lindsay
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us." - Franz Kafka
Posts: 741
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Post by lindsay on Jul 26, 2007 12:20:03 GMT -5
I'm kinda late to the discussion! Anyway, all in all I really likmed it. Before I read it I was prepared to be completely dissapointed but was pleasantly suprised. I really did believe before I read it that Harry was going to die but I think it works out better that he lived. People may dissagree with me on this point? I really liked the fact that the ending tied up all the loose ends. I also read that people here did not like the epilogue but I have to admit that I really liked it and made it so I didn't obsess over what happened to the characters after the defeat of Voldemort. I kinda like knowing that "all was well". I'm a sucker for happy endings but I don't know if that makes the whole series lose something by wrapping it up so neatly?
And by the way, I think Mrs. Weasley kicks but!
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Jul 26, 2007 13:04:34 GMT -5
I too would have been really disappointed if Harry had died, I'm really glad he survived! When I found out part of Voldemort's soul was in him, I was thrilled because I thought Voldy would kill his own soul and not Harry's if he attacked him. I don't think I could have gotten over the shock of Harry's death, no matter how JK would have spinned it. It was bad enough losing Hedwig, Moody, Dobby, Lupin, Tonks, Fred and the other kids... I'm not sure which death affected me the most, probably Fred's... but the ones that brought tears to my eyes were Hedwig's, because I've got this insane thing going on that I'd rather see a man die than an animal, and then Dobby's, because the headstone Harry made for him was simple but incredibly moving
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Jul 26, 2007 16:31:19 GMT -5
I'm glad Harry survived, too. When I was reading the chapter when he is walking to the woods to sacrifice himself, I was thinking, wow, she's actually going to kill him off - I can't believe it. I actually really like the way that she did that. I loved the last few chapters where Harry sacrifices himself but still lives and everything with the wandlore - I liked that a lot.
Dobby's death was the only one that I cried at. I think I would be most upset about Lupin or Fred if she had written it differently. I know it's a battle so death happens quickly, but I think they deserved more. I wish we could have at least seen how Lupin and Tonks died.
For those of us upset by the lack of other information in the epilogue, Rowling gave an interview and said that Harry and Ron become aurors (they revolutionize the department - the entire ministry actually - and Harry eventually becomes head) and Hermoine is high up in the department of magical law enforcement.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Jul 26, 2007 18:38:51 GMT -5
I'm finally back!!!! Had to start my posting with this thread, of course! I was home without internet access until Monday evening, and then plum forgot my powerbook power cord at home, so my dad had to mail it to me. I just got it in the mail today and could plug my computer back in! torture!
Anyway, I read as fast as I could, with a few small breaks on Saturday. I finished just after Midnight on Saturday night/Sunday wee hours. I loved it - I'm really happy with it. I want to re-read it pretty soon.
My thoughts-
-I was really worried about who would die (for me, the worst deaths would be Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid. Harry too, to an extent - but his could have been done in a different way that would have been sad, but not as sad. If that makes any sense). I was sad about each death, but honestly they happened so fast I didn't have time to be sad. I think Dobby's death affected me most, simply because the most time was spent talking about it. Plus it was really sad, and he had just been such a big hero.
-I love Neville even more, and I thought that I definitely wanted him to kill Bellatrix, but now I'm glad she was able to keep the kids pretty innocent. I thought I couldn't be happy with anyone but him killing her, but I just LOVED Mrs. Weasely finishing her off. I've always felt for her because of how completely terrifying her life is - everyone in her family was in the Order and at great risk. And she's always so giving and loving. I've always felt that she was a great wizard, but never got a chance to shine, so I'm really happy she finally got to pay a death eater back for all the horrors, fear, and sadness they inflicted on her family.
-I loved that Harry defeated Voldemort with Expelliamus. How awesome - it is his signature move.
-I didn't think it was slow - I'm a weirdo who LIKES the parts that aren't action packed. I love reading about day to day life and am just happy to be with the characters when they're not in the middle of a crazy battle. I thought it was so cool to see what a superstar Hermione is. She totally kicked butt helping Harry. Without her (and Ron too, but especially her) they never would have survived or been able to hunt the horcruxes so effectively.
-I'm happy Harry and Ginny are together, I really like Ginny and I'm so glad he's officially part of the Weasleys. I just don't think their romance was developed as well as Ron and Hermione's - I wasn't feeling the chemistry. But I'm happy they are together.
-The first page of the Epilogue, I was really worried I'd hate it. I thought anything 19 years in the future would be weird and cheesey. And it was a tiny but, but mostly I was happy with it. I thought it actually worked well that it was vague, I agree with JKR that point by point explainations of what now happens to whom would not work very well. I like that she leaves a lot of things up to your imagination and guesses, as well as showing us that things are ok now. (I also love that she told us, outside the book, what she imagines happens to the characters.) The main reason I like the epilogue is that it made me incredibly happy teary. I teared up imagining Sirius or Lily or James or Dumbledore or anyone of the many people who died fighting the death eaters looking down and being so proud and so happy with what these kids have become.
