Harry Potter 7: Deathly Hallows Review
Phew. Woah. I'm still blown sideways.
After ten years, she did not let us down. The darkest, fastest-paced, most desperate and dynamic magical adventure of the 7-part series carries the reader along faster than a speeding broomstick chased by Dementors. Throughout, doubts must be battled, fears faced, loyalties tested, and grief postponed whilst well-loved characters fall, chapter by chapter, yet there is no time to mourn. Rowling as a narrator has grown up and so has Harry; this no longer feels like a children's story but an epic myth, the echo and inheritor of a centuries-ancient tale told and sung around firesides, full of sound and fury, signifying more than we like to let on - the tug of old archetypes we already know, old tales which still resonate heart-deep, with anyone who has ever wondered who wins, when you pit love against hate, and hope against nihilism.
I am sure there will be sneerers and jeerers at the power of the commercial spell cast worldwide and the ringing tills at midnight, the over-familiarity of the children's-story syntax; they are missing the point. The story of all humankind is the story of a story-telling animal and it is only this which distinguishes us from the other mammals, when it comes to the end. We will always be enchanted and enslaved by the telling and re-telling of the same story we all, always want to hear, again and again. The ancient magic of light vs. darkness, heroism and struggle, the bloody clash of battles, wrench of secrets painfully revealed; the warrior tested, the torturous night of the soul, the slow learning of the terrible, yet wonderful fact that no-one is alone, and that in the end, help comes, from friends, from strangers, from unexpected sources; from within and without, because of faith, because of courage, because of love. Of how our own humanity saves us, how our weakness is our strength.
So this latest incarnation of the old, old tale of the resurrected lost one, the lonely one who is loved, the hero who doubts, the child who is adult, the griever restored, the victim who triumphs, the Boy Who Lived - is deeply satisfying in the way everyone recognises. Anyone who has fallen asleep at the end of a story, with the author's pact satisfied - I will let you frighten, anger, worry and scare me, if you make it all right at the end. If I learn something, and if they live, if not happy ever after, but if they live - will be replete at the ending of this long saga.
I prefer to think its enormous sucess is not just because of cyncial hyper-successful marketing. I prefer to think that it is because we all love a story, told well, before we lay down to sleep at the end of a long day.
N.B: Spoilers not included. I read fast, I wish I didn't, sometimes. I'm not going to wreck it for you - are you sitting comfortably?..
After ten years, she did not let us down. The darkest, fastest-paced, most desperate and dynamic magical adventure of the 7-part series carries the reader along faster than a speeding broomstick chased by Dementors. Throughout, doubts must be battled, fears faced, loyalties tested, and grief postponed whilst well-loved characters fall, chapter by chapter, yet there is no time to mourn. Rowling as a narrator has grown up and so has Harry; this no longer feels like a children's story but an epic myth, the echo and inheritor of a centuries-ancient tale told and sung around firesides, full of sound and fury, signifying more than we like to let on - the tug of old archetypes we already know, old tales which still resonate heart-deep, with anyone who has ever wondered who wins, when you pit love against hate, and hope against nihilism.
I am sure there will be sneerers and jeerers at the power of the commercial spell cast worldwide and the ringing tills at midnight, the over-familiarity of the children's-story syntax; they are missing the point. The story of all humankind is the story of a story-telling animal and it is only this which distinguishes us from the other mammals, when it comes to the end. We will always be enchanted and enslaved by the telling and re-telling of the same story we all, always want to hear, again and again. The ancient magic of light vs. darkness, heroism and struggle, the bloody clash of battles, wrench of secrets painfully revealed; the warrior tested, the torturous night of the soul, the slow learning of the terrible, yet wonderful fact that no-one is alone, and that in the end, help comes, from friends, from strangers, from unexpected sources; from within and without, because of faith, because of courage, because of love. Of how our own humanity saves us, how our weakness is our strength.
So this latest incarnation of the old, old tale of the resurrected lost one, the lonely one who is loved, the hero who doubts, the child who is adult, the griever restored, the victim who triumphs, the Boy Who Lived - is deeply satisfying in the way everyone recognises. Anyone who has fallen asleep at the end of a story, with the author's pact satisfied - I will let you frighten, anger, worry and scare me, if you make it all right at the end. If I learn something, and if they live, if not happy ever after, but if they live - will be replete at the ending of this long saga.
I prefer to think its enormous sucess is not just because of cyncial hyper-successful marketing. I prefer to think that it is because we all love a story, told well, before we lay down to sleep at the end of a long day.
