Who else picked the first box on Mugglenet's latest poll?
I've read DH in three days - having a twin sister who is a fan does that! - and, well, I LOVED it. I can't explain how much, you should see the besotted smile that appears on my face whenever I think about it.
Much as I'd like to write a long, coherent review, the thickness of the plot and the affection I developed for this book prevent me from remembering every single detail - and there were many of them - which made me cry out in delight or simply squirm on the bed. Therefore, here is yet another list-review with my favourite things about Deathly Hallows.
WARNING: may contain abuse of the verb "love".
*Harry.
Oh, Harry, my hero. My innocent, intrepid, my special ordinary boy, fighting to become a young man, with his values, his flaws, his fears, his loyalty never tainted. I've never loved him more than I do now. I loved his blush-y reaction to the other six Potters stripping carelessly in front of him, I'd have held him so tight! His love for Ginny, the way he kept looking at her dot on the Map. And then the way he buried Dobby, digging the grave without magic, writing that simple epitaph… Awww. Harry ;_; He chose to die! I loved how Rowling described his feelings while he was walking toward Voldemort, at the end. If I had not heard on the news that Harry (or "il maghetto" -little wizard-, as it is usually called in Italy) was going to marry and have 3 kids - yes, journalists here are so respectful of the readers! - I think I would have died reading that bit. It really looked like he was going to die ;_; and that would have killed me. I was so moved reading that bit where he conjures the ghosts of his parents, Remus and Sirius, and he asks to the latter whether it hurts to die. What can be more moving? :(
*Ron/Hermione.
I had never appreciated Ron as a character in the previous books, but I fell in love with him since the first chapters of DH. The same goes for Hermione: I've always liked her, but not with this intensity! She took foodstuff in the shops but left money behind… so sweet ;_;
The scene in which Ron and Hermione explain to Harry how they plan to handle their absence during their journey is what made me realise he's as adorable as Harry, as brave as him. I also love how protective he was with Hermione and yeah, that will probably cost me the label of "old-fashioned git", but I approve of this. I like my men protective! I like my men to take care of the action, and that does not mean that I underestimate the women's role in our society. I just know that there are differences, and I quite like them, too.
So, their kiss? The fact that Hermione sprung into his arms only after he recognised the dignity of house elves? Brilliant. And so tender ;_;
*Sirius' bedroom.
SQUEE!!!! How amazing was that? Apart from the Gryffindor flags (oh, Sirius, you must have felt so lonely in there ;_;) I knew that there would be some pics of nearly naked girls on the walls, but the best part is that they were Muggle girls! YAY for Sirius' nerves, such a stud!
Here comes the only scene that made me cry: Lily's letter and the picture of little Harry flying on his broom. I was a teary mess, that letter was so… I don't know, so real. So spontaneous, natural. It's the first real glimpse we get of the life Harry could have had if Tom fucking Riddle had not got in the way, and that hurt. Another reason to love Harry.
*The Dumbledores sub-plot.
Here's what I have to say: if J.K. Rowling was able to make me doubt of Albus Dumbledore, then I am deeply, deeply satisfied with her narrative skills. Through the whole book I was frightened of learning the truth about his past and I kept thinking please, not another Underwater Light!
What a relief when the story of each Dumbledore was finally explained! I'm sure little Ariana was raped by Muggles, what do you think? Such a sad life she had.
*The overall dark atmosphere.
The book opens with a woman being killed and offered to a snake as a reward. On a table in front of many people. It goes on with three teenagers stuck in a tent with no ideas for the future and no food and the constant anxiety over their families' situation. It hurt reading about Ron's leave, it really did. And then the embarrassment between Harry and Hermione was so real, because I could totally see Harry feeling all torn and guilty for taking his best friends in a journey that started looking ridiculously useless. The plot goes on and things get darker and darker: we find out that Hogwarts has been taken over by the Death Eaters, and that Amycus and Alecto are teaching how to use Unforgivables to punish the students!!! Worse, to make the students punish their friends! God, the more I read, the more shocked I was.
*Hogwarts.
I've read that Rowling will write an encyclopaedia, but what I'd really like to read is an account of the seventh year at Hogwarts. Not that Neville's tale was not satisfying, but I'm dying to know more about this dreadful year!! I want to know how McGonagall dealt with the Death Eater Professors
More Hogwarts highlights: the Ravenclaw common room does not have any password! I loved that question thing, and now I'm all curious about Slytherin's dungeons
*Snape's death.
I had been spoiled, so I already knew. I've read that someone was disappointed by the lack of magnificence in such an important scene, but… well, I suppose I'm a sucker for angst, because I wanted his death to be sad, unfair, just like his whole life: it was exactly like that. Plus, he died grasping Harry's robes and begging him to look him in the eyes… awwww that's so tormenting!!
*The Prince's tale
Ok, this is my favourite chapter. Absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful. So tragic!
Turns out that that memory was the worst because he had called Lily 'mudblood', not because he had been hung upside down in front of everyone.
This chapter also contains some of the best quotes:
"I'm just trying to show you they're not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are"
The intensity of his gaze made her blush.
"Her son lives. He has her eyes, precisely her eyes. You remember the shape and colour of Lily Evans's eyes, I am sure?"
"DON'T!" bellowed Snape. "Gone… Dead…"
"Is this remorse, Severus?"
"I wish… I wish I were dead."
"[…] You must kill me."
"Would you like me to do it now? […] Or would you like a few moments to compose an epitaph?"
"After all this time?"
"Always," said Snape.
I am stunned at the amount of people who do not consider love enough of a worthy cause of Snape's change of heart. I don't understand which place love has in their scale of values… Why should it sound soppy? Because it's obvious? I don't think that there are feelings more powerful than love, therefore I'm glad Snape came out as a flawed, tragic romantic hero. I can't see anything wrong in this, anything ruined or wasted. ('xcept his life, of course)
*The Malfoys.
Uh… All I have to say is that my inner canon fan is v. happy that they were finally represented as three pathetic, coward slaves. I really can't feel sorry for them. I was about to reconsider my evaluation of Narcissa when she lied about Harry's death, but she only did it to run to her son! She couldn't care less about the fate of a young man the same age as Draco, how disgusting is that?
Yeah, I can't deny that I was hoping for Harry and Draco to soften their hostility in the epilogue, but… as I said, I'm alright with angst. Makes everything more realistic.
*The many deaths.
I'll leave it to this: shit happens. We couldn't expect death to hit only the minor characters or those who were less loved by the protagonist. I agree with vikingcarrot when she says that the deaths that were less functional to the plot were those who satisfied her more.
This said… Fred! Remus! I'll miss you two so much <3
*The Epilogue.
How can anyone *not* grasp that all Harry had ever wanted was to be an ordinary boy? That he didn't dream of anything special for his future, that he longed for a happy family? Come on, this is the very foundation of the saga, why all those complaints about the triumph of the bourgeois lifestyle? It is beyond me, really.
Besides, I will never stop wondering when the hell marrying and having children stopped being a fairly desirable thing. I'm not suggesting that it should be the one and only desire of every human being, but it's a beautiful achievement when all you care about is giving love and receiving love from those you love. Ok, family life implies routine, sacrifices, not-so-cool events, but that doesn't mean that the portrayal of a happy family is BOUND to be false, sentimental and ridiculous. I'm pissed off by some reactions. Spitting on anything reminding us real life looks very childish and disrespectful to me.
So, er… YAY FOR THE NEW GENERATION! So many possibilities for slash fanfics!
I've got two more things to say: the first is that I'm really tired of people complaining about JKR's handling of *her own* characters. I believe she had the whole story in mind from the beginning, so it isn't her fault if we all got a little bit carried away reading fanfiction. I also admire her for having the balls to write an ending that she knew would arouse vitriol in many fans.
Has there ever been another writer who was under that same pressure? Don't think so. Thank you, JK, for sticking to your plans!
Ok, everyone has their own tastes, but labelling this book as "crappy writing" seems a little too much.
The second thing is that - contrary to some other fans - I'm unbelievably excited about the future of HP slash fanfiction! Shame on me for being so selfish, but I think DH will provide a natural skimming that will rid us of mediocre fluff fanfics, because people will need a lot of talent and cleverness to come to terms with a plot that seems to have been crafted with the purpose of destroying every ship!
Nevertheless, I trust fandom to overcome difficulties with creativity, I truly do, and I can't wait to read the new products :D (I know I'll start looking for Snape/Lily fanfics, I just adore the two of them together!)
