Caution: Read only if you've finished HP7

[Pete Hanlin]

Found my copy of the Deathly Hallows in my mailbox Saturday morning (almost disappointed it didn't come by owl). Finished up yesterday afternoon.

I thought the end was wrapped up fairly nicely. Rowling didn't go crazy killing off characters, and the final chapter (19 years later)- while a bit sappy- did tie up everything quite nicely.

Speaking of tying up loose threads, the final 100 pages or so managed to do so at a rather blistering pace. Between the pensieve filled with Snape's thoughts (which got a bit confusing at times) and the Matrix-like discussion with Albus Dumbledore, the pace was just shy of feeling a bit "forced." What I particularly liked was that Snape wasn't as evil as he seemed, and Dumbledore was not as saintly as he seemed (which I find is quite true to life- we tend to villianize or canonize based on our own prejudices).

None of the characters who died left me too upset- the closest would be Fred Weasley, but you had to figure one of them would be heroic in death.

A couple of things still escape me... First, what did Neville (glad to see him come into his own) use to kill the Nigeri? It almost sounded like the Sword of Gryffandor- but that's sorta impossible since the goblin took it.

Second, as I mentioned, Snape's recollections got a bit confusing at the end. Was he trying to say he has always loved Harry Potter? Seems a bit of a stretch, but...

Oh, and was the sickly baby supposed to be Voldemort?

Finally, the whole "Harry is going to die" thing was a clever plot twist, but since it came with 60 or so pages to go, you kinda figured something was going to happen to set things back aright.

Well, I'm sure Rowling is pretty much tired of writing at this point. I figure she has averaged two pages of text per day for the past 10 years- so I'm sure she's ready to hang up the wand. I have a feeling someone will probably create some spin-off books with the kids mentioned at the end (but perhaps Rowling gave them names just to protect against that possibility- since I would assume those are now characters that are part of her IP).

Anyway, here's a poll to indicate how "satisfied" you were with the ending.

[chip anderson]

Pete: I assume this means:
Harry Potter lives!

[Pete Hanlin]

Yep, as I would have guessed...

Rowling made an effort about 60 pages from the end to make the reader think Harry would be dying- but it was fairly obvious he was going to pull through as he approached the climatic scene.

Rowling spent about 50 pages quickly tying up as many loose ends as she could, and then sent the reader to a relatively euphoric ending where Harry defeats the evil Lord Voldemort- but then refuses to take on the mantle of glory (sort of a George Washington like character or something).

[Jubilee]

A couple of things still escape me... First, what did Neville (glad to see him come into his own) use to kill the Nigeri? It almost sounded like the Sword of Gryffandor- but that's sorta impossible since the goblin took it.

Second, as I mentioned, Snape's recollections got a bit confusing at the end. Was he trying to say he has always loved Harry Potter? Seems a bit of a stretch, but...

Oh, and was the sickly baby supposed to be Voldemort?

Finally, the whole "Harry is going to die" thing was a clever plot twist, but since it came with 60 or so pages to go, you kinda figured something was going to happen to set things back aright.


Anyway, here's a poll to indicate how "satisfied" you were with the ending.

As far as the sword is concerned, I too had to go back and reread that section. If you recall, Voldemort summoned the Sorting hat, and was declaring that all of Hogwarts would be Slytherin. He was getting ready to torture Neville, when Grawp came running to Haggrid, and the other giants went running towards him. At this moment, the spell holding the hat up was broken and fell onto Neville. He felt the sword and was able to pull it out of the hat, much the same way the sword came to Harry in Chamber of Secrets. While it didn't come out and say it was Gryffandor's, the impression was certainly given. The hat must have a similar charm on it the way the room of requirment does allowing a true Gryffandor in need pull it out.

As far as Snape loving Harry, I don't think he had a healthy relationship there.. :o However, I do believe he had a fondness that wasn't always shown in the manner most would perceive. I had a set of grandparents that were this way, they seemed to have only contempt for one another, but they were also lost without each other too. In my opinion Harry represented that connection with Lilly tha Snape longed to have. It was Lilly whom he had always loved, and it was cause of his love for her that he switched allegiance from Voldemort to Dumbledore, and eventually to Harry. He couldn't forgive the needless (in his opinion) death of Lilly. Harry also represented James, whom Snape dispised, not only for the sheer fact he had Lilly's heart, but that he was one of Snape's bullies in school. Harry represented both the best and one of the worst people to Snape.