-I'm glad Snape wasn't evil. I like Snape, and I don't know why. As I said before, probably because I love Alan Rickman. Darn movies influencing the books for me.
-Finally, my absolutely favorite part was the battle at Hogwarts. I was nervous about book 7 if they didn't go back - how I would like reading a book not set mainly at Hogwarts. But the final battle was the huge payoff, in my mind. So completely awesome. Words can't express how much I loved that final battle.
I'm really sad that it's all over. But so happy that I have these books to read again and again, and I never have to truly leave the characters.
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
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Post by neh on Jul 26, 2007 18:55:03 GMT -5
Beautifully said, Zelda. And you're right about the epilogue - i'm sure the adults who perished for the cause would have been very happy to see these kids grown up and doing well. Jeife - i'm with you; animal cruelty or killing really seems to affect me more than it would were it a human - and not just in fiction, even in the news!!! Mabye i have my priorities wrong, but that's how i am! Oh! Thanks for the info memccart - i haven't read (i don't think) that Jo interview yet (although i check Mugglenet each day so mabye i'm becoming a bit lapse in my attention...) so thanks heaps for giving us the heads up! *Oh, and i have one more thing i must say on the Snape-loves-Lily issue. His mentality (Snapes') was actually quite sick as far as the spare her life deal was concerned. What was he thinking - oh, she'll lose her husband and her kid and i'm knowlingly accepting that because it means we can be together!!! Hurray! - NO!
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Post by caffeinequeen on Jul 27, 2007 1:08:43 GMT -5
I agree with you guys on most things. My thoughts- I thought the epilogue (everyone Ive talked to seems to think it was a little cheesy and too vague ) But I didnt mind it. It was nice to know that everything turned out ok and that Harry ends up with Ginny and Hermione ends up with Ron in the end. I liked the bit where she mentioned Malfoy's hairline was reseeding too..haha. At first when I started to find out all these horrible things that Dumbledore had done, I started to get really depressed. DD was always infallible in my eyes.. but after awhile I came to terms with it and realized that no one, not even the most brilliant and gifted wizard in the world, is perfect. Best line ever "Not my daughter, you BITCH!!' Ha, I laughed my ass off at that part. I LOVED loved loved the seen at Gringotts. I cant believe Harry broke the chains of the dragon, and climbed onto its back and practically destroyed the entire bank beyond repair. I love when theyre by the lake afterwards and Ron says: You know Hermione, I think they may have noticed that we've just broken into a bank. Haha.. oh Ron. Like a lot of you, I really thought that Harry was done for. And I kept thinking to myself, well if he absolutely has to die in order to defeat Voldy, then why couldnt he of just died at Godric's Hollow? Then the battle of Hogwarts would of never happened and all these lives would have been spared.. but that was before I knew he survived of course. Did any of you remember when snape is about die and hes giving his thoughts to Harry, he pulls harrys face towards him and says: look into my eyes! Thats because he wants to be reminded of Lily, and why he has risked his life to protect Harry's. I admit, I was also a "snape's an evil git" type of person. But I was pleasantly surprised when I found out he was all noble and such. I love how everything tied together at the end. I loved the idea of the Hallows too. The idea of being master of death. I love how all the quotes fit in too. JKR is such a brilliant story teller. The way she weaves the delicate tapestry of the story is truly genius. I just love the way her mind works. Ew, remember in Godric's Hollow when the snake bursts out of that old lady? Ugh, I almost threw up at that part. What an unpleasant surprise, wouldn't you say? I love so many parts of this book, but most of all I love how Jo keeps coming back to the same thing. The only reason Harry can defeat Voldemort is because he knows what love and friendship are. He knows how to love and how to be loved, and that's all it takes. It's not because he has a more powerful wand, or because he is more skilled is magic, it's because his mother died to save him and he was willing to die for the sake of everyone else. It sounds corny when I say it, but I love how it always comes back to that. I also noticed how this book, this whole series even, is a metaphor for world war 2, the kkk, the rwandan genocide, any massacre in human history where descrimination and prejudice based on race, religion or creed. It reminds us that it doesnt matter if youre a half-blood, a mudblood, a pure blood or a muggle, but they're all just human in the end. Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. But those are my thoughts on the book.
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Jul 27, 2007 8:08:08 GMT -5
I also noticed how this book, this whole series even, is a metaphor for world war 2, the kkk, the rwandan genocide, any massacre in human history where descrimination and prejudice based on race, religion or creed. It reminds us that it doesnt matter if youre a half-blood, a mudblood, a pure blood or a muggle, but they're all just human in the end. I agree, and the scene at the end where all the students, professors, elves, centaurs, etc. are all mingling, no matter which house they're from, was excellent! My husband's reading the book right now and he's already picked up on the fact that Snape can't be evil because of the punishment Ginny, Neville and Luna got for trying to steal Gryffindor's sword. I agree that they got off easy, being sent to the Forest, too easy for what they had done, but I was so busy hating Snape that I didn't pick up on it when I was reading the book!
