Potter Update #2

Well - I've had cars which have started faster than this book. I'm up to Chapter 19 - and apart from the introduction of new names (and possibly two actual new characters) I've only just seen some kind of actual plot development. Everything else has been a giant reunion of old characters or a long-winded summary of stuff we already know. Of course - what doesn't help is that almost everyone in the book seems to be suffering from Stupid People Syndrome - ie the decisions they make aren't based on any real rationalisation or justification - just on what makes it the hardest for the books hero. I mean - when you're got a character who's set up as one of the most powerful, wisest and most respected wizards in the world, and everyone all of a sudden decides to treat him like a raving loony who's lost his mind and is making things up for no other reason than it makes it harder for the hero to do his thing and save the world (TM). Maybe if this character had made some errors or mistakes which had demonstrated that he might be loosing it - this might work. But nooooo - we've got to go and use that old crutch of Stupid People Syndrome to generate any kind of tension or conflict.

(Sigh) What is it about fantasy series that run for more than four books....