I solomnly swear I am up to no good....
Well I know I'm a bit late but I finally finished the last Harry Potter book yesterday.
I really enjoyed it for the most part and I think overall it ties with the 3rd book as my favourite of the series... although if I re-read the 3rd book that could change I suppose one way or the other.
I thought the final book delivered a fitting climax to 16 years of work by JK... it got off to a rip roaring start and kept me turning the pages.
I'll need to read it again after a while to take it all in but initial thoughts are these...
Overall it had a good pace although I thought some of it dragged a bit in the middle section. Though the idea of the trio apperating around the country with no real plan was a good one and I'm glad she did it, I felt it went on just a smidgeon TOO long. It did capture the growing tensions well though.
I loved the climax and the long awaited face off between Harry and Voldermort, especially liked the way the big duel was split into two sections divided by the King's Cross interlude.
At first when Harry ends up in the King's Cross space I thought "Is that it? Voldy zaps him, they both die and that's it?"
But of course it wasn't and when Harry goes back I was all "Yaay!" :D
The Snape & Dumbledore agreement was just as I figured it, although I didn't guess the reason for Snape's loyalty, which I actually loved.
It would have been nice for Snape to get a more heroic ending, but I guess the mark of a real hero is one who perishes with no crowds to cheer their heroism.
And he had to meet his demise in a way that would allow him to stay alive for a few minutes to give Harry his memories.
Oh and a nice touch when Snape wanted Harry to look at him at the last so he could see Lily's eyes one last time. Very nice JK.
Molly Ripley rocked but I would have liked to see Neville polish off Bellatrix.
Speaking of Neville, that was a great moment when he kills the snake... very Eowen and the Witch King I thought :D Can't wait to see that in the film.
What else...?
Oh, the deaths.... I was strangely unmoved by the deaths of Lupin and Tonks...probably because JK had long since relegated them both to bit parts... Fred's death I found sad, but mainly because of Percy's reaction.
The two death's I found saddest were Dobby's (strangely, as I never really liked the character) and Hedwig's. :(
Hedwig was a shocker as it was completely unexpected. I guess I'm used to Hedwig being there just as a background character and was totally unprepared for the impact of her death... it was like suddenly in one green flash the last vestige of Harry's childhood had gone and he was suddenly on his own and facing what must be done. Master stroke by JK.
All in all I liked the way it all fitted together.... but I would really have liked more of the aftermath. Maybe not Tolkien proportions :D but a little bit about how everyone was coping with their losses and what was done about the Malfoys etc would have been nice.
I liked the epilogue... but again I would have liked a bit more on what happened to the other characters in those 19 years. Maybe an appendix? ;)
Liked the curt nod from Malfoy :D It would have been far too twee to have him and Harry as friends but obviously as adults a bit of maturity has dulled the animosity.
Oh and my favourite line came in the epilogue too... when Harry tells little Albus Severus that Snape was probably the bravest man he ever met... a real lump to the throat moment. :)
All in all a great finish to the series... hats off to Jo Rowling. :)
One last thing.... in the right hands this could be an awesome movie. ;)
Mischief managed......