Deathly Done
I read the Potter series on my time, not a fandom's. I started reading only after the second movie was already out on DVD, and yes, Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman are to blame for it all. This is the only book I rushed to get and rushed to finish. I want my soul back now, Ms. Rowling, plzthnx.
The book was better written then some of the others. It was a really fun read, even if it was so dark and emotional. I enjoyed it, and enjoyed ending the series. It's bittersweet of course, but mostly happy.The way that her writing, style, and the process of story development in the books has chagned over the years intrigues me. I don't read all those interviews, but I wonder how the popularity shaped the story in her mind, and what her intentions at the start were. At work it was funny to watch the reactions of my co-workers as our student and I talked about the book. They thought we were nuts to be so into it.
Jumbled thoughts: (nitpickers be warned - if I miss/forget/get wrong a detail, or spell it wrong, keep it to yourself. I don't give a damn. I don't do details.)
~ I like that she keeps starting each book the same way - at four Privet Drive, with Harry. Like the use of archetypes and common themes in literature, it makes things comfortable. Granted it lures you in to a false sense of security, but still. And I'm not sure if JK meant to make Dudley's softening foreshadow the Malfoys' or if she just wanted to end on a little happier note with the Dursleys. Dudley is young and stupid and has his surroundings to blame, so yeah, I have empathy for his plight. I just wish that later there was something about what happened with them. Some schools of thought would say they never saw each other again - which would work. But I don't know how Dudley's change or learning that Petunia wanted to be a witch would affect adult Harry (teen Harry is still too dumb).
~ Anyone else notice the constant reminder of past-book events? More so than any other? It was like a greatest hits album!
~ I really love that the Death Eaters figure it's Harry by his using Expelliarmus. See, clever people are evil, too! And yes, his using it at the end is both amusing and a victory to those of us against killing/hurting people. Harry consistently keeps his little heart pure. Blah blah.
~ This book, more than the others, was the adventures of an idiot teen and the friends who save him. I get WHY it goes like this, from a literary point of view. And it IS v. tru to character. But I tend to forget that he's a 17yr boy and then he does something stupid and I remember w/ a big D'oh! That and apparently HArry and Ron learned v. little in school and only Hermione learned lots of useful spells. Like in book 1. And 2. And... (I was happy every time one of them put up the protective charms without her!)
~ (paraphrase) "Ron, are you a wizard?" "Wingardium leviosa!" LOVE!!
~ Death: I knew there would be, but some hurt more than others. Hedwig had to go - Keeping her in her cage while on the run would be too cumbersome, even with Hermione's beaded purse of holding, and having her fly was too risky. Like Dumbledore she had to go for plot's sake. It was still bloody terrible, though! Mad Eye makes sense - like Albus he was there with the answer too often. She needed to get rid of everyone who did too much for the kids (in the sense of the quest, not like Molly who was there for everything else). But to kill a Weasley? I guess it would be strange, with all the losses, that this huge pure-blood family who fought so hard lost no one. She couldn't kill Percy - he isn't loved enough (fan wise) and he had to return to his family because he isn't evil! Plus that would just be poor writing. But I would have thought perhaps Charlie, not a twin, though killing someone so beloved is a great literary effect. Now George is truly lopsided! Remus and Tonks - well, they had to go together. I don't one could live while the other was dead. Sad, I know. I still wonder who raised Teddy, though. Not Harry, though he was there in life. Perhaps Bill and Fleur?
~ Snape. I sobbed. I knew he was good, a part of me knew he would die but I was in absolute denial. I didn't realize how in love with him I was until JK took a knife, reached from the pages, and plunged it into my chest. With so many characters that are too perfect or too flat, from day one this guy was an intriguing mystery full of depth. He almost too human, almost Russian, almost Akaki Akakovich! Ok, maybe not Akaki, but his death was fairly anti-climatic. JK loves her tragic, troubled heroes - Albus, Remus, Harry, Sev.
