Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows(SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!)

[Darling Faithy]

Ok, so now that it's finally here, and you guys have read the book, what do you think? Personally, I could have done WITHOUT the epilogue. I loved the fact that Harry ended up with Ginny and Ron ended up with Hermione, but it was just such a FINAL thing, it freaked me out. I have been crying for like two days straight now over the deaths they suffered, I thank god that she didn't kill Harry like I thought she would, but seriously, the Fred, Tonks, and Lupin thing broke my heart soo bad...I had figured out about Snape a while back ago, and I knew Harry was a horcrux, I also knew who R.A.B. was...


what did everyone else think, did some of their ideas prove to be right, like mine did? It was sad to see Harry recall his family and Lupin and Sirius by the resurrection stone....🙁

 

[Wicked]

I knew Snape was a good guy. I was devastated they killed all but one of my favourite characters (Draco made it through 🙂)

I started crying as soon as it mentioned Harrys kids middle name was Severus 🙂

 

[Darling Faithy]

Omg, me too!! I knew Snape loved Lily, and I knew he'd do anything to see Voldemort down..I laughed and cried at the same time when Harry said "Albus Severus.." and then went on to say how Snape was the bravest man he'd ever known...🙁 lol.

 

[Cohen]

I liked how everything tied together in the end. And how there were subtle mentions of things that had happened to Harry over the past seven years. And I loved different parts where, as I was reading, i would think "Oh, that makes sense."

I knew that Ron and Hermione would end up together when i first read book four. And I knew that Ginny and Harry would end up together when i read book six. And I also knew that J.K. couldn't really kill Harry off, and the way she kept him alive was pretty clever.

I kinda would love to know more about the aftermath. How the wizarding world was rebuilt after a year's reign under Voldemort. Because it got pretty bad. And I would love to see what Harry had become of himself as an adult.

I wish there was more Ginny and Hogwarts in the book though. It did good by tieing up all the characters we have gotten to know over the last 6 books, but I wish some more of them had more face time.

 

[Tranquillity]

I really loved this book!! I cried in so many parts! I loved how so many elements from the previous books were bought in to the story and all the loose ends were tied up. Everyone got to be brave and kill something bad. So many great characters died. Snape's death broke my heart as he has been my favourite since book one but the chapter 'The Prince's Tale' was awesome. I thought the epilogue was a little bit cheesy untill Harry spoke to 'Albus Severeus' about not caring if he was placed in Slytheren house -I've been reciting that line in my head all day - so completely forgave J.K. for not giving us any real details in the epilogue.

 

[Angelic Slayer]

I really didn't like the book, to be honest (don't hurt me!) 🙁

I didn't mind the plot itself, and I like how JK killed off some loved characters (just because it was SO unexpected) but I just thought that the third or so of the book with the search of the horcrux was just a little to repetitive, and when the Half Blood Prince had me on the edge of my seat and always leaping for my other HP books (because it tied in with them SO well) I thought this book was almost a standalone, and didn't really keep my interest.

Snape's loyalities I saw coming, and Harry I expected was a horcrux, and yeah I think we all knew who RAB was 😉. But I'll admit that I was surprised by Fred for sure, and killing off Dobby (almost cried there!!!) which were sad but written unbelievably well!

I kind of wondered why Harry didn't seem to raise Teddy though, given HE grew up without parents as well, I'd think he would move into a role as a surrogate parent after Remus and Tonks died.

I also can't say I was a huge fan of most of the ending. I like how we got to see Snape's memories, but I was expecting Lily and Petunia to have a much larger role, personally. After all the hype made about them before the book came out. And I thought how they killed Voldemort was kind of lame as well, I was hoping for a much larger one-on-one battle, and the whole thing with Harry being able to protect like everyone because he was willing to die for them... that seemed to be stretching it just a little toooo much. It was just TOO good to be true you know?

I like how the teacher's reacted to harry and the others though, that was awesome!!! And how Hermione and Ron finally got a part in the action!

