Yes, it seemed to me that--considering that his best friend was nearly poisoned--Harry's (and Rowling's) attention was too often elsewhere.
I remember the bit where it said Katie went to St. Mungo's, but I agree that it didn't get enough attention. Before, if a student was hurt or killed at the school, that was the focus, but I found myself forgetting that such a conflict was even going on until it would surface at random moments.
It seemed to me that there were too many peripheral conflicts that really didn't need to be there. The whole business about avoiding Slughorn's parties, or about taking Luna as a date, or about Hagrid being miffed that they dropped his class...I think what she was trying to do is involve each character in a conflict of sorts, but when you are trying to keep a book at a length that is suitable for young readers, that becomes dangerous.
I am living proof of how quickly a huge cast of characters each trying to be a real person and involved in conflicts can spiral out of control :) I feel bad for her in that regard, because I sympathize, but think that things could have been handled differently.
I didn't even think of the bit about disarming charms. You are completely correct.
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rosecarmine
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Date: 2005-09-10 04:38 pm (UTC)I remember the bit where it said Katie went to St. Mungo's, but I agree that it didn't get enough attention. Before, if a student was hurt or killed at the school, that was the focus, but I found myself forgetting that such a conflict was even going on until it would surface at random moments.
It seemed to me that there were too many peripheral conflicts that really didn't need to be there. The whole business about avoiding Slughorn's parties, or about taking Luna as a date, or about Hagrid being miffed that they dropped his class...I think what she was trying to do is involve each character in a conflict of sorts, but when you are trying to keep a book at a length that is suitable for young readers, that becomes dangerous.
I am living proof of how quickly a huge cast of characters each trying to be a real person and involved in conflicts can spiral out of control :) I feel bad for her in that regard, because I sympathize, but think that things could have been handled differently.
I didn't even think of the bit about disarming charms. You are completely correct.
I, too, am holding out hope for Book 7.