I haven't actually read the book yet, since I'm seeing it next month (!!!!), but I've heard from friends who have seen it live that it really was much better when performed, and the acting and all the effects make it magical (hah). I'm hoping so much that they release recordings for people who don't live as close to London or don't have the money.

@winter Oooohhh... You probably should stay out of this until you've seen the play, then (I'm not jealous. Not jealous at all... *lying*) There'll probably be spoilers at some point, even if I did my best to keep the first post spoiler free. ;)

I haven't read it myself, but I've got some mixed feelings about some of the stuff I've heard about it - such as the characterization of Hermione in some of the scenes and such. [spoiler]I know my opinion isn't so heavy since I haven't read it first-hand, but I don't know that I like what I've heard about it because Hermione Granger's characterization is fairly strong - and not dependent on Ron Weasley. It's almost as though she becomes a second Snape when things go ill - I know they were trying to make a point about love, messing with the past, etc., but what happened to her characterization seems... just wrong. [/spoiler]

@Hiyami I don't know, I didn't take it as bad. Without spoiling badly, the story puts up a large number of what-if scenarios. And what you've been told about is probably one of those. [spoiler]Thing is, people are a result of a number of things. So you get slightly different people in each what-if scenario. Hermione was never perfect, so the thought of a bitter, lonely and disillusioned Hermione didn't seem that off to me, [i]within that specific scenario[/i]. In fact, it was used to show how bad it was, that things had gone wrong in this what-if scenario.[/spoiler] I'd say you should give it a go. And then form your own opinion.

[spoiler]I think the reason it rubbed me the wrong way was because of the way that particular part is framed. It makes me cringe a bit to think of it, but if there's more to it than just the lack of Ron, I think I could see it a bit better.[/spoiler] I'll definitely give it a look - at some point. *eyeballs the evergrowing reading list*

[spoiler]Honestly, I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to it. Saying it's only because she doesn't get Ron is to simplify it far too much (Let's face it, there's other people that has the qualities Hermione loves in Ron). She doesn't get any partner, and on top of that... Hermione is the brightest witch of her generation, and in another life she's a minister. Yet, here she is a teacher. Performing far below her actual potential. I'm sure she originally thought she'd change the world by changing the students, but at some point she just realized that was the wrong approach and lost her big ideals. And again, Hermione being mean, bitter and horrible is the big thing to show how bad things are. We don't really see her (now non-existent) kids that much, so seeing her personality change is what hits, and really bring home the point that this isn't a good reality. It's tragic because this is [i]Hermione[/i] that's acting horrible against the people she should take care of. The one person you truly don't expect to do so. Edit: Similarly, Ron isn't unhappy only because he isn't with Hermione. He's mainly unhappy because he's molded himself into something so "adult" and "responsible", he pretty much lost the silliness core that made him likable. [/spoiler]

It's floating around the house somewhere. I still haven't made it past book four though in the reading. (I've watched all the movies though, so.) I've heard mixed reviews and I'm less into scripts than novels so honestly I'll probably just wait until I can watch.

Hehe, well, I can see why it's mixed, but I personally liked it (and would have loved it if it was a regular novel). But then, I'm a super-hero-fan, and pretty used to the whole "what-if" plot-idea.

I definitely thought it read like a good play, but I'm also not a huge fan of reading plays. Heh.

I think that's a really good point - I won't really get the full grasp of all the factors that cause that particular thing to happen until I read it. c: I might have to bump it up the reading list a bit!