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The UPS man delivered it at 8:23 this morning; I started it at a little past 11:00, and finished it just before 6:30pm. I wasn't reading from 1:00 to 2:00 or so, because I had to drive back from the mechanic and make food and stuff--I did NOT read myself sick, thank you, I took regular bathroom breaks and made sure to eat and get water--but it only took me less than six and a half hours to read the whole thing. Part of me wants to go read it again right now.
I feel obligated to say something about it. I thought it was terrific; I thought it answered all of our questions, and I feel satisfied. I feel like I should say more, but that of course I'll put behind a cut.
Thoughts on the book:
- This is stupid, but I am so incredibly proud of Neville. When he pulled out that sword! I cried. According to the original prophecy it could have been either of them that was Voldemort's enemy, and Voldemort's own actions proved it to be Harry, but Neville would have done okay, I think, if it had been him. I loved that he was the hero of a different story going on at the same time as Harry's Horcrux quest. I loved the fact that awkward clumsy little Neville grew up to lead all the Hogwarts students in a rebellion. I love that his Gran was proud of him. I love, and I think it was fitting, that it was Neville who slew the snake.
- Most of the book centered on Harry and Ron and Hermione, but I loved that when we did see other characters, we saw those characters being truly and distinctly themselves. Neville's an example; Mrs. Weasley taking on Bellatrix and being her equal; Fred and George at the moment when George wakes up after losing his ear. That was an absolutely beautiful moment. McGonigal's few scenes were so captivatingly *her*. Luna's painting on her bedroom ceiling. Even Snape's final thoughts. All of these characters who are so loved--we might not have seen much of them, but each of those moments took that character, showed us what we originally loved about the character, and then pushed that character to another level. All in a completely natural way. I think Rowling is a masterful writer, to pull that off.
- I was really pleased with what she did to Draco's character, too. It would have been false for him to turn on Voldemort and join Harry's side, but I felt like by the end of the book, Draco had grown into a man. A genuine and thoughtful person. I thought that was conveyed remarkably well in very few words. And I thought it was very honest and real the way the Malfoys clung together. I can't think which other Death Eaters had children, other than Crabbe and Goyle--but if the two of them were anything like their fathers, the family can't have been too bright. The Malfoys, on the other hand, were very intelligent; although they'd been Death Eaters in their youth, they got away from it and became normal people, and then had that thrust back into their lives, and as thoughtful and intelligent people they would need to reflect on that. They weren't evil caricatures, they were real and honest and conflicted. Even Draco was just doing what he had to do to protect his parents. I think they were well written (although Narcissa's single-minded motherliness was a little heavy-handed).
- I was totally wrong about Harry being a Horcrux. Dammit. But it does sound much more probable when Dumbledore explains it than when some twit on the internet postulates it.
- Lupin and Tonks hit me hard. That was really rough. Dobby was also rough. I had not even considered him as a possible candidate for dying in this book. Kreacher also really surprised me. I was proud of Kreacher. I hope he survived the battle to welcome Harry home.
I think that's about all I've got. I'll probably skulk around and see what other people thought of it, and maybe write more later.
I feel obligated to say something about it. I thought it was terrific; I thought it answered all of our questions, and I feel satisfied. I feel like I should say more, but that of course I'll put behind a cut.
Thoughts on the book:
- This is stupid, but I am so incredibly proud of Neville. When he pulled out that sword! I cried. According to the original prophecy it could have been either of them that was Voldemort's enemy, and Voldemort's own actions proved it to be Harry, but Neville would have done okay, I think, if it had been him. I loved that he was the hero of a different story going on at the same time as Harry's Horcrux quest. I loved the fact that awkward clumsy little Neville grew up to lead all the Hogwarts students in a rebellion. I love that his Gran was proud of him. I love, and I think it was fitting, that it was Neville who slew the snake.
- Most of the book centered on Harry and Ron and Hermione, but I loved that when we did see other characters, we saw those characters being truly and distinctly themselves. Neville's an example; Mrs. Weasley taking on Bellatrix and being her equal; Fred and George at the moment when George wakes up after losing his ear. That was an absolutely beautiful moment. McGonigal's few scenes were so captivatingly *her*. Luna's painting on her bedroom ceiling. Even Snape's final thoughts. All of these characters who are so loved--we might not have seen much of them, but each of those moments took that character, showed us what we originally loved about the character, and then pushed that character to another level. All in a completely natural way. I think Rowling is a masterful writer, to pull that off.
- I was really pleased with what she did to Draco's character, too. It would have been false for him to turn on Voldemort and join Harry's side, but I felt like by the end of the book, Draco had grown into a man. A genuine and thoughtful person. I thought that was conveyed remarkably well in very few words. And I thought it was very honest and real the way the Malfoys clung together. I can't think which other Death Eaters had children, other than Crabbe and Goyle--but if the two of them were anything like their fathers, the family can't have been too bright. The Malfoys, on the other hand, were very intelligent; although they'd been Death Eaters in their youth, they got away from it and became normal people, and then had that thrust back into their lives, and as thoughtful and intelligent people they would need to reflect on that. They weren't evil caricatures, they were real and honest and conflicted. Even Draco was just doing what he had to do to protect his parents. I think they were well written (although Narcissa's single-minded motherliness was a little heavy-handed).
- I was totally wrong about Harry being a Horcrux. Dammit. But it does sound much more probable when Dumbledore explains it than when some twit on the internet postulates it.
- Lupin and Tonks hit me hard. That was really rough. Dobby was also rough. I had not even considered him as a possible candidate for dying in this book. Kreacher also really surprised me. I was proud of Kreacher. I hope he survived the battle to welcome Harry home.
I think that's about all I've got. I'll probably skulk around and see what other people thought of it, and maybe write more later.
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no subject
Date: 2007-07-22 02:43 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-22 03:07 am (UTC)From:I hope you didn't read my whole post. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-07-22 03:22 am (UTC)From:By the way, I LOVE this icon. Makes me incredibly happy!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-22 04:37 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-23 02:21 am (UTC)From:dobby was the hardest for me. he was just so pure and good.
i felt the epilogue was too short. i had waited the entire 700+ pages for an intimate conversation between ginny and harry, and ms. rowling denied me that. blah.
but i was so glad we got a happy ending
no subject
Date: 2007-07-23 01:55 pm (UTC)From:I liked the epilogue, but what, Ginny doesn't get any say in naming the kids? Also, where did Ron and Hermione pull those kid names from? Hugo? WTF?
no subject
Date: 2007-07-23 12:58 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-23 01:52 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-23 03:01 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-07-25 07:01 pm (UTC)From:Also, I was happy to have the epilogue, but I don't think it made the book better. It read like fanfic. Not even particularly good fanfic.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-25 07:06 pm (UTC)From: