What an ending, but can’t say I didn’t expect it to be so.

Yup, I’ve just finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. And nope, I’m not about to divulge the ending or its contents here in case anyone who’s interested hasn’t read it. smiley So please, no need to shut your eyes tight.

I wouldn’t say J.K. Rowling is a talented writer. Her prose style isn’t exactly beautiful, or anything special. I’m not those literary critics, but it is quite plain, really. I don’t read her books to slowly linger and enjoy the words she penned.

But I’d speed through the book for hours and hours, just to get to the end of the story. Because she’s a good story-teller. In fact, she spins one heck of a tale.

I admire her for the creativity (or innovation, as some people have accused her of adapting elements from elsewhere, whatever). As the story unfolds year after year, it attains more layers and grows in complexity. And the pace of stories have certainly increased. You can feel the last 2 books just rushing and running to reach the peak at the end.

But a lot of times, the book’s starting to have a bit of a blockbuster feel to it. Very on-the-surface kinda thing. All the attempts at carving more 3-dimentional characters and painting vivid emotions just didn’t quite make it. In the end, it’s really about wham bam slam, this happened, and that happened following it, and so on.

But I did enjoy the book. Tremendously. Not in the ‘wow such beautiful writing’ kinda way, but more of a ‘ohmygosh, what’s gonna happen next?’ kinda way. It’s like watching one of those summer blockbusters — hold on to your seats while you’re blown away by the antics and effects — but a brilliantly well-done one at that.

Now I shall wait patiently for the next (and last) installment.

And I’ve got more to say..
People who queued up at 7AM to get that book are insane and do not know the meaning of ‘enjoying one’s beauty sleep’. It wasn’t like a 1-day deal only, or that they’d get a special special book with special special SPECIAL ending or what not. I got the book right off the shelf when I decided to pop in at MPH one day. They must have ‘kena jampi’-ed (had a spell cast on them). And the book’s bloody expensive.

And I must say Snape is Rowling’s best creation. He is by far the most enigmatic character in the book, always keeping me guessing and second guessing and wondering again. And Alan Rickman plays him well in the movies. yay!

But all those teenager-y bits in the book drive me a bit nuts sometimes. Too much of it after a while. Can sense Rowling is trying too hard to hint that they are teens with raging hormones. Please, 16 going on 17? We’d figure as much ok?

But I do prefer the British word ’snog’ to the more common American cousin ‘kiss’. Heh. smiley

And no, Going Potty in my title does not refer to “potty - A small pot for use as a toilet by an infant or young child” but “potty (adj. chiefly British) - Somewhat silly or crazy; addlebrained”, for my brain is in dire need of some proper rest now.

Good night. smiley