omorka | Not very long, was it?

Finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price at 5 pm today.

JKR's dialogue has not gotten any better. She is getting better about making her red herrings convincing.

On the one hand, I was disappointed to find how the Ships sail in canon. On the other, I also suspect she is having a laugh up her sleeve at some of her slashier fans - there are several lines that, taken out of context, are so slashy they'll be inspiring Harry/Ron and Harry/Draco stories for years to come.

I knew who the Half-Blood Prince was by chapter 10, but it was obvious, wasn't it?

I may have to write fanfic about the Kreacher/Dobby relationship (no, not like that, you sick puppies . . . unless I feel like a challenge, of course).

Anyway, not bad - she's obviously working at tying up loose ends, and the plotting is pretty smooth, for her. Lots of exposition, but I'm into that. Too much slapstick, but I'll forgive her yet again.

Onward to Book Seven . . .

Edit: and then