Well, for my part, I have to say that I haven't been on LJ much this past year, and have only just come back online post-Azkatraz. However, even had I been here, I would not have been able to respond simply because I haven't read the books you reference here. I don't usually read a lot of fantasy unless a book is at a friend's recommendation. I began to read the HP books after the first four had been published and just before the first movie was due to be released, to see what all the fuss was about, and unfortunately got pulled into the mire.

As for Snape, I suppose I could discuss him from now to eternity without getting bored :-)