2017 Book #19, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

J. K. Rowling

The pace of the series is near breakneck at this point. Perhaps it was the extreme difference in length between this book and the previous one (Order of the Phoenix is a staggering 88,000 words longer) but I can feel the compression of the story as the arc takes an exponential jump up in seriousness and urgency. Of all the books, this one left me with the greatest sense of a cliffhanger. There, once again, is little wrap-up; there are even less satisfying answers this time around than at the hollow ending of OP. In all the previous books, we've at least had a time to debrief with Dumbledore, to understand things that were confusing, and to catch our breaths mentally as Harry and company returned to the summer holiday. We knew that we were moderately safe until the next time. Now, however, there is no time to talk things over. They have to find and destroy Voldemort, once and for all. This lack of ending gives even greater weight to the rest of the terrible things that occurred throughout the book.

Rowling as an author and a storyteller has really grown in an astonishing way from the often mundane and stilted scenes of the first few books. There was never a time when I wanted to stop, only when I HAD to stop to, you know, sleep and work. Fiction like this is rare for me, and I am really savoring the feeling of anticipation, wonder, and questioning as we continue in the series.

While nearly every chapter had memorable material, the two stand out scenes for me were Harry and Dumbledore's search in Voldemort's cave, and the infamous scene at the top of the tower. While I knew how the book ended, I had no idea that the Malfoy-Dumbledore-Snape confrontation played out the way that it did, and I was still shocked at the brutality and finality of Snape's final curse. How did Snape fool Dumbledore all these years, or, indeed, was Dumbledore fooled, or me the reader? I reckon all questions will be answered in the final Book, which is waiting to be begun as I write.

My guess is that we haven't seen the last of Ginny, and I expect there to be some kind of denouement between Ron and Hermione. Can't wait to finish the series and then go get the books and read them again. #hpandtheHBP #whatIreadin2017

2017 Book #18, "Extra Virginity"

"Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil"
Tom Mueller

I really don't know what I was expecting, but this book was complex, detailed, and quite interesting. It is also a beautifully written book, with big glorious scoops of adjectives and metaphors soaking nearly every sentence (I tried it there myself). I had no idea that so much went into the production of Olive oil. Apparently extra virgin olive oil is a very specific and premium substance, and one that is often the object of fraud and illegality. A good portion of oil labelled as EVOO is actually cut with or adulterated by lower grade oil (anything marked "Light Olive Oil" is almost certainly cut with low grade vegetable oil). He also goes into the historical and agricultural aspects of oil, which I enjoyed very much. A very enjoyable read. The narrator was especially good, too. #whatIreadin2017

2017 Book #13: "The Abolition of Man"

"The Abolition of Man"
By C. S. Lewis

Lewis is a singular thinker and writer, one of the greatest in all history, in my opinion. I didn't remember reading this book until I saw a note written in pencil underneath the chapter 2 title, in my rather recognizable handwriting. I now recall thinking I understood what Lewis was talking about, and feeling rather pleased with myself that I did. Now that I am a bit older, I think that this book is filled with such subtlety and truth and nuance and prophecy that I am sure I must read it a hundred times before I begin to grasp its real meaning. The title is itself an irony. We usually associate abolition with freedom, righteousness; but Lewis warns that discarding fundamental values results in a literal and terrifying abolition--abolishing man as man, leaving nothing behind. Not light reading, but important reading. #whatIreadin2017

#12, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

J. K. Rowling

I must say that the majority of this book constitutes my least favorite material in this series so far. The initial two thirds are very slow, long, and riddled with questionable internal logic. We found the entire concept of the Tri Wizard Cup to be silly. Is there no entity in the wizard world that has a concept of fairness? Anyway, at the chapter of the revelations in the Pensieve, everything changed. The pace picked up, the tension finally grew, and the concluding four chapters were among the best, most shocking, and exciting yet. Our jaws were hanging open many times in disbelief. The stakes are now higher than ever; nothing can be the same after this book.

Fred and George are still my favorite characters. I feel like seeds are being planted for something between Ron and Hermione although that's just a guess. Again, I was hoping for some sort of emotional growth in Harry, but it hasn't quite happened yet. While he does have incredible engrained loyalty, dedication, and bravery--as befits a Griffindor--he still seems stunted; cannot even allow himself to weep following the heart-rending circumstances at the graveyard. There's a long way to go yet.

Rowling's endings are very good. Getting there takes a long time. This is the last part of the series that I have any knowledge of at all. Well, except one thing...but I don't know when that thing happens or what the circumstances are that surround it. I am waiting eagerly to see what madness awaits in year 5! #whatIreadin2017