Harry Potter Book 7 Post

Kevin and I finally finished the Harry Potter series. I am going to post my thoughts on it below in a manner that will be hidden unless you highlight the text box. I want to allow anyone who has not read the books to be able to enjoy the books' unfoldings as much as I have.

To read what I have written, well, you could try flicking your wrist and saying, "Revelio," but as I have explained to my husband as he has tried "Scourgify" on our kitchen, you are probably not a witch or a wizard with a wand and, psst, Harry Potter isn't real...but anyhow, the text is just the same color as the background, so selecting it should be all you have to do to read it.

I was wrong about some things and absolutely right about the Lord of the Rings link. In fact, I didn't realize how right I would be. The whole horcrux against the skin making Ron, Hermione and Harry cranky was enough to have my husband and I saying, "my precious." It was also too ring-like when it seemed to possess Ron there for a moment.

Things that please me about the seventh book:
--the structure of it. It still maintains the time structure of the originals despite the fact that Harry is not at Hogwarts. Christmas break falls right in the middle of the book, and, as in the earlier books, something significant happens right in the middle and the end builds quickly with much happening all at once at the very end.
--Harry felt like an old friend. It was nice to see how much he had matured in this book, and yet because of the earlier books, this maturation was completely believable and even expected. He didn't have the wonder of earlier books nor the whininess of book 5 or the obstinance of book 6. He was "just plain Harry" again in mood, though definitely not just plain Harry in terms of readiness to complete his quest.
--I dig the whole Lord of the Rings vibe. The three of them were definitely on a quest pursued by vile things and unaware of what would pop up around any corner. They also knew they were heading to a necessary but evil showdown and were trying to remain under the radar as long as possible. Their loneliness and worry about friends and family members was very poignant too.
--I love the Gringotts part. It kept me guessing the whole time. I thought for sure that one of the Gryffindors would end up with the sword before leaving the vault though. The dragon was brilliant (or mad, as Kevin keeps reminding me)! I also thought the dragon would conveniently place them on the mountainside where they would meet up with Hagrid and Grawp.
-- I love that I could come up with all kinds of plausible possibilities for the plot and that some of them came true and others didn't. This is one of the signs of good writing to me: these characters are real enough to me that I can see what kinds of things they would do but also the plot workings are deep enough that they are not entirely predictable.
--the characters important to me all had their own parts to play in this book:
Neville- This is probably the most important. Neville, the boy who could have been The Boy Who Lived, had to have his own part in it. I love that he continued the DA and that it was he who slayed the snake with the sword. It was particularly touching to me that Gran was finally very proud of him with good reason. No bumbling crazylegs moments in this book for Neville. Just bravery and valiance.
Dobby and the house-elves- In order to do Hermione proud, the house-elves had to do their part. Kreacher certainly proved useful, though in keeping with character, he was doing it for Master Regulus. I thought the Death Eaters would get ahold of him and read the note in the locket, but it's good that that did not happen. Dobby, oh sweet Dobby. I have to admit that at first I was annoyed by Dobby in the way that Jar Jar Binks annoys. Perhaps it is meant to be this way as Harry himself is annoyed by him initially. After all, it is Dobby who gets Harry in a heap of trouble in book 2...but by the time Dobby is picking up hats left by Hermione, well, I guess he kind of grew on me. His death had me wishing someone would avenge him by finally getting rid of Bellatrix.
She who killed Bellatrix Lestrange- I had initially hoped that Neville would off Bellatrix in order to avenge his parents' torture by her, but Neville just would not have the wrath to do it properly. Then, Tonks seemed a likely choice to avenge Sirius' death and because Bellatrix had it in for her since Tonks' werewolf marriage. But, the best and most unexpected of all, Mrs. Weasley, had the pleasure. Nothing was more believable to me than Molly Weasely protecting her youngest and only daughter. The Weasleys had long known Molly's power and dangerous fury when provoked; it was great for the evil side to taste it too.
Hagrid- I had rather hoped that Hagrid would have had a larger role to play in this (no pun intended). I did, however, find it fitting that he carried Harry in the end. The protection of Aragog's progeny was rather unreal to me, but I see that it had the plot-point of getting Hagrid into the forest in order to watch Harry and Voldemort's showdown. I guess he was partially right about the spiders, though, considering they did not immediately kill and eat him, though they may have been arguing about who would get to do it...but I digress. Hagrid carrying Harry was perfect because it is reminiscent of other moments: Hagrid was the one to carry Harry from the wreckage of his house to safe delivery at his uncle's house and Hagrid also carried Dumbledore's dead body. He is and has always been the Hogwarts' caretaker and that was certainly embodied in one of his last acts in the series.
Dumbledore- Though he did not reappear in the manner I expected him to, in a way he did. The backlash against Dumbledore was completely believable as that happens so often with other powerful figures or celebrities after their deaths. The whole thing with Ariana, Aberforth and Grindelwald was interesting. I had thought that Ariana was a werewolf, but was of course incorrect. The mystery surrounding Ariana made it so I didn't give Aberforth a second thought, though I did suspect him of being the thief, which leads me to the next thing I love...
--Everything regarding the minor mysteries of the plot was incredibly well-connected. This last book really was a "tying together" of loose-ends while it also brought up interesting new subplots and realized the old ones in such believable and not completely predictable ways. As I read, I kept thinking, "I can't believe Rowling's pulling this off, and so well too!"

