Who's Your Favourite Potter Character?

After (Harry) Potter and (Peter) Pettigrew, I think it's time for Miss Snape. Or will it be Mr. Granger next? Who are you rooting for?

The Marauders are missing a Miss Lupin and a Miss Black, too... Maybe they will get their chance.

Sabr Ka Phal...

Those who have been reading my blog for some time should probably sit down. You may need to have smelling salts (or chappals, as your taste may be) handy before you go on.

Now that you are ready, you should know that I haven't owned a copy of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in almost a year since it came out. Till today...

And now, I am a proud owner of a Deluxe copy, with full color artwork and hard slip-cover.

Not to mention, it cost me less than a normal hardcover copy, and 80% less than normal price (paperback is due this month). Needless to say, I am as happy as anybody can be... (And a long weekend is a day away)

What's in The Name?

For all the Harry Potter fans out there, here's a million dollar question: What is this Lord Voldemort's weird obsession with names?

Born as Tom Marvolo Riddle, he wanted to change his name. I can understand that. The only reason he escaped getting beaten every day at school, was that he was such a powerful wizard.

So then, he goes and changes his name to Lord Voldemort. Still not pretty, but since he wasn't aiming for beauty, we can forgive him that.

But why go to all these lengths to get an anagramic name and all, and then prevent everyone from saying it out loud? If he wanted to stop people from saying his name, he could have easily kept his old name, and put the taboo on it, right?

(SPOILER ALERT:) Not to mention, he died getting called "Riddle". Talk about wastage of effort.(END OF SPOILER)

I am sure someone somewhere is writing a fan-fic about what would have happened if Lord Voldemort would have stopped obsessing over his name, and would have invested that time learning about things he didn't know.



P.S. OK, you didn't actually think I was going to pay a million dollars if you answered, did you?

Update

though this time, it is not from me...


How many of you were not completely satisfied with the epilogue? (No need to answer if you don't know what Harry Potter is, and remember I said "what") Although it gave us the information about who lives, who dies (of the main characters), it didn't exactly show us what happened in the previous 19 years.

But there's a good news. In a July 29 interview, JKR gave us a bit more of the details, and I am hoping more interviews will follow. Meanwhile, here are the details:


Need I tell you there's big, red, flashing "SPOILER ALERT" here?

• ...Harry and Ron lead the way in recreating the new Auror Department. And by the time-- 19 years later -- I would imagine that Harry is heading up that department...


• And Hermione … I think she's now pretty high up in the Department for Magical Law Enforcement.

Read full interview here. And here's to hoping that soon there will be an encyclopaedia as she hinted at, even before.

Do Not Disturb!!!

As I sit here in a comfortable leather recliner, with a copy of Deathly Hallows in my hand, I can make you only 1 promise: the recliner is going to be my home for next 10 hours The review will be up tomorrow...

As much as I want to go straight to the Epilogue, I am not going to do it, because it is plain cheating. And since writing this post is keeping me from reading the book, See you Later!!!

P.S. The "Half-Blood Prince" review is up. The post will be reviewed and improved tomorrow.

I Thought So...

Really, I did...

I mean, I want to be Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, or maybe Sirius Black. Second choice would be male version of Tonks or book-Flitwick (any person who appreciates the Weasley's Portable Swamp is worthy of respect).

But wishes apart, I know I like my books too much to be anything other than:


Find out your Harry Potter personality at LiquidGeneration!


Except the "girl" part of it, the description fits me to the t (I am taking the "ion" part matches the "girl" part of it).

P.S. If you are still obsessing about the "girl" part, The Gender Genie would politely disagree with you.

I Went, I Saw, Me Likeee....

While the countdown timer at the top of this blog was at 00 days, 06 hrs downwards, I was in a theatre standing in a really long line waiting to get my popcorns and drink.

But wait, that's not what this post is about... The reason I was in the multiplex was that I had got a seat in fourth row from the front.

OK, I am going to get this straight this time. The movie I watched is "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".


Well, the full review will be up tomorrow. But, initial comments:

• I liked it. Most of the time.


• As you all know, they have changed the story a bit, which might make a die-hard fan squirm in his seat once in a while. But then, how else can you fit the gigantic book in a 138 min long movie?


• Dumbledore continues his GoF streak. Most of the time.

