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Post by Mr. Atari on Jul 24, 2007 12:36:23 GMT -5
I liked the tone throughout.
I like that it wasn't another cookie-cutter narrative like a lot of the others (Harry fights the Dursleys, they get on the train, they play Quidditch, they hate their classes, they go on Christmas break, etc.). It was fun to have a "hero's quest" book for a change.
I like that key characters died right away to set that tone (Hedwig, Mad-Eye). I liked that Harry was able to lake the leadership and had the wide variety of good guys all come through (house elves, teachers, kids, the Order, etc) all at his prompting. His steely-eyed determination and sacrificial attitudes of those who followed him made for a great read.
I don't mind that Harry died but then came back. The sacrifice/resurrection theme is a part of any good hero story. I love that everyone shared in the ultimate destruction of Voldy. And the addition of the Hallows myth to the Horcrux quest was a great device. I'm even okay with the Epilogue, since it highlights the family theme, and brings Harry full-circle from book 1. Would I have liked to know more about more characters? Sure. But it works.
My only real problem was the whole wand thing. I sort-of tracked with it throughout the book, but the entire climax of the series hinges on a very complex and confusing piece of wand ownership. As I read the final battle, I thought, "Really? It's all going to come down to wand stuff? Really?" It was very bulky and far too nuanced for a final battle scene between good & evil.
It would have been nice for Harry and Snape to have a face-to-face reconciliation, rather than a pensieve reveal. But with the whole Snape/Lily connection, it might have been too awkward.
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Post by mymymymymitchell on Jul 24, 2007 19:41:22 GMT -5
My favorite part of the book was the Aliens moment with Mrs. Weasley.
My ironic part of the book was Harry going through all the technobabble explaining what was going on with Magic at the end and Voldemort just standing there going 'buh?'
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jul 24, 2007 19:59:27 GMT -5
And...it is done. My life now has no meaning.
To be brutally honest about Deathly Hallows, it is hands down the weakest of the seven books. I'd like to say this all out finish is JK Rowling's masterpiece, but I would be lying. It is merely a satisfactory ending and little more.
I was disappointed that they strayed away from Hogwarts in this final instalment. Neccessary for the Good vs. Evil storyline as it may be, it puts one of my favorite aspects of the series on the backburner, Harry's maturity. I guess the deep meaning of the events of this book is that after all Harry's been through, he is now a man, but pardon me for feeling a little cheated that we never sat with him during his NEWTs or watch him graduate. Hell, he never ever passed his Appearation test. It may be Year 7, but I was eagerly anticipating his "seventh year."
Instead I'm treated to about 300 pages of buildup by watching Harry, Ron, and Hermione squabble without getting anything done. It felt like reading a transcript of the Blair Witch Project. Lord of the Rings fans will be happy to know that there is a lot of aimless walking around in this section of the book. Unfortunatly I'm not one. Luckily, Deathly Hallows plot has a little bit more going for it than "The ring is bad. Dump it." Not much, to be honest, but it's a start.
However, this seems to be JK Rowling's trademark. Lot of buildup, and memorable payoff. In all the previous books, we watched Harry and co. play around at school while the bigger picture was always added onto at the end. The book finally kicks it up a notch in it's second half, when the trio finally starts destroying those damn Horcruxes.
But disappointment lies even with the main plot of the Horcruxes. I was hoping Rowling would be more creative than Gringots and Hogwarts for hiding places. After the Cave in Half-Blood Prince, I was interested in seeing the defensive spells used to protect those that remained. Instead, Voldemort relies on others to do his dirty work. While Gringots was challenging enough, I suppose, his Hogwarts hiding place was quite feeble and kind of made our main baddie look like a plain idiot.
But while all this makes it seem like I didn't enjoy the book, rest assured, I was intrigued by the final bow of the Harry Potter saga. I just wasn't in love with it like Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and Order of the Phoenix. Nor was I as charmed as I was by Sorcerer's Stone, Goblet of Fire, and Half-Blood Prince. Deathly Hallows has the moments were it shines worthy of it's predecessors. I was delighted in the escape from Privet Drive, in which Pollyjuice Potion is used to make seven Harrys. I thought the idea of Snape becoming Headmaster of Hogwarts was ingenious. As tiresome as the whole Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the run plot came to be, it did have it's charm in a Wizard version of the Fugitive kind of way. I was also surprised at how touched I was at the death of Dobby the House Elf. I loathed this creature with a passion, but his final scene is one of the most beautifully written moments in the series. The clever way Dumbledore and Sirius were written into the end made me grin as well. And finally, the mere thought that Hermione uses the words "Merlin's pants!" as a swear word is just too adorible.