And I wish that they had done more with Sirius' character 🙁 I was really hoping she would write something ground-breaking, like he didn't just die, there always seemed like there would have had to be something more there. But he didn't even seem to HAVE a signifigant role at all, which I was a bit irked about. And what they did reveal about characters (like Dumbledore) I wasn't fond of either, just one of those things that plot-wise was an excellent move, but I personally liked the purely-good kind of character better!

And of course the epilouge. Oh good gratious the epilouge!!! I couldn't help but feel like that was almost a cop-out on JK's part. Putting together all the popular couples among fans (like they were just meant to be together) and naming like EVERY KID after someone who died (Lily, James, Albus Serverus?) was just TOO happy and TOO cliche. That I think really did it for me, I mean of all the endings, I really wish it hadn't been so happy happy-joy joy. That really wasn't what the series was about at all, and I was really dissapointed that she'd end it all with such a pretty bow you know?

So that was a long and choppy rant! 😉 This is just my personal opinion too, I'm not saying the whole book was for the rubbish bin or anything, the writing itself was awesome! I'm just saying that the plot was definitely not for me at all. I was very dissapointed by it, and wasn't a huge fan (almost like after allllll those books, THIS is what we get for an ending?). Something I'd say for a harry potter fan to read for sure, but less for the book itself and more because it's the final chapters.

 

[Spuffy57]

Deathly Hallows was wicked good! I freakin new Snape wasn't evil!!! I cried when he died though. He has been my favorite character since book one. And I new he loved Lily!!!!!!! Dobby's death was sad too. I was surprised by Fred's death because I thought since George had lost an ear nothing else would happen to the twins. I wasn't too crazy about the 19 years later thing. It remined be of a fanfiction or something. Besides that the book was amazing!

I think I am going through Harry Potter withdrawals!

 

[nerd4hire]

I thought it was great, even though I agree with some of the stuff Angelic Slayer said. There were bits that dragged on a bit, and that huge section where nothing could go right for them, and everything just kept getting worse, I couldn't help thinking "God...catch a break guys"

My favorite bits.

The flight of the 7 Potters at the beginning. Very cinematic. I can hardly wait for the movie. And oh no, Hedwig died right out of the gate. Who saw that coming?

Hermione's TARDIS purse, and that cool tent.

That Arthurian scene with the white doe, and the return of Ron. I half-expected a woman's hand to rise out of the lake holding the sword. (Oh, and Hermione flipping out on Ron was kind of a hoot too)

The redemption of Kreacher.

Harry buries Dobby by hand. I'll come clean. That one choked me up. There may even have been ocular humidity. I think that scene was about more than just the death of Dobby. I think maybe it was a focal point for all the deaths, and death and loss in general.

Loved all that mythology dealing with the Deathly Hallows.

Neville pulls Griffindor's sword from the hat and slices off the head of Nagini. I just wanted to cheer.

Snape wasn't such a bad guy after all, and Dumbledore was imperfect. Good stuff.

Harry starts calling Voldemort Riddle.

I liked the Epilogue. Yeah, it was kind of like JK just couldn't stop talking, but who really wanted her to?

 

[Darling Faithy]

I agree with everything you just said Nerd4hire. Except the Epilogue..I honestly didn't enjoy that to much, it seemed like she just wanted to close the whole thing, and she could have done maybe a little bit more...

 

[nerd4hire]

Oh, and Molly Weasley going all mamma lion in a death duel with Bellatrix Lestrange. Turned out she had mad skillz. She wasn't just in the Order of the Phoenix, because she made a mean crumpet. That fight was just hand rubbing, involuntary chuckling, good.

There's a great little piece on Molly Weasley HERE

 

[Darling Faithy]

I love Molly Weasley, and she was kick butt when she's grieving...I was scared to death when she started to battle Bellatrix, cuz well, you saw how well that worked out with Sirius, but when I saw Molly get a clear shot at Bellatrix I broke down into tears, she is truly one courageous little mother.

