Howl and Potter

Ok, the short stuff first:

Reading TPratchett's Monstrous Regiment and, though it's not as chock-full of jokes as other Discworld novels, it's a very good war book. Recommend reading it even if his general style isn't one's cuppa tea. (And what is it with my liking Pterry's vampires so much? Maladict, I think I love you.)

Watched Howl's Moving Castle, a Japanese cartoon film by the director of Spirited Away (I think) and based on a book by MS. Wayne Jones. It's bloody gorgeous, plotwise and pretty-wise. The dubbing is great too. (And omg, cartoon character's shouldn't have that much appeal to young ladies such as meself... Sigh.)

Go watch. (Or read a review by ENoel here.)

And now, the Harry Potter commentaries so far:

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This I just had to share:

Taken from tybalt_quin's entry, a short moralistic tale about balloon animals and the dangers of using dark magic:

Almost every store you walk past in London has people dressed up as witches and wizards making balloon animals and spinning crystal balls for the amusement of the kiddies. I was walking past one bloke who was struggling manifully with a pink balloon giraffe for a small girl.

Small girl: "I want my giraffe to be made from black balloons!"

'Wizard': "Oh now, only bad wizards want black giraffes. Good wizards want pink giraffes."

Small girl: "I want to be a bad wizard! I want a black giraffe!"

'Wizard': (Looking tetchy) "Well I'm a good wizard, which means I can only make pink giraffes."

Small girl: "I'll put a spell on you to make you a bad wizard." (points at 'Wizard') "Imperio!"

'Wizard': (Now looking like he wants to put the balloon giraffe somewhere not recommended by the British Medical Council) "I've blocked your spell so it has no effect on me."

Small girl: (points at 'Wizard' again) "Avada kedavra!"

'Wizard': (glares at small girl and bursts the balloon giraffe) "You see what happens when you're a bad wizard? The balloon giraffe dies. Next!"

Exit small girl. Crying.