And most of all is the final battle at Hogwarts (no spoiler tag on this, since I think we all knew the final battle would happen here). It's everything I expected it to be and more. There were a few things I wasn't satisfied with, to be sure, such as the death of Snape (which I found underwhelming) and Crabbe and Goyle's role in the battle (to which I just said "WTF?"), but, overall, the payoff after the seemingly endless buildup was extraordinary.
Putting down the book, I found myself intrigued by how they are going to adapt this one to the big screen. The first half could possibly be easily trimmed, but with everything going on toward the end, the eventual movie will me massivly cramped for two and a half hours. I expect this one to run closer to three hours myself, if they intend to end the series correctly.
Was the story worth the long wait to finish? I'm going to say yes. The final novel was less than satisfying, but unlike...oh say, Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End, this anticipated finisher doesn't limp to a conclusion by molding a barely coherant plot out of scratch. Instead it just noblely strides to the end, like the previous chapters. But at best I can say about it is that it's the Matrix Revolutions of Harry Potter. Tells the story it needed to tell, but the conclusion fails to live up to expectations. Take that for what you will.
*** out of ****
And you knew this was coming:
Order of the Phoenix Chamber of Secrets Prisoner of Azkaban Half-Blood Prince Sorcerer's Stone Goblet of Fire Deathly Hallows
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jul 24, 2007 23:14:23 GMT -5
As in your comments, Torgo, I've been finding a lot of people (on other boards) complaining about the middle section and the pointless wandering and camping out. But I didn't feel like it was tedious at all. It was broken up with some very exciting set pieces like Gringot's, the near miss at the Lovegood's, the capture and escape at Malfoy Manor, and the return of Ron at the sword in the lake. By the way, the fact that Rowling- the queen of derivative fantasy and stealing storyline tricks- had the onions to put in a "sword in the lake" scene, made me very happy. I was waiting for some lady (Lily? Moaning Myrtle?) to ascend from the depths holding it up and pronouncing Harry the true king.
Anyway, the tent scenes got redundant, but I thought she did a great job of breaking them up with exciting scenes. Plus, the new mystery of the Hallows brought an interesting code-breaking quality to it, as well. I'm glad they didn't just waste the year away in Potions class or sneak around after hours, dodging Filch. I've read that book already. Rowling wrote it 6 times. In fact, it's why I was so disappointed in "Half-Blood Prince". Voldy's back, no one can deny it, Sirius just got killed, the Order & DD's Army are ready to fight....so....let's spend 600 pages in Herbology and Harry's non-communication with Dumbledore. Unlike HBP, this one actually cut to the chase.
I was hoping to learn that Mrs. Norris (Filch's cat) was really an animagus this whole time and she took human form for the final battle. No such luck. Also- whatever became of Dolores Umbridge? You'd think a villain like her would meet her grisly end in a climactic scene. She just disappears from the story 1/3 of the way in.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jul 25, 2007 0:35:09 GMT -5
It was broken up with some very exciting set pieces like Gringot's, the near miss at the Lovegood's, the capture and escape at Malfoy Manor, and the return of Ron at the sword in the lake. All of which happen in the second half of the book. My complaint is in the first half, before all of that happens. So pardon me for not taking that as a point against me. There's the Ministry chapter of course, but I found it a bit boring, to be honest. Godric's Hollow was even duller, since there was no need for the entire sequence. I'm glad they didn't just waste the year away in Potions class or sneak around after hours, dodging Filch. I've read that book already. Rowling wrote it 6 times. In fact, it's why I was so disappointed in "Half-Blood Prince". Voldy's back, no one can deny it, Sirius just got killed, the Order & DD's Army are ready to fight....so....let's spend 600 pages in Herbology and Harry's non-communication with Dumbledore. Unlike HBP, this one actually cut to the chase. Disagree entirely. Yes, the Potter stories had formula, but it was a formula that worked. Watching Harry grow up in this world was the main attraction for me. I didn't think Deathly Hollows "cut to the chase" at all. The Ministry fell, and then suddenly it screeches to a halt. Now we're Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting around complaining that they don't know what to do. At least when they were at Hogwarts, they were active. They do nothing of any importance until they finally stab that stupid locket they wear for some idiotic reason (they don't carry it in thier pocket why?!?!). And enough with the damn Pollyjuice Potion. The seven Harrys was cute, but every time afterwards I was tired of it.
