Deathly Hallows

[merelyn]

Okay. Whew. I'm still processing. But, in general: IT WAS SO GOOD. Lots and lots of backstory info dumping, but it didn't bother me as much as it did in Book 6, possibly because it the backstory wasn't only about Voldemort, who doesn't interest me much at all as a character apparently.

I loved that the book was so Trio focused. Because Trio = 0T3. And, in that vein:

*Harry. Oh Harry. I felt for him so much. Normally I like Harry just fine, but this was the first time I've ever wanted to pull a Mrs. Weasley on him and clutch him to my bosom or something. He was so brave. And so emo. *heart clinches* And I still don't like Harry/Ginny, but at least we didn't have to see much of it, only Harry's emo thoughts about her every once in a while.

*Hermione- You are a completely awesome and badass witch, if only you'd stop crying all the time.

*Ron- OMG Ron. He became such a mensch. It's the only word for it, really. I know there have been lots of Ron haters, but you could see him actually maturing here, even though he hasn't gotten over all his insecurities- which wouldn't be realistic, I don't think. I can sort of see why he left, I'd probably feel pretty useless next to Harry and Hermione too. He became way cooler, I think we can all agree, and I *loved* that Hermione finally kissed him after he'd remembered the House Elves and proved himself to be more than the vaguely self involved git we all know and love. *pleased*

I *loved* the Trio interaction and drama, and the gritty, transient tent existence, and Ron leaving and coming back, and how freaked both Ron and Harry were when Hermione was being tortured at Malfoy Manor. They're completely dysfunctional as a group of friends, but they just love each other so much. And I love them.



Other thoughts:

*I thought I heard that JKR said somewhere that this one wasn't a bloodbath, and that only, like 2 people were going to die. LIAR.

*Lupin/Tonks- strangely, the closest I came to crying the whole time (and if I hadn't been squinting at the pages on the Chinatown bus from New York, I might have done more of that) was when they made Harry their kid's godfather. (It was also when I knew that at least one of them was a goner.) Question, who did they leave the baby with when everyone was out fighting the Dark Lord? Did I miss that? Did they hire a sitter and promise to be back by midnight, hopefully? And their deaths were weirdly off-screen.

*Regulus was RAB. No one was surprised.

*Snape was in love with Lily. Again, no one was much surpised. (volsi was right!) Though I *did* like that they were neighbors and BFF, that was cool- at least until Snape joined the Dark Lord, fucked up their friendship and was (in)directly responsible for her death. I think we can all learn a valuable lesson about the dangers of peer pressure.

Seriously, though: OH SNAPE. I knew he wasn't going to survive, but it was so nice to be completely vindicated about him in every way. And I'm sure all those Snarry folks were pleased about/weeping over the death scene. It was really, really sad that Harry never knew that about Snape's goodness until it was too late, though I can't imagine a scene where Harry apologizes or something, that would've been horrific and bad.

Though I was confused about what JKR was trying to say about Slytherin prejudice, because it seemed like the Slytherins were evil! (Witness Pansy and the Great Hall scene.) And then, in the epilogue some were brave like Snape! But in spite of being Slytherins! So don't choose to be one if you don't want to! Eh. I've never liked they way JKR has handled that.

*Fred and George- Okay. We all knew one of the Weasleys had to die, and if it was going to be anyone, it was going to be Percy (more on him next) or one/both of the twins. One thing I have *always* said is that if JKR killed one twin but left the other alone and twinless for the rest of his life, she would be a evil, evil bitch- speaking as someone who would hate to be twinless myself. And of course, SHE DID. And now George has one ear and no one to tease him about it ever and I get teary thinking about it. It was horrible. Hate JKR.

*PERCY. OMG PERCY. Another character I was so pleased about. He turned out exactly like I had hoped he would. He was just so...I don't even have words. I was this close to frightening the hell out of the woman in the seat across from mine on the Chinatown bus and punching the air when he came back. And he fought alongside his brother, and risked his life to protect Fred's body, and I was just so proud of him I don't even know what. *huggles* Also, still a pompous prat! Loved the mention of him in the epilogue! Especially since it didn't mention him having a wife, which means there's a P/O kidfic lurking in my brain now. Especially since OLIVER CAME BACK. And had a line, and was apparently as burly as ever! How much do I love that my favorite ship is still totally intact? LOTS. *waves invisible flag*

*Harry coming back from the dead- Ooookay. The book went to a very, I don't know, Tolkein-y place? I mean, the DEATH IS A THEME OF THIS BOOK could not have been more clear, and of course I'm glad Harry didn't die (sorta), but I wasn't expecting a white light moment, you know? It seemed a little too fantastical (metaphysical?), which is silly in a fantasy series, but there you have it.

