During this particular visit I came away with the need to buy more bookcases.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg1mlqyFiNRwy12aeXhmL_9NHafswNeYeeOVfdccruPBlQNLghMwjG8EvO3_Kn24nXRfuI35XRl4Q8PPcEJ02YwKeqEzdnNoBn06XzoTiqkPmh3IIKHEtK-hKiUcALTlCgtS7AM7wLDQG/s1600/bookshelves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg1mlqyFiNRwy12aeXhmL_9NHafswNeYeeOVfdccruPBlQNLghMwjG8EvO3_Kn24nXRfuI35XRl4Q8PPcEJ02YwKeqEzdnNoBn06XzoTiqkPmh3IIKHEtK-hKiUcALTlCgtS7AM7wLDQG/s320/bookshelves.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our current bookscases</td></tr>
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I work/live in a student hall of residence and our flat is already quite full, so I had to get creative about where to put the new bookcases. There will need to be some shuffling around of furniture, but I am sure we will manage. The plan for this weekend is to go to IKEA and buy two new bookcases - one 80cm x 202cm and the other 40cm x 202cm, to fit in an alcove in the bedroom. The one that is currently in the bedroom will be moved into the living room. I am also hoping that we will manage to assemble the bookcases because I am keen next week to start properly organizing the books that we have.</div>
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I'm actually getting quite giddy thinking about it! I've been perusing our collection and trying to come up with some categories. So far I have:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Fantasy</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Crime</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Classics</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Modern Classics</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">History</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Philosophy</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Science</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Textbooks</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Art</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Other</li>
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It is my intention to blog about the books we have within each category, as part of this new series. In the meantime, tomorrow it's back to <i>Chamber of Secrets </i>as I look at <b>Chapters 3 and 4</b> spanning Harry's time at the Burrow.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Lucia</div>
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Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8744322666348211263.post-42329805645900690142015-11-05T02:02:00.001+00:002015-11-09T17:44:32.255+00:00The Cruelty of the Dursleys<div style="text-align: justify;">
Right, enough about audiobooks, it's time to go back to the original challenge - reviewing the <b>Harry Potter</b> series.</div>
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And so, without further ado, let's see what J.K. Rowling had to say about Harry's summer holiday.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chapter 1 - The Worst Birthday</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Chamber of Secrets</i> starts with a bang, of sorts, as Harry and Uncle Vernon are in the midst of a fight about Hedwig's screeching. We get a lot of recap of the events of the previous book, which I quite like. I can see how this can be annoying for some readers, especially those reading the books one right after the other as we are doing now, but we have to remember that when <i>Chamber of Secrets</i> was first published, it was a year after <i>Philosopher's Stone</i> came out. It makes sense, therefore, for JK Rowling to remind her readers what happened but also to make the book accessible to those who perhaps hadn't read the first book of the series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are told that it's Harry's birthday and, as always, the Dursleys make no mention of it. The only person to comment on this occasion is Dudley, and he only does so to taunt Harry about the fact that his friends hadn't sent him any birthday cards. There is the slight hope during breakfast that perhaps this year will be different, but no - the special event of the day is the visit from Mr. and Mrs. Mason.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Dursleys go through the plan for the evening and I have to marvel at this quote:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We had to write an essay about our hero at school, Mr. Mason, and I wrote about you.</i></span></blockquote>
Seriously? Do they honestly believe that Mr. Mason would be stupid enough to fall for this ploy? 12 year old boys rarely hero-worship rich builders...oh Dudley. Harry is, naturally, told to keep out of sight the whole evening.<br />
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While moping in the garden, Harry notices two enormous green eyes watching him through the leaves of the hedge. Before he can investigate, however, Dudley turns up and is his usual mean self. Harry loses his temper and threatens Dudley with magic, causing Aunt Petunia to "aim a heavy blow at his head with the soapy frying pan."<br />
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This really struck me. We have have witnessed many times the complete over-reaction the Dursleys experience whenever Harry accidentally lets slip anything about his abilities, but this level of violence is truly frightening. If he wasn't quick on his feet, he could have sustained some very serious injuries. Nobody can deny that the Dursleys are cruel people, but I wouldn't have expected this from Aunt Petunia.<br />
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Apart from nearly being decapitated, Harry is further punished by being tasked with a load of household chores. I really don't understand why he had to repaint that garden bench - it's not like the Masons would see it. He quickly dines on toast and cheese, then it's one final threat from Uncle Vernon and we finally get to Harry's bedroom, only to find it occupied by...<br />
