...this book will drive the point home. The Harry Potter series is not merely children's fiction... no more than Lord of the Rings is merely a fantasy tale. This is full fledged literature. Stephen King's blurb on the book said as much, and I've been thinking that since I finished book 4.
I am a recent Potter devotee, I read the series about six months before this book came out. I watched all the hype unfold around book five and thought "for a kid's book?" And with that rather close-minded outlook I went about my business... until I found a first edition of "The Philosopher's Stone" that somehow found it's way into my Mom's house in Tennessee. That book, I thought was a delightful (I choose my words carefully) romp... every bit worthy young reader's fiction. I picked up the second book in paperback and had similar thoughts, but found that the character development increased very much.
Already long story short, and already over-long point at it's crux... these books and characters age with the readers who grow up with them. And for those of us who went through these ages already, we glean even more understanding. Rowling has matured the books with the age of their characters. And she has done it brilliantly. These books are geared toward young readers AT THE START, but that is because she knows that young people grow up, and as they do they crave more and more creative plots, and more creative and intriguing characters. The books increase in complexity, density (in a good way), sheer brilliance as they go on. Each book is essentially five times better than the last. As amazing as a claim that is... it's true. Find out if you havn't by now!
With the Half-Blood Prince I wasn't expecting much more than the first half of the finish of this (hopefully not the only in this world's) series. I got that and much more. (as I mentioned I will give NO MAJOR spoilers, indeed they may not come as spoilers at all) Character development within this rich world is at it's finest here since it has been in Goblet of Fire (my favorite). We get not only MUCH greater insight into Dumbledore... but into how Lord Voldemort came to be. We get into Voldemort's mind, and we find out how and why we ticks. We see some very clevar development for (What I guessed since book 2) what the main character's love interests would be. Though many see it coming, it's because we've watched the relationships unfold. That part isn't meant to shock us.
Truly this is Harry Potter's last youthful romp I'm afraid... he does a lot of maturing in this book, and rightfully so, he faces more dangers and challenges than ever... and not even in the most obvious forms. Along the way a character we are meant to mistrust from the beginning, but somehow trust all along shows his true color... at least we think so. And one we've hated since the beginning shows his... and it's shocking as well. Rowling at this point, like all genius authors, uses what you know about her and her books against you. She layers the usual form of her book with extra layers that you have to read VERY deeply to understand. The narrative can literally, somehow impossibly, let you know what is REALLY going on without ever putting it on the page. You can FEEL what is going on before being told, sometimes you are proven right, sometimes wrong... and sometimes even more right that you first imagined.
To all of those complaining that Rowling is drawing the series out, I say that she's planned on seven books from the start, and you've known that all along... if you were expecting book six to be the end, and seven to be the prologue, you've not been paying attention to her style. After seeing what the author pulled off in each concurrent book, upping the ante, the class, and sheer brilliance in each and every narrative and story... I'm fully confident in saying that I KNOW that book seven will do just as each other book before it has done... it will only get better. I'm ready NOW to pre-order book seven by God... and I'm quite sure that Rowling wouldn't even have begun it yet! (The only other authors who can claim that of me are Neil Gaiman and Dan Simmons)
The only bad thing about this book is finishing it and realizing that there is only one more book to go... I do not want this story to end, but I cannot wait to see how it will finally wrap up. Especially after this thrilling volume. It becomes more painful with each reading of each book to know that it just has to end.
to J.K. Rowling... welcome to the list of legendary authors... you are truly one of the greats now, and the books that you've written will live on as long as there are people to read them. Here's hoping you don't stop with book seven. And here's to you, one of the greatest authors of my time. It is my honor to read your works.
And as for the review summary... Well I'll just say that the prose is fluid, and the story runs and winds like a swiss watch. It would be a shame for ANYONE to miss out on this book. Do yourself a favor if you've not yet fallen into the Harry Potter series... buy them all. I'll be passing them along my family. True literature is so hard to come by, but Rowling makes it seem like it comes effortlessly.
Five out of Five stars... and if there was a higher rating, I'd give it that.
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Popular Highlights in this book
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Why I Like the Harry Potter Half Blood Prince Book
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Reviews with images
Pretty tampered
When the book arrived I opened it to find out that one of the corners was squished and there was a large line on the side. Also the book looked like it was used before.
Top reviews from other countries
Elinor Florence
Excellent, with a big plot development
Reviewed in Canada on October 13, 2023
Penny Sophocleous
excellent and engaging
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2024