My Thoughts on HP & the Deathly Hallows
I wanted to make this a poignant review of a series I have loved and been anticipating the ending of since I first read book 1 my freshman year in college (it was the book pick of the semester, thus deeply discounted, and I had heard good things so why not pick it up and give it a shot?) But all I can really do at this point is. just. Squeeeeeeeeeee!
Um, er, yeah, I loved book 7; I think it has even managed to surpass book 3 for me, which I was not expecting. I had gone into reading book 7 hoping for the best but expecting to probably be disappointed; happily, except for a few plodding chapters, I absolutely loved it. I know others will vehemently disagree (and some already have) with me on that view, but I can't help loving the book.
I finished the book at around 7:45 am on Sunday. Yeah, ridiculous, but I got to a certain point and just couldn't stop. Then I couldn't sleep afterwards, I had to reread parts and just squeal and bask in that it was over, that it was a great ending to a great series, and that a lot of my suspicions and hopes came true. I think I got to sleep about an hour after that, finally.
Why I loved book 7:
First off, I loved that Rowling stuck to the traditons of classic literature, and didn't stick on some crazy modern ending thing, which would be either ambiguous ala Sopranos or have modern "gritty realism," aka life sucks so therefore all the worst things that can happen will, just deal with it, blah blah. I've read enough literature to know that in stories like the one HP was shaping out to be, Harry would have to live at the end, and Snape would be redeemed. I was glad to be proven right. The themes and literary archetypes she set up would not have worked otherwise-love conquers all, good will always triumph over evil, redemption, the hero's journey, and so on. But more on some of those later.
First off, I loved the backstories we got in this volume. I loved Snape so much I wanted to give him a big fat snog hug after the chapter about him and Lily; it was just so heartbreaking. It explains so, so much; the bipolar way Snape has always behaved towards Harry, hating yet helping him; why that day by the lake after the exam is his worst day-not because James and Sirius humiliated him, but because it was the catalyst for Lily abandoning him at last; and why he wanted to look into Harry's eyes-Lily's eyes-before he died. I have always been a huge sucker for unrequited love that is pure, aka Snape's for Lily. (I was going to write out my plot bunny about Snape's past love at last, but Lily is so similar to her and does so many of the same things, that I'm probably just going to abandon it.) And can I tell you how excited I am to see Alan Rickman in this role for the seventh movie? He plays the unrequited lover so, so well (see Sense & Sensibility), and will be amazing, I just know it. Melissa was sure he would die; I was hoping against hope he wouldn't but had my suspicions. But my greatest wish, that not only would the true story of his courage and sacrifice be discovered but declared for all to hear, came true; and the fact that Harry named his sweet, gentle son with Lily's eyes after Snape, and reveres him as the bravest man he ever knew, almost did me over.
I also loved Dumbledore's backstory; I had wondered why he and his brother didn't seem close, and loved having that and other things resolved. I love how great, yet flawed, Rowling has written him; a brilliant yet somewhat proud boy, which contributed to some of the greatest tragedies of his life and affected deeply the wizened man he became; his own wonderful story involving Grindlewald and how that reshaped his views and future; and that he turned down the Minister of Magic post more out of fear than humility. He is not some stoic archetype, yet is one of the greatest characters in the HP universe.
Next, I loved the way things tied in and played out in the final book. While I was annoyed or even bored at times (Lupin's terrible yet understandable behavior about his wife and child; the chapters about wandering about in woods that took forever; Ron deserting, though he did redeem himself later; etc. I loved the final battle. I loved that it playing out in the Hogwarts beloved by Harry and Voldemort; that Rowling brought back all the beloved characters to fight at the end, even if caused them to die; and the way Harry was killed yet not, which neatly tied up the Horcrux mess. abd the Hallows stuff, while not going in the direction I had expected, was interesting.
I also loved all the people redeemed in this book. Snape, I knew had to be but wasn't sure how that would come about. Dudley and Percy's change of hearts made me squee. Seeing the Malfoys true colors at last was wonderful-not truly evil, just stupidly prideful and drawn to power and security, yet Lucius and Narcissa caring more for their Draco than the Dark Lord at the end. And I liked that Draco acknowledged Harry at the platform in the epilogue; I got the sense that while they would never be close, they respected each other. (But who is Draco's wife?! WHoooooo?! I want answers darn it!) Pettigrew's payment of the debt he owed Harry was anticlimactic, compared to what I had thought might happen, but was necessary and crucial to getting Harry and the others out of Malfoy Manner alive. Even Dumbledore's change, from the way he was as a child to the man he became at the end, redeemed him in my eyes from his dealings with his sister. Kreacher's dramatic change was remarkable and made me love an previously despicable and pitiable character. Speaking of house elves, the centaur and house-elf rallies at the end and Griphook's conversation at Shell Cottege gives hope to positive wizard/creature relations in the future-a redemption of past mistakes in the magical community. And last, I don't know if this is called redemption or not, but having Neville grow from an insecure, seemingly unskilled boy to such a brave, inspiring leader was marvelous; I wanted to hug him.
Which leads to the hero's journey stuff. I've read a little of Joseph Campbell and had this covered in high school English classes too, plus my own research: the idea of a hero, what he must go through to get his mission acomplished, the refiner's fire his spirit will be put through so that he comes out of the ordeal a man at last, etc. The trials Harry goes through, the mentors and friends he loves and loses, the fights with his foe and with himself, his bravery when all seems lost, and the change for the better of his character at the close all are standard hero stuff; what is great about Rowling is that she made Harry be and do all of these things, yet be an utterly unique hero in his own right, with his own desires and personality. (And of course, a lot of modern teen angst thrown in; I could have done without a lot of his sulking and shouting, but maybe it was necessary as a foil for the calmer, more mature Harry in the epilogue?) His heroic journey is as familiar as all the others taken in the history of literature, and yet adds something new and poignant to the mix.
Lastly, despite some posts I have read to the contrary, I loved the epilogue. You don't read seven behemoth volumes about a boy and his friends/enemies and then not want to know what happens to them in the future, do you? I think this was an essential chapter to include; it provided closure, let us see how old wounds have healed and how new futures and destinies are emerging. (I think it's pretty obvious that Victoire is Bill and Fleur's daughter, love that Harry got to be a godfather himself, and would love it if Draco's son ended up with either Harry or Ron's daughters-it would just be fitting. I was kind of hoping they might abandon the segregating house system at Hogwarts, but can see why it remained, I suppose.) And I now have an official triumvirate of Als that I love more than life itself: Alphonse Elric, Allen Walker, and Albus Potter. Leeshee and I both agree that little Albus is now one of our fave characters in the whole series.
Sorry for all the gushing; there's so much more to say, but as I only got maybe 2-3 hours of sleep last night/today, and drove 3-4 hours up to Idaho and back this afternoon, my brain is pretty fuzzy. What did you guys think of the book? Passionately agree or disagree with me, or have points to add that I forgot to include?