More about it, tomorrow...

Till then, if you don't know who is Harry Potter (seriously?) or you love Harry Potter (now, that's more like it), read this. And seriously, there's no third type there.

Update: The review is now up here.


Technorati Tags: harry potter, movie, order of the phoenix, phoenix

Hollywood Hints

a.k.a. Hollywood Version of "Bollywood Bites"...


All of you know well enough that I am really looking forward to "Order of Phoenix", and I am planning to watch it as soon as I can. But I can very well say that while I agree with the tone of this article, the headline is something I am not so crazy about.

Also, 30 retakes for a simple shot? And they call themselves actors? Well, I guess what they say is true... As long as you are enjoying it...

And come to think of it, if 1 kiss ~ 30 retakes, imagine about our own Kissing Man who maintains that he has way more than 20? Talk about crossing half thousand mark...

Hogwarts, Here I Come...

Well, I am not bragging here, nor am I trying to gain looks of admiration and pats on my back from you (got the hint?)..

Anyways, I won't sing my own praises, but let the certificate talk for itself...




And now, let's see how I did on WOMBAT Grade 2, shall we?



So, I improve my grades, I passed both WOMBATs easily and that's an O baby...

Any suggestions which job I should apply for at Hogwarts?

Hallows = Relics

Given that "Hallows" is not easily translated, and that Harry Potter books are translated into many languages, there's a good news for us. We now know (or at least I think) that Hallows are things, not place/places.


Since "Deathly Hallows" cannot be easily tranlated in Swedish, JKR and publishers have gives us the alternate title, "Harry Potter and the Relics of Death". So, not we know that Hallows are "relics", which means they are things, not places as we assumed.

Now, don't blame me if my dreams contain the trio tagging along with Prof. Sydney Fox and Nigel on a relic hunt. (Yes, I have been watching "Relic Hunter" lately).

P.S. Do you know anybody who has shifted back to IE from firefox? Due to some mysterious script which refuses to die, now you know (at least temperorily).

Newsblast #7

a.k.a. It's "H-allows", not "G-allows" (to be said in your best "Philosopher's Stone" Hermione accent)


First things first, it is only the mild manners of Harry Potter fans which has saved ToI columnist Indira Rodericks from any Crucio's and even Avada Kedavra's coming her way. Otherwise, I cannot think of any fitting punishment for mentioning (twice, not once, but twice) the name of HP7 as "Deathly Gallows" in the same article.

Also, regarding the news item, let me let you in on a secret regarding the "pirated script".


I have seen three or four different versions of so-called "Deathly Hallows" ebooks. Except one, even a person who hasn't heard of a person called JKR (i.e. a modern-day Robinson Crusoe, or a person who has just stepped off the spaceship from the other end of universe) can tell that these so-called "pirated books" cannot possible be written by the great author.

The only version which may confuse non-fans at the start is written as a fan-fic, actually called "Seventh Horcrux", and the author of that book is trying her best to instruct people about the fact (more power to her). So, if somebody sends you a link to a ebook called "Deathly Hallows" which sounds like written by JKR but has some *ahem* teen themes in it, remember it is called "Seventh Horcrux".

And if somebody sends you a link to a book called "Deathly Gallows", just delete it without even opening the mail, even if it is sent to you by your alter-ego, because how can the person who cannot get the name correct, get his hands on the actual book?

And I think this will be a best place to tell people about my policy for spoiler-"pirated early version" etc. kind of mails.

• First, anybody sending me a early version with a misplaced sense of anything: I might take a look at the book, and even enjoy it if it is good. But if it really turns out to be The Book later on, it will be taken as spoiler (read next point for spoiler), because though impatient to get my hands on the book, I am perfectly content to stay put till the official release date.
  


• Anybody sending me unofficial spoilers (i.e. those not given out by JKR or publishers) should better get himself a berth on the Black Pearl, as the "end of the world" will possibly be only semi-safe place for him/her (and I am not guaranteeing that he will be safe there either).

So there...

Once again folks, it is "Hallows", not "Gallows" (think Kannad if you are confused)... and I haven't seen any ebook which can touch the inimitable style of JKR yet (and won't tell you even if I find it before The DH-Day).