~ Founders: Yeah for non-perfect house people. Godric stealing from goblins (to be fair, everyone steals from goblins in every fantasy universe), Rowena(?)'s daughter being selfish and stealing the diadom. Hmm...there must
be dirt on Helga. Can't recall from the other books. You know, loyalty doesn't mean perfection, neither does "all the rest." Also, JK needs to stop the Slytherin hatin'. She redeemed herself with Snape, the malfoys, and Phineas, but having ALL the Slytherin children run? Apparently they ALL love Moldybutt (if you know this reference you get a cookie)? Yes, because love and tolerance start with stereotypes. I know the point she makes though, and she didn't already establish the characters to make a Slytherin front against Voldy, so she had to write them out the door. But I do like the unwritten theme of secondary personality characteristics. I know I've talked with people about the balance in the trio that makes it work, reflecting the planned balance of Hogwarts by the founders. She really makes those characteristics show in book 7. Harry even uses forbidden curses to get his way, and Ron comes back. (and Hermione is a nerd) Then there is Phineas the portrait who is so Slytherin he's HUffle! He is so loyal to his house, that he will follow Snape good or evil. PLus, I love him - he's hilarious. And Sev - there's a line where Dumb;edore says that we sort too soon, implying that Snape's bravery would make him a Gryffindor. I disagree. True, Severus is literally "the bravest man I ever knew." But I think that his Slyth trait is his willingness to do anything to achieve his goal. And he does do anything. Though, he shows v. strong characteristics of all the houses and is ridiculously balanced. See, he's the perfect man! ^_^
~Love: Oi, she pushes the love conquers all, doesn't she? "it's all because none of us got enough love in our childhoods" (O know, terrible reference :P) I liked the love Narcissa shows the most. It's rowling's little "Mom" thing, along with Molly kicking Bellatrix's ass.
~Epilogue: Read like fanfic. Harry and Ron end up with their high school sweethearts? Don't get me wrong - v. cute, and convenient. And after what they all went through they would probably want to stay together. The kids are cute - yeah, I could see them each having a gaggle. All Weasleys have gaggles. The names were a little silly, but it's Harry and that's totally what he would do. And Ginny would roll her eyes and acquiesce to his
wishes, though I'd think she'd sneak in a few old Weasley names, too. maybe middle names. I was sufficiently calm throughout the epilogue - it was kinda cheesy and had me laughing, but then my heart lurched with his naming his younger son Albus Severus and realizing he isn't a bastard, and you know, growing up. Other things in ch. 36 made me think he might not come around to Snape.
Part of me didn't like the epilogue, part did. She needed it - to wrap things up. Another chapter with post-war things might have worked, but I think may have taken too much away from the drama of the final showdown. Also the cutoff at that point would be weird because it isn't as if the trio would then board the Hogwarts Express and go home. So it was either end at Hogwarts or drag on too long. Nineteen years seems an odd jump, but it works. The kids are not at a point where they are figuring things out, Teddy is grown and out of school, and there is plenty of time for enough children to have Weasley shenanigans. She needed it written to stop pressure for
another book and, I believe, for herself. We love these people, but I can't imagine how much she must. I think she needed closure for Harry as much as we did.
I wish I knew what happened between that fateful day and Albus's first day at Hogwarts. I care so much about these people and I want to know how they faired after such tragedy and triumph. What about George and the twins' business? Molly and Percy? Who raised Teddy? How did they rebuild their society when so many people were hurt, tortured, left on the streets? The death eaters? Do you still entrust Azkhaban to Dementors who have had such free reign of late? I could read fanfic, but I won't. Too many issues. I can't handle any alt endings and the other crap that goes with it. Most fantasy books I read don't leave me like this. Ok, so I never actually got through Lotr (got bored after book 1), but notice I'm not rushing to finish? Damn Rowling.
I'll re-read it again, of course. I think I'll try for the UK versions though, for something different.