Thanks to the LJ downtime a little later than intened
There are so many great reviews out there, I'll keep it short and am just going to list a few things that really touched me and what didn’t work for me. (SPOILERS, of course)
Ever since the resurrection scene in GoF I was waiting for the war to break out and in DH Rowling really delivered. The atmosphere had been gradually changing since Ootp and now the despair, the constant fear and sense of danger was tangible. The Hogwarts battle was epic. Now I’m wondering whether Warner Brothers studio bosses are rubbing their hands in glee over such a cinematic, epic battle or despairing because Rowling pulled out every magical creature and character we encountered over the course of the past seven books. This is going to be expensive... And I really don’t envy the scriptwriter either.
One of my favourite aspects of the book is probably the trio growing up and their respective trials. Their quest for the Horcruxes was in parts painful to read but it showed their isolation as well as how much they have grown and how far they have come. Hermione really proved how well she could think under pressure (or while being tortured!) and how good she had become at improvising. Talk about being only booksmart. Hah! Loved her Marry Poppins Handbag as well. I was impressed by their ministry and Gringotts stunts as much as by their more mature and sensitive attitude towards Kreacher and each other.
I loved how the things Dumbledore left them were related to their weaknesses that all three managed to overcome.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (besides being a plot device to introduce the Hallows) challenged Hermione’s difficulties to accept anything that doesn’t have a logical and rational explanation - or can be found in Hogwarts, A History.
Ron’s Deluminator helped him find his way back on the right path after once more his insecurities and the constant worry and pressure got the better of him. The destruction of The One Ring the Horcrux was a great moment for Ron, as was Harry’s "He must’ve known you’d always want to come back" for their friendship.
And one of the most poignant scenes for Harry was probably digging Dobby’s grave and making a conscious decision to stick with Dumbledore’s Horcrux plan instead of racing Voldemort to the Hallows. He mastered his obsessive urge to get to the bottom of things that got him in so much trouble in the previous books and in this one (like saying Voldemort's name at the peak of his Hallow obsession). This entire scene was so very well done and the engraving in Dobby’s gravestone really did me in. Here lies Dobby, a free elf.
My favourite Harry scene is the walk to his death, though. That might be my favourite scene overall.
Other scenes that really touched me:
Harry and Hermione in the graveyard of Godric’s Hollow. There were a lot of very emotional, dramatic and vivid scenes in the book but this subtle, quiet scene will stay with me for quite some time. The image of the two of them standing at the grave on Christmas Eve, Harry really crying for the first time, laying down the wreath and walking with Hermione through the snow was beautiful and heartbreaking. Ron and Harry's great moment of friendship was during and after the destruction of the locket, this was Harry and Hermione's.
Snape looking in Harry’s eyes when he died. I had to reread that scene after the pensieve chapter. So powerful. I wonder if he only saw Lily's eyes or if Harry mattered at all.
Luna’s bedroom with the portraits of her friends. I just loved her throughout the whole book. She had some fantastic moments with Harry, always seeing through the core of things.
George’s "holey" joke after losing his ear. The moment before he made the joke was so tense because you are just not used to see the twins worried or afraid. Perhaps that's a reason why we didn't get George's reaction to Fred's death.
Percy’s return, the Weasley reunion and the aforementioned death. Fred's was really the most painful one for me.
McGonagall ordering the suits of armor to fight for Hogwarts. That had even more impact than Kingsley's Patronus at the wedding. I got goosebumps.
Harry thinking of Ron and Hermione when casting his Patronus after being saved by Luna, Dean and Seamus and that those first two were the only people he really wanted to see when the battle was over.
This leads me to one of the problems I have with Rowling.
In my opinion the way she handles the various deep bonds and friendships in the books is just much more successful and satisfying than her attempts at romance. Ron and Hermione were subtle and felt natural enough for me to enjoy them in this book (their kiss was really a great scene) but everything else felt forced to me. She is so much better at showing how deeply those people care for each other, like Luna’s bedroom decoration, Hermione’s silent support when Harry cried at his parent’s grave and her unwavering loyalty, Ron being the spirit and heart of the trio, the force that keeps them moving on, the Marauders etc. than her tries to link various characters romantically. For me the Potter series is about friendship and I can do without the roaring beast in Harry’s chest (can you tell I just reread HBP before DH...).
I also could have done without the epilogue. aynlsee linked me to a review that made me realize why.
A few minor complaints:
Some things were predictable (Regulus, Harry=Horcrux, Lily/Snape), I had the feeling I was reading fanfiction quite a few times.
There are apparently no good Slytherins with the exception of Slughorn and Snape. The Malfoys being neither here nor there, not even morally grey (although I did like that it all came down to caring for their family).
Goblins as opposed to house elves evidently deserve their treatment by wizards.
The Remus/Tonks subplot didn’t work out and their deaths were badly handled.
Things I’m torn about:
Dumbledore’s humanization. I liked that she added more depth and shades of grey to his character but I'll probably need some time to reconcile all this new information and the weepy Dumbledore at "Kings Cross" or in the portrait with my former image of him.
Same with Snape. It's hard to see him being so heartbroken and lovesick over all these years and combining that with the image of the cruel, bullying teacher. That's why I like that she gave us him and Lily as childhood friends who shared a deep friendship in addition to the one-sided love story.
But overall I really, really enjoyed the ride. It was a very action packed, emotional book and a worthy conclusion of the series. Harry Potter has been with me for many years, it's a very weird feeling to see it end.
selenak linked to a wonderful post DH fic, that I found to be a much more moving and satisfying epilogue than the one we actually got: Seven Photographs
In non-Potter news: This makes me very sad. I have only seen Ulrich Mühe in The Lives of Others but I was incredibly touched by his performance and some of you know how much I adore this movie. If you haven't seen it yet, you should really try to find some time to watch it.