Technorati Tags: news, Harry Potter

Rejoice, Ye All Fans

As July 21st approaches, All Harry Potter fans (the two active ones, two yet-to-come-out and five lurkers on this blog included) are going to be torn between two conflicting emotions. For one, last book in the Harry Potter series. That has to be is the biggest news (Amazon pre-orders confirm that), and I for one cannot wait to finish the book in one sitting, starting the moment I get my hands on it.

On the other hand, given JKR's reported desire that the series will be wrapped up so that there will be no more "sequels", apart from movies, this is The Last One. Even though I agree with JKR given the "success" (or lack thereof) of the famous characters being resurrected (except Holmes, who was brought back to life, but the nature of character didn't make it impossible like Harry Potter), this is the last book we can look forward to.

Or at least, that was the status till now...


But, now it is being reported that JKR might come true on her promise (or rather, possibility of plan) of writing something like "Hogwarts: A History". Of course, the book might not be named that, but an encyclopaedia of Harry Potter world will be... for lack of better words, The Book You Have To Buy. The book might be published for charity (like "Quiddich through the ages" and "Fantastic Beasts..."), so there is one more reason to buy it for those vacillating.

So, keep all your fingers crossed, and I promise if the book comes out, Hermione will not be the only one who has read "Hogwarts: A History".




Technorati Tags: Harry Potter, News,

Deathly Hallows Covers Announced...

UPDATE:changed some points based on comments

Probably the second biggest news of this year (of course, the biggest was when the date of publication was announced)... The covers for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" are out.








(For those not able to see the images: Check this post out.)

My Thoughts?

1. The locket on the adult UK edition is definitely Slytherin's (so it is a horcrux). We haven't "seen" any other horcrux. So why this?


2. The UK children's version shows Hogwarts (think so) at the back. So Hogwarts should make at least a guest appearance, despite what the "jacket description" says (or does not say, to be precise).


3. The "jacket description" does not mention anything about the quest. In fact, I guess this is the least informative jacket ever seen on Harry Potter books.


4. Why is Ron Dobby (at least I don't think any other house-elf will help Harry so much) holding The Sword? Is the sword a horcrux after all? If not, where did they get it from and why? And why none of them are wearing school robes? Is the thing they are "spilling" from "Helga's cup"? (Looks like it, doesn't it?)


5. What is Prongs doing on the jacket?


6. The US Childrens' edition cover is highly interesting. The person Harry is facing must be is (confirmed by Scholastic) Lord Voldemort. The scenery looks almost like an arena (given the arrangement behind them) or a stage (given the drapes on two sides). Is that the "Veil Room" again? (I know the last confontration is expected to happen in Godric's Hollow, but the background doesn't look like any house to me, that's why...) Are the odd shadows in the background death-eaters? Given their expressions, is Harry "accio"ing something?

Given the history of Harry Potter on this blog, I am pretty sure this will be the end of discussion here. So please prove me wrong, and I beg all the hidden Harry Potter fans to comment...


- For I am The Great Eagle...

P.S. For more on Harry Potter, check my review of the series.

A Bit of Christmas Cheer

UPDATE: Changed lables. Additions: None
Looks like people have started giving us Christmas presents early this year.

• Finally, J. K. Rowling announced the title for the seventh and (unfortunately) last Harry Potter book on her website (The Secret Door is open again, as you must have guessed). For all the interested people, it is: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".
  Let the speculations, theories, discussions begin... (Oops, they have already...)


• Looks like some people were listening to me when I planned my post-mortal activities. Since Blogger allows posting by mail, I can even post my "final" post using this service, as well as other things in my list. A nice backup plan for the "envelope with my attorneys", I am sure.

As I said before, Studio 60 is shaping up to be a nice series. I don't know what it is about this part in the latest episode (where Matt tries to bring some Christmas cheer to the studio), but every time I watch the episode (and I have watched it at least thrice), I am helpless with laughter:

I am sure "Let's get rid of demented Santa" is not exactly in Christmas spirit, but even Santa laughs.


S.P. (a.k.a. Small Print): If you feel I am a bit weird in the last point, I am still a bit rubber-legged from my bicycle ride. But in Nov 2003, I came in third in intra-DC cycle race in Hyderabad after getting on cycle after around 1 year, so I am not exactly out of practise.