The sickly baby I believe it that fragment of soul that was trapped in Harry when he became The Boy Who Lived. The fragment was in great torture after being torn away. Between the unnatural things that Tom Riddle had put it through, and its inability to put itself into its proper place.. it was in pain. One of the underlying themes in the HP series is that the soul is forever, and death only represents the end of the physical body. There have been several times that this has been alluded to, or discussed out right.. most recently when Harry used the Resurrection Stone and all of his loved ones spirits formed a crowd around him to give him the courage to face death. So by fracturing his soul, voldemort in essence was destroying it.


I enjoyed the book. I am withholding judgment right now, since I devoured it and feel like I may of missed some nuances. Currently I think I liked OOP better, (particularly the twins humorous talents) but I do feel like the battle was rushed. Of course, I am sure in the heat of battle things seem to fly as well. I must say in this book, I had to cheer on Molly Weasly nailing Bellatrix. I always knew she would be a fierce woman to contend with. As for Neville, I always knew he would rise up to be one of the bravest souls there. Between organizing the resistance at school, then kiling Nagini, I was thrilled to see him gain the respect that he so much deserves. You can see where it came from. Not only had his parents risked themselves and was injured in the 1st battle, but what about Granny going for it when she arrived at Hogwarts at the start of the batte?

I have mixed feelings on the 19 years later thing.. While I certainly enjoyed seeing the most obvious people hooking up, I still was a bit concerned, especially with Ronald. Here it is, Harry saved Draco twice. It was because of this that Narcissa didn't rat out Harry's return from death. In the end, Draco's mother SAVED Harry and thus the rest of the Wizarding World. Yet on the platform he is already telling his kids to hold a gruge against the Malfoy children...

Thoughts?

[Jubilee]

Here is some discussion on Slate Magazine about it...
http://www.slate.com/id/2170647/entry/2170724/

[Grubendol]

Just finished last night at midnight.

LOVED it. i'm still mulling over that ending though too. The 19 years later just felt, I don't know exactly, but it feels off somehow....and how can you give us that flash forward and not tell us which one of them is the Headmaster now (my vote goes for Luna ;))

Thoughts on Ron at the end, well that's Ron isn't it? Narcissa may have saved Harry, but not Draco ;)

My wife is still only about 100 pages in. I'm tempted to start re-reading already so I can read with her.

[Audiyoda]

Well I got my UK adult edition Saturday (7/28 - my birthday) and finished it about 3am this morning. Great book...I only put it own once or twice and by the time I got to Harry's return to Hogwarts, there was no chance I was putting it down.

I' had read plenty of stuff on-line about the book before it came out - most of it from Rowlings herself. In one piece of information direct from a Rowlings interview she said "There is a character who does manage, in desperate circumstances, to do magic quite late in life, but that is very rare...". What character was that? I was assuming it was going to be his aunt Petunia...but that wasn't the case. Any ideas?

[Grubendol]

I totally missed anything of that type happening. As I was reading your post the first thought that came into my mind was Filch, but I don't remember reading anything like that.

[Audiyoda]

I totally missed anything of that type happening. As I was reading your post the first thought that came into my mind was Filch, but I don't remember reading anything like that.
I missed it as well - so I wanted o double check what she said, but that quote was pulled from a interview she had that was posted at mugglenet.com - arguably the biggest HP fansite on the interweb.

[Grubendol]

yeah i know mugglenet well, but I don't go that often, so i didn't know about that interview.

[Pete Hanlin]

Seems to me Neville has always been horrible at magic (not sure if there's anywhere in the books where he was actually successful in a magical attempt- I can't remember all the books). Anyway, he certainly does fine in book 7.

Also, Merope is called a "squib" by her dad as a child, and obviously learns to do magic later in life.

I would have liked it to be his aunt- who obviously wanted to magical in the worst way at one time...

[Audiyoda]

I don't think it would have been Neville - he did fine by the end of Order of the Phoenix (Dumbledore's Army). I guess I'm just going to have to re-read the book :)

[Night Train]

Maybe She meant that a character got a chance to do "good" magic late in life. The older Weasley boy (Percy?) comes around to the good side. Could that be it?

[Pete Hanlin]

"There is a character who does manage, in desperate circumstances, to do magic quite late in life, but that is very rare...".
I wonder if Rowling was referring to herself? After all, the HP books are the first she has ever had published, she was in "desperate circumstances" when she began the books, and their success has been nothing short of magical.

[Grubendol]

"There is a character who does manage, in desperate circumstances, to do magic quite late in life, but that is very rare...".
I wonder if Rowling was referring to herself? After all, the HP books are the first she has ever had published, she was in "desperate circumstances" when she began the books, and their success has been nothing short of magical.


That's a beautiful idea, Pete.

Also, the reference to late in life suggests it's something associated with the flash forward.