Hard to believe, but not every book critic loves Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. San Francisco Chronicle critic David Kipen had the chutzpah to say that the new book wasn’t all that and a bag of Every Flavor Beans. (Whether or not his critique has merit, it’s certainly brave.) And what thanks does he get for daring to dis J.K. Rowling — or, as Kipen calls her, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Panned? Irate letters and flaming e-mails from angry Muggles. How dare he tell readers that all those hours spent waiting in line last Friday night, and all those hours spent reading the nearly 700-page tome over the weekend, were spent in vain? Fifty million Potter fans can’t be wrong, can they?
Kipen will cop only to complaints that his pan of Half-Blood Prince isn’t as elegantly written as his pan of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Anyway, I’m sure he doesn’t mind being the most hated person in San Francisco, as long as readers ”keep those nonthreatening cards and letters coming.” At least he knows he’s being read.
Im a 100 pages away from the end of HBP and it’s the dullest tome to date. I’ve loved the last five, but this one, at least the 400 firts pages are not very exciting.. It’s seems like a filler before the much-anticipated finale. .. I hate to dislike this book, but that’s the way it is! I think it’s good that a critic has the guts to say that’s it’s not the best. Stephane
First Harry Potter book I haven’t read as soon as it was released. Why? Book 5 was so damn bad. Five hundred plus pages of Harry being a teenager.
I’m not a teenager, and I didn’t like teens when I was one. I think that Harry 6 will be a paperback purchase.
I agree that the book seems like a filler before the final installment. For me the seies peaked at Goblet, but Phoenix was okay. This book seemed like she was putting everything in place before the last one so nothing can be unanswered for. Still read it in three days and relish the series.
Honestly, I love HbP – it’s my new favourite of the series (which was previously Goblet of Fire). That, however, doesn’t mean I loved every bit of it – I had the romantic sections, as they felt abrupt and were rather tacky.
But I think saying that the SFC critic “panned” HbP is inaccurate. He wrote an honest (and deserved) mixed review. He’s entitled to his opinion and he makes good points. Mind you, I still love the book, but I don’t think it’s “OMG so great” or “completely sucky” as many are claiming. It is not just a filler book – that honour goes to OotP. I think it was a fantastic recovery for JKR after the contrived OotP, but it certainly does bait readers for book 7.
i read the review and some of the bits he didnt like are kinda invalid. It looks to me that he had a lot on his mind while reading the book. I loved this book and im one of the people who had starting losing faith in the book… but as i look at the talkbacks on here saying they didnt like the book, i think its funny…. people said the same thing for OotP and GoF, there really is no need for worry for the people who are reading the negative press some people, and i do mean very few are giving this book, im sure the same people will just bitch about the 7th book.
My first reaction to HBP was one of disappointment. When I finsihed the book, I thought it was purely filler before book 7. I am now about 1/2 way through it on the second read, this time at a much more leisurely pace, and I have realised that there is much more there than I picked up on the first read through.
That does not make the “love” sections anymore exciting, and it does still drag in a lot of places. But Rowling has done a very good job of burying clues in such a way that you would completely forget about them until you read it a second time
I really liked HBP! I read it 2x, then re-read OotP – which was better for reading book 6! I feel I’m ready for Goblet of Fire’s release as a movie in November and really wondering how WB etc. intends to handle book 5 as a movie, whether the cast will return as is or what. I’m finding the entire phenomenon entertaining and I’m betting somehow the JKR will not stop at 7…
I actually loved HBP because it gave so much insite to Voldemort’s background that I found very interesting. I admit that the beginning was a little drab and boring but once I reached the end she seemed to tie the story together nicely. This is my favorite (I used to think PoA was the best); although I agree that “book 5 was so damn boring” (it was my least favorite).
Hi ! Im paulo from portugal… I would like to know who is the half blood prince… because the book has not arrived yet at portugal… the book only arrives in october i think… and i am curious… Can someone tell me whp is the half blood prince??
The half-blood prince is someone who has been present throughout the entire series. Therefore he is not a new character.
i liked hbp a lot. i’m halfway through the second read and it’s simply amazing how much you can still pick up, there are hidden clues everywhere! i agree that it prepares for the final volume of the series but that is simply a necessity. there’s so much we as readers still don’t know and that has to be said before the finale. the critos has apoint concerning the ending. harry should be allowed to love, a strong woman behind a strong man… that’s how it goes. it was a bit tacky and too superheroish when he told her… still, it made my weekend so special!
HbP was good only because I love the characters. Otherwise, it was definitely filler. At least Order of Phoenix was leading up to the final battle (or it seemed, cuz GoF kinda did the same thing). The things I liked about HbP was the history of Voldemort and the betrayal. Everything else, especially the last two chapters (which was sooo stupid), was FILLER. I also think the idea of 7 horcruxes is stretching it too much. Another thing that annoyed me and seemed out-of-place was the fact that Hermione and Ron did not believe Harry about any of his suspicions. Of all the people to not trust Harry’s insight! I mean, 5 books already showed how right Harry is about things concerning Voldemort. And Ron and Hermione are both so daft after all that? puh-leeze! I do want to read the chapter of the betrayal a second time just because that was the most memorable part of the book. If I wasn’t collecting, this would have been a paperback purchase.
Hope the next book is not so disappointing.
In HBP ii enjoyed it for the obvious reasons, they actually dug into voldermot’s past and showed how much of a threat he is, in previous books he was spoken of how evil he is and what went on during his time,but diving into his past you actually see the reasonings behind his actions. In this book It actually sunk in that he is a killer and a murderous person who is to be feared. in the previous 5 books i wasn’t convinced of how evil he actually is. Now HBP also had its dull moments Ms. Rowling could have put more details of the quidditch matches as she has done before, situation were Ron and Hermoine didnt beliieve or were skeptic about Harry’s theories on Draco and his involvements with the Death eaters didnt seem right I mean didnt Harry provide enough evidence for at least for his best friends to take him serious so they would support him on these Malfoy investigations, other then that I enjoyed the book and it is in my opinion HBP is leaving a very big cliff hanger for the final book were everything will be revealed and resolved…..
I liked the book but I also kinda agree with the critic, I dont think he bashes it in a “it’s awful” kinda way, he just points out the discrepancies that exist within the context.
upon funishing the hbp it left me kinda empty although I did enjoy the voldemorts past story line, which I think made the whole book. I wish she had done more of that rather then go on and on about the cat & mouse love chasing between harry & his friends. the other books are so good this seemed to be lacking in area’s which is sad cause I’m a big fan of the books the next book if its the last is gonna have to be huge to fill in all the blanks