“Note: I'm a Harry Potter fan but I didn't read the series to jump on the bandwagon. I was even reluctant to lay my hands on the trade paperback copy of the first volume I purchased through eBay. Draco Malfoy might even consider it filthy-looking. It looked too brittle I was afraid it might break with the slightest touch. While I don’t usually judge the book by its cover, I admit that the book condition is one of the factors I take into consideration. The first few parts of the initial installment didn’t really interest me that much. (Later on, I realized that it was due to the fact that the scene could appear abstract for newbies but it becomes rich and meaningful once you’ve read the following series.) But that didn’t spoil my experience at all.
It took me four months to finally complete the series, including the last one. See, I just started last year. I've read The Deathly Hallows three times before finally making a review.
Haven’t read the book yet but a friend who read it thrice (yes 3X!) says:
If literature is an art that can touch one's soul, then I would say that JK Rowling’s series is one that thrust a magic wand into the most tender chamber of my heart and tore open the hidden bins of my imagination. I definitely envy JK Rowling for creating a magical world that is almost believable with characters that you’ll love (and hate) and eventually remember as if they have existed in real life. It’s no mean feat for Ms. Rowling to write the last and the most anticipated installment considering the pressure and expectation from her editor and fans. Waiting for the final book was exciting but with rumors and fake spoilers populating in the Internet like the soul-sucking Dementors, it could likely spoil the fun. A friend of mine went hysterical when I sent her a text message about the rumor I learned from rumor-mongers online. I wasn't as afraid as her in browsing the Net for updates because spoilers just couldn't ruin my anticipation.
So expect some spoilers here.
We know that Ms. Rowling can’t please everyone, it’s a fact, and even her most supportive fans may have at least one or two complaints about the way she put an end to the series. Disregarding some details and plot elements that, I admit, made my brow furrow, I’m highly satisfied with the conclusion. I may have my own gripes too but I'd give the book a thumbs-up.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is easily the darkest of the series. With danger looming in every corner including the Muggle (non-magical) world, death is to be expected. But that doesn’t mean that the book is all gloomy. In fact, it has several funny moments which will make you chuckle while anticipate for the worst. This is by far the most exciting of the seven books with lots of battles, duels, escapes and unexpected twists. Surprises abound. Weeping is inevitable. Rowling had somehow warned her readers long before the release of the last book that there would be deaths. She admitted they didn't come easily (some of the characters were reprieved) and fans of fallen warriors will surely grieve.
Reading the Deathly Hallows is like watching an action-packed flick that leaves one agitated on his seat. The action is almost non-stop, a roller-coaster ride, adrenaline-induced, but there are heartwarming respites to ponder on moments of tenderness and friendship which make the book more loveable. The most touching scene for me is when the Dursleys depart from Harry in the Privet Drive. Struggling with his emotions, Dudley finally showed concern to Harry by asking his parents why his cousin isn't coming with them. This unexpected outburst from a bully character is enough for me to finally grow on him.
What's admirable in this installment is the fact that while Rowling was able to sustain a fast, well-paced narrative (although there are parts which are dragging), she was also successful in introducing new and complex ideas that create additional mystery. Clearly, the author didn't compromise her artistic endeavor by creating a hasty finale just to satisfy her fans. It's also fascinating how she answered questions which previously besieged her during interviews, i.e. "Is Snape bad?" "Who will die" "Will Hogwarts open" etc. Even a reader who possesses a seer's ability like Professor Trelawney couldn't have guessed the ending exactly, which only proves how clever Rowling is as a writer. Hints from the preceding volumes may help but the truth will shock and awe you all the same.
Rowling said she might write an encyclopedia of the characters in Harry Potter, which is exciting for fanatics who want to know what the characters they love have become of after the battle. I, for one, want to know if Kreacher stayed in the Hogwarts kitchen or served the Potter family, or how George managed to overcome the loss of his twin brother, or if Harry has even spoken to Snape again through his portrait.
Originally posted at http://erosjourneys.blogspot.com”
Murphy wrote this review Thursday, June 26, 2008.
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