Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I would've posted this yesterday, but LJ was acting up & I couldn't log on. I finished late Monday night & overall, I was impressed.
As far as the deaths, I wasn't really all that sad like I thought I'd be. Dobby's kinda got to me, Snape's death got to me most of all. I was really hoping he could live and maybe be a part of Harry's life. I didn't like how they just kinda skimmed over Fred's death. It was all like "OK he's dead, now back to the battle", and not much more was mentioned afterwards.
I was very pleased to see Snape redeemed in the end. I always believed that he was good deep down, and his suposed dislike for Harry was just a cover-up in order to protect him. That whole chapter was very emotional for me. I almost half-expected for Harry to find out that Snape was really his father, but I guess that was a little too much to ask, LOL. This was by far though, my favorite part of the book. It truly showed the complexity of Snape's character by showing how much he was willing to sacrifice to protect the son of a woman he loved for most of his life. A woman he loved and even tried to save even though she chose another man, and who he continued to love long after her death - up until his own death. IMO he showed more of the true meaning of love than any character in the book. And best of all? His suffering and death was not in vain - Harry lived to defeat Voldemort.
Dumbledore's appearance towards the end. Loved it. I think we learned alot more about him in this book than all the rest put together. We learned that he was not perfect, not always a straight-up good guy. That even he allowed his fascination with the Hallows to take over what was most important in his life. I know some readers were disappointed to see this side of Dumbledore, but I wasn't. It showed that even a good man like Dumbledore could have his flaws and a dark past. The important thing is that he acknowledged and regretted those mistakes, and went on to become the person that Harry admired & looked up to.
Who knew that Harry himself was a horcrux? I didn't. How cool was that? I liked how he was the true master of death though - because unlike others who sought the Hallows, he was not seeking to overcome death. Rather, he was willing to face it head-on and accept his potential fate in order to defeat Voldemort. He could accept what Voldemort could not - his own mortality. Life ends and nothing we do can change that. He was prepared to die so that the world could finally be free from Voldemort's reign, and IMO that was ultimately saved him. Voldemort couldn't kill him because unlike Voldemort, he wasn't afraid of death. He put his life on the line out of love - something that Voldemort knew nothing of.
The Malfoy family. Voldemort totally screwed them over despite their loyalty. (IMO though, I don't think Draco was ever really as loyal as he let on). No wonder they turned on him in the end, and rejoiced in his death. I thought that was pretty cool.
Neville was so amazing in this book, despite how little he appeared in it. He really showed some bravery in the end. His grandma totally rocks too.
Best LOL moment? Molly Weasley calling Bellatrix a bitch and attacking her! You go, girl. Oh, and Ron saving Draco from a Death Eater and saying something like "That's the 2nd time we've saved your life tonight you bastard!" And pretty much anytime Fred & George made an appearance. What can I say, the whole Weasley family cracks me up.
I know some people hated the epilogue. I kinda liked it. It gave a sense of finality to the whole series. Harry, Ron & Hermione all went on to live happy lives and have kids of their own. Despite all the horror & bloodshed the three of them endured as teenagers, they found some peace. Very cool. I kinda hoped that Harry would end up Headmaster of Hogwarts, but oh well. Oh yeah, and Professor Longbottom?? How awesome, LOL.
Gosh, I could go on forever talking about this, but I won't, LOL. But yeah, I was pleased with how it all ended. JKR is a brilliant writer and did one heck of a job with this series. Bravo!
Feel free to share your thoughts with me, y'all!
As far as the deaths, I wasn't really all that sad like I thought I'd be. Dobby's kinda got to me, Snape's death got to me most of all. I was really hoping he could live and maybe be a part of Harry's life. I didn't like how they just kinda skimmed over Fred's death. It was all like "OK he's dead, now back to the battle", and not much more was mentioned afterwards.
I was very pleased to see Snape redeemed in the end. I always believed that he was good deep down, and his suposed dislike for Harry was just a cover-up in order to protect him. That whole chapter was very emotional for me. I almost half-expected for Harry to find out that Snape was really his father, but I guess that was a little too much to ask, LOL. This was by far though, my favorite part of the book. It truly showed the complexity of Snape's character by showing how much he was willing to sacrifice to protect the son of a woman he loved for most of his life. A woman he loved and even tried to save even though she chose another man, and who he continued to love long after her death - up until his own death. IMO he showed more of the true meaning of love than any character in the book. And best of all? His suffering and death was not in vain - Harry lived to defeat Voldemort.
Dumbledore's appearance towards the end. Loved it. I think we learned alot more about him in this book than all the rest put together. We learned that he was not perfect, not always a straight-up good guy. That even he allowed his fascination with the Hallows to take over what was most important in his life. I know some readers were disappointed to see this side of Dumbledore, but I wasn't. It showed that even a good man like Dumbledore could have his flaws and a dark past. The important thing is that he acknowledged and regretted those mistakes, and went on to become the person that Harry admired & looked up to.
Who knew that Harry himself was a horcrux? I didn't. How cool was that? I liked how he was the true master of death though - because unlike others who sought the Hallows, he was not seeking to overcome death. Rather, he was willing to face it head-on and accept his potential fate in order to defeat Voldemort. He could accept what Voldemort could not - his own mortality. Life ends and nothing we do can change that. He was prepared to die so that the world could finally be free from Voldemort's reign, and IMO that was ultimately saved him. Voldemort couldn't kill him because unlike Voldemort, he wasn't afraid of death. He put his life on the line out of love - something that Voldemort knew nothing of.
The Malfoy family. Voldemort totally screwed them over despite their loyalty. (IMO though, I don't think Draco was ever really as loyal as he let on). No wonder they turned on him in the end, and rejoiced in his death. I thought that was pretty cool.
Neville was so amazing in this book, despite how little he appeared in it. He really showed some bravery in the end. His grandma totally rocks too.
Best LOL moment? Molly Weasley calling Bellatrix a bitch and attacking her! You go, girl. Oh, and Ron saving Draco from a Death Eater and saying something like "That's the 2nd time we've saved your life tonight you bastard!" And pretty much anytime Fred & George made an appearance. What can I say, the whole Weasley family cracks me up.
I know some people hated the epilogue. I kinda liked it. It gave a sense of finality to the whole series. Harry, Ron & Hermione all went on to live happy lives and have kids of their own. Despite all the horror & bloodshed the three of them endured as teenagers, they found some peace. Very cool. I kinda hoped that Harry would end up Headmaster of Hogwarts, but oh well. Oh yeah, and Professor Longbottom?? How awesome, LOL.
Gosh, I could go on forever talking about this, but I won't, LOL. But yeah, I was pleased with how it all ended. JKR is a brilliant writer and did one heck of a job with this series. Bravo!
Feel free to share your thoughts with me, y'all!