Ever since the resurrection scene in GoF I was waiting for the war to break out and in DH Rowling really delivered. The atmosphere had been gradually changing since Ootp and now the despair, the constant fear and sense of danger was tangible. The Hogwarts battle was epic. Now I’m wondering whether Warner Brothers studio bosses are rubbing their hands in glee over such a cinematic, epic battle or despairing because Rowling pulled out every magical creature and character we encountered over the course of the past seven books. This is going to be expensive... And I really don’t envy the scriptwriter either.
One of my favourite aspects of the book is probably the trio growing up and their respective trials. Their quest for the Horcruxes was in parts painful to read but it showed their isolation as well as how much they have grown and how far they have come. Hermione really proved how well she could think under pressure (or while being tortured!) and how good she had become at improvising. Talk about being only booksmart. Hah! Loved her Marry Poppins Handbag as well. I was impressed by their ministry and Gringotts stunts as much as by their more mature and sensitive attitude towards Kreacher and each other.
I loved how the things Dumbledore left them were related to their weaknesses that all three managed to overcome.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (besides being a plot device to introduce the Hallows) challenged Hermione’s difficulties to accept anything that doesn’t have a logical and rational explanation - or can be found in Hogwarts, A History.
Ron’s Deluminator helped him find his way back on the right path after once more his insecurities and the constant worry and pressure got the better of him. The destruction of The One Ring the Horcrux was a great moment for Ron, as was Harry’s "He must’ve known you’d always want to come back" for their friendship.
And one of the most poignant scenes for Harry was probably digging Dobby’s grave and making a conscious decision to stick with Dumbledore’s Horcrux plan instead of racing Voldemort to the Hallows. He mastered his obsessive urge to get to the bottom of things that got him in so much trouble in the previous books and in this one (like saying Voldemort's name at the peak of his Hallow obsession). This entire scene was so very well done and the engraving in Dobby’s gravestone really did me in. Here lies Dobby, a free elf.
My favourite Harry scene is the walk to his death, though. That might be my favourite scene overall.
Other scenes that really touched me:
Harry and Hermione in the graveyard of Godric’s Hollow. There were a lot of very emotional, dramatic and vivid scenes in the book but this subtle, quiet scene will stay with me for quite some time. The image of the two of them standing at the grave on Christmas Eve, Harry really crying for the first time, laying down the wreath and walking with Hermione through the snow was beautiful and heartbreaking. Ron and Harry's great moment of friendship was during and after the destruction of the locket, this was Harry and Hermione's.
Snape looking in Harry’s eyes when he died. I had to reread that scene after the pensieve chapter. So powerful. I wonder if he only saw Lily's eyes or if Harry mattered at all.
Luna’s bedroom with the portraits of her friends. I just loved her throughout the whole book. She had some fantastic moments with Harry, always seeing through the core of things.
George’s "holey" joke after losing his ear. The moment before he made the joke was so tense because you are just not used to see the twins worried or afraid. Perhaps that's a reason why we didn't get George's reaction to Fred's death.
Percy’s return, the Weasley reunion and the aforementioned death. Fred's was really the most painful one for me.
McGonagall ordering the suits of armor to fight for Hogwarts. That had even more impact than Kingsley's Patronus at the wedding. I got goosebumps.
Harry thinking of Ron and Hermione when casting his Patronus after being saved by Luna, Dean and Seamus and that those first two were the only people he really wanted to see when the battle was over.
This leads me to one of the problems I have with Rowling.
In my opinion the way she handles the various deep bonds and friendships in the books is just much more successful and satisfying than her attempts at romance. Ron and Hermione were subtle and felt natural enough for me to enjoy them in this book (their kiss was really a great scene) but everything else felt forced to me. She is so much better at showing how deeply those people care for each other, like Luna’s bedroom decoration, Hermione’s silent support when Harry cried at his parent’s grave and her unwavering loyalty, Ron being the spirit and heart of the trio, the force that keeps them moving on, the Marauders etc. than her tries to link various characters romantically. For me the Potter series is about friendship and I can do without the roaring beast in Harry’s chest (can you tell I just reread HBP before DH...).
I also could have done without the epilogue. aynlsee linked me to a review that made me realize why.
A few minor complaints:
Some things were predictable (Regulus, Harry=Horcrux, Lily/Snape), I had the feeling I was reading fanfiction quite a few times.
There are apparently no good Slytherins with the exception of Slughorn and Snape. The Malfoys being neither here nor there, not even morally grey (although I did like that it all came down to caring for their family).
Goblins as opposed to house elves evidently deserve their treatment by wizards.
The Remus/Tonks subplot didn’t work out and their deaths were badly handled.
Things I’m torn about:
Dumbledore’s humanization. I liked that she added more depth and shades of grey to his character but I'll probably need some time to reconcile all this new information and the weepy Dumbledore at "Kings Cross" or in the portrait with my former image of him.
Same with Snape. It's hard to see him being so heartbroken and lovesick over all these years and combining that with the image of the cruel, bullying teacher. That's why I like that she gave us him and Lily as childhood friends who shared a deep friendship in addition to the one-sided love story.
But overall I really, really enjoyed the ride. It was a very action packed, emotional book and a worthy conclusion of the series. Harry Potter has been with me for many years, it's a very weird feeling to see it end.
selenak linked to a wonderful post DH fic, that I found to be a much more moving and satisfying epilogue than the one we actually got: Seven Photographs
In non-Potter news: This makes me very sad. I have only seen Ulrich Mühe in The Lives of Others but I was incredibly touched by his performance and some of you know how much I adore this movie. If you haven't seen it yet, you should really try to find some time to watch it.