Harry Potter and the Deatly Hallows - spoilerish for those who live under a rock

[anna_in_the_sky]

So, Soph, I assume you have read the last book by now, judging from your comments? Let's discuss!!! It took me a while to get over this book. I just didn't know what to say for a while other than that I really loved it.

Comments

[anna_in_the_sky]

I don't know if you mention this somewhere else, but didn't it bother you that Harry "sees" Snape's memories and doesn't have a "wow he was good after all" moment? I thought it was rather anticlimatic and the only thing that really bothered me in the book.

I didn't mention it, but I couldn't agree more. It bothered me especially because suddenly, in the epilogue, we learn Harry named his son after Snape - so he must have had many such "oh he was good after all" moments at some point, and I thought it would have been rather central to the books to show them.

Other thoughts:

I was so happy to see Neville having really grown into his own. That he (only a true Gryffindor could!) was able to draw the sword and kill Nagini was such a great moment. Still, I would have loved to see him fight Bellatrix.

Actually, that was another thing that bothered me a little, the Molly Weasley vs. Bellatrix Lestrange showdown (not my son!). No one before had mentioned that Molly was an above average duelist, while Bella was clearly one of the best. Now I do believe that a threat to your loved ones might improve your fighting rather a lot, but to the point where Molly could kill Bella?

The return of Percy was kind of rushed, too. I always expected there to be more to his story, but apparantly there wasn't. I felt there should have been at least one scene in which he talked to Harry in person and apologized for what he has done to him specifically in OotP.

The whole Remus-runs-away-from-his-family plot was just stupid IMO. I thought he had gotten over himself at the end of HBP when he agreed to marry Tonks, so why start the whole discussion all over again? Remus as we knew him in the earlier books struck me as a very level-headed kind of person who knows what he wants and makes his own decisions. So are we to believe that he simply gave up pleading his case to Tonks and married her reluctantly so she would shut up?! He was such a tool in book seven and thus very OOC to me. The whole "I wanna come with you and fight" talk at Grimmauld Place - that's the kind of thing Sirius would have done, but Remus? Still, I liked that it was Harry to tell him he was being an ass, and the way he did it was great, too.

[sophiaiswisdom]

I thought it would have been rather central to the books to show them

I completely agree.

I was so happy to see Neville having really grown into his own.

Neville rocked! I was so glad he killed a Horcrux.

but to the point where Molly could kill Bella?

Again, I agree. I suppose it's the "love" theme of the book but, oh well. Molly is not my favorite of persons either.

The whole Remus-runs-away-from-his-family plot was just stupid IMO.

Yep. I agree here too. Totally ruined the ship for me.

One thing I liked. Harry didn't "kill" Voldemort really. A thing I didn't like. Harry using Imperio and Crucius! What was that?

[anna_in_the_sky]

One thing I liked. Harry didn't "kill" Voldemort really. A thing I didn't like. Harry using Imperio and Crucius! What was that?

Yes, I liked that, too. And you're right, I think his using the Unforgivables was rather out of character and not in sync with the rest of the book. Especially since he had to take on Remus' anger for only using "Expelliarmus" with Stan Shunpike. Wasn't the point there that Harry, being who he is, wouldn't use those spells?