N.B: Spoilers not included. I read fast, I wish I didn't, sometimes. I'm not going to wreck it for you - are you sitting comfortably?..
Labels: books
posted by Rachel at 8:19 pm
Wow.
Nice review.
You make it inviting and as a 'not a fan of JKR's writing' that's a compliment.
My wife (also a reader here) has a copy - bought on special offer from Woolies yesterday; I'm inclined to ask if I can read it when she's done.
Thanks.
B.
I loved it. Took me about 6 hours to work my way through it. Laughed and cried as he undertook his journey.
She pulled everything together in a satisfying way and tells a great yarn.
I was looking for a review and found yours... I loved it!!! I can´t wait to read my book, which arrives tommorrow. I really appreciate meanwhile being able to read good and well written comments without spoilers.
Greetings from Chile!
Hello from Manila!
I bought my copy before noon of the 21st, and my wife and i both finished the book before midnight of the 22nd. It wasn't even straight reading, we hosted a party (where a friend insisted reading a few chapters, having left her copy at home) and attended to some medical concerns. It just blew by.
That said, the second act (where the three quested in frustration) was slow. It reminded me of the sam/frodo/gollum arc of the ring books. important and dramatic to be sure, but a pain to read nonetheless.
i actually read a fake version just a day before i got the book. i was so impressed with it, though the excessive fanservice gave it away.
i'm just itching to talk to anyone who's read the book already. i'm happy to find your review. cheers!
nice to see your review. There aren't too many on the net as yet and I am dying to discuss the boook! I loved it! From start to finish - couldn't put it down. Was outside the book store at 6.30 am (thats when it released in india)! Took turns to laugh and cry right through it and was totally satisfied with the way it all came togehter....Wont discuss any plot details - in keeping with your spoiler policy..!
Hello to everyone from all over the world who has visited because of the Harry Potter review!
Wow - this is great, isn't it? So many people charmed by a book, world-wide? I read it thinking of everyone else who was reading it too and hoped they were enjoying it as much as I was!
I agree that the middle section wandering in the forest was quite hard going - reminded me of Earthsea and , yes, Lord of the Rings - the questing and journeying - but it was a respite from the nonstop action that was the beginning and the end and allowed us to see that fighting back against the darkness is a long slow slog much of the time, not just a series of dazzling high-profile battles.
Didn't manage to buy my copy until late yesterday afternoon but finished it before bed. But not allowed to discuss it yet as we only bought one copy which M is now reading!
x
Hello from Singapore.
Nice simple review and even nicer of you not to spoil it. Like many others, I rushed through the book, largely because I didn't want others to spoil it for me.
I'm also in the process of writing a review (I'm a children's librarian - it's my job) that includes responses from all around.
Glad to find yours
I have only got to chapter fourteen as I have other things on my mind but thats not bad for starting at 1pm this afternoon and its now just quarter past four
Hello from the Philippines too!
So nice to find your poetic review! I also found myself wishing that I didn't read so fast, but seemed like no matter how slowly I went, the pages were flying.
I feel both liberated and anguished at the same time. I cannot believe it is finally over, (OVER!) but God bless JKR, she surely did it in style.
Can't wait til one of my friends is finally through with it though. I am just ITCHING to rave about it in detail!
I google searched Deathly Hallows Reviews and I came across this one. I loved it. Good Job. I finished the book around 2:00 a.m. last night and wow! I had tears streaming down my face due to the magnitude of what I had just read! The feelings and emotions were so strong and it was ended so perfectly I do not think JKR could have done any better. I also read the book really fast and now wish I had spent a little more time with it but I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened.
And Harry! Can you even believe him! He's amazing! Don't we all wish we had a little Harry in us? I was sobbing, literally sobbing, during one point in the book where Harry showed bravery beyond anything I have ever seen in my entire life.
I feel an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach though. I am going to miss Harry, Ron and Hermione. I am going to miss the magical world in which I loved so much... after ten years I cannot believe it is finally done.
In my late 50s but still couldn't wait to finish #7 (after re-reading 5 and 6 last week.)
I would have welcomed 200 more pages, wandering or not, to prolong the 4,159 page story. Can't wait to discuss details with co-readers.. but no spoilers now...
Already feeling the post-partum depression tho..
An amazing review I must say.More proffesional,graceful and apt then any other Potter review I have read or..well..written :-)You see I have also reviewed the book and my review can be read here:http://luminar.wordpress.com.