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jul 25, 2007 1:19:26 GMT -5
There's the Ministry chapter of course, but I found it a bit boring, to be honest. Godric's Hollow was even duller, since there was no need for the entire sequence. I agree that the ministry stuff wasn't the best, but Godric's Hollow was pivotal to the story. It's where Harry learned about the original brothers (aka his lineage is finally revealed), it's where he starts to come to grips with his own mortality and impending sacrifice, and it had the awesome scene where the snake comes out of the old lady. I understand where you're coming from, though. I think it's the same kind of disappointment I felt about Half-Blood Prince. You go in expecting a certain plotline and action, and then you get the opposite.
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Post by LetGoOfItSlappy on Jul 25, 2007 10:27:56 GMT -5
I finished the book yesterday and I must say I was blown away. The only thing that surprised me was that I was not surprised. The trio lives, Snape is good, Dumbledore is dead and the book was a bloodbath and Neville became the Herbology professor. I will agree with Torgo that the movie for this book will be interesting to see because of all the detail. What can they cut and how will they do it will be a sight to see. The deaths of Fred and Dobby were by far the most emotional for me in the way they were written. I was surprised that Neville did not take care of Bellatrix but I was thrilled with how it was handled.
I would say my only, very slight, complaint was that certain aspects of the book felt.......rushed, I guess. Not forced, everything seemd to fit just fine but a few things seemed glossed over. Almost like JK ROwling thought "Oh yeah I have to reconcile this secondary storyline"....perfect example being the reconciliation of Percy and the rest of the Weasley's.
Other than that I felt it was a fantastic book and a great ending to the story. I know that JK said the story was at an end but I would love a book set in Hogwarts during Harry's quest in the 7th book. Basically a book about Neville and the "resistance"....I think that would be cool.
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Torgo
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Post by Torgo on Jul 25, 2007 11:20:28 GMT -5
There's the Ministry chapter of course, but I found it a bit boring, to be honest. Godric's Hollow was even duller, since there was no need for the entire sequence. I agree that the ministry stuff wasn't the best, but Godric's Hollow was pivotal to the story. It's where Harry learned about the original brothers (aka his lineage is finally revealed), it's where he starts to come to grips with his own mortality and impending sacrifice, and it had the awesome scene where the snake comes out of the old lady. The whole tombstone stuff could have been easily worked around, and I thought the snake scene was lame. The "mortality" aspect was weak and, dare I say, non-existant. Harry has come to accept his own sacrifice as early as Goblet of Fire, if not earlier. I didn't see anything pivotal about it.
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Post by tomservo92 on Jul 25, 2007 17:16:00 GMT -5
Finally! A place were I can discuss the book without being shouted down for letting slip details!
The part that really struck me about Deathly Hallows is how evil Voldemort really is. I mean, we have a sense how evil he is in the other books too; but once the ministry fell and the muggle holocaust started you wanted to see him die in the worst way possible.
One of the best parts of the book (and the series, IMHO) was after Harry learned that he must die to defeat Voldemort and his walk to the Forbidden Forrest. It was written brilliantly in how it conveyed a boy suddenly facing possibly the greatest responsibility any man can have bestowed upon him: dying so that others may live.
I felt the epilogue could've been expanded a little more. It felt a tad rushed. The ending left me simultaneously elated and depressed. Elated, because every thing turned out good for Harry and his friends; Depressed because the series had ended.
All in all a satisfying end to a wonderful series. Not my favorite book, but up there.
