Week 46: HP Challenge Day 12 and 13: Favorite ship? Least Favorite movie?

Question Day 12: What is your favorite 'ship'?

As far as the core books go, I don't dispute any of the original pairings, they all work and make sense and are just generally the way that things are in the series. Probably my favorite ship in the core series is Remus and Tonks. They are such opposites and yet they make so much sense.

Going outside of the core series, I really enjoy reading fanfaction that ships Hermione and Fred. There really isn't any basis for this pairing in the books, but I've just read some excellently written fanfiction that ships these two and in that context it just works. Besides, if you've been following along this month, you also know that Fred is my favorite male character.

Question Day 13: What is your least favorite of the series movies?

Earlier in the month I noted that the third movie is the one that made me "angry" because it left out a lot of the details from the book. It's the least true to the books because there are a lot of important details that are glossed over due to time constraints.

For these same reasons it is my least favorite movie in the series, even though I've since taken to recognizing the movies and books as separate entities.

I'll talk to you soon.

Week 45: HP Challenge Day 11: Most like what character?

Day 11 Question: What character are you most like?

I am Neville Longbottom.

Neville is a character that doesn't necessarily make the biggest impression early in the series. I mean really he's just known for being extremely forgetful and a bit clumsy. He's not the most popular guy in school, and definitely takes a fair amount of teasing from his peers.

But Neville really emerges as a leader as the novels progress. In the presence of other leaders he knows how to follow and take direction, but when a leader is needed he's able to step up to the plate. He also has a strong sense of loyalty, and of right and wrong.

Neville truly is a courageous character, and he's willing to stand up for what he believes in even as he recognizes the danger that standing up can create.

Neville is the quiet one that you have to look out for... just like me.

What character are YOU most like?

I'll talk to you soon.

Week 45: HP Challenge Day 9 and 10: Least Favorite Male? Horcruxes or Hallows?

Question Day 9: Who is your least favorite male character in the series?

Much like answering the similar question of who my least favorite female character is, this is a tough one to answer. While it may be easy to pick out one of the "villains" or more disagreeable characters as a least favorite... it's not really because it is those qualities that make them interesting.

Each character serves a greater purpose to the plot.

If I absolutely had to name one of the male characters as my least favorite it would have to be Luna's father, whose first name escapes me at the moment. Yes, I could look it up instead admitting that I don't recall it, but I don't feel like looking it up so for now we're sticking with calling him Mr. Lovegood.

He would be my least favorite because while he shows the promise of standing up, and serving on the forefront of the 'rebellion' through his magazine he doesn't show the resolve to stand by that stance by the last book. I understand they took Luna and he was seeking to save her... but does he really believe Harry Potter of all people wouldn't aid Luna?

See why I said this is difficult. I would choose him as my least favorite for the reasons that I've listed, and yet even as I've listed them I've managed to rationalize why he would do the things that he did.

Question Day 10: Which concept did you most enjoy, Horcruxes or Hallows?

While the background on the Hallows was interesting and kind of cool, I think that tidbit would have been a little more interesting if some of the ideas had been sprinkled in the previous books so that there may have been more of a basis for them. They introduced a little late in the game I think.

The Horcruxes though, I found really cool. While it's true the term is made up, so there was no way you could learn the term prior to the final book, you may have been able to puzzle some of it out ahead of time.

I was interesting to learn near the end how some of the destroyed objects from previous books linked back to Voldemort's final undoing.

I'll talk to you soon. 

Week 45: HP Challenge Day 8: Favorite Lesson?

Today's Question: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?

I think that my favorite lesson would be Defense Against the Dark Arts. Now, to specify this, because the class takes many forms through-out the books, I would specifically most enjoy Remus Lupin's version of the class in book three.

I like how in that book, of all of them, the class is the most practical. They are actually learning and using spells that they will eventually need in their fight against Voldemort in the coming years. In many ways that year of Defense Against the Dark Arts serves as a kind of basis for Dumbledore's Army in later books.

The two are very similar on comparison. As a side note Transfiguration is a quick second.

I'll talk to you soon.

Week 45: HP Challenge Day 6 and 7: Dream House? Favorite Female?

Yesterday was an exceptionally long day. By the time I finally got home all I really wanted to do was get some sleep, in preparation for today, which turned into a moderately long day... At any rate, I chose to skip posting a mediocre entry last night in favor of catching up with a more thought out entry today.

You deserve better than something that's just been thrown together for the sake of something having been posted. So without any further delay...

Day 6 Question: What house would you want to be in?

There isn't a doubt in my mind that my first choice would be Gryffindor. I mean, it's a house that prizes bravery, daring, nerve and chivalry. I've never imagined myself in any other house, never really considered the other houses all that much. For my part, this may be largely because the bulk of the major main characters in the novels ARE in Gryffindor...

Although, as I've pondered this question further, Ravenclaw would most certainly be my second choice as far as houses that I'd want to be in. I mean they're all about intelligence, knowledge and wit and I consider myself a HUGE bookwork. I'm constantly seeking out new information and learning new things. In fact considering the characteristics that are most valued in Ravenclaw, I probably more strongly personify that house than I do Gryffindor...

