Deathly Hallows

Two days it took me again to finish a Harry Potter novel. One of those nights became an all-nighter of reading. I try to tell myself to savor the book and don't finish it within a night. But, there is another voice in my head that says if I don't finish it now, I will be spoiled. I must have feared being spoiled further on this book especially, that I finished it in a night. I was upset with the fact that I ended up downloading the leak on Tuesday, read the first chapters or so, then (stupidly I must admit) read the last chapter thinking that this couldn't possibly be the real book. There was SO much security on this book that it was impossible that the book was released too early, someone got their hands the book early and shared it with everyone. The book seemed to be perfect, as written by JK herself, and come to find out it was. But, even as I read the end of the book, I did find out more about that ending as I read the book. The biggest spoiler was the the location and the people that were introduced, but the main spoiler of Severus Snape, which I will not spoil for anyone. Let's just say it was someone people thought they knew about Snape, but didn't to the extent they did. That's all I'll say. The title of the story did play a very large part of not only the story, but the backstory of one Albus Dumbledore. This book could have very well been "Albus Dumbledore and the Deathly Hallows" as much as HP, but this story is more about Harry than Dumbledore. The book was wonderfully done and played out perfectly. This book did, however, in turn ask some new questions about the series and never fully answered them. We were once again left in a cliffhanger, but this time I know we won't be as left in the dark as we have in the past. It will probably happen that every unanswered question we have about the series will be resolved by Jo herself, either on her site or through another interview; I tend to have faith in that statement. The book was so much full of death it wasn't funny. People tend to come up to me and wonder why I love a children's book so much. I look at them and tell them to read it sometime, since they will figure out that there are so many themes that are not children oriented. Death, true love, betrayal, pain, murder, and loss. Those are things that children will be exposed to (more than others) in their first 10 or so years, but will not have a clear understanding of why it is happening or what it truly is. These books draw more of a teenaged/adult audience than children, but children can read and still enjoy. There were some deaths that I found to be thrown in their as extras. I won't mention who, but it did seem odd that so many had to die when they really shouldn't have. But that's war and there are causalities. The final battle in Hogwarts (which isn't a spoiler, because if you read the chapter titles, you know it happens) was wonderful. It was pulled off perfectly and the final showdown between Voldemort and Harry was perfect as well. The road to the final battle was full of so many twists, turns, and revealed secrets that made it wonderful. Jo is the master of suspense and mystery, and planting everything about this book in the previous six. People will now go back through all six and find every piece of the final story in those books now that they know the ending. Well done Jo, it was almost flawless. However, I do not want it to be over. I want more of the world of Harry Potter. I want to know a History of Hogwarts. I wouldn't mind the book entitled "The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore". An encyclopedia of spells, creatures, and characters would be wonderful as well. But, now I depart. The saga of Harry Potter being complete, I must find something else to fill my time. But, it has been a wonderful journey in the life of the Boy Who Lived, and a fitting end to his journey finally complete. That's all I have to say.