7 Things I liked about Deathly Hallows
I find it funny that I thought the book was fantastic, and that I have so many thoughts in my head about it, but I haven't been able to put together a few words about it yet outside comments I make on friends journals.
I am also impatiently waiting for enough time to pass that using spoiler-ish Deathly Hallows quote icons won't seem wrong. There's been quite a few people who have made some outstanding ones (which always makes me wish I was ten times more productive with Photoshop than I am), and I really want to use some. D:
1) OBHWF. I thought JKR did just the right amount of attention towards the ships. She did right with not making Ginny join the trio's journey, and once the serious stuff began, most of the shippyness took the back seat (like Ron's complimenting of Hermione all the time, and Ginny's "remember me" snog with Harry). While I loved the idea of Ron/Hermione finally coming together right in the middle of the search for a Horcrux and Harry's all like "there's a war going on! OMGWTFBBQ!" I did think that because of his house-elf comment to start it off was completely random. If only he knew that was all it took. lol! I also loved how Harry noticed the increasing closeness of the two throughout their journey and that it made him lonely for Ginny and that he would stare at her dot on the Marauders Map. Awww! I also loved Harry's comment to Krum at the wedding, big bloke, jealous type. Yes you are Harry! XD
2) Magic. Sure there were some moments where actions contradicted previous books, but the magic was simply amazing. The idea that Voldemort could put a "taboo" on his name so that they could track those that said it to catch the rebels was ingenious. The tale of the Deathly Hallows was clever and just added so much depth to the unseen myths still to be found.
3) Snape. JKR has this way of making people speculate about certain topics and end up being very off the real point. Yes, Snape was Dumbledore's man, but how much of that was through willing choice (not much) and more about the real guilt he felt for being a big reason why Lily died. JKR made me feel sad for Snape. His unwillingness to be different from his peers and not strive for power drove away his one true friend. I definitely think that as the years passed at Hogwarts their friendship became more strained over time. I think Lily gave him many more chances to stay on the straight and narrow but the promise of greatness was too much for Snape. I've become more acceptable to Snape's obsessive love feelings, since Lily seems to have been the only one to be a true friend to him. But I was glad that Dumbledore wasn't just blindly accepting of Snape and used the guilt to tie Snape to his way and to protect Harry. His disgust at the fact that Snape didn't care if James or Harry died in his bargaining... Great stuff JKR. Sad life for Severus Snape.
4) Kreacher. As much as I hated how he betrayed Sirius and Harry like he did, JKR and Hermione were right. Sirius wasn't a bad man, but he never cared for the house-elf. I think it had to do with how loyal Kreacher was to his parents during Sirius' childhood and that always was a remembrance to a bad part of his life, that Sirius was unable to care. Yet once Harry showed concern and changed his attitude towards Kreacher, I loved that the house-elf morphed into a much more attentive and lively one. How he beat Mundungus and asked Harry for just one more hit was just so funny! I was hoping for him to be around a lot more later in the story, but leading the house-elves of Hogwarts into battle was a great way to finish, especially in Dobby's absence.
5) Dumbledore. A lot of things make sense now, what he saw in the Mirror of Erised, what his boggart would be, what he was seeing as he drank the potion in the cave. The guilt he must have felt throughout his life. His poor sister, Ariana. I so want to write AU fics with her being alright in some way. I so wanted her to have been the great-grandmother of Harry or something, that would've been nice. I don't blame Albus's father for attacking the muggles that hurt poor Ariana, and how that incident drove Albus towards more risque goals with Grindelwald, and how the demise of Ariana and the possible causes led Albus back to the light and a lifetime goal of redemption. I was glad to see that Dumbledore also used Snape's guilt to gain him as a key asset against Voldemort, and everything that went on. I don't know if Gambon can pull it off, but Dumbledore being imperfect was a nice development. That he wasn't always the striving Muggle-protector and that he did hold grudges for a time was realistic. Still sad about his family.
6) Goblins. A seemingly oppressed race, but I'm glad that JKR showed that perhaps there was a good reason that wizards did not trust or give unnecessary power to the Goblins. I was so happy when Harry asked Ron and Hermione why they should trust that the Goblin's point of view is the correct one just because they are the ones being oppressed. I was so mad when Griphook grabbed the sword and turned on them just like that, and reversely I was thrilled when Neville pulled the sword out of the hat, meaning the Goblins lost it again, and that the sword belonged with Gryffindor over goblins.
7) Percy. Slowly over the last two years since HBP, I began to gain a feeling of sadness for Percy. I was tired of seeing him get ostracized for making a bad judgment and leaving his family, and had been hoping that he would redeem himself before the book ended. That whole scene with him returning and the family just standing there gaping at him was classic. I always felt he was misunderstood for most of the books, but the books are from Harry's point of view and he would accept the Weasley siblings opinions as fact. He did make a mistake, but I think Percy just didn't want to be wrong, and to just see things fall apart around him was more than enough to show him that he needed to make amends before it was too late.