*Dumbledore- I'm glad we got some backstory on him. It was nice to actually flesh out the wise old man character, though it came a little too late for me? It would have been nice to see flashes of Dumbledore's weaknesses before the end of book 6, to lead into Harry's disillusionment of him as this great and powerful wizard. For some reason it was really hard for me to connect the dots between young Albus and his screwed up family with the older, sadder, wiser Albus that we knew.

*The Epilogue- And lot of people have been hating on the epilogue, but I thought it was pretty good, in a horrible, sacchrine, Why-would-you-name-your-kid-Albus-ever? sort of way. The pairing off of Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione wasn't surprising- though Draco and a Woman was. (Oooh, haha.) Okay, so it was cheesy. I didn't really care. At the end of the day, I'm glad they're all predictable and happy. *big squishy heart*

Overall, considering the sheer number of loose ends that needed to be tied up, JKR did a pretty good job of balancing moving the book forward with telling us all of the stuff we needed to know. A very satisfying conclusion to the series. Grade: B+

Phew. I needed to get that out. Also, JKR is doing a publicity tour in September of 10 U.S. colleges and there's a (slight) possibility that William and Mary and my Harry Potter Club might get picked to host her!!!!!!!!!! I'm coming back for it, if it happens. *crosses fingers*

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

You don't know me but I was surprised how much I cried over this. I cried when Dobby died, when Ron and Percy were upset over Fred, when Harry realizes he has to die, etc.

Not something I would normally do but the whole this being the final story just hit me, I guess.

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

Hi random person!

Yeah, it was such a strange ending to the series for me, because there were so many things that made me incredibly happy piled on top of so many things that made me really, really sad. (And Dobby! I almost forgot about Dobby! Oh, Dobby.)

[franticsga.livejournal.com]

For me it was anything to do with the James and Lily plotline. I don't know why I'm such a sap for them, but the whole Godric's Hollow/vision of the night they died/seeing the house thing had me bawling LOUDLY into my hands. It was pretty pathetic- I was glad I was alone.

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I definitely had my hand clapped to my mouth through that whole thing. And he got a FAMILY in the end, what he's always wanted but has never had! It was so sappy, but the most perfect ending ever! *sniffs*

[annaalamode.livejournal.com]

OT3!!!!

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

ZOMG I LOVE THEM!

[lillianloop.livejournal.com]

I did love that it was totally trio centric- that gave me the happies-- WILD, SHIFTLESS HOBOS!

Also, maybe that was it? Because the epilogue is secretly everything you've ever wanted for Harry- lover, children, friends, safety-- it's just in the most boringly heteronormative way possible.

ALSO ALSO, HAVE HORRIBLE FEVER FOR MCSHEP. I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT I'M ADDICTED TO SGA FIC NOW, GIVE UNTO ME YOUR RECS, YOUR FANTASTIC FANTASTIC RECS.

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

I'M WORKING ON THE RECS. THEY ARE COMING.

[lillianloop.livejournal.com]

THEN SO IS MY JOY. (And my need for sga icons....)

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

HAPPY NOW? (http://merelyn.livejournal.com/95814.html) GO READ!!

[gilenaki.livejournal.com]

I pretty much agree. :) Mostly, I was SO ANGRY about Fred, jeez. I sort of got the feeling through the whole book that JKR was killing off characters that didn't really need to be killed, just to upset people - like someone or other, cesperanza I think, was just saying when she talked about why she left the fandom.

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was a frickin' bloodbath. And I know that she said that the deaths are supposed to be all about consequences and peril and the cost of fighting evil or whatever, but then why kill Lupin and Tonks in such a bizarrely offhand way?

Fred's death was horrible, especially since he and George represented something very important: keeping a hold of your sense of humor even in the worst times. The fact that he died with the ghost of a grin on his face only proves that, and yet why? Because I didn't really think of that when he died, only how absolutely, horribly depressing it was to contemplate George all by himself for the rest of his life, running their wonderful, silly joke shop alone. Gah.

[penguinchrissy.livejournal.com]

Yeah I thought killing off Fred, Lupin, AND Tonks was a bit of overkill. I mean, by making Harry godfather, you knew something was going to happen...but still....BOTH parents???

Also, in the epilogue, they don't mention who Teddy is living with...I'm assuming Mrs. Tonks?

[jainanicole.livejournal.com]

Lupin and Tonks! :( Definitely cried there.

[merelyn.livejournal.com]

I would have, but I then had to re-read that ONE LINE about them being bodies, like, 3 times before I got that they were even dead. And then I had a JKRWTF? moment.