I agree that Lupin and Tonks’ death seemed really unnecessary… what really bothered me, though, was the bit where Bellatrix tortured Hermione. I like how Rowlings’ seems to have used the turbulence created in the wake of Voldemort’s coups to show how the main characters quickly mature under pressure, but she’d had plenty of opportunities to do so by the time the trio got captured. Plus, between Sirius and Mad-Eye, we all knew that Bellatrix was about as evil as you get… having her torture one of the main characters was just kind of unnecessary.
On a lighter note, however, accio Hagrid conjures up an unbelievably amusing image.
Missed the edit window. Brain wreck --I think you’re mistaken re comparing the Goblins to Jews. Have you not read classic fairy tales (not Disney’s version)? Goblins figure prominently and they do not hold to the same values as humans, as Bill says. Plus, since we know that Rowling owes great debts to former fantasy writers, goblins figure in LOTR (the Hobbit), and other stories. There wasn’t a goblin called Azrael (I dont’ recall one-don’t most of their names start with G? They sound more Germanic or Nordic to me–if I had to picka group of people).
Plus, I seriously doubt that Rowling, who has written an entire series stressing tolerance, acceptance and love would write such a theme into her books.
I still don’t get how the sword got from the LeStrange’s vault into the Sorting Hat for Neville. Anyone have any ideas? (I may have missed that bit).
Oh, bravo! That was one thing that struck me when reading … I thought Snape’s whole loyalty thing should have been a little more complex. You know, it starts out that he has a crush on a girl and then … it ends that way, too. I was like “that’s IT?” I didn’t think that Snape’s feelings for Lily were any big reveal. I did like what Harry said to his son about Snape, but jeebus, he could have eaten a little more crow, possibly closer to the time that Snape took one for the team.
it seems that the sorting hat can spit up the sword no matter where it is. if you are truely gryffindor at heart and the hat is in your possesion, gryffindor’s hat will give you gryffindor’s sword if you need it.
I think it’s like when Harry first got the sword way back when … a true Gryffindor had great need, and it came from … wherever the heck it was because Neville is so awesome. By magic, as it were.
As best I can figure, it’s the little bit of Voldemort’s soul that got stuck to baby Harry … after Voldemort attacked Harry, that’s the part of Voldemort that died, because when Harry returns he doesn’t have any more. I guess. It’s a little meta.
I’m guessing it’s that “little bit o’ soul” from Voldemort that’s glommed onto Harry’s for 17 years. Harry’s soul is going to be able to return to the real world from that “train station”, but Voldy’s soul fragment is beyond repair/help.
I like the throwaway bit about the Bloody Baron killing his unrequited love, Rowena Ravenclaw’s daughter Helena, and then, appalled at what he’d done, himself. (“All these centuries later, he wears his chains as an act of penitence…as he should,” she added bitterly.)
And hoddamn for Neville’s gran! What a wonderful, feisty lady.
I thought that was one of the cooler concepts in the book. It made Harry’s life hell (that was probably the thing that rose up and wanted to hurt Dumbledore in book 5), but it also makes sense. When the spell rebounded and “destroyed” TMR, this bit of him went into Harry via the scar. Creepy.
Well it took me about ten hours but I finished a few hours ago. I loved it and found it was unexpectedly hard to know it was over and there wasn’t another book coming next year. Some notes:
I found the Lupin and Tonks death to be strangely glossed over. I actually read the lines, then stopped and read them a few more times to make sure they said what I thought they said.
I can buy that Harry didn’t kill Crabbe, Goyle and Draco. I just can’t buy that he would risk his own life to save them. With all these people trying to kill him over the years, including Draco, I would think he would develop a bit of ruthlessness.
I didn’t mind the Ginny romance, but Harry clearly didn’t care for her as much as he did Ron and Hermione. She was never more than a secondary character and even as he is off to confront Voldemort he figures it is better not to bother her as he hides uncer the invisibility cloak.
I finished it in six hours. For the most part, I dug it. But I was taking a break and thinking about how everyone always wants to know who dies, and well, the way people were dropping like flies, the question was more who didn’t die in this book. I was so pleased at Neville’s complete kicking of ass. That made me quite happy. And I was indecently triumphant that I’d been right about Snape.
Did anyone dress up and go to the book release parties? A handful of friends and I did, but the Borders party ended up being L-A-M-E. I got back home by 2:30 and read the book til 7am. Did not doze off at all while reading it.
It was exhilirating to find out the end of the damn series, and there were a lot of cool moments - I laughed, I cheered, I choked up. But the eplilogue, not so much. It just seemed a bit contrived - everyone marries everyone and their children are all friends and life is roses and kittens. The happy ending was already obvious at the end of the battle. I would have preferred the epilogue have been the anniversary of the battle five years later, or some such. (Although this epilogue will make a pretty ending to the movie, I’ll admit.)
I could have sworn that Rowling said somewhere that Harry wasn’t the last Horcrux. Must’ve been my imagination.
All in all, it was a good ending to a wonderful series.
Some time ago Rowling said that she had decided to kill off two additional characters and saved one who was supposed to die. I wondered whether she was talking about those two, perhaps in exchange for Hagrid. Their deaths were just for overall impact, not really crucial to the plot.
Just finished. Got it at midnight last night but had kid duties (and a birthday party…Gwen is three!) interfere. Lady Chance left me the hell alone all night. She’s a peach.
Went about as I’d expected though some surprises, such as Hedwig’s death and Harry being the horcrux (I’d heard the speculation but was disappointed that it was true then cheered when it was twisted out).
I, too, would have liked more backstory on the epilogue. But in any event I’m happy with the book and the series is still excellent. I’ll be sad to never read in that world again…it’s a good (if inconsistent) one.
Oh, and am I the only one who thought 'One good .357 would end a lot of these problems. Splash Voldemort’s head with a tiny bit of metal travelling at more than 1400 feet per second and bam, no worries. Or nagini, for that matter.
Sometimes a little mundanity will get the job done, after all.
I didn’t dress up, but I went to one. Complete with radio and headphones so I couldn’t hear any potential spoilery-types. Which was handy, since our queue got several people on bikes and a person a few groups back who decided reading the book out loud would be an excellent plan (only heard one in the end, thanks to a song gap, but it was “Harry dies!”, which I guess is the default “I haven’t read it, but i’m going to be an ass based on the only thing I know about the books” thought).
I would have guessed Hedwig as one of them, because it would have been really awkward for the trio to cart her around everywhere and she wouldn’t be used at all.
Random thought: doesn’t JK Rowling write death well? Colin is described as being ‘tiny’ in death, and Voldemort’s dead body falls ‘mundanely’. Nice writing.
I was disappointed that everyone ended up marrying their high-school love, but I liked ‘Albus Severus’.
Along the lines of Harry still risking his life to save Draco and all, I was seriously annoyed that Harry (and most of the other ‘good guys’) were still sticking to spells to stun and disarm their opponents, especially when the battle resumed at the end.
Hello? Your opponents are using killing spells, your side is being killed by spiders and what all, and you’re still being so nicey-nicey about using damanging spells?
<sigh> I guess it has to stay that way – must keep the hero’s hands clean and all.
