Wow. Finished. That was a great adventure.
As I was waiting for the book and wondering how Rowling would resolve any number of things, I decided it was a matter of trust-- and, based on the care and skill of the first six books, I decided I could trust Rowling to end it well-- and I was not disappointed. I won't go into too many specific details here, because I don't want to mar the experience for those who may not have immediate access to the book. It's a different book, since Harry isn't at Hogwarts this year; it starts with intensity and action right away, and hardly lets up; there is a real feeling of war and oppression-- people in hiding, family members being taken, etc. As in the last one, the stakes are real and there are consequences, including death (I cried at several different points in the book). There are also lots of wonderful resonances with moments from the other books (especially the first), and this book completes and fulfills the series.
Some highlights... finally getting Snape's side of his story; learning more about Dumbledore's past and his family; the role that Kreacher the house-elf plays, and the valiant Dobby; heroic Neville; finally having everything explained; a new (but unsurprising) perspective on Voldemort's soul; Harry coming fully into his own, and the extraordinary power of his love (as Dumbledore tried to tell him repeatedly); the aftermath.
I feel like I should say something about the titles, but don't know what to say without revealing too much. The Deathly Hallows are three magical items (out of a fairy tale) that, when united, make a person the master of Death. They form an interesting parallel to Voldemort's dreadful horcruxes, being both quite different and troubling similar.
Read in about 24 hours.
| Title: | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows |
|---|---|
| Author: | J. K. Rowling |
| Date published: | 2007 |
| Genre: | Young Adult Fantasy |
| Series: | Harry Potter |
| Number of pages: | 759 |
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