I found it amusing that he was kind of freaked out about the other Harry's undressing and dressing without any regard for his body and thought to myself, "Hullo. Equus."

Ha! I noticed that too, and wondered whether "stripping" meant all the way. How could you show that in a kids' film?

Also, speaking of the books/movies connection, in this book in particular I found that quite often a line of Snape's or MacGonagall's read exactly as if Alan Rickman or Maggie Smith were saying it. Like, as if it were written for them as much as for the character. I don't get that impression while rereading any of the first bunch, but in six and seven it's definitely there. Has anyone else found that?

Kathy, that is awesome. I love how HP rewards looking at the tiny details.

I thought I remembered reading that she'd mentally cast at least Alan Rickman as Snape long before the movies. Apparently the age difference didn't bother her (and it is Alan Rickman, so who cares, really?).

When she was writing the first book, she had already mentally cast Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid.

I loved Mrs. Longbottom soldiering up. Spine-o-steel that one. And, while I was happy for Neville's bigdamnherodom, I was still a little sad that Mrs. L had been so hard on him. Then again, if my child had been tortured unto madness, I suppose I'd have been a bit flinty myself.

Hadn't thought of Fred as dominant, but I can see that point now.

I was sooo gratified, as a fan, with the tremendous job JK did with the wrapping up of things. Yes, there were plot holes and some bits of unfinished business, but I was amazed that every other page featured some form of callback.

Time to initiate a relisten to the first 6 audiobooks. Now that I know how things turn out, starting from the beginning will make everything so much more rich!

eta: Having listened to the books so much, I have a real problem (when reading) with competing voices in my head...Robbie Coltrane or Jim Dale? Alan Rickman or Jim Dale?

Jim Dale has become a personal hero, so he wins much of the time.

My favorite callback begins in book 5.

Harry tells Petunia and Vernon that it was a Dementor attack. Vernon says, "What are dementors?". Petunia says, "They guard Azkaban, the wizard prison."

When Harry asks her how she knows that, Petunia says, "I heard HIM telling her! That horrible boy..." and you assume Petunia means James.

But no!

She meant Snape!!

LOVE. IT.

She meant Snape!!

Huh. That is awesome!

Exactly! It's those minor, seemingly either obvious, or trivial moments being brought back and resolved. Just KILLS me!

I'm pleased that they either got a new editor or JK grew out of her adverbial obsession...the writing style was so much more enjoyable for me this time. BUT, the sheer architectural genius of offering all those details and then tying them up...that's what really impresses me.

I wonder if all those details, woven into the structure were forward thinking, or if JK went back to the previous books to hunt up things to mention. Either way. Impressivo.

I don't remember so much seeing or hearing the actors as I read HBP, but I wasn't even trying for DH and pretty much all actors shone through the page. Maybe because I had just seen OotP two days prior to getting the book in the mail, or maybe JKR really was being influenced by the actors playing her characters in the movies.

Whether this was a deliberate choice to write with the voices the actor's gave the characters, or if she was influenced on an unconcious level simply by the movies very existence, and it's finally infiltrating how she writes. Which is kinda neat.

The other thing I noticed when reading this book is that Harry is in his skivvies once, naked once, and the multiple Harrys are said to be having a disregard for his modesty. I bet Daniel Radcliffe read this thinking, "I better keep working out."

What I noticed is that it's going to be an odd movie when the Trio spends half the book Polyjuiced and the other half invisible.

When she was writing the first book, she had already mentally cast Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid.

Heh, I remember reading that. Which is good, since he embodies Hagrid well.

Hadn't thought of Fred as dominant, but I can see that point now.

Hadn't thought of it before, but it's always "Fred and George," not "George and Fred."

I was amazed that every other page featured some form of callback.

I loved all the fucking callbacks. The closet under the stairs!

I'm pleased that they either got a new editor or JK grew out of her adverbial obsession

But she grew into her colon obsession: Oh my God, I could not take it after a while.

BUT, the sheer architectural genius of offering all those details and then tying them up...that's what really impresses me.

I wonder if all those details, woven into the structure were forward thinking, or if JK went back to the previous books to hunt up things to mention. Either way. Impressivo.

That Petunia one sure does sound like a forward-thinking bit of brilliance, but I wonder myself. Either way, like you said, incredibly impressive. Hearts.