Here are two links to reward those who had the patience of reading my review…
satine_59 has a list of DH artwork
snape_after_dh: a fic fest dedicated to Snape, because he deserved so much more.
Much as I'd like to write a long, coherent review, the thickness of the plot and the affection I developed for this book prevent me from remembering every single detail - and there were many of them - which made me cry out in delight or simply squirm on the bed. Therefore, here is yet another list-review with my favourite things about Deathly Hallows.
WARNING: may contain abuse of the verb "love".
*Harry.
Oh, Harry, my hero. My innocent, intrepid, my special ordinary boy, fighting to become a young man, with his values, his flaws, his fears, his loyalty never tainted. I've never loved him more than I do now. I loved his blush-y reaction to the other six Potters stripping carelessly in front of him, I'd have held him so tight! His love for Ginny, the way he kept looking at her dot on the Map. And then the way he buried Dobby, digging the grave without magic, writing that simple epitaph… Awww. Harry ;_; He chose to die! I loved how Rowling described his feelings while he was walking toward Voldemort, at the end. If I had not heard on the news that Harry (or "il maghetto" -little wizard-, as it is usually called in Italy) was going to marry and have 3 kids - yes, journalists here are so respectful of the readers! - I think I would have died reading that bit. It really looked like he was going to die ;_; and that would have killed me. I was so moved reading that bit where he conjures the ghosts of his parents, Remus and Sirius, and he asks to the latter whether it hurts to die. What can be more moving? :(
*Ron/Hermione.
I had never appreciated Ron as a character in the previous books, but I fell in love with him since the first chapters of DH. The same goes for Hermione: I've always liked her, but not with this intensity! She took foodstuff in the shops but left money behind… so sweet ;_;
The scene in which Ron and Hermione explain to Harry how they plan to handle their absence during their journey is what made me realise he's as adorable as Harry, as brave as him. I also love how protective he was with Hermione and yeah, that will probably cost me the label of "old-fashioned git", but I approve of this. I like my men protective! I like my men to take care of the action, and that does not mean that I underestimate the women's role in our society. I just know that there are differences, and I quite like them, too.
So, their kiss? The fact that Hermione sprung into his arms only after he recognised the dignity of house elves? Brilliant. And so tender ;_;
*Sirius' bedroom.
SQUEE!!!! How amazing was that? Apart from the Gryffindor flags (oh, Sirius, you must have felt so lonely in there ;_;) I knew that there would be some pics of nearly naked girls on the walls, but the best part is that they were Muggle girls! YAY for Sirius' nerves, such a stud!
Here comes the only scene that made me cry: Lily's letter and the picture of little Harry flying on his broom. I was a teary mess, that letter was so… I don't know, so real. So spontaneous, natural. It's the first real glimpse we get of the life Harry could have had if Tom fucking Riddle had not got in the way, and that hurt. Another reason to love Harry.
*The Dumbledores sub-plot.
Here's what I have to say: if J.K. Rowling was able to make me doubt of Albus Dumbledore, then I am deeply, deeply satisfied with her narrative skills. Through the whole book I was frightened of learning the truth about his past and I kept thinking please, not another Underwater Light!
What a relief when the story of each Dumbledore was finally explained! I'm sure little Ariana was raped by Muggles, what do you think? Such a sad life she had.
*The overall dark atmosphere.
The book opens with a woman being killed and offered to a snake as a reward. On a table in front of many people. It goes on with three teenagers stuck in a tent with no ideas for the future and no food and the constant anxiety over their families' situation. It hurt reading about Ron's leave, it really did. And then the embarrassment between Harry and Hermione was so real, because I could totally see Harry feeling all torn and guilty for taking his best friends in a journey that started looking ridiculously useless. The plot goes on and things get darker and darker: we find out that Hogwarts has been taken over by the Death Eaters, and that Amycus and Alecto are teaching how to use Unforgivables to punish the students!!! Worse, to make the students punish their friends! God, the more I read, the more shocked I was.
*Hogwarts.
I've read that Rowling will write an encyclopaedia, but what I'd really like to read is an account of the seventh year at Hogwarts. Not that Neville's tale was not satisfying, but I'm dying to know more about this dreadful year!! I want to know how McGonagall dealt with the Death Eater Professors
More Hogwarts highlights: the Ravenclaw common room does not have any password! I loved that question thing, and now I'm all curious about Slytherin's dungeons
*Snape's death.