 

[Allycat]

I really liked the final installment. Even though it was kind of slow the first 300 pages, the latter 300 jam-packed pages more than make up for it. I have to admit, JK isn't a real wordsmith or anything, but she is a masterful storyteller and I absolutely loved how she made almost anything and anyone that ever mattered in any of the previous books come back. Even though I sort of saw some things coming (Snape having acted on Dumbledore's order to protect Draco and Harry being the final horcrux) I was still pleased by the outcome.

I especially love how the character of Snape is finally revealed to be a hero beyond all possible doubt.

I can't wait to read about the adventures of Albus Severus.

 

[Canon]

I absolutely loved this book, it was, in my opinion, the best in the series and probably the best book I've ever read 😀

I was really sad about Fred and Dobby dying though 🙁 But I guess not everyone can survive. I was convinced that Ron or Harry would die, so I'm pleased that they survived and that Ron and Hermione FINALLY got togther!

Overall, I think it was the perfect book to round off the series and I couldn't really have expected much more from it (as you can tell, I really love this book!)

 

[apocalypse]

I was honestly a little disappointed in the book. I'm probably the only person, but I actually wanted Harry to die in the end, taking out Voldemort, especially after reading the epilogue, which I thought was kind of a little cornball. Although, I was kind of happy that Ron and Hermione end up together.

 

[Miss Brightside]

Loved the book itself. One of the best so far. Really had me hooked from start to finish and was generally well written.

HATED the epilogue. Trite, cheesy, unnecessary and extremely out of place. Not to mention I'm a hardcore Harry/Hermione shipper so the "perfect" OBHWF ending left a very sour taste in my mouth.

 

[Mr. Pointy]

A few people have had gripes about the epilogue. I appreciated JK putting it there though, even though it was a little cheesey...I don't shell out nearly nine quid for the last book in a series not to find out what happens to the main characters in the end! 😉

She was always going to put it in though, wasn't she, as it was the part she has allegedly had written for many years and kept stored in a safe(although it is slightly different to her original version...the last word is no longer "scar", as she said in her interview with Jonathan Ross)

 

[nerd4hire]

I saw an interview with JK on the American news program Dateline last night.

She was saying Harry and Ron went into the Auror department where they made revolutionary changes. Hermione went high up in the ministry law division.

Harry remained close with Teddy (is that the name of Tonk's, and Lupin's boy), and kept him in the circle as he grew up.

She was saying she wrote the epilogue largely to show how Harry remained close to Teddy. I thought that was strange, because the details there, aren't really clear.

 

[Miss Brightside]

She was always going to put it in though, wasn't she, as it was the part she has allegedly had written for many years and kept stored in a safe

I think she made a major mistake writing this part first. I'm no writer, but penning the end of your story first just seems like madness. You never know where the story and the characters will take you and eventually they may not fit with the ending you wrote. I think this is exactly what happened with HP, particularly in regards to the romantic angle. OBHWF was always her intention but Harry and Hermione just seemed to write themselves as an amazing potential couple with their deep bond, trust, loyalty, respect and many beautiful moments that seemed to be leading to a romantic conclusion. Instead of adapting her ending to fit with this development, Rowling plowed on with OBHWF regardless and as a result these "love stories" came off as very shallow, trite and unrealistic. In effect she hammered a square peg in to a round hole and for me it ruined what are otherwise wonderful books. She refused to open her mind to different possibilities, to let her characters lead her, and in the end I feel she paid for it. In the real world Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny wouldn't last five minutes and portraying them as the "happy ever after" couples sends out a very negative message.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

I think she made a major mistake writing this part first. I'm no writer, but penning the end of your story first just seems like madness. You never know where the story and the characters will take you and eventually they may not fit with the ending you wrote. I think this is exactly what happened with HP, particularly in regards to the romantic angle. OBHWF was always her intention but Harry and Hermione just seemed to write themselves as an amazing potential couple with their deep bond, trust, loyalty, respect and many beautiful moments that seemed to be leading to a romantic conclusion. Instead of adapting her ending to fit with this development, Rowling plowed on with OBHWF regardless and as a result these "love stories" came off as very shallow, trite and unrealistic. In effect she hammered a square peg in to a round hole and for me it ruined what are otherwise wonderful books. She refused to open her mind to different possibilities, to let her characters lead her, and in the end I feel she paid for it. In the real world Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny wouldn't last five minutes and portraying them as the "happy ever after" couples sends out a very negative message.