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Post by Donna SadCat Lady on Jul 25, 2007 23:48:30 GMT -5
A question my daughter has, after reading the book, that you all might help with: in the part when Harry meets with Dumbledore in the King's Cross station a.k.a. limbo, there's some creepy little whimpering being that's off by itself. What the heck is that thing supposed to be? My daughter said that she could tell it was supposed to be symbolic, but it was so symbolic that it didn't make sense. Any ideas?
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Post by Mr. Atari on Jul 26, 2007 0:22:17 GMT -5
A question my daughter has, after reading the book, that you all might help with: in the part when Harry meets with Dumbledore in the King's Cross station a.k.a. limbo, there's some creepy little whimpering being that's off by itself. What the heck is that thing supposed to be? My daughter said that she could tell it was supposed to be symbolic, but it was so symbolic that it didn't make sense. Any ideas? My understanding is that it's the part of Voldy's soul that was in Harry and "died" with him.
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Post by Lincolnator on Jul 26, 2007 1:57:04 GMT -5
That is my understanding as well.
I loved the book. It was a great, fun read and tied everything up together nicely. I wish the epilogue would have been expanded a bit, and it was slow when they are jumping around to avoid detection, but oh well. It is still my favorite book, though. I did enjoy the line Mrs Weasley throws at Bellatrix concerning Ginny at the end, too (aka the Aliens moment). It gave me chills when I read it.
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Post by LetGoOfItSlappy on Jul 26, 2007 10:09:09 GMT -5
Agreed....if any line absolutely MUST be in the movie, it is that one!!!
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Krankor
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Post by Krankor on Jul 26, 2007 10:57:31 GMT -5
I very much appreciated that she gave the last installment the level of violence it deserved. Not to say I like violence, but I think as a book about a war she couldn't afford to sugarcoat things, and she didn't.
I have to say the death of Tonks and Lupin hit me hardest. I cried reading it. Part of it, I think, is because my own father died when I was a baby, so hearing Lupin talk about missing Teddy's life made me unspeakably sad. Mostly though this angered me. They have a responsibility to that child! Tonks had no business joining the fight. I understand that Lupin fought to assure Teddy's world would be safe, and that Tonks came to help him, but there's more than one way to protect your family. One of them should have stayed with that baby!
I loved the idea that Dumbledore had a few skeletons in his closet. Everyone does, and it gives his character a little more believable dimension.
I disliked the epilogue wholly and totally. I thought it seemed very fanfic-ey. That sort of "lets tie everything with a neat little bow and have Ginny and Harry have kids with ridiculously predictable names". It left me feeling painfully unfulfilled. The book is better without it, if you ask me.
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Post by mrsphyllistorgo on Jul 26, 2007 15:19:11 GMT -5
I had to run off to yoga before I could post here, but I loved the theme of jealousy throughout the series that came to a head here.
Yep, jealousy. I never realized it so much as here, but Voldemort's weakness, the one that finally brings him down, is jealousy. Not of any one particular thing or person, but as an essential part of his makeup. His hideous home situation and time spent in the orphanage hollowed him out, and when he finally got to Hogwarts it was too late. Instead of healing his wounds, all he could see what everyone else had that he didn't. OF COURSE he hid the last Horcrux at Hogwarts--despite all the time that's passed, his power, might, and seemingly certain triumph, Hogwarts still represented all that he never had (and Dumbledore right along with it.) He never moved beyond Tom Riddle, angry boy, and never solved the riddle of his own needs, desires, and what could make him happy.
Snape loved Lily Potter and dedicated his whole life to her, even though his own immutable personality gauranteed that he would never be happy. He seemed to accept that, even though it made him bitter. It must have hurt like dying to see Lily choose James, after James had been so mean to him, after he'd loved her for so many years. But he never gave up on her. He was willing to have everyone in his world hate him to save her son, even if the son looks exactly like James and it cut like a knife to look at him. Wow.
And Harry, who accepted all his jealousy, hurt, and negative emotions, but chose (at such a young age, after so many losses) not to become bitter or evil, no matter how unfair everything was, even after finding out his idol had feet of clay--was, at the end of the day, human. But he isn't boring or stuffy (PERCY, I'm looking at you), he makes mistakes and gets mad and resentful, but keeps choosing the best part of himself. And in the end, he wins--not glory, not fame, not riches, but a life. Good for him. All is well.
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