March 16, 2013

"But most of all, you need to practise constant, never-ceasing vigilance".

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Part 1 & 2


 Sooo...this past Friday I was supposed to have my last post up for the Goblet of Fire, except, I haven't had any posts up for Goblet of Fire yet. I know, I'm failing at this readalong. #failing. My excuses are nothing new: work, life, sickness, poor time management, etc. But I'm not giving up just yet! I'm only half way done the Goblet of Fire so I'm going to do one post for the first half of this book and a second one for the second half, in attempts to catch up to the rest of the readalongers in Alice's HARRY POTTER READALONG ALL THE GIFS.



And in an effort to make up for lost time, these posts will be sweet and short (bullet-point style!) and of course, spoilers are fair game.

Random Thoughts on Chapters 1 thru 20:

*The Quidditch World Cup = boooorrrring. And it seemed like a lot of work to set up, and a lot of memory charms on Muggles, just for one game! But the tents = awesome and I would totally be up for camping more often than I actually do if my tent looked like the Weasley's on the inside. Although, come to think of it, some people's RV trailers are pretty much like their homes on wheels...

*If everybody already knows what's going to be revealed at school, why can't Harry, Ron and Hermione know? And since they aren't even old enough to enter the Triwizard Tournament anyway, does it matter if they know?

*I think one of my favourite parts is when Hermione is outraged over learning that Hogwart's employs over 100 house-elves: 'But they get paid?' she said. 'They get holidays, don't they? And - sick leave, and pensions and everything?' (p.161).  Leave it to Hermione to make it her mission to fight for the rights of house-elves.

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*"Spotted dick" - and a million young children (and me) reading this book giggled.

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*I honestly thought Harry and Ginny might have a "thing", but Ginny is pretty non-existent in this book so far and then there's this: "...[Harry] had just won the Triwizard Tournament...Cho's face stood out particularly clearly in the blurred crowd, her face glowing with admiration...Harry grinned into his pillow, exceptionally glad that Ron couldn't see what he could." (p.170)

*We meet Professor Moody and while the description of his appearance gives me the chills, "It looked as though [his face] had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what a human face were supposed to look like,and was none too skilled with a chisel." (p. 163), I have a feeling Professor Moody has been employed by Hogwart's to protect Harry.

*Even before the names are drawn for contestants of the Triwizard Tournament, we all know Harry's name will be called (duh). And maybe it's just me, but no one seemed that concerned with HOW Harry's name got in the goblet or WHO put his name in it. They seem more concerned with following the rules of whoever's name is called MUST compete, no exceptions, even if Harry isn't of competing age.

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*Ron, Ron, Ron. Now, after all you've been through together, you don't believe Harry when he says he didn't enter his own name into the goblet?! I get it, you're jealous, but you've always been a *little* jealous.

*We end this first half of the book with Harry preparing for the first task in the Triwizard tournament. Is it too early to predict that Harry will do well in all the tasks??*

I know I've missed many things I would probably want to talk about had I done the readings and these posts on time, but even with my little notebook, this is all I got friends. But on the upside! I have watched the first two movies so far! And I will finish this readalong to the end, goddammit, even if it means I'm still writing these posts long after everyone else is finished (but hopefully not!).


*Edit: I was just looking back at my notes and I see that Chapter 20 actually ends with Harry completing the first task in the Triwizard tournament. Successfully of course.

14 comments:

  1. Oh BRIE, I forgot how fun it is reading your posts! Oh, the things you don't know!

    *controls self* All I will say is, to be fair to the Quidditch World Cup, it was a whole tournament and that whole hooha was just the final, so it was for more than just the one game. But yeah, it does seem like a lot of effort. But since it didn't actually have to happen, I guess that's ok?

    And I did not giggle at spotted dick! Even when I was a child! For I am English and so I know what it is. It does not involve man parts. *shakes head*

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    1. I actually thought of you when I snickered at spotted dick! I was like, "well, I know Laura will know what this actually is!" ;)

      Ok, so it was a whole tournament? I didn't catch that part - but now that I think about it, it makes sense, because I guess, as a spectator, you wouldn't necessarily see ALL games. See - I couldn't even pay attention that closely, but I was too bored :(

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  2. THE TENTS, they are magnificent. And I laughed the first time and this time and all times in between at "spotted dick." Because I am perpetually 11.

    What a description of Moody, hey? A formidable guy, to be sure.

    Ah, Ron. His freak out is completely understandable and hugely frustrating.

    How did you like the first two movies?!

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    1. I quite enjoyed the first two movies! They are a bit "childish" and I think I enjoyed them much more having had just read the books. At least Hubby will watch them with me - it's nice to share that with him. He enjoyed them and I find the movies don't leave too much out of the book where I feel like I constantly have to "fill him in" on what he missed out on from the book.

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  3. I love the side story line of Hermione and the house elves. One of my favorite parts of teh books. I <3 Dobby

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    1. I honestly couldn't stand Dobby before, but now I heart him too :)

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  4. I think now one was concerned about HOW Harry's name got in the Goblet cos at one point they ask if he had someone else put his name in. So apparently, it's SUPER easy to get around that age line deal.

    Teeheehee spotted dick.

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    1. Apparently! There should have been some kind of "recognization" spell put on the Goblet where it would recognize if the name on the paper didn't match the person submitting it. Because then, the older kids could go around entering their friends or enemies names into it! (Payback?) Faulty system if you ask me! ;)

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  5. Heheh, oh Hermione and her missions. I really loved her storyline with the elves and was bummed that they couldn't fit it into the movie! And I maayybe giggled when I read "spotted dick". It's so interesting reading your thoughts as someone who has never read the books before!

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    1. Awww, do we at least get to meet all the elves in the kitchen in the movie?? I want to see a whole crowd of them! Haha.

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  6. I'm totally biased about Goblet of Fire, it was my favourite. :P haha And I definitely giggled at "spotted dick" and did again while reading this post, and writing this comment. :P haha

    And I love your gifs...especially the Amy Pohler one. :P haha

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    1. It was your favourite?? Huh. It is picking up now..but it seems like a whole lotta pages for not a lot happening! Yet, the first few smaller books, so much happened in so few pages!

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  7. I don't remember reading about the "spotted dick" May have to go searching for it...what page is it on? I have the adult hardcovers.

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    1. In my book it's on page 162 - hardcover young reader edition. (Chapter 12)

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