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Chapter 2 - Dobby's Warning</h3>
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...Dobby the house-elf!</div>
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I'm not going to beat around the bush - I don't like this chapter and I don't like Dobby (in this book!). The whole scene seems a bit forced - J.K. Rowling is usually better at introducing new characters. Dobby is unbelievably annoying when we first meet him. I guess we are supposed to feel sorry for him and the environment he lives in, but I honestly can't muster up a lot of sympathy for him at this point.</div>
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There are just so many questions - how is it possible for Dobby to have been at Privet Drive all day? Wouldn't the Malfoys have noticed his absence? He mentions that they wouldn't notice if he shut his ears in the oven door, but surely they would notice if he wasn't in the house serving the food and cleaning? Or did he keep popping in and out?</div>
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It irritates me that Dobby refers to the fall of Voldemort as Harry's triumph over him - Harry did not win a battle, because there was no battle. Harry was a baby, he didn't do anything - the curse rebounded! Or maybe I'm just being pedantic...It is telling that Dobby refers to Voldemort as the Dark Lord - if I remember correctly, we later find out that only Death Eaters call him thus.</div>
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Then there is this:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>...there are powers Dumbledore doesn't...powers no decent wizard...</i></span></blockquote>
To what is Dobby referring? Is he talking about Horcruxes? If so, how does he know about them? We find out in <i>Half-Blood Prince </i>that Lucius didn't know Voldemort's diary was a Horcrux when he gave it to Ginny Weasley. If it is not the Horcruxes, is he talking about the opening of the Chamber of Secrets?<br />
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Even more pressingly, what is the Japanese golfer joke?! I have found this possibility - although I question the appropriateness of saying such a joke in front of your son and potential business partner.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_HF2yjpSyyd7TGAdiKOCIzijDqNXNb0keCTxQGgmWkzX6IOQFHzVpAXSGEUl4ad8QXXDdHq98C8F1cQeeOOCR7rtA1ocemvclvjbMX6DT_R1XlE0r1V1LXlHC_iWoI5g-jRWrREn-TFK/s1600/golfer+joke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_HF2yjpSyyd7TGAdiKOCIzijDqNXNb0keCTxQGgmWkzX6IOQFHzVpAXSGEUl4ad8QXXDdHq98C8F1cQeeOOCR7rtA1ocemvclvjbMX6DT_R1XlE0r1V1LXlHC_iWoI5g-jRWrREn-TFK/s320/golfer+joke.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this the joke that Uncle Vernon was telling Mr. Mason? (<a href="https://www.tumblr.com/search/japanese%20golfer%20joke" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
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My regard for Dobby falls even further when it is revealed that he has been stopping Harry's letters. Although, again, how? Has he been intercepting Hedwig as she flew back to Privet Drive? Or has he been taking the letters in the night before Harry wakes up?<br />
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When Dobby urges Harry to promise he won't go back to Hogwarts, I ask myself the fundamental question: why didn't Harry lie at this point? I am sure some other conflict would arise between Harry and the Dursleys, causing them to lock him in his room and have the Weasley boys rescue him.<br />
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Alas, Harry is too honest and pays the price. Dobby levitates Aunt Petunia's masterpiece of a pudding and drops it on the floor. The dinner party is ruined and Harry receives a warning from the Improper Use of Magic Office.<br />
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We don't at this point understand how exactly the Ministry knew that magic had been performed in Privet Drive, but we find out later that it is because all under-age wizards have the Trace on them - a sort of monitoring charm, I suppose. However, it is never fully explained how this charm works. We know that Harry has done magic outside of school before (albeit unknowingly) - he re-grew his hair overnight and made the glass in the reptile house disappear in <i>Philosopher's Stone</i>. Why did this not trigger the Trace?<br />
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Is the Trace, perhaps, activated once children start school and actually start learning magic? Also, if the Trace is on a person and not a place, how could the Ministry think that it was Harry who performed the hovering charm? Is the Trace active over a radius around each witch or wizard? If this is the case, how then does it work in wizarding households where parents or older siblings use magic all the time?<br />
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All these questions remain unanswered as Uncle Vernon locks Harry away in his room. What is the point of this punishment? Are the Dursleys really so hell-bent on making Harry miserable? Would they keep him in there forever? Doesn't it better suit their purpose to be rid of him in Hogwarts?<br />
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My favourite part of this chapter is the ending, specifically Harry's dream. I've always enjoyed his dreams - be they prophetic or just kooky, like this one. We end the chapter on a slight cliff-hanger because, hey everyone, Ron Weasley is outside Harry's window!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Lucia</div>
Loonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18135785579527616105noreply@blogger.com0