I am a big time Harry Potter fan, and, somehow, no one I know IRL has finished the book, so I am so happy to have a post where I can discuss it without worrying about spoiling someone!
I thought the epilogue was kind of corny, too. I get that what Harry always wanted was a happy family, and I'm glad he got it, but I expected something different.
I cried buckets and BUCKETS over Dobby's death. I didn't like movie!Dobby much, but Dobby in the books was one of my absolute favorites, and I think Harry's digging the grave for him without magic was a great tribute to a great little guy. I hope they keep it in the movie - and I hope they keep it in as Dobby, not Kreacher. I know that a lot of Dobby stuff has been cut out of the movies, but it would mean a lot to me, as a fan of the books, to see Dobby's burial.
I was also surprised by what a Christ figure Harry became in the end. I was an English major in college, so "Christ figure" is pretty common to me, but sacrificing oneself (and dying, to some degree, I guess) so that others may live, and then rising again? I'm not sure that I've seen anything quite that blatant since Sunday school.
I was talking to one of the ladies I work with about the books, and we agreed that it was obvious that they were British fiction (or, non-American, I suppose) because of the casual use of alcohol - butter beer from PoA on, Mead in HBP, and firewhisky(!) in DH. My grandmother is Spanish and spent most of her late childhood/young adulthood in England, and she actually didn't realize that she wasn't legally supposed to give me wine as a teenager until my uncle (a cop) pointed it out. I thought that the kids were really quite believable 17 yr. olds, even if they were perhaps a bit innocent and naive for their situation.
I loved the graveyard scene. Partially, I think, because a few weeks ago when I was visiting my grandparents in AL/MS, my dad took me to see the graves of my great-grandparents and great-aunts/uncles, and it meant a lot to me, so I identified with Harry there.
I really did love the book overall. I was surprised that there was so little mention about the loss of Harry's firebolt, but I guess that was small potatoes compared to the other losses, even if it was his tie to Sirius. I also teared-up when, after opening the Snitch, he asked Sirius if dying hurt. His sacrifice was so... brave, noble, mature and heartfelt, that the "childish" question made it incredibly touching I think. Anyway, I'm glad to have the result out, though, I feel sad that it is over and that, while loving Fred, I have gone many years without knowing that he was "actually" dead by canon dating. Also, it is always weird to remember that, according to Harry's birth date (7/31/80 if I remember correctly), he is "actually" 3 years older than me, even though I've grown up thinking of him as someone several years younger.
So... some scattered thoughts. Even a week after reading it ('cause I actually first read the book from the internet leak last Wednesday and re-read it when I bought it Fri. night), I still haven't quite pulled my thoughts together. I'm so emotionally attached to the characters that I have trouble separating feelings from the book which I don't really think is a bad thing. I guess that is what happens at the end of a series.
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I am a big time Harry Potter fan, and, somehow, no one I know IRL has finished the book, so I am so happy to have a post where I can discuss it without worrying about spoiling someone!
I thought the epilogue was kind of corny, too. I get that what Harry always wanted was a happy family, and I'm glad he got it, but I expected something different.
I cried buckets and BUCKETS over Dobby's death. I didn't like movie!Dobby much, but Dobby in the books was one of my absolute favorites, and I think Harry's digging the grave for him without magic was a great tribute to a great little guy. I hope they keep it in the movie - and I hope they keep it in as Dobby, not Kreacher. I know that a lot of Dobby stuff has been cut out of the movies, but it would mean a lot to me, as a fan of the books, to see Dobby's burial.
I was also surprised by what a Christ figure Harry became in the end. I was an English major in college, so "Christ figure" is pretty common to me, but sacrificing oneself (and dying, to some degree, I guess) so that others may live, and then rising again? I'm not sure that I've seen anything quite that blatant since Sunday school.
I was talking to one of the ladies I work with about the books, and we agreed that it was obvious that they were British fiction (or, non-American, I suppose) because of the casual use of alcohol - butter beer from PoA on, Mead in HBP, and firewhisky(!) in DH. My grandmother is Spanish and spent most of her late childhood/young adulthood in England, and she actually didn't realize that she wasn't legally supposed to give me wine as a teenager until my uncle (a cop) pointed it out. I thought that the kids were really quite believable 17 yr. olds, even if they were perhaps a bit innocent and naive for their situation.
I loved the graveyard scene. Partially, I think, because a few weeks ago when I was visiting my grandparents in AL/MS, my dad took me to see the graves of my great-grandparents and great-aunts/uncles, and it meant a lot to me, so I identified with Harry there.
I really did love the book overall. I was surprised that there was so little mention about the loss of Harry's firebolt, but I guess that was small potatoes compared to the other losses, even if it was his tie to Sirius. I also teared-up when, after opening the Snitch, he asked Sirius if dying hurt. His sacrifice was so... brave, noble, mature and heartfelt, that the "childish" question made it incredibly touching I think. Anyway, I'm glad to have the result out, though, I feel sad that it is over and that, while loving Fred, I have gone many years without knowing that he was "actually" dead by canon dating. Also, it is always weird to remember that, according to Harry's birth date (7/31/80 if I remember correctly), he is "actually" 3 years older than me, even though I've grown up thinking of him as someone several years younger.
So... some scattered thoughts. Even a week after reading it ('cause I actually first read the book from the internet leak last Wednesday and re-read it when I bought it Fri. night), I still haven't quite pulled my thoughts together. I'm so emotionally attached to the characters that I have trouble separating feelings from the book which I don't really think is a bad thing. I guess that is what happens at the end of a series.
Whoa - long comment! :)