My review of The Deathly Hallows
This post has been a week overdue.. never found the time to pen down my thoughts about the finale to the HP series. (If I had, this post would have been twice as long :D)
On the outset I can say that the book was very predictable. The first six books imparted this feeling of suspense and uncertainty but that was all laid to rest with the last book. There was a constant feeling of loose ends being tied which was in a way comforting but also carried this over-hanging feeling of the end of the story coming near :P And somehow Harry's seems to be riding on more luck than usual (that's what I felt everytime he missed the killing curse or missed being caught). But again hey, this is a children's book. Which is again proved in the climax of the story, the great war that takes place at Hogwarts. That was when I was starkly reminded that this is a children's book and could imagine the kids jumping up and down each time their fav characters entered into the Room of requirement one by one.
The blotches in Snape's and Dumbledore's lives were neatly filled. Frankly I appreciated how Dumbledore was not as perfect as we thought he was. It was more human - everybody-has-their-story types. And Snape deserved the tribute he got in the end for all the hatred that was directed at him all through.
The confrontations with the Dark Lord were truly disappointing because of how everything seemed to be going in Harry's favor. It was a little unrealistic even for the magical world. Am sure if Ron could find Harry during the latter's 'exile', then definitely even Voldemort could! (Yeah, yeah, I know its just a story..) Too many things fell into place for Harry just when he needed it.
Parts I think could have been better/more believable:
* How Hedwig dies - it was more like getting her out of the way
* How Harry comes out unscathed when stricken with the killing curse.
* How easily things fall into Harry's lap - the black stone(one of the hallows) and especially how lucky he got with the Elder wand
But there were lots of feel good factors that made it a truly enjoyable read like the PottersWatch, DA. Though it was slow paced in the middle, the story picked up in the second half. I hadn't realised how much I missed Hogwarts and its teachers until they went to Hogwarts to fight the war.
Parts I liked:
* Prince's tale
* Kreacher and R.A.B's story - totally rivetting
* Harry reproaching Lupin for abandoning his baby - strong social message sent out
* Harry's bravery when he goes to face Voldemort and is ready to die - when he realises how he has to leave everything and everyone behind and walks alone without looking back..
* Hermione's loyalty and intelligence
* Humour brought in by Ron and the twins
My questions:
* Why did Harry promise to return the sword to the goblin instead of requesting to hold on to it till he finished his work with it?
* How did Neville catch hold of the sword in the end?
* I thought more members of the Order of phoenix had the invisible cloak?
* Who was the repulsive baby-like creature at King's cross? was it Grindelwald?
* why didn't Harry think of using the Deathly Hallows(to defeat death) when he already possessed two of the three? In fact, it wasn't considered as an option at all
My favorite book of the series still remains as the sixth one because of the anticipation it built. And Deathly Hallows has everything in it to make it a perfect ending to the series.
On the outset I can say that the book was very predictable. The first six books imparted this feeling of suspense and uncertainty but that was all laid to rest with the last book. There was a constant feeling of loose ends being tied which was in a way comforting but also carried this over-hanging feeling of the end of the story coming near :P And somehow Harry's seems to be riding on more luck than usual (that's what I felt everytime he missed the killing curse or missed being caught). But again hey, this is a children's book. Which is again proved in the climax of the story, the great war that takes place at Hogwarts. That was when I was starkly reminded that this is a children's book and could imagine the kids jumping up and down each time their fav characters entered into the Room of requirement one by one.
The blotches in Snape's and Dumbledore's lives were neatly filled. Frankly I appreciated how Dumbledore was not as perfect as we thought he was. It was more human - everybody-has-their-story types. And Snape deserved the tribute he got in the end for all the hatred that was directed at him all through.
The confrontations with the Dark Lord were truly disappointing because of how everything seemed to be going in Harry's favor. It was a little unrealistic even for the magical world. Am sure if Ron could find Harry during the latter's 'exile', then definitely even Voldemort could! (Yeah, yeah, I know its just a story..) Too many things fell into place for Harry just when he needed it.
Parts I think could have been better/more believable:
* How Hedwig dies - it was more like getting her out of the way
* How Harry comes out unscathed when stricken with the killing curse.
* How easily things fall into Harry's lap - the black stone(one of the hallows) and especially how lucky he got with the Elder wand
But there were lots of feel good factors that made it a truly enjoyable read like the PottersWatch, DA. Though it was slow paced in the middle, the story picked up in the second half. I hadn't realised how much I missed Hogwarts and its teachers until they went to Hogwarts to fight the war.
Parts I liked:
* Prince's tale
* Kreacher and R.A.B's story - totally rivetting
* Harry reproaching Lupin for abandoning his baby - strong social message sent out
* Harry's bravery when he goes to face Voldemort and is ready to die - when he realises how he has to leave everything and everyone behind and walks alone without looking back..
* Hermione's loyalty and intelligence
* Humour brought in by Ron and the twins
My questions:
* Why did Harry promise to return the sword to the goblin instead of requesting to hold on to it till he finished his work with it?
* How did Neville catch hold of the sword in the end?
* I thought more members of the Order of phoenix had the invisible cloak?
* Who was the repulsive baby-like creature at King's cross? was it Grindelwald?
* why didn't Harry think of using the Deathly Hallows(to defeat death) when he already possessed two of the three? In fact, it wasn't considered as an option at all
My favorite book of the series still remains as the sixth one because of the anticipation it built. And Deathly Hallows has everything in it to make it a perfect ending to the series.