prillalar | One Year Later

One Year Later

auster reminds us that Order of the Phoenix was released one year ago today. Wow, I remember how nervous I was that week -- trying to avoid spoilers and being ticked off when I found out that *somebody* would die, though I didn't know who until I read the book. I went offline for more than 24 hours -- didn't read any news of any sort. Then got up at 5:00 AM to go over to the bookstore with the Boy who has a Key and got my book. Read it in about 6 hours, racing, racing all the way, and was exhuasted.

I didn't cry, but I felt sad about Sirius. And felt a little sad that I needed to suck the book down so quickly. It didn't feel like *reading* to me. I re-read it immediately afterwards at a more normal pace and enjoyed it a lot more.

Ah, memories:

Waiting for Harry -- A Photojournal
First impressions
What I wanted people to write

I note that my prediction of a lot of Firenze fic turned out to be totally wrong. *g* And that at that point I was hoping for Harry/Neville. Which I've cooled on since. Maybe I need to re-read the book. The last time I did, I bogged down in the Department of Mysteries and never quite finished.

I notice that there was a lot of stuff -- talk and fic -- about Umbridge right off, but she seems to have all but dropped off the fannish radar, at least as far as I can see. (Hem hem.) I remember someone --

boniblithe I think -- saying after she finished the book, she went into her kitchen and turned all her decorative kitten plates to face the wall. I don't think anyone is as freaked out now as they were then.

Do people remember the scar on Harry's hand when they write about him? I must say, I'd almost forgotten it. Do people write about Ron the Quidditch King? About the fact that Hermione was still writing to Viktor? About the possible effects of Ron's enounter with the flying brain?

Yeah, I think it's time for a re-read.

And you! What were you doing that day? What were you feeling? How has a year changed your impressions of OotP?

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Well, my fic disregards OotP as it's set in the same year, but Hermione is still writing to Victor.

That's what made Ron ask her out.

.a.

Oh - just saw the bottom of your post.

I hated the book from the first chapter. I hated it more when she killed Sirius. Ihave not read it since. I think I have physically touched it twice since. Once to move it, once to hand it to a house mate to ~~burn~~ read.

I still hate it.

But unfortunately, I am now writing a future fic, and I hvae the horrible feeling I'm going to have to go through it again.

Really not happy about that fact.

.a.

When OotP came out, I was in North Carolina on vacation - but my grandfather had ordered a copy (he loves the books). I already knew what page The Big Death was on, it having been tossed about in the media, so I snuck into his room, grabbed the book, and flipped forward to see who died. And at first, I thought Ron had died - because there's that bit where she tricks you with "Ron is dead, woe!" and I was all "BITCH!", but then I flipped more and realized the actual death was Sirius.

And I wasn't necessarily bitter, but I was sad. I'd thought for awhile it would be Lupin, and I was relieved it wasn't him, but - Sirius! I had to wait until I got home to actually read the book, and in the meantime there was all kinds of book-discussion on my friends list and, lacking willpower of any kind, I was reading people's thoughts and getting totally spoiled for the book as a whole.

Which didn't really impact my enjoyment of the book any when I finally got home and read it (in about five-six hours).

After a year ... hmm. It's hard to say. The book's shock factor hasn't entirely worn off after a year - seeing Sirius onscreen in the third movie made me feel startled and sad all over again.

Ah, memories! This Saturday was lovely, sunny and cool, and I was up early working in the yard, when I realized that I was doing the exact same thing on a very similar day a year ago. Except that a year ago I was also waiting for my husband to get up and go to the bookstore to pick up OotP (I didn't want to go myself for fear of hearing people talk about it.) And when he finally left for the store and told me he would also be stopping to get coffee I had to grit my teeth very hard not to yell at him, since he was doing me a favor.

I have been listening to OotP in the car, and I'm in the Department of Mysteries right now. Since listening is slower than reading, the amount of talking seems even more unrealistic. I keep wanting to tell them to shut up and *do* something!

I also find that I'm speculating more about the future, which events or statements might hint at what's to come in the next 2 books - when I first read it I was too involved in the story to do this. And I'm wondering when Hermione will turn out to be wrong about something very important.

I think that it's been very difficult for people to move their mindsets out of the pre-OotP fic writing tropes. I've seen many more AUs since then, and novel-length ones, too, which really didn't happen as much beforehand. But I've also seen fewer "other character" perspectives on OotP, which I am surprised by - but perhaps it's because to do an "other character" take on the book, one would have to reread it a number of times; the reason I haven't done anything more with my Surfeit of Curses is because I can't bear to read the book again.

Also, did *anyone* predict the explosion of Blackcest?

