Shayde on 21/7/2007 at 16:39

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Well it's over. I have to say I've loved the series ever since I read the first book to a boy I was babysitting.

The Good =
[SPOILER]The deepening of Dumbledore's character. Showing him as a flawed human being instead of the all-knowing benevolent leader.

The tiny links. The little things that matter such as Dumbledore knowing that Ron would need the putter-outer as he would always want to come back - Ravenclaws diadem having a cameo in Half Blood Prince - Luna's portraits of her friends.

The completion of the house-elf plot/centaur/sub-human plot. Harry giving Kreacher RAB's locket and showing him kindness, Kreachers value to the side of good. The house-elves protecting Hogwarts. The Centaurs finally joining the fight.

The heart warming humour - George's ear jokes, the trio's banter.

The boodbath - JKR was not afraid to kill off many characters, and in a war this is realistic. It would have been easier for her to go the route of only killing a few minor characters, but the death of Harry's last links to his parents was brave.

I am very happy that all the loose ends were tied up - all the seemingly insignificant details proving to be vital.

[/SPOILER]

The Bad =
[SPOILER]This book was so very filled with information, it was clearly JKR's effort to tie it all together - as such it did not read as easily as the others did. And for what is generally considered a children's book this is a failing.

The Epilogue - I wanted to know what would happen in the future, but sometimes not knowing is better. It just seemed a little too tidy - a little too fan-fictiony happy ending.

Snapes fate is both good and bad - He died a hero, his name cleared and his valour recognised by the world. But honestly is there a more abused character than Severus Snape? His entire life was filled with misery, suffering and painful attrition. If anyone deserved to survive to find some happiness, it was him, and his death was the most tragic of all the others.

A typo calling Hermione Jane Granger, Hermione Jeane Granger. The most read book in the world you think they's get a basic fact right or check such a major typo. [/SPOILER]

I have enjoyed this series and am sad to see it go. But I think that sometimes our memories of things are better than the thing itself. As such I hope she doesn't cave to public demand and write more of this story. It is over, and I hope it can end as it has instead of being stretched out to satisfy rabid fans, while damaging what is special about the story.

David on 21/7/2007 at 18:53

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Well that's going to be an awesome movie. :eek:

lunatic96 on 22/7/2007 at 02:51

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[SPOILER]that epilogue was pretty bad compared to the last 200 pages of awesomeness that had occurred. I understand wanting to wrap things up, but jesus christ it was awkwardly written. It read like bad fan-fiction.

I loved pretty much everything else about the book, although I'm not entirely sure we needed to have the Trio run around aimlessly for that long. [/SPOILER]

AxTng1 on 22/7/2007 at 19:59

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[SPOILER]I agree with most of the above - A little too much of "then they went and did x big thing" with no detail, and of course the fanfic at the end. I would not be suprised if there had been a competition and some randomer from a fansite had written that.
I know I skimmed a little, and I may have missed this, but what happened to Umbrage after they reclaimed the locket? If she got away scot free there will be hatred in this house...
[/SPOILER]

Phydeaux on 23/7/2007 at 08:41

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I haven't finished the book yet (about 2/3 done), but it's already quite amazing. Books 4, 5, and 6 kinda take their time...not slow really, but all the plot doesn't happen all at once. You can read a couple chapters, put it down, then come back later. Not so with Deathly Hallows. It's nearly impossible to put down. I started reading it last evening, and finally had to put it down at 7:30am so I could get some sleep before work at 4pm.

As an author, Rowling has very definitely obviously matured. The first 2 books were (and movies) kinda simple and trite. Not bad, but definitely not classic literature. By the 3rd book, her storytelling improved quite a bit, and with the 4th book, she really hits her stride and it's been improving ever since (although the 5th book is definitely better than the 6th, not that the 6th was anything other than fantastic). This last book is just amazing. It's still not Tolstoy or Steinbeck or Tolkien, but she's developed storytelling ability that few authors can match. I'm not normally one to get caught up in hype or bandwagon jumping, but I'm fully a HP nerd now (although I don't dress up or anything).

This last book will make one hell of a movie.