Well, I've finished the last Harry Potter book, and I'm going to do my best to give a quick, decent, almost-spoiler-free review. I'd divide it into the usual "Good, Bad, Ugly" categories, but that doesn’t seem fair-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has its problems, but nothing about it qualifies as downright ugly.
The Iffy:
Other critics are going to complain about the amount of exposition in this book, and the mildly corny epilogue, and the sluggish pacing, and they're right on all counts... but the biggest problem with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is that it's severely low on fun. It has its laugh-inducing moments, but they're few and far between. While I realize that Rowling was trying to write a Grand Finale, her books are much more readable when the hissing supervillain stuff is leavened with some humor.
The Good:
Well, Rowling certainly came through on her promise to kill off some major characters. There are real losses in this book, both large and small, and I was surprised by how affected I was by a few of the more unexpected deaths. Meanwhile, Snape and Dumbledore are explored in fascinating detail. And while I was disappointed that funny, fiery Ginny Weasley was shoved back into the "supportive girlfriend" role, other minor characters-particularly Neville, Luna, and Kreacher-finally get the treatment they deserve.
The Great:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a worthy finale to the Harry Potter series, one that punishes evil, rewards good, honors the dead, and makes us laugh a few times in the bargain. Bad things happen to nice people, but (unlike certain OTHER authors—yeah, I'm looking at you, Pullman and Collins) Rowling doesn't feel compelled to remind us that life isn't fair by ending things on an unnecessarily depressing note, for which I am truly grateful. Such a solidly happy ending is a rare and generous gift in the fantasy world.
...plus, the reason that Ron and Hermione finally kiss? Totally brilliant.
That said, it’s 5:30 now, and I really need to go to bed. Goodnight, everybody, and happy reading!
Labels: Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling
3 Comments:
I have complaints, they may not be massive, but I still want to gripe about them anyways.
4:45 PM
Okay, now that I've had a fews days to think about it, I think I've figured out the problem: J.K. Rowling suffers from George Lucas Disease*--she's been such a huge success that nobody is willing to risk editing her ideas.
Ordinarily, this would be fine, but sometimes it results in a book like 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'. HPatDH had all the right ingredients for a great book, but in all the wrong proportions... which is exactly what a really good editor would have fixed.
Alas.
*Not that I'm saying that this book was ANYWHERE NEAR as bad as the Star Wars prequels. I'm just saying that there was a similar underlying problem.
7:17 PM
Hey I am right there with ou colin I think a good gripe is needed... then I think I can get past the whole middle section that dragged on and the killing Hedwig thing really what did the poor owl do to anyone.
7:34 PM
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