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jul 27, 2007 11:13:29 GMT -5
I finished it. It was interesting, but I think that I enjoyed the first six better. This might be because I knew the seventh book was the end, or maybe because, going to school at Hogwarts had given the first books a "structure" and it wasn't in this book. I was so sad when all those people died, mostly for Fred and Dobby. I was angry that Hedwig was killed because she never did anything, she didn't deserve that! But, then again, trying to keep her caged up while Harry was in hiding wouldn't have worked too well.
The epilogue was a little weird. I was happy Rowling did that, so there's less of a chance of Harry Potter spin-offs. But it was so cheesy! And all of those kids being named for other people really started to confuse me. In a way, I somehow thought Neville might end up with Luna because everyone else ended up together (yay ) but I didn't really realize it until I was reading the epilogue. And QUESTION: What happened to Harry being Teddy's godfather? In the epilogue they just point out that he's there, but he's not amongst Harry's other three children...
I haven't read what everyone's had to say, but I saw that memccart asked if Harry died when he talked to Dumbledore. I personally think he was in limbo, between alive and dead. I don't think it was just a dream Harry had, but that his soul or whatever was speaking to the dead Dumbledore and then went back into his body.
I'll post more stuff later
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Jul 27, 2007 11:15:40 GMT -5
Best line ever "Not my daughter, you BITCH!!" Ha, I laughed my ass off at that part. O man, that was some funny stuff! I absolutely loved it! And that part where Kreacher is trying to hurt Mundungus because he was mean to Harry was awesome. Asking if he could kick him once more, for luck...amazing
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Jul 27, 2007 12:13:13 GMT -5
That reminds me: I loved the part where Harry and Kreacher finally became friends, I felt so bad when they couldn't go back to Grimmauld Place and eat the meal Kreacher had prepared for them! And when Ron stood up for the elves in front of Hermione, well that was just priceless! Basically, I just love the roles the elves played in the book. QUESTION: What happened to Harry being Teddy's godfather? In the epilogue they just point out that he's there, but he's not amongst Harry's other three children... Seeing that the epilogue takes place 19 years later, I guess Teddy must be 19 years old by then and would much rather make out with a girl than hang out with Harry's kids?! Just a wild guess ;D
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Jul 27, 2007 12:55:28 GMT -5
I don't know if this has been posted already but there will be a one-hour special with JK on Dateline NBC this Sunday at 7:00 pm.
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
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Post by neh on Jul 27, 2007 18:21:53 GMT -5
Oh good - i was wondering what date that was coming out on, coz it's been talked of for a while and i'm relying on some good soul to post it on Youtube for those who can't see it on the actualy broadcast. Thanks for the heads up Jefie. And i believe it was stated that Teddy was around a good deal at the Potters' house, so i imagine that even if he had been living with his grandma, he had a second home, much like Sirius did, with Haz and the gang. But as Jefie pointed out, there's a good chance by the time of the epilogue that he'd be off living his own life anyway. As fas as Hogwarts is concerned, my own lingering question is WHY THE HELL WOULD PARENTS STILL BE SENDING THEIR KIDS THERE, AS THE YEAR WEARS ON? ?!!!! Or even at the beginning, when the Carrows were appointed?! I don't give a hoot if it's part of the law now to send the kids there, i'd risk Azkaban to keep my kid safe from misery and torment and torture for heaven's sake!!! And even if the kids weren't able to report to their folks what was going on inside the school, surely you'd be suspecting things couldn't be too peachy with known Death Eaters running the business and the wider wizarding world going to poop all around you!!! GOOD GRIEF!!!!
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Jul 27, 2007 20:19:14 GMT -5
The death-eater-run ministry made Hogwarts attendance compulsory, so they had no choice but to keep sending their kids there.
I also loved Kreacher in this book. I really wish he could have been in it more.
I don't think Teddy lived with Harry ever because otherwise Ginny (?) wouldn't have said that he would really be family if he married Victoirre. If he had been raised by them since he was a baby, then that statement wouldn't really make sense.
In the 5th book, when Petunia says that "that horrible boy" told Lily about the dementors, she was actually talking about Snape, not James, like we thought. I kind of liked that little twist.
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neh
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I live in two worlds; one is a world of books"
Posts: 943
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Post by neh on Jul 27, 2007 20:35:42 GMT -5
And all the time, i had suspected it was Sirius (that Petunia spoke of - coz of the theory that she loved Sirius) I still think some parents could have said 'screw the ministry' to keep their kids safe.. although no doubt the school environment was just the lesser of two evil options.
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Post by caffeinequeen on Jul 27, 2007 23:07:19 GMT -5
Yeah, there's a special on Dateline on Sun. at 7pm. So excited. I hope she clears a few things up for us, like that whole Teddy thing. I really think he was brought up by his grandma though.
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