Things I was not so pleased with:
--The Ministry of Magic part: first of all, it makes Ron look like a real doof. Really, the whole part illuminates each character's shortcomings: Ron doesn't know as much or think quickly under pressure, Hermione (who does both of those things very well) is very nervous and must always have a plan and have things go according to plan, Harry is too hotheaded and impulsive for his own good sometimes. These qualities end up working out for each of them in the end of this section (Ron was transformed into someone who was a doof, so he was actually in character, Hermione's nervousness made it so she was swept away to be with Umbridge all day, and Harry's rash behavior spurred them into action and got them the locket in the end. I do admit that this part worked out in the end, but I just didn't like it very much...not that I have to like every moment of every book; some parts are not supposed to be enjoyed in the lah-di-dah life-is-good kind of way.
--Fred and George: I realized long ago that these somewhat favorite characters of mine were unfortunately expendable. That George got his ear blasted off early in should have been an indication to me that they would not both survive. This may sound really strange, but I can't help but think if Rowling killed off one, then she should have killed off both. The worst part of it all to me is not that Fred is dead but that George has to go on living without him. That, and he's stuck with Percy as poor consolation. In the words of Fred, or was it George?, "Stupid prat."
--Bathilda Bagshot: A snake (a snake possessed by Voldemort no less) is inhabiting Bagshot's dead body that is, by the way, decaying and has been for some time and Harry doesn't suspect anything???? I mean, I know she was called "batty" by people, but come on! there's a difference between just plain ole batty and then cold and non-responsive albeit oddly still walking and also stinking to high heavens! And Hermione lets him go upstairs with him alone!?!
--The epilogue: I understand the book needs to be wrapped up with some indication of what happens to Harry in the future, but it was all just a little too hokey for me. Okay, I could see Harry and Ginny ending up together and Ron and Hermione too, and yes, Harry and Ginny would probably name their kids after people who were significant in their lives, but...it was just too 1950's to me. Too ideal. Too picture perfect. As I said in my earlier post about the seventh book, I expected some kind of strife at the end. Harry is a good guy and loved and all that, but he is now not just The Boy Who Lived but now The Guy Who Saved the World from the Worst Evil in the World (somehow not as catchy). Surely, life is not easy and peachy keen for this new Harry. Surely people stare more than ever and ask for his autograph. Surely he would at least live amongst Muggles where he could possibly live a somewhat normal life.

Okay, this could not possibly sum up everything I feel about the whole darn book and all seven books for that matter, but it is a start.