Interesting theory - its complete nonsense but interesting.

For a start, any writer worth their salt knows roughly where they want the story to end before pen hits paper. That doesn't mean its set in stone and that they cannot move away, just that they have an aim.

Secondly - on what level is Hermione better suited to Harry?
Ron and Hermione have been kinda obvious from book 1 and I love it. It would have fallen in with every cliche written if Herm and Potter got it on.
Let me ask you a question - did you like The Da Vinci Code?
The answer will have no relevance to anyone else, but will explain everything I need to know about you.

OK, now onto the actual book.

I gotta say it was a perfect end to the story.
It did drag a bit in the middle. I really wanted Harry to do some daring stuff earlier, kinda for a more visible resistance but what we got was cool.

I loved Kreacher in this book.
I wanted more of Snape and Hagrid and kinda less of Harry.
I wanted more Weasley family and less of that gawd awful run up to the wedding.
I wanted Draco to stun Crabbe or Goyle in the room of requirement. I wanted something slightly better for him, he wasn't a bad kid just misguided.
I wanted MUCH more Luna and Neville and less of the overlong Horcrux.
I actually wanted more about the Hallows being it was called the Deathly Hallows.

Pettigrews death kinda sucked and I loved Dobby's(in that it was sad) but I would have prefered more.
I wanted more information about Snapes past and less about his love of Lily...we get it, he loved her.
Dumbledores past, kinda bored me in places because it was over played and I definitely wanted more Grindlewald.

One Chapter I would not change - Hogwarts battle.
That was perfect. Love McGonagalls 'call to arms' that was brilliant.

Also, Molly Weasley is the greatest character in that book. ANyone not agree, re-read her fight with Bellatrix.


I have other things to say(including that I was right about a few things in this book and the proof is in the cemetary from years ago) but its late and I need bed so I have one final question that I might only be missing because i'm tird...and that is:
What the funk is OBHWF?

Edit:

As for this controversial ending, I gotta say i'm torn.

I would definitely give it up for a chapter set about a month after the final battle with a little more focus on the restoration of the wizarding world, but we don't have that choice so I will accept it and I actually like it.

My only issue is how it actually ends 'All was well'.
Those simple words SUCK.
I don't know what I wanted from a last word, but thats got nothing for me.

Edit:

She refused to open her mind to different possibilities,

Sorry, I missed this.
This is the funniest line in your entire piece.
You condemn JK for not having an open mind while at the same time arguing she should have gone for the obvious, cliched pointless love story of Harry and lead girl.

If you were arguing for Harry and Luna, i'd back you up but this is laughable.

Edit:

Of course you are Darling Faithy, but give me a definitive reason why🙂

 

[Miss Brightside]

Interesting theory - its complete nonsense but interesting.

Sorry, I missed this.
This is the funniest line in your entire piece.

Thank you so much for making me feel welcome on these boards [/sarcasm]. I did not know sharing an opinion was not allowed.

Secondly - on what level is Hermione better suited to Harry?

I could tell you a million reasons but you'd just laugh them off and dismiss them as nonsense anyway so I'm not going to bother.

Let me ask you a question - did you like The Da Vinci Code?
The answer will have no relevance to anyone else, but will explain everything I need to know about you.

No comment. My answer to that kind of question won't tell you jack about me, so kindly remove your head from up your arse.

What the funk is OBHWF?

Fandom abbreviation meaning One Big Happy Weasley Family a.k.a the Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny ships living happily ever after.

You condemn JK for not having an open mind while at the same time arguing she should have gone for the obvious, cliched pointless love story of Harry and lead girl.

Oh, I'm sorry. Pairing up the sparring sidekicks who argue to cover their attraction, and the hero and his best friend's adoring sister is not cliched and predictable at ALL. My mistake, I am clearly a cretin.