OH! OH! OH! I remember your Draco sushi day. HEE hee hee.

I sat in my back yard on Saturday with a fresh pitcher of sun tea (Republic of Tea Ginger Peach) with the pads on the chairs and the umbrella up, and waited for the delivery to come. She arrived a little after 1:00. I got myself settled, got my "Courage" bookmark out and read all weekend.

I remember when McGonagall went down, thinking, "This is it, this is who dies." I wish I hadn't know someone was going to snuff it because I kept waiting for it and second guessing things, so when it happened - with very little fanfare - I felt supremely let down. Good book though, and the mirror at the end wrenched my heart out and I loved loved loved Angry!Sullen!Harry. I was delighted to see Cuaron channel some of that into PoA.

Oh GOD, the scars from Umbridge's torture. ACK. I need to re-read.

I really want to see something happen with Draco, I don't care what. But this pointless school bully business is getting old. Jo, either give him some genuine menace, great blowjob technique, or push him into the background. I see these as our only viable options.

As for your requests...

Something good about Dudley. I felt quite badly for him.

I'm with you, and I'm working on that very thing. Dudley needs...something.

I haven't been able to reread the book. I've never enjoyed the Dursley sections, although I see how the book needs that as the start.

But Umbridge reminds me of a very nasty teacher I had in school, and I can't reread it because I get so angry that my vision blurs and my hands shake. Not good for the blood pressure.

I'm still trying to read it. I started it about 9 months ago and got about two chapters in. Then three weeks ago I carried on with it for about three days and stopped again. I read half a chapter today.

I'm about halfway through now and goodness only knows when I'll finish it. I have a feeling it'll be after the next one is out and I've read a synopsis/spoilers.

Maybe.

Or maybe I'll get a sudden burst of enthusiasm and finish it all in the next two days. But I doubt it.

Yes, yes I did, and you just reminded me that I really should turn them back around now because everyone stares at them funny when they come over.

I do remember the scar on Harry's hand, and I have written about Firenze and Umbridge. But maybe I'm peculiar.

I think to some extent people weren't ready for OotP -- there was still more to be written about 1-4, even though it had already been a long while.

I think the only thing that jossed me at all was "Lucius Malfoy, 41". I wanted him to be a bit older than that. Say, 45.

I can't really remember if I freaked about Ron at that point -- I think I was doing my supressing thing where I wouldn't allow myself to worry until I knew *for sure* who it was. I still fear for Ron, though. *sniff*

And yes, Sirius in PoA. God. I choked up. A good choice to manipulate our emotions that way, I think.

~shrugs~ I always assumed he was just a few years older than the Marauders...

But I hate the bastard, so it doesn't bother me.

.a.

Such torture! And how is the audiobook? I haven't bought any of them since in Canada, although we get the UK versions of the books, we get the US audiobooks, dammit! I long to get the UK versions as read by my Sekrit Gay Husband, Stephen Fry, but they are rather expensive.

And I'm wondering when Hermione will turn out to be wrong about something very important.

Yes, I long for that day. :)

I think you're right, to a large extent. OotP, with the death of Sirius, really turned a corner in changing the lay of the land, to mix metaphors. And it's hard if you don't want to make the shift.

I think this was my third attempt at this icon. It was hard to get a good pic and then fit all the words on.

I still have Gryffindor!Draco on my desk at home. :) Lucius scowls at him a lot.

I so agree about Draco. He should either get evil or shift his attention to Ron, who will appreciate it properly.

And yay Dudley!

Oh, that's harsh. :( *hugs*

*laugh* Maybe you should just give it up as a bad job. Send the book to a library and read Sharpe instead.

I think a year is long enough. :) Let me know if you get the chills after turning them back.

Was there lots of steamy centaur sex? Cause that would be nice, I think. So long as it wasn't *with* Umbridge.

how is the audiobook?

Jim Dale is a pretty good reader. If he pronounced his 'r's a little more clearly I would have no complaints, other than that he's not Stephen Fry. But since borrowing the US version from my public library is free, I can live with it.

No, it was gen-ish. I wouldn't mind some steamy centaur sex either, but I've never seen any. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places.

Yeah, but I want to finish the series and I'm interested in where she's going with it and seeing if it's going to be all black and white kiddy ending or if she's going to bring in the ambiguity of real life . . . I just . . . it's a big book, the main character is unhappy, his friends are unhappy, the good guys are unhappy, the whole situation in unhappy . . . it just makes it difficult to read, if I wanted that level of depression I'd read the newspaper!

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One Year Later

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Booful Icon. So nice.

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Re: Booful Icon. So nice.

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