I'd be very obliged if you'd take out a little of your time to go through my review and comment.I'd treasure opinion of an excellent writer like you.
Amazing job once again.
I was so overwhelmed with the emotions Rowling evoked from me that I would literally have to put my book down and cry every now and then...Like the whole series (years 1-6) she built up the plot in this book until that grand finale (which i won't spoil either, that would be evil, like Voldemort)It is truly a classic. I'm torn between being so happy with the book and so sad that it is over.
Em glad to find this review! I'm not yet finish reading my HP 7 though it already giving me dreams... wondering what would happen next. Congratulations to J.K. Rolling... wonderful job indeed!
Just finished it. No way is that *ever* going to make a 12A movie. There are bodies all over the place.
My daughter in Leeds was reading this at the same time as I, in Colchester. We kept ringing each other up to see where we were and when it ended had a long chat about the book. I thought the way JKR brought all the threads together at the end was quite wonderful. She is not the best writer out but the world she has created is simply magnificent and I am full of admiration for her. The final bad v good fight was incredibly exciting and at one stage I actually cheered out loud. As a Muggle of advanced years I feel totally bereft that this series has finished. What is so wonderful is the number of children who will sit and read over 500 pages. This is her greatest achievement - to turn a whole generation of children into readers. Stunning.
Nicely reviewed. I'm in southern New Zealand, exhausted and replete. It's amazing how I can feel both deeply fulfilled and totally empty after finishing Deathly Hallows last night. Great way to end, but it is, I think, the End. It's not like JKR will ever need money so badly that she'll need to write more Potter. But I guess if I'm feeling empty, it must be worse for her.
Great review! I just finished the book not twenty minutes ago, after reading the last half straight through. Rowling is amazing at weaving emotions and planting feelings in her writing; she really does evoke emotion from the reader. I felt like every turn in the plot was twisting me on a roller coaster, while the other characters were in the seats next to me!
It is really sad that she is done now, and I don't think she will reopen this world. I have a feeling that she wouldn't want to try to outdo this work. At the same time, though, I feel so elated about how the book goes. I feel so bad for Rowling, part of her probably died when she finished writing this book!
Not to sure how this is going to go down...but here goes....
All in all I was disappointed with book 7! (yep a little out of step with you guys!!) whilst I love and adore the whole Harry Potter world I just found it boring and predictable in to many places. There was to much time spent with Harry, Hermione and Ron, leaving no real insight into the plight and suffering of the other characters left on the outside of that conveniently safe tent.
More time should have been devoted to their struggles and fears helping to build a real feeling of absolute desolation and despair as we loose those beloved characters. Even Voldemort seemed benign and uninterested in world domination ( not to sure how he was suddenly only a menace in one country....??)
JKR is a phenomenol author and there is still a great deal of literary magic in this final book, but nothing on the scale of the previous episodes.
I was very hopeful as the self sacrifing forest scene began only to be let down as the final chapters raced towards an end that was much to sugary and convenient, and frankly written without any true respect to the maturity of the readers that JKR herself has helped to develop.
I'm really very sad to have to leave this kind of review :( :(:(
I was in line on at midnight on Friday, got my copy and finished Sunday at 1:30 amidst tears and joy that Rowling pulled off such a fantastic crackin' good story. Couldn't talk to two of my daughters until they finished. Rules, you know. One called at 7:30 when she finished and we discussed in depth. The second daughter called me in traffic in Seattle today to have me read to her for 45 minutes of her commute so she wouldn't stop the story. Is this what world peace is like? Everyone everywhere reading the same book and feeling the same fellow feelings about love and friendship and loyality and life and death? Wow.
On further consideration, I think I hate this book. Via the massively convoluted plot twists it turns out the series since book four has been a massive con.
To say more would need spoilers. But suffice to say, we've been had.
It's quite stupid that you can find the hole story in wikipedia. By the way, great blog. My blog is my-life-written-down.skynetblogs.be
WOW!! What a great book...I laughed and cried along with so many others! I always read the Harry Potter books entirely too fast...and like always I will read through it a second time to catch every little detail that I skipped to get to the good stuff =) I like your review and everyone's comments!
Excellent review. I would say that while the NYTimes review is maybe better in a strictly literary sense, you show much more respect for your readers and the book itself.
The most common comment I've heard from those who've finished the book is that it's satisfying. Then when one asks what was the most shocking moment one receives a different answer nearly every time. There are so many wonderful and horrible surprises.
