Obligatory Harry Potter Post
So the last book. I think some of it was ruined for me by the whole feeling that I needed to get to the end as soon as possible just so I knew what happened and that I was sleep deprived the entire time. But let me just say that the last like, two hundred pages were the best things of my life.
The first thing that really got me was Dobby dying, which was SO upsetting I can't even say. Like, I didn't even like him that much for the most part, he was alright, but he was so...Dobby, and loyal and...that really upset me. Also, I was really pissed at JKR when Lupin and Tonks weren't even given a decent death scene, it was just mentioned that they were dead. Sure, do that for Colin Creevy or someone like that, but Lupin and Tonks, really? I was so upset by the casual mention of their death, and shocked, that even though I was reading the book with people around, my mouth literally dropped open. And then not really explain who was raising their son in the Epilogue? Great.
I felt that the Epilogue was not really that interesting just because I would have assumed everything that it told me, but I think it would be cute if JKR made a series based on the children. She did say she might write other books from the Potter universe. Like Mary, though, I sort of saw this Epilogue coming.
Also, the whole Snape/Lily chapter was my favorite part of the book. I know, I know, Dani and her silly Snape obsession but even besides that, I've been waiting so DAMN long to hear about Snape's past, about a justification of his character, and to have it be such a heart breaking story that really got me...it was completely worth waiting for. But I still don't really understand how Lily went from thinking James was a dick to marrying him. And what must Snape have thought when he heard that? Is it sad that I cried when I read that his Patronus was a doe? I can't believe he died, too, but I guess it had to be that way. It's too bad he couldn't live as a redeemed and free man...Sirius too, though.
I was a little impatient with the book, actually, until they got to Hogwarts. I think it was for two connected reasons, but I won't really be sure until I re-read it in a lower-pressure setting (but Steve and then my mom are borrowing it first, so I'll have to wait). The first reason is that the entire book was "up". Always high action, always on the move, always things going on, none of the times in the first few books where random amusing things happened to lighten the mood. I laughed very little in this book, which I suppose was fitting, but I would have liked a little of the characteristic Potter whimsy (for lack of a better word). The only part that really made me laugh out loud was the whole Trelawny chucking crystal balls at Death Eaters part. It was SO GOOD. Trewlany for the win! Anyway, my other issue was the lack of supporting characters in most of the book. I think it was cute that the trio was together for most of it, but my favorites are the side characters, and for the most part, they weren't there, which was upsetting.
Also, I feel like the whole Hallows thing, which was so important, wasn't given enough power because it was just introduced in this book. I can't really remember any allusions to it in other books, or build-up, which made it less like a puzzle that was finally being solved and more like something JKR threw in just to make Harry even cooler. Also, maybe I'm stupid, but what was all that business at the end about Draco having the Elder Wand? I don't know what Harry meant. Did Draco have it or was he just bluffing Voldemort? And if Draco did, then how did he get it from Dumbledore? But JKR seemed to indicate that Voldemort actually did have it? What???? I'm so dumb.
Another random thought, I hadn't quite finished reading all of the sixth book before I read the seventh, but I did read all of the fifth and most of the sixth, and I don't remember a mention of Luna's Patronus being a hare, or what it was at all. In the movie that's what it is, but I don't think her Patronus was specified until the seventh book. Did they consult JKR for such a seemingly small detail? That'd be cool if they did.
Best line in the entire book? "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" I can't believe how much older and much more complicated these books have gotten. I remember the simple and fluffy days of the first book, when everything was straightforward and Dumbledore was the shit and nobody said the word bitch. It's crazy that this is how everything ended up.
I feel like JKR kind of copped out with her deaths....she killed expendable characters, even the Weasley she chose to kill was really sort of an extra...I mean, yeah, Fred and George were cool, but there were basically two of them. I would have loved to see how George felt now that he was ripped away from his twin, though, and she didn't mention that at all. I think that would have been very emotional and deep instead of the group family mourning. I'm glad she didn't kill Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny or Luna, though. I would have been crazy upset. I also cried as Harry was going to face his own death, though. I never really loved Harry all that much, but I guess I've become very attached to him over the last seven books. Weird.
So in the end....I don't really know how I feel about all this. Maybe one day I'll read all seven books in order and put together all the subtle pieces and marvel at the progression of the books, and figure out how I feel about it. For now, I'm content to have been part of this huge cultural phenomenon and looking forward to the last two movies, as well as seeing some more from JK Rowling. I'll probably edit this post about a million times as new things come to me.
Also, I guess Dumbledore really was dead, kids.
EDIT:
One last thing that didn't really warrant another post...Mr. Weasley's Patronus? Hella disappointing. I was like "Really, JK Rowling? Are you really going to go for the whole weasel, Weasley thing? Like...really?" I thought it was sort of lame.
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