I had been spoiled, so I already knew. I've read that someone was disappointed by the lack of magnificence in such an important scene, but… well, I suppose I'm a sucker for angst, because I wanted his death to be sad, unfair, just like his whole life: it was exactly like that. Plus, he died grasping Harry's robes and begging him to look him in the eyes… awwww that's so tormenting!!
*The Prince's tale
Ok, this is my favourite chapter. Absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful. So tragic!
Turns out that that memory was the worst because he had called Lily 'mudblood', not because he had been hung upside down in front of everyone.
This chapter also contains some of the best quotes:
"I'm just trying to show you they're not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are"
The intensity of his gaze made her blush.
"Her son lives. He has her eyes, precisely her eyes. You remember the shape and colour of Lily Evans's eyes, I am sure?"
"DON'T!" bellowed Snape. "Gone… Dead…"
"Is this remorse, Severus?"
"I wish… I wish I were dead."
"[…] You must kill me."
"Would you like me to do it now? […] Or would you like a few moments to compose an epitaph?"
"After all this time?"
"Always," said Snape.
I am stunned at the amount of people who do not consider love enough of a worthy cause of Snape's change of heart. I don't understand which place love has in their scale of values… Why should it sound soppy? Because it's obvious? I don't think that there are feelings more powerful than love, therefore I'm glad Snape came out as a flawed, tragic romantic hero. I can't see anything wrong in this, anything ruined or wasted. ('xcept his life, of course)
*The Malfoys.
Uh… All I have to say is that my inner canon fan is v. happy that they were finally represented as three pathetic, coward slaves. I really can't feel sorry for them. I was about to reconsider my evaluation of Narcissa when she lied about Harry's death, but she only did it to run to her son! She couldn't care less about the fate of a young man the same age as Draco, how disgusting is that?
Yeah, I can't deny that I was hoping for Harry and Draco to soften their hostility in the epilogue, but… as I said, I'm alright with angst. Makes everything more realistic.
*The many deaths.
I'll leave it to this: shit happens. We couldn't expect death to hit only the minor characters or those who were less loved by the protagonist. I agree with vikingcarrot when she says that the deaths that were less functional to the plot were those who satisfied her more.
This said… Fred! Remus! I'll miss you two so much <3
*The Epilogue.
How can anyone *not* grasp that all Harry had ever wanted was to be an ordinary boy? That he didn't dream of anything special for his future, that he longed for a happy family? Come on, this is the very foundation of the saga, why all those complaints about the triumph of the bourgeois lifestyle? It is beyond me, really.
Besides, I will never stop wondering when the hell marrying and having children stopped being a fairly desirable thing. I'm not suggesting that it should be the one and only desire of every human being, but it's a beautiful achievement when all you care about is giving love and receiving love from those you love. Ok, family life implies routine, sacrifices, not-so-cool events, but that doesn't mean that the portrayal of a happy family is BOUND to be false, sentimental and ridiculous. I'm pissed off by some reactions. Spitting on anything reminding us real life looks very childish and disrespectful to me.
So, er… YAY FOR THE NEW GENERATION! So many possibilities for slash fanfics!
I've got two more things to say: the first is that I'm really tired of people complaining about JKR's handling of *her own* characters. I believe she had the whole story in mind from the beginning, so it isn't her fault if we all got a little bit carried away reading fanfiction. I also admire her for having the balls to write an ending that she knew would arouse vitriol in many fans.
Has there ever been another writer who was under that same pressure? Don't think so. Thank you, JK, for sticking to your plans!
Ok, everyone has their own tastes, but labelling this book as "crappy writing" seems a little too much.
The second thing is that - contrary to some other fans - I'm unbelievably excited about the future of HP slash fanfiction! Shame on me for being so selfish, but I think DH will provide a natural skimming that will rid us of mediocre fluff fanfics, because people will need a lot of talent and cleverness to come to terms with a plot that seems to have been crafted with the purpose of destroying every ship!
Nevertheless, I trust fandom to overcome difficulties with creativity, I truly do, and I can't wait to read the new products :D (I know I'll start looking for Snape/Lily fanfics, I just adore the two of them together!)
Here are two links to reward those who had the patience of reading my review…
satine_59 has a list of DH artwork
snape_after_dh: a fic fest dedicated to Snape, because he deserved so much more.