And I hope you are not staying up way too late reading my wild ideas (As I am doing writing them!) This comment of yours was priceless:
... You mention the 'I, the half-blood prince' line as well, at which I can only shudder, not so much with creepiness as disgust for bad writing on JKR's part - that line just hurt for all the cackling melodrama of it.
Yes- I, too, just cringed when I read that line; it seemed like terrible writing on the part of a woman who is usually a good craftswoman, at least, and I couldn't imagine what she meant by it. If you read June Diamanti's livejournal, you know that one line completely changed her attitude toward Snape. But it just doesn't seem like something any human being would *say*, even under such extreme provocation. The "filthy father" bit, though also a bit melodramatic, didn't bother me anywhere near as much.
BTW, did it seem to you that Rowling, who normally writes terrific dialog, had a slight tin ear in this book? The other line that jumped out at me as being highly improbable was Harry, when talking to Hermione about History of Magic - "You know full well I never listen." As someone who works with teenage boys, does it seem at all likely to you that any teenager would say that?!
Rowling is a genius, but I do wish she'd take her time and edit!
Also, that Snape, as you suggest, perceives Lupin as the most dangerous of the marauders actually does ring true to me, and fits in with my new take on the patronus scene. But I do think he hates them all pretty equally - that is, beyond all reason.
another great reply! (I'm enjoying this):
... You mention the 'I, the half-blood prince' line as well, at which I can only shudder, not so much with creepiness as disgust for bad writing on JKR's part - that line just hurt for all the cackling melodrama of it.
Yes- I, too, just cringed when I read that line; it seemed like terrible writing on the part of a woman who is usually a good craftswoman, at least, and I couldn't imagine what she meant by it. If you read June Diamanti's livejournal, you know that one line completely changed her attitude toward Snape. But it just doesn't seem like something any human being would *say*, even under such extreme provocation. The "filthy father" bit, though also a bit melodramatic, didn't bother me anywhere near as much.
BTW, did it seem to you that Rowling, who normally writes terrific dialog, had a slight tin ear in this book? The other line that jumped out at me as being highly improbable was Harry, when talking to Hermione about History of Magic - "You know full well I never listen." As someone who works with teenage boys, does it seem at all likely to you that any teenager would say that?!
Rowling is a genius, but I do wish she'd take her time and edit!
Also, that Snape, as you suggest, perceives Lupin as the most dangerous of the marauders actually does ring true to me, and fits in with my new take on the patronus scene. But I do think he hates them all pretty equally - that is, beyond all reason.
Thanks again for yours-