Diverging slightly from the question however, in all actuality, I'd probably end up being a Hufflepuff because the characteristics most associated with that house are hard work, patience, loyalty and fair play. Each of those are things that I believe deeply in and try to practice daily, with more success some days than others. While none of these are bad things, I don't know... I'd probably be a Hufflepuff, but I'd prefer to be a Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

Day 7 Question: Who is your favorite female character and why?

I love Professor McGonagall. I just really think that she is amazing. It's such a fun progression in the books going from 1-7, because you learn so much about all of the characters, and she's one you're introduced to very early in the book.

She's tough and sticks to her guns, and she's the ultimate Gryffindor. I just really love some of the contrasts that you see in her character. She's that professor that every once and a while surprises you with her wit. She disarms you.

Week 44: HP Challenge Day 5- Favorite Male?

Today's challenge question: Who is your favorite male character in the Harry Potter series?

My favorite male character is definitely Fred Weasley. Now that I'm really thinking about this choice though I can't pin-point whether he is my favorite based on the books or ALL the fanfiction that I read while waiting for new books in the series to be released.

I mean, I can easily state that I really enjoy the Weasley twin's in the series itself. They bring a lot of necissary comedic relief to some of the darker moments in the books. I mean, if you really consider some of the pranks that they pull, they're geniuses, and just because they're pranksters they aren't often recognized for that genius.

I takes a lot of talent and ingenuity to come up with some of the things that they do. I certainly wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of that duo...

So as far as the series goes, I can't really pinpoint what it is about Fred that makes him my favorite as opposed to Fred. Truly, the only reason I can find for the preference is some of the fanfiction that I've read (and loved) through the years that has truly fleshed out Fred as a character.

Who's you're favorite male character from the series and why? (Come on, you know you want to answer!)

I'll talk to you soon.

Week 44: HP Challenge Day 4- Least Favorite Female?

Today's Question: Who is your least favorite female character and why?

I have sat here for a good twenty minutes trying to figure out my answer for this question, and I'm honestly not certain that I have one. Obviously there are many female villians in the Harry Potter books, but i wouldn't say that any of them are my least favorite because they each serve their purpose. Each of them bring something to the table and are interesting in their own right.

I guess the most honest and accurate answer to today's question is that I don't really have a least favorite female character, and least not one that currently stands out in my mind.

Week 44: HP Challenge Day 3- Skipped Details?

So I just realized that in yesterday's post I forgot to post the actual question, but I think it was pretty obvious what the question was so, for now, I'm not going to go back and edit in the question. Anyway, I'm merely pointing out the fact that I forgot to include it yesterday, so that I can get to introducing today's question, which is: Is there any of the film adaptations that have made you angry because they’ve ignored important parts of the book? 

Truly I was a little disappointed when the third movie came out. Having read all of the books it was easy for me to understand why certain things were the way that they were, but you definitely got the sense that someone who hadn't read the books would be a bit lost. 

Honestly, it's been a while since I've even watched the third film at this point, but if I'm recalling correctly it just seemed like there were a lost of key plot elements that were thrown in with very little (or no) explanation on how exactly they fit in. 

But ultimately that is generally the biggest issue when a book is translated into a movie. Too many of the minor details aren't able to make it into the film due to time constraints and then the film is left lacking for those that love the book. 

Since that movie though, I learned to really separate the 'book series' from the 'movie series' in my mind. Were I asked to truly pit the books against the movies, I'd always say the books are better.... but the movies, as they stand alone, are good in their own right. As movies, I enjoy them.  

Week 44: HP Challenge Day 2- Favorite Movie?

Of the Harry Potter movies, I would have to say that my favorite is "Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix". It definitely marks the point in the series where things begin to get darker, and you become very aware of Voldemort as more of a sinister threat. You become more aware of the fact that Voldemort is gaining strength by the day.

Also, this marks the true introduction of Dolores Umbridge. Oh my goodness, her character in this movie is portrayed exactly as I imagined her when reading. When she clear her throat? It's EXACTLY as irritating as imagined. They nailed everything about her in this movie, at least so far as I imagined her to be.

Luna also, amazing! Perfect casting, absolutely astounding portrayal. So yeah, that's my favorite of all the movies.

I'll talk to you soon.

Week 44: HP Challenge Day 1- Favortie Book?

Welcome to Day 1 of the 30 Day Harry Potter challenge. Today's question is: What is your favorite book?

My favorite of the seven Harry Potter books in all honesty is the last one, "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows". While it's hard to narrow down a favorite just because I love the series as a whole, to a question such as this one that would be my definite choice.

I love the way that the final book really wraps up loose ends, and it has such a different feel to it. I love the road trip aspect of the book. In previous books Harry and the gang have always been, in a way of speaking, protected or sheltered by the walls of Hogwarts and the professors there. In this book you really get the sense of how much they are really on their own.

They are finally striking out on their own to accomplish things that they can't when they're adhering to the strict schedules at school, not that they always followed those... but still. It's the idea.

This book really embodies the idea that sometimes it's important to stray of the everyday path, the traditional one that you're expected to follow, because sometimes if you want to achieve the greatness that you are capable of you need to forge ahead on the less traveled path. Sometimes calculated risks are necessary.

I'll talk to you soon.