HP and U-NO-Poo!!!

As I sit to write it, I am not sure where to begin. The last 30 something hours have been very intense. Very very intense. I think I will start at the very beginning, as usual…

Well, first there was this Big Bang, which lasted, according to astrophysicsts, something like a few nano seconds…

Oh well, lets not go that far behind – just a few years then… about one and a half to be exact. It was one warm day when I was out on a mission… a mission for the office, trying to find out how much a Sun Micro system costs. Anyway, it got around to lunch and on the way back, passed this book shop with many posters and pamphlets, one of them stood out among them. I had already been fascinated by the story ever since I watched the first movie, but had not yet got the book, and there it was, an A2 size poster of the block buster – Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix. Of course, I was already aware that it was not the first of the series, nevertheless, I had to go in and ask if the first one was available. As luck would have it, there was one copy left of Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stone. I don’t think nothing has changed me more than that book. Reading it was a different sensation – made me an avid reader. Ever since that book, I have been reading something in every of my free time – from science, to science fiction, to biography to pure fiction. And I am writing about this particular book that I recently acquired.

Now I believe you have understood where I am going. Yesterday, that is 18th of July 2005, I got a call I had been desperately waiting for ever since around New Year. Having read all the five previously released Harry Potter series, I was desperately waiting for the launch of this book, 16th of July 2005, midnight. Now I was confident it wouldn’t be here in Kathmandu on the day of release, but I had a pre-booking nevertheless. Finally there was a call, and I ran to get it. Cost a good deal of 1430 bucks, mind, but it was worth it, at least to me. Finally the wait was going to be over and at about 11 AM I had to run out and get it. Half an hour later, I was reading the first chapter. The next 31 hours were not the same, just not same.

Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince starts at where Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix ends: the end of Harry’s 5th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry has just seen thing he hated to see, and memories that he would rather not have. He has just completed is O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level) and is expecting to get the results. He knows why he has to stay with his Uncle and Aunt (Vernon and Petunia Dursley) and their son Dudley even though he hates the place. And he knows why he has the destiny that had already been his. The world now knows his as “The Boy Who Lived” and loves him once again. But who does he love? He is already parted with one Cho, and seems Luna is, um, for the lack of better words, well, incompatible.

Ok, that was upto 5th episode. What’s going on in the sixth one? He must be wiser and closer to finish his mortal enemy. And the ones he hates, I mean his fellow student Draco and Potions master Snape? I can tell that their characters thin out a bit, almost a U turn after 5 books’ worth of story. The cover illustrations are great and meaningful – every one of them with significance. But of course I can’t tell everything, lest I open up the secret of the book before you finish it off. Anyway continuing on the story, like I said, the story is intense, and after a non-stop reading except for sleeping and traveling (Yes, I was reading whole day for two days in office, doing nothing else) I can say this much, it was intense. What with Ron’s love story, Hermione secret heartache, and Harry’s, yes, Harry’s feelings (I ain’t gonna say nothing about their love interest, u gotta read the book), the story has enough twists and turns. If you are following mugglenet.com, you must have heard (or read) some stuff vaguely speaking about little romance in the story. Well I can tell you there’s lot more than *little* romance in the story. And a lot more werewolves. Yes, Tonks reappears but with a different outlook. Fleur makes a more frequent appearance of course, what with marriage and stuff. But the story has terrible outcome. And there is a new Defense against dark arts teacher, but who is he? And will he last longer than a year this time? It sure seems so, after all, he had taught in Hogwarts earlier. Remember though, facts do deceive occasionally. As Dumbledor says "Don't count your owls before they are delivered!"

You know it is difficult to tell a story without telling the story. Trying desperately not to spoil your experience if you have not yet read it and plan to read it soon. Anyway, I will tell you only this much, the story is difficult. Very interesting, and shocking. I will say that it is a surprising end, to the end that some kind of disappointing as well. But I guess it fits the big picture on the whole. But definitely sad. Many more deaths are expected as readers of 5th book know what should happen after what happened and who appeared in Ministry of Magic. Remember Igor Karkaroff? They find his this time round all right. But who are “They”? Ministry of Magic? Death Eater? I ain’t saying;) Ya, Quidditch is back, and Harry’s on the team once again, but does he manage to play?

Okay enough said about the book. I know either u r almost asleep wonder who the heck is this Harry, or When can I get the book, or what the heck, I have already read the book. And I will stop before I reveal the story. If you are wondering whether I’d lend my book to you… well sorry to disappoint you. There’s a long enough queue already. I think you better get your copy elsewhere if you want to read it any time soon.

One thing for sure, I will be desperately waiting for the very last of the series of these books, I can see the hints what will happen in the end and how it will happen, but the side stories will be interesting as well... like who will Harry end up with, I mean romantically. Ya Draco is also important aspect, what will happen of him? And will the end be just as I imagine? The story simply continues from this book onwards so I think I know what will happen, but the details of how things turn up will be quite a read… guess another 30 something hours of very intense reading.

So long then. Keep reading!!

Saurabh

P.S. Who the heck is Half Blood Prince? Its definitely not Harry nor Voldemort. And I liked U-NO-Poo!!!!