I really think that Ms. Rowling is an amazing writer. To keep such a precisely imagined world alive and coherent through seven books and such a wide-ranging story is unprecedented. All of the books lead to this last one. Details from the first book become important and even more meaningful in this one. Someone today compared her to Dickens and I totally agreed, but found my tongue kind of blocked from further speech because, in fact, in this way she has outdone him and any other writer I can think of by creating such a complex and mesmerizing whole that went on ten years and seven books. To keep that kind of intensity up and to then close it with breathtaking tension, excitement and, finally, that deep emotional glow of satisfaction is truly a rare achievement. Hats off to JK Rowling - she has produced a gift to literature and to humanity.
I loved reading your review and all the comments. Its really nice to be able to talk about the book because so many haven't finished! Luckily my roommate has and it's all we discussed over dinner. We both loved every minute of it, and I must say that JR did an amazing job. Every book in this series has left me wanting more (plus a heavy dose of anxiety knowing that it would be another year before the next!), but the seventh left me with proper closure and the desire that I was a witch! JR knows how to captivate her readers and make them feel as though they are a part of the fight against the Dark Lord. I feel like Harry is my best friend, too! Amazing.
Greetings from sunny California and thanks for the great review. I have been sure to stay away from any postings until now. I just finished and feel like I ran a mental marathon! Couldnt wait to get through it yet I kept looking down at the page numbers regretting that I was almost finished with the last book. Wish the epilogue went into more detail however I was so pleased and pleasantly surprised with the with the way she chose to end this story.
Since I finished reading the book last night, I've found myself grappling for words to describe how I've been feeling since ending the book and closing its pages with such a finality.
You have just put into such evocative & well-written words the reason why millions of people -- from all over the world, from all ages and perhaps even from all walks of life -- have all fallen in love with Harry Potter.
Cheers from Manila! :)
Excellent review. I must say, there were many points throughout this wonderful, dark story that my reading was punctuated with outbursts of laughter, whether at something truly comical, or because a theory i had read had come to pass as truth. I believe Rowling did a wonderful job telling the classic Good vs. Evil tale, and leaving us with messages about life, love, self-sacrifice, and humanity. I thought that at the conclusion, whether Harry lived or died, that I would break down crying, but suprisingly I did not. I did feel a gut wrenching unhappiness when I realized that now, it was really, truly over, and we would have to say goodbye to Harry once and for all. But to all who felt this way, remember, Harry will live on forever in our hearts and our memories. This thought made me happier, knowing that Harry's story will only truly end when all have forgotten him. Now I look forward to introducing the books to my children (when I have them) and watching as they discover that which I discovered as a child.
Raced through the book to see how the story would end and have now read it a second time to catch all the little details I missed the first time. I must echo the feelings of so many others; satisfaction with the conclusion and yet disappointment that such a wonderful part of my life (following Harry's quest) has ended. I enjoyed several unexpected twists and felt satisfied that I had predicted others. Congratulations Ms Rowling. It was a difficult task to finish such a phenomenal tale and while I still have issues with minor details I believe you have done a wonderful job and I thank you for many hours of reading pleasure for me and my family! Hogwarts will always be a special place for us.
Therese, France
Harry Potter...brilliant.
I must say though that people who say the middle part of the book was slow and boring(the searching) have really missed something.
It found that the most magical part of the book.
Harry knew he had to do something...but the way to achieve it was not clear...or even how to start. Wouldn't life be easy if we knew exactly how to achieve whatever we wanted?
I read it over the weekend I found it to be dull most of it go back over what been done in other books.The ending is very poor and about 1oo pages to many(I am not a child I am 43 years old and I have been a fan of HP)
In all honesty I feel hugely let down by this final book. It is rushed in some parts and just slow in others the continuity is lacking. I actually feel that in parts its just bad writing. The villains are caricatures and the final showdown is disappointing. I hate the fact that I didn't like it because I loved the other books. Harry also comes across as a petulant teen rather than a heroic figure. All in all a big disapointment and there was not enough Snape!Don't even get me started on that epilogue, cheesy beyond belief.
I was disappointed in the book. The last sentence is "All was well." I don't like the way it turned out; the foreshadowing that I got from the rest of the series suggested something completely different and this doesn't make the most of sense. To be honest, I was waiting for both Voldemort and Harry to die.
there are two things thast are big mistakes. first wizards do not aim their wand like archery or shooting, they aim with their mind and verbalize it. second, wizards duel and three people cant fight with one
this book was so good
J K Rowling is the best author. she has managed to get so many children young and old to read and that is such a gift. i loved it although i wish there was more about Snape in there. but 10/10
Greetings from Maryland, USA. Great review. It is reasonable to challenge one another to keep this in perspective. I took nothing but delight in the experience of this wonderful book and series. I am a fan, and I too am no child. I am 36 and have two children, and frankly Harry is just the kind of hero I can use to teach my children about doing your best to maintain the highest virtues in the face of real consequences: to place your energies in hope, friendship, loyalty, and love when confronting the forces of despair, cynicism, apathy, at just plain horror. If we try, we can all find holes in the story because the author is only human. But that is not the point of great storytelling. And that is what this is - it is an attempt at conveying wisdom - truth, not fact. The details are fun and interesting, but not really the point. It is great story! It is mystifying, compelling, and relevant. Again, as a parent, and frankly as a minister, I am grateful to have such a valuable tool for drawing parallels. And as an individual, I am grateful for the experience. I wish there was more to come, but alas...
I have really enjoyed the Harry Potter series,I am a complete addict, thank you Ms Rowling.I must say i read the last book with mixed feelings. Whether it is because i really did not want the story to finish or I was dreading the outcome, i do not know. I have never read a book before where i was half dreading what would unfold.
I think JK Rowling is a fantastic author and she has done what voldemort set out to do but in a good way. She has written 7 books, each effectively a horcrux, but in a good way because she has given part of her soul to each of us through her books and as a result part of her will live on forever!!!!!
I also think that JK has planted enough 'seeds' in this book to be able to grow another story about the wizarding world if she wanted to, and I for one really hope that she will give in (after a well earned break) and let us delight in more of the goings on at Hogwarts.
More please......................
spoilers contained so please skip this comment if you haven't read the book.
sorry folks, but i have to disagree with the majority here. this book left a whole hell of a lot lacking. before you light your torches and try to hunt me down for that remark, let me both say that 1. the series was overall well written and enjoyable including this final installment (so i am not jk bashing. i commend and admire her), but 2. that unfortunately does not detract from the fact that it's still a disappointment for the following reasons:
firstly...the number of deaths in book 7. all i can say is ... what?! people can suffer. fine. people can have bad ends. great. people on the side of good sometimes don't make it to the end. ya ya. people die. ok. but the sheer volume of deaths was plainly ridiculous. basically anyone who was inconvenient to the plot dropped like a fly (in the case of mad eye... literally dropped like a fly). most of the deaths were idiotic and pointless and some of them were even twisted (what tell me was the point of fred's death? kill one twin, leave the other. total of maybe 2 sentences to it. no mention of it later. what the hell for?? plain twisted). basically jk made too many characters and then spent 99% of book 7 on 3 of them so that she had no time to properly wrap things up in the final book for everyone else. rather than leave them out (which would have been bad enough), she kills them off. blah. kinda like how she switched from the horcrux theme introed in book 6 to the hallows theme and so had to make short work of the horcruxes when they were no longer convenient to the plot (what? like 90% of the book they spend aimlessly gandering about the middle of nowhere and then BAM the remaining horcruxes are found and disposed of in short order in probably about 1 chapter. CRABBE can cast a spell that destroys one???????)
secondly. dumbledore. my second favorite character and a great creation. noticed early on in book 7 that AD was getting some good book time (usually such a background character). i thought great! unfortunately, the coolness of his character developments were destroyed in that king's crossing chapter. what in grawp's name was that? the whole scene was imbecilic to begin with but worst of all... AD a strong mysterious and marvelous character is reduced to a weeping chump. remorse, the softer side, etc etc is all fine and dandy, but that?! sheesh. by griffyndor's sowrd there should have been a better way to bring that character to an end.
lastly and most disappointingly... snape. i can't even begin to express adequately my utter disbelief in the ending of this character. snape became my favorite character by book 3 or so. a fantastic creature with so many layers and dimensions. built up so much so that an entire book was named after him for pete's sake. the only thing saving book 6 for me was the question of snape at the end. but this is not a comment on book 6. anyways... he dies. ok. i can get over that. i was 99% sure he was on AD side but that he would die in the end because come on now. preplanned or not, he killed someone. and albus dumbledore at that! people don't get away with that kinda thing. but HOW he died defies incredulouslness. such a great character and he has maybe a sum total of 3 pages in book 7 and dies WITHOUT A FIGHT grovelling like a snivelling sycophant at the feet of voldemort. what the hell?
for those 3 points, i shake my head in disappointment. if all those things were tied up better, i may even have let slide the whole harry potter resurrection and banal defeat of voldemort (after hp defeats voldy pretty much every book, i didn't really expect much else). but i really can't now. pity.
i hope that harry atleast had the decency to recover snape's body, bury it and visit the grave every so often.
:(
Some good parts, but a lot of loose ends, mistakes, unfullfilled promises and the worst ending ever devised by a female writer.
This book needed a good editor, instead of a bunch of people who apparently spent all their time wondering what color lipstick would look best on Jo's arse.
In true JK Rowling's writing style, HP 7 was everything we expected it to be. We were mesmerized at the start, left wandering in the woods at the middle, got a good build up prior to the finale, and then left bereft and looking forward to the next installment. (ie the next mad rush to the bookstore to get a copy of a new book)
Unfortunately, with this being the last installment, many of you will agree that we were left high and dry. I think the ending didn't give the 'oomph' that is to be expected after faithfully following the whole saga throughout the previous 6 HP books.
In a nutshell, JK Rowling didn't do her characters any justice by providing an ending that is short of living up to be the phenomenal tale that Harry Potter has become...
i found the book a bit sad at the end because all the people diead like fred tonks lupin
Just a note to agree with those who believe that the series overall was quite well done, but the last book or two were a bit dissappointing.
Aside from the first few chapters, book seven focuses almost exclusively on Harry, Adventurer. All of the familiar, joyous trappings of school life and pleasure of interactions with friends have been sacrificed (often literally) in favor of a massive character study of Harry.
The skillful interweaving of the classic British schoolboy story, fantasy and adventure have been reduced to a treasure hunt conducted by a tortured protagonist. Suspension of disbelief becomes more difficult throughout the book, as many of the twists and turns of the middle and late plot seem to serve only the writer's passion to deify Harry.
To be fair, both the introduction and portions of the climax are well written and paced. At points late in the book, an avid follower of Harry will enjoy an emotional roller coaster ride that will leave the reader pressing forward through a rainbow of tears. However the end of the climax comes roughly fifty to a hundred pages from the end of the book depending on the reader and the anticlimax is severe.
Cmon guys we all knew how it would end. To have expected any hting different makes u an idiot, not JKR a bad writer. I found the 7th book to be a realistic portrayal of war times. People die unexpectedly, youre alone, confused, characters change and some times after a long drought of no action youre suddenly thrust into the final battle and its all over in a blink of an eye...i will admit i wanted Harry dead, simply because how could he live a normal life after all that?
I rushed through and really enjoyed the book, but it took a week or more to begin to understand just how good and clever this book is. I am now much more impressed.
Lovely review - thanks from Bristol
To those who bemoan the wondering around in the middle section; there is a lot in this non-action.
Here is the traditional time spent in the (spiritual) wilderness when doubt and confusion start to play havoc. Doubts about AD's true character, and what is the point of this quest, and whether or not to go for the power of the hallows ("there no good or evil, only power and those too weak to seek it") - AD and Voldermort where both seduced by power - but Harry turns away from power and proves himself the better man.
Where was I? Anyway there is a lot to think about. Snape's character and motives alone are full of complexity and contradiction.
JKR has always refused to allow any character to be only 'good' and some readers find that hard to bear, but not I.
Hello,
nice review there... i love the book and how it ended. I like guessing what will be the next scene. I love the character of dobby and the tales of the three brother. this book made me cry more tham I cried when sirius died. i never imagined this is the way it will end but very beautiful indeed!
Amabel
Hi from Minnesota! I thought that the book was a very good read. People often mention how JKR is not a classically good writer, and yes, her dialouge does seem routine at times, but they fail to see that isn't the point! This is an epic story of good vs evil, not an in-depth analysis of something! They need to relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy an asorbing read for what it is instead of criticizing it for what it isn't!
----:)---------
ps: liked your 'no spoiler' policy!
Loved the book, it was great to finally reach the end of the series. It was well paced throughout and the tension was kept up well. However I was disappointed with the end. I thought that it needed one more chapter before the 'harry 19 years later' cop out. What about the loose ends that were not tied up? What about the reactions to the end of Voldemont, the reactions of the wizard community, did they all get back to normal? Did harry finish his 7th year of schooling? What happened to hogwarts school? What career did he end up with. It didn't need to be much but a chapter wrapping up a little more would have been so much better. The final chapter 19 years later seemed rushed and left yet more questions. After such a great book the ending was rushed and disaponiting.