Hopefully this was coherent, but I've been trying to make this post for a few days now, so I'm just happy it's finished. =P
I am also impatiently waiting for enough time to pass that using spoiler-ish Deathly Hallows quote icons won't seem wrong. There's been quite a few people who have made some outstanding ones (which always makes me wish I was ten times more productive with Photoshop than I am), and I really want to use some. D:
1) OBHWF. I thought JKR did just the right amount of attention towards the ships. She did right with not making Ginny join the trio's journey, and once the serious stuff began, most of the shippyness took the back seat (like Ron's complimenting of Hermione all the time, and Ginny's "remember me" snog with Harry). While I loved the idea of Ron/Hermione finally coming together right in the middle of the search for a Horcrux and Harry's all like "there's a war going on! OMGWTFBBQ!" I did think that because of his house-elf comment to start it off was completely random. If only he knew that was all it took. lol! I also loved how Harry noticed the increasing closeness of the two throughout their journey and that it made him lonely for Ginny and that he would stare at her dot on the Marauders Map. Awww! I also loved Harry's comment to Krum at the wedding, big bloke, jealous type. Yes you are Harry! XD
2) Magic. Sure there were some moments where actions contradicted previous books, but the magic was simply amazing. The idea that Voldemort could put a "taboo" on his name so that they could track those that said it to catch the rebels was ingenious. The tale of the Deathly Hallows was clever and just added so much depth to the unseen myths still to be found.
3) Snape. JKR has this way of making people speculate about certain topics and end up being very off the real point. Yes, Snape was Dumbledore's man, but how much of that was through willing choice (not much) and more about the real guilt he felt for being a big reason why Lily died. JKR made me feel sad for Snape. His unwillingness to be different from his peers and not strive for power drove away his one true friend. I definitely think that as the years passed at Hogwarts their friendship became more strained over time. I think Lily gave him many more chances to stay on the straight and narrow but the promise of greatness was too much for Snape. I've become more acceptable to Snape's obsessive love feelings, since Lily seems to have been the only one to be a true friend to him. But I was glad that Dumbledore wasn't just blindly accepting of Snape and used the guilt to tie Snape to his way and to protect Harry. His disgust at the fact that Snape didn't care if James or Harry died in his bargaining... Great stuff JKR. Sad life for Severus Snape.
4) Kreacher. As much as I hated how he betrayed Sirius and Harry like he did, JKR and Hermione were right. Sirius wasn't a bad man, but he never cared for the house-elf. I think it had to do with how loyal Kreacher was to his parents during Sirius' childhood and that always was a remembrance to a bad part of his life, that Sirius was unable to care. Yet once Harry showed concern and changed his attitude towards Kreacher, I loved that the house-elf morphed into a much more attentive and lively one. How he beat Mundungus and asked Harry for just one more hit was just so funny! I was hoping for him to be around a lot more later in the story, but leading the house-elves of Hogwarts into battle was a great way to finish, especially in Dobby's absence.
5) Dumbledore. A lot of things make sense now, what he saw in the Mirror of Erised, what his boggart would be, what he was seeing as he drank the potion in the cave. The guilt he must have felt throughout his life. His poor sister, Ariana. I so want to write AU fics with her being alright in some way. I so wanted her to have been the great-grandmother of Harry or something, that would've been nice. I don't blame Albus's father for attacking the muggles that hurt poor Ariana, and how that incident drove Albus towards more risque goals with Grindelwald, and how the demise of Ariana and the possible causes led Albus back to the light and a lifetime goal of redemption. I was glad to see that Dumbledore also used Snape's guilt to gain him as a key asset against Voldemort, and everything that went on. I don't know if Gambon can pull it off, but Dumbledore being imperfect was a nice development. That he wasn't always the striving Muggle-protector and that he did hold grudges for a time was realistic. Still sad about his family.
6) Goblins. A seemingly oppressed race, but I'm glad that JKR showed that perhaps there was a good reason that wizards did not trust or give unnecessary power to the Goblins. I was so happy when Harry asked Ron and Hermione why they should trust that the Goblin's point of view is the correct one just because they are the ones being oppressed. I was so mad when Griphook grabbed the sword and turned on them just like that, and reversely I was thrilled when Neville pulled the sword out of the hat, meaning the Goblins lost it again, and that the sword belonged with Gryffindor over goblins.
7) Percy. Slowly over the last two years since HBP, I began to gain a feeling of sadness for Percy. I was tired of seeing him get ostracized for making a bad judgment and leaving his family, and had been hoping that he would redeem himself before the book ended. That whole scene with him returning and the family just standing there gaping at him was classic. I always felt he was misunderstood for most of the books, but the books are from Harry's point of view and he would accept the Weasley siblings opinions as fact. He did make a mistake, but I think Percy just didn't want to be wrong, and to just see things fall apart around him was more than enough to show him that he needed to make amends before it was too late.
Hopefully this was coherent, but I've been trying to make this post for a few days